In testament to my academic and extracurricular success, I was awarded the following funding for study abroad (Summer/Fall 2017 in Mexico and Summer 2018 in Czechia) purposes:
UT Semester Plus Scholarship
Scholarship supports students participating in the Semester Plus programs: Paris, Global Health in Sydney or Mexico City. Awards of $2000 minimum.
Was awarded $2000 on March 14, 2017!
Latin America Scholarship
Scholarship to support students studying in Latin American on exchange programs. Awards range from $500 – $2000. Expecting to give 10 awards to summer and fall students.
Was awarded $1000 on March 21, 2017!
Gilman Scholarship
After much documentation, research, essay-writing, proposing, confirming, referencing, presenting, meeting, and so much more; the Department of State saw fit to award me the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship. I’m delighted to join the “elite cadre” of recipients and its alumni network.
Was awarded $4000 on July 28, 2017!
The Gilman in particular was a huge achievement that I am very honored to receive. I intend to keep up with their newsletters and stories of peers abroad, as well as consider branching out into the public sector from my primary career with the connections I have made.
SIP Study Abroad Scholarship
Open to UT-Austin students going on a BBA Summer Faculty Led Program. Need and merit based. Amount; $1000-$1500. Multiple scholarships. Minimum GPA requirement is 2.5.
Was awarded $1500 on February 12, 2018!
The final of these scholarships was also a little special, in that it also conferred the honorable title of BBA SIP Global Ambassador to me (Bachelor of Business Administration Short-Term International Program).
Huge thanks to the support of the above donors, and these additional four who contributed to my regular tuition.
SECNY (Serving Everyone in Central New York) Scholarship
Provided $1000 due to academic excellence in high school
Pell Grant
Provided federal assistance throughout the first three years of my undergraduate career, up to $1385 per semester
ACE Scholarship
Provided $3500 in assistance for the first semester of my senior year, through a program at a parent’s place of employment in Austin, Texas
Texas Advance
Provided the equivalent of a Pell Grant for my senior year, thanks to a timely update to UT Austin’s financial aid programs
It is worth noting that despite all of these organizations vouching for my worth as a student, as well as my own frugality and only attending for one year as an out-of-state student, I graduated from UT Austin with over $150,000 taken out in federal student loans (ie, for official purposes through vigorous verification with the FAFSA). The cost of attendance of US higher education is exorbitant and while I would not trade these four years for the world, it is an issue that we need to face together soon.