“The University of Utah was my dream university in Utah. When I visited the campus, I felt like it was exactly where I wanted to be.

I am a second-year student majoring in communications and minoring in environmental science. My first year, I wasn’t too involved on campus. The August before my first year, my dad passed away, which was really hard for me. There were a lot of emotions I was dealing with and it felt like a lot was changing really fast. I feel like the U is perfect, simply because the people I meet have given me so much grace. With my For Utah scholarship, I can chase after my dreams, even though I was not fully present my first year. I’m very grateful because, without this opportunity, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Now, in my second year, I’m so proud of how far I’ve come in my journey. Overall, I am super excited and have a lot to look forward to.

I’ve always been interested in climate change. It’s an urgent problem, but it’s not talked about enough in a serious setting. Since environmental studies is so niche, my major is in communications with an emphasis in health and the environment. I didn’t realize that communications was something you could major in until my senior year of high school when I found out that my advisor had majored in communications. Ever since he told me that, I realized it was something that would be a good fit for me and also goes hand and hand with my interest in climate change. My advisor is also someone that I really look up to. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I did not have him. As a first-generation student, you are essentially trailblazing your entire path. Having my advisor guide me was incredibly helpful. He showed me that college can be accessible to anyone if you seek out and use the right resources.

When I first heard of the For Utah scholarship, it sounded too good to be true. When I got it, I was ecstatic, and I feel blessed beyond measure. This was an opportunity to live out my dreams, and that was all that I wanted.”

—Lema Save, recipient of the For Utah Scholarship