By Jeremy Wilkerson, communications specialist, A. Ray Olpin Union Building

Over $100,000 was awarded to 18 students at the 8th annual A. Ray Olpin Union Scholarship Celebration. A record-setting 450 guests joined in recognizing the admirable student scholarship recipients and acknowledging the extremely supportive donors, both new and continuing.

Through partnerships with U departments and collaborations with the American Indian Resource Center, the Dream Center, the Veteran Support Center, West High School, the West High School Alumni Association, the Student Affairs Diversity Council, and Dining Services, the Union was able to offer financial support to students from a wide array of backgrounds and experiences.

Beginning with two scholarships in 2011, the Union Scholarship Fund has grown sizably in just eight years and a quasi-endowment of $100,000 has been established. These remarkable achievements would not be possible without the assistance and encouragement of the U community.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients and thank you to all the groups, individuals, and students who have made the growth of the Union Scholarship Celebration and the Union Scholarship Fund possible.

The following scholarships have been awarded this year:

Rachel Heard

“This scholarship helps serving others easier. I feel I can reach a wider range of people in the community that I wouldn’t normally reach.”

Junior, Kinesiology

Union Student Leader Scholarship:
This scholarship seeks to identify and recognize student leaders whose involvement has contributed to building campus community and contributing to the overall mission of the Union.

Roxana Luna

“Thank you. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for helping me continue my research to help first-generation and low-income students.”

First Year Ph.D., Educational Leadership & Policy

Union Student Leader Scholarship:
This scholarship seeks to identify and recognize student leaders whose involvement has contributed to building campus community and contributing to the overall mission of the Union.

Reyna Tovar-Solis

“Thank you for this big opportunity. You are not only helping me but helping so many students achieve their goals.”

Freshman, Nursing

Union Student Leader Scholarship:
This scholarship seeks to identify and recognize student leaders whose involvement has contributed to building campus community and contributing to the overall mission of the Union.

Bryan Luu

“My motto is to keep focused and to give it back to my community in many different ways. This helps me keep focus on my campus involvement.”

Senior, Civil Engineering & Urban Ecology

Union Student Leader Scholarship:
This scholarship seeks to identify and recognize student leaders whose involvement has contributed to building campus community and contributing to the overall mission of the Union.

Su Myat Sin

“Being a recipient of this scholarship has made me more determined. Knowing that all my efforts and involvement are being appreciated and recognized has been very motivating.”

Sophomore, Psychology

Union Student Leader Scholarship:
This scholarship seeks to identify and recognize student leaders whose involvement has contributed to building campus community and contributing to the overall mission of the Union.

Lilly Kanishka

“As a first generation student this scholarship will really help me achieve my goals. Having this support helps me focus on my academics and be engaged and involved on campus.”

Senior, Anthropology

Union Student Leader Scholarship:
This scholarship seeks to identify and recognize student leaders whose involvement has contributed to building campus community and contributing to the overall mission of the Union.

Breanna Mears

“The Union is where my heart is. I feel the events that are held at the Union help us connect and become one big family.”

Sophomore, Chemistry

Union Student Leader Scholarship:
This scholarship seeks to identify and recognize student leaders whose involvement has contributed to building campus community and contributing to the overall mission of the Union.

Ladan Mohamed

“The Union is where my heart is. I feel the events that are held at the Union help us connect and become one big family.”

Junior, Strategic Communication

Union Student Leader Scholarship:
This scholarship seeks to identify and recognize student leaders whose involvement has contributed to building campus community and contributing to the overall mission of the Union.

Alisa Cloward

“The scholarship is a big opportunity, it gives me a chance to give back to the community in ways I wouldn’t be able to do and is helping me to become a better person.”

Junior, Business Administration

Union Student Leader Scholarship:
This scholarship seeks to identify and recognize student leaders whose involvement has contributed to building campus community and contributing to the overall mission of the Union.

Jose Morales Diaz

“I feel like this scholarship allows students like myself to feel motivated and one day give back to my community through helping sponsor other scholarships for deserving students.”

First Year Graduate Student, Educational Leadership

Maria Isabel Reyes Memorial Scholarship:
The Maria Isabel Reyes Memorial Scholarship provides a scholarship to assist a first-generation student whose commitment to creating an inclusive campus community has, or will, contribute to the overall mission of the Union.

Ghada Shehab

“Thank you donors for fostering this community and believing in us even when we don’t believe in ourselves. Giving students these opportunities really help advance the U as a community.”

Sophomore, Political Science

Refugees Connecting Our Community Union Scholarship:
This scholarship seeks to assist a refugee student whose community engagement and service have, or will contribute to the overall mission of the Union

Sinndy Rios

“This scholarship will allow me to help out a lot more with my community. I can focus on making a bigger difference with undocumented students in particular.”

Freshman, Political Science & Sociology

Dreamers Connecting Our Community Union Scholarship:
The Dream Center at the University of Utah Office of Engagement, in partnership with the Union, has provided this scholarship to assist Dreamers (undocumented students with or without DACA) whose community engagement and service have, or will contribute to the overall mission of the Dream Center.

Paola Cervantes

“Thank you so much for being a donor. This gives Dreamer students like me access to higher education and the ability to achieve our goals.”

High School Senior, International Studies

Dreamers Connecting Our Community Union Scholarship:
The Dream Center at the University of Utah Office of Engagement, in partnership with the Union, has provided this scholarship to assist Dreamers (undocumented students with or without DACA) whose community engagement and service have, or will contribute to the overall mission of the Dream Center.

Theron M. Henderson

Theron M. Henderson
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Receiving this scholarship means the world to me. I can focus solely on school and not worry about the associated expenses that come with college.”

First Year Graduate Student, Parks, Rec, & Tourism

American Indian Resource Center & Union Student Leader Scholarship:
The American Indian Resource Center, in partnership with the Union, has provided this scholarship to assist an American Indian student whose commitment to creating an inclusive campus community, has or will contribute to the overall mission of the Union.

Reyna Escalera Villegas

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I give you my word that I will work hard and make good use of this scholarship. Your kindness has inspired me to give back to the community even more.”

Junior, Social Work

Student Affairs Diversity Council & Union Student Leader Scholarship:
The Student Affairs Diversity Council, in partnership with the Union, has provided this scholarship to assist a student whose is committed to creating an inclusive campus community.

Caleb Meyer

“Thank you for letting me do more of what I love. This scholarship allows me to work less which means I get to see my son more.”

Senior, Exercise and Sports Science and Russian

Union Scholarship for Student Veteran Leadership:
The Veterans Support Center, in partnership with the Union, has provided this scholarship to assist student veterans whose involvement has or will contribute to the overall mission of the Veterans Support Center & the Union.

Gary Jarvis

“Thank you so much, I feel honored to receive this scholarship. It will really benefit my family.”

Freshman, Mechanical Engineering

Union Scholarship for Student Veteran Leadership:
The Veterans Support Center, in partnership with the Union, has provided this scholarship to assist student veterans whose involvement has or will contribute to the overall mission of the Veterans Support Center & the Union.

Baniel Pacheco

“I’m very thankful to the donors, this scholarship will mean I don’t have to pull out loans for next year. This takes a really heavy burden off.”

Sophomore, Religious Studies

Dining Services & Union Student Leader Scholarship:
The University of Utah Dining Services, in partnership with the Union, has provided this scholarship to assist a Dining Services student employee whose involvement has or will contribute to the overall mission of Dining Services & the Union.