May 25, 2023

Gresham High School student and teacher selected as 2023 Bezos Scholars

Leadership program helps students design and implement community change projects 

Gresham High School student Kim Cortes-Martinez and AP chemistry teacher Cyrus Harshfield have been selected as 2023 Bezos Scholars. Scholars are a cohort of 30 exceptional students and educators from across the U.S. and Africa. Through the Bezos Scholars program, students participate in leadership training and design and implement a community change project.

Cortes-Martinez stands out for leadership abilities, desire to create positive change

Cortes-Martinez is passionate about using restorative justice, community dialogue and prevention methods to decrease the number of young people in juvenile detention centers across the nation. She is co-chair of the Multnomah Youth Commission and a member of Youth Against Violence, a sub-committee of the commission that works closely with local law enforcement and the juvenile justice system in Multnomah County.   At Gresham High School, Cortes-Martinez is the director of the Renaissance program, which aims to celebrate students and appreciate the various identities of the student body. 

“I’m excited to expand on the work I’ve been doing in my community,” said Cortes-Marinez. “I always strive to make a place better than how I found it, and this will help me accomplish that.”

Scholars to participate in Bezos Scholars Program’s leadership training

The program includes an all-expenses paid trip to Aspen, Colorado in June, so Cortes-Martinez and Harshfield can meet their fellow scholars and participate in the Aspen Ideas Festival. 

Learn more about Bezos Scholars Learn more about the Bezos Scholars Program and view bios of the 2023 Scholars