Gessica Bonheur Receives 21st Century Leader Award
Content
Gessica Bonheur, who is graduating with a degree in biomedical engineering, has received a 21st Century Leader Award. She is one of the eleven campus-wide undergraduate recipients of the award, who were chosen in recognition of their strong academic records and exemplary achievements. They will each receive $1,000 from the UMass Amherst Alumni Association and they will be honored during the undergraduate commencement ceremony at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
A first-generation college student and daughter of Haitian immigrants, Bonheur leads with empathy and humility, consistently showing up for and advocating for her community.
She has held several leadership roles during her time at UMass, including co-president of the UMass Amherst Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Despite a substantial funding reduction, she collaborated with the chapter’s executive board to secure corporate sponsorships that sustained professional development programs and fully funded the attendance of 24 members at the 2026 NSBE Annual Convention. As president of the Rho Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she upheld her myriad responsibilities with the same level of care that she brings to her many other pursuits, equipping students with tools for financial literacy, civic engagement and self-care. She also served as a resident assistant and a peer mentor for Student Bridges.
Bonheur was a 2024-25 Institute of Diversity Sciences Student Fellow, performing hands-on research, receiving guidance and mentorship from Professor Stacyann Bailey, and presenting at the 2025 Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference. In the summer of 2025, Bonheur moved to California for an internship in oncology research and development with the Pfizer Futures program.
After graduation, Bonheur plans to pursue an advanced degree and become a research engineer specializing in cardiology or oncology.