What are our scholarship recipients saying?
Architecture
Cristina Gomez
Design 4 BEA Scholarship
“I would like to say thank you to the donors for providing the College of Architecture + The Arts the necessary resources for these scholarships. Being able to go through the process, seeing our portfolios, presenting our work, and interacting with the BEA architects was an amazing experience. The donors are improving the success of the students and the school, and I am extremely grateful for that.
To be able to acquire the scholarship means that I am able to pursue my architecture major with a more facilitated and creative perspective because I have access to better materials. My scholarship has given me financial stability for my first year of graduate school. It also allows me to focus more on my assignments and to be able to have an internship to work towards my career development.”
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Interior Architecture
Jovanny Lopez
Martin and Constance Silver Travel Scholarship
“To donors of scholarships; Being a student that started off in Miami-Dade College pursuing a career in interior design, I noticed the difference when transferring to FIU and how much funding really matters. The money that you, as donors, provide really opens us up to the field, especially in a city like Miami, where we need that exposure. So, your help really gets us started professionally.
To the donors that helped me personally; The scholarship helped me pay for my education. Pursuing a graduate level education is extremely expensive. Being in Interior Design, I chose to do the Cruise Ship & Super Yacht Interior Design program, which allows me to do a study abroad in Italy. That money really helped fund my trip, which was expensive. Without the scholarship, I probably wouldn’t have been able to go.
The award gives me a sense of accomplishment. It goes to further show that I probably made the right decision to study interior architecture and that this is what I’m meant to do.”
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Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design
Daniela Romero
Gensler Scholarship
“In this opportunity, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the donors for supporting students and especially for making me a scholarship recipient. Thanks to you and your generosity, I am able to graduate from one of the most prestigious universities, something that once upon a time I was only able to dream about. Thank you again for your generous gift. I was inspired when I knew I was a recipient of the scholarship. I am looking forward to working very hard and eventually, give something back to future students, like myself. I am certain that hard work and generosity are always the best ways to pursuit dreams and improve our society.
For me, having a scholarship means the opportunity to have a better future, to achieve a more inspiring career, and of course, to have the possibility of concentrating more on my education. I believe that education is the best gift, and this award means that with hard work, interest and enthusiasm, dreams can become realities. I would like to quote one of the most inspiring persons, Malala Yousafzai: ‘Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.’”
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Veronika Schunk
Design School Book Scholarship
“Dear Donor, a generous gift appearing out of the blue and recognizing one’s achievements is a milestone in every student’s career. It is an outside recognition beyond school for one’s chosen field of study, which provides an extra perspective. The scholarship funds meant for me, that I could fulfill some long due computer improvements. Now everything works smoothly and fast.”
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Art + Art History
Lorna Galloway
Woman in the Visual Arts Scholarship
“I didn’t really see my financial situation as a hardship. I was working two jobs and going to school, but it was just what had to be done to make attending graduate school happen for me. So, I was just happy to have work and the motivation to follow my dreams.
FIU gave me the ability to really focus solely on the pursuit of those dream-attending graduate school and becoming an educator. This has given me the opportunity and courage to talk about my work at conferences with people from other institutions and to bring what I’ve learned there back to my FIU community.”
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Lisa Ballester
Visual Arts Scholarship
“First of all, I would like to extend my gratitude to those who contributed to my scholarship award. Your donation made such a huge difference in my studies and afforded me the tools I needed to continue advancing myself as an artist. I am extremely grateful that I was chosen to receive this generous award, and I hope that many other students in the future will have the same opportunity I had. Your donations make things possible that would not otherwise have been for students.
Receiving a scholarship was a very big deal to me. It not only meant that I was able to finance some very important aspects of my studies, it also made me feel truly valued as a student at FIU. So many things I’ve done would not have been possible if I hadn’t received the scholarship. Also, my family was extremely proud of me, which was a huge bonus.”
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Communication Arts
Nicole Alvarez
Kathleen Watson Memorial Scholarship
“What I would like to say to the donors first and foremost is, thank you. I think it is such a great thing that they do for students. Not only are they helping students move on in their academic careers, but they are also helping to make the students dreams come true. I am eternally grateful for the donors. One day, I hope to be able to provide for students the way they do.
Having a scholarship isn’t about winning something. To me, having a scholarship means opportunity. Without my scholarship, I wouldn’t be able to carry out my academic career to the extent I have. Thanks to my scholarship, I will be the first generation in my family to graduate. On top of that, I will be graduating with two degrees, which no one in my family has ever done. I recommend all students to apply for scholarships, because they help you incredibly.”
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Sarah Hernandez
Gus Amaya Memorial Scholarship
“I would like to thank the donors of the Gus Amaya Scholarship Foundation from the bottom of my heart for recognizing the many things that students of the Communication Arts major have to offer and bestowing upon me this honorable award.
I have learned a great deal and made many valuable relationships during my time at FIU. I know that I can use the skills that I honed during my college experience beyond graduation and receiving this scholarship means that my hard work did not go unnoticed. Being the recipient of one of this university’s many scholarships makes me confident in its dedication to putting students first. I look forward to seeing the amazing things that the College of Architecture + the Arts will do in the future.”
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School of Music
Jacqueline Hernandez
School of Music Scholarship
“Thank you so much for helping out students, like myself, who need scholarships to obtain a higher education! Without a scholarship, there would have been no way for me to attend such a wonderful and enriching university, such as FIU. You have helped me gain experience in the world and expand my knowledge, thus making my future brighter and increasing my chance at going for the career I want. I am eternally grateful.
It means that I have the opportunity to obtain a full college experience and education. It’s my chance to make a better future for myself without being in a bad financial situation, such as student loan debt, or not attending college at all. Without my scholarship, there would have been no way for me to seek the degree that I am currently pursuing. The scholarship that I currently hold is helping me pave the path towards my goals and future career. Without my scholarship, I would not be where I am today.”
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Edgar Sanfeliz-Botta
School of Music Scholarship
“I just want to say how much we appreciate your support to our Music Program at Florida International University. It is because of generous donors, like you, that the students at FIU have the opportunity to make a difference. Music is my life. It talks through me; it lives in me. I thank people, like you, that believe in music as much as I do and have the generosity to allow musicians, like myself to pursue their music endeavors.
Having a scholarship to me is a reassurance that I am not alone in the pursuit of my dreams as a musician. Being a young, immigrant student who is putting forth maximum effort and dedication to fulfilling a career in music, I am ever so grateful for the great support that scholarships offer to students, like myself.”
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Theatre
Ernesto Gonzalez
Royal Caribbean Scholarship
“I’m one of those students who’s been attending college for five years now, and the fact that there are donors who are willing to help students, such as myself, is a very huge relief. It allows us to focus on our career path without worrying about a wall of money stopping us in our place. It’s a liberating feeling.
As a resident of Palm Beach and not Miami-Dade, I naturally have had to pay for on-campus living along with tuition and classes. Having to pay for these expenses has been a struggle. I’ve racked up many loans over the years, but to know that I might actually be able to spend a semester taking classes without owing money is almost inconceivable to me. Earning scholarships pushes me to take beneficial risks towards my career after graduation.”
Now that you’ve heard our testimonies, we hope we can count on you today and support any scholarship of your choice.
Please click on the donate today button below. Make sure to choose from the designation drop down menu for the scholarship fund of your choice, or you can go the general CARTA student scholarship fund.
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If you would like to mail in a check, please make it out to FIU Foundation, Inc.,write the name of the scholarship fund on the memo line, and return it to the Office of Alumni Relations, 11200 SW 8 Street, Paul Cejas Architecture Building 273A, Miami, FL 33199. Any gift, no matter the size, is appreciated.
If you have any questions about your contribution, please contact Maria G. Claverie at 305-348-1805.
