The Michel David-Weill scholarship is awarded each year to one student from the United States who exemplifies the core values embodied by its name-sake: excellence, leadership, multiculturalism, and high achievement.

Arina is graduating this month from MIT with a major in Materials Science and Engineering, and minors in French and in Energy Studies.

Among her undergraduate activities, Arina participated in the Scholars in France Program last June. In addition, she was Co-President of the MIT Energy and Climate Club, was part of the MIT delegation to COP 27 in Egypt in November 2022, and participated in the NEET Decarbonizing Ulaanbaatar project, traveling to Mongolia in IAP 2023 with a group of students and instructors to work on clean heating technologies for traditional ger homes. She is also a member of the women’s open weight varsity rowing team.

Arina told us, “I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve had at MIT to make friends passionate about energy and sustainability solutions, especially about creating solutions with diverse cultures in mind. I believe this global awareness is necessary to reach our climate commitments. Continuing my studies in an international context is a dream come true, and I’m looking forward to putting my French skills to use!”

She will be entering a Master’s program in International Relations for Energy at Sciences Po in Paris, France, this fall.