Alison Wright has spent her career in the philanthropic sector, advancing initiatives for justice and empowerment internationally and closer to home. She directs the Environmental Defenders Collaborative at Global Greengrants Fund, channeling support to frontline environmental activists around the world. She is also a co-founder of The Cairn Project, a nonprofit startup that supports girls outdoor education programs around the US through an adventure-driven funding model. Alison is a board member of Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide; she holds a BA from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a JD from Seattle University School of Law. She lives with her family on the northern California coast.

Alison serves as the AWE Summit Scholarship Foundation’s President.

Alex Garcia was born and raised in Puerto Rico and only truly learned about outdoor sports in her early twenties when she relocated to central Virginia. She started hiking alone as a means to cope with the loneliness and confusion that immigration tends to come with, and has continued to explore nature and the lengths of her physical capacities in the outdoors ever since. She is currently the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Latinx Partnerships Coordinator, and has run her own adventure challenges, which she calls Difficult Pursuits, every year since 2017. As she tackles harder adventures and bigger mountains every year, her goal is to become the first Puerto Rican female mountaineer. Alex has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s in Engineering Management. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband Kenny and pitbull Mooch.

Alex serves as the AWE Summit Scholarship Foundation’s Vice President.

Jaimes Joseph has been an adventurer and nature lover since they can remember. Born and raised in the South with a half-Southern, half-Lebanese background, they were always in the woods or dreaming of the next opportunity to get there. As an adult, Jaimes has lived all over, including Japan, in their adventure truck, and now beautiful and sunny Denver, CO - where the “woods” have transformed into one big mountain playground. While they work in corporate sales by day, serving as a board member for AWE is a passion that allows Jaimes to connect in a bigger way to their outdoor pursuits and give back to a community that has provided such life-changing experiences. How AWE-some that this incredible organization gives all marginalized genders from all backgrounds the opportunity to experience the AWE of nature.

Jaimes serves as the AWE Summit Scholarship Foundation’s Secretary.

Tana grew up in northwest Montana where her love of wilderness and all things wild began. As often happens, she left the solitude and wilderness for the big city to be an adult. After (too) many years in the California corporate world, restless and bored, she was drawn to southern Utah where her passion for the outdoors was reignited. She now uses her project management skills to organize large ultra running events in the southwest and is involved in many wilderness conservation projects. In her spare time you’ll find her exploring canyons or climbing peaks or paddling her kayak.

Tana serves as the AWE Summit Scholarship Foundation’s Treasurer.

Farah is a climate justice champion, environmentalist, and 2021 Summit Scholarship Recipient. She is a former Division I athlete, having swam for 15+ years before competing at the collegiate level during her freshman year of college. As an accomplished athlete, Farah grew up immersed in the natural environment around her swimming, biking, running, and hiking along the coast in her hometown of Malibu, CA. After retiring from her swim career in 2018, Farah started gaining more experience in hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering. She is passionate about creating more equitable, safe, and inclusive outdoors spaces for all, and excited to continue her travels around the world to achieve her big mountain goals and raise awareness about the impacts of the climate crisis on our planet’s beloved peaks. Farah has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Southern California (USC). She is currently working on creating and advancing climate solutions that empower communities and protect our ecosystems in the midst of our changing climate. Farah is excited to support the Summit Scholarship Foundation’s mission and provide life-changing experiences for women from all walks of life.