The UMBC Alumni Association is pleased to offer scholarships to outstanding current UMBC undergraduate students. This year, the Alumni Association was proud to award scholarships to four deserving students. Eligible students may apply for general and legacy scholarships worth up to $1,500. Applicants for general scholarships must:
Be a rising senior scheduled to graduate in the 2011-2012 academic year
- Have completed at least one semester of study at UMBC
- Have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
- Have unmet financial need
Applicants for the Legacy Scholarship must:
- Be the child or grandchild of a UMBC graduate
- Be a degree-seeking undergraduate student with at least 45 credits
- Have completed at least one semester of study at UMBC
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Demonstrate campus or community leadership and involvement
The 2011-2012 winners are…
Melanie Dell ’12 (Legacy Scholarship), English
Melanie has a passion for knowledge and encouraging others to pursue research. As the editor of the UMBC Review: Journal of Undergraduate Research, she reads, selects and edits undergraduate research papers from various disciplines. She has also worked at the Catonsville Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library for more than five years, which has helped her in identifying her own career goals. Melanie plans to pursue a master’s degree in Library and Information Science, with a goal of attaining a managerial librarian position in a prominent public library system. Her father is Dwayne Dell ’82 Visual & Performing Arts.
Jatnna Fortuna ’11, Psychology
Jatnna is currently an AmeriCorps member, working with middle school students who have been identified as high risk for gang involvement. She teaches life skills, tutors these students, monitors their grades, and serves as a role model for them. After graduation, she would like to work as a school social worker while also earning her master’s degree in Clinical Social Work, helping to fill the need she sees for more mental health professionals in the schools.
Gift Jayakar ’12, Biology
Gift keeps himself busy with involvement in the Tennis Club, Relay for Life, Student Government Association, and many service-learning experiences through The Shriver Center. Underlying all his involvement is a deep interest in helping others and effecting change in the community. Gift has completed more than 800 hours of community service during his five semesters at UMBC and plans to continue this service through the rest of his time here. He plans to attend medical school in the fall of 2012, with a career goal of becoming a cardiologist.
Paige Khoury ’12, Dance
With a dream of becoming a professional dancer, Paige will graduate in May 2012 with a degree in dance and a minor in psychology. She is a Linehan Artist Scholar as well as a resident assistant and Community Action Board member through Residential Life. Being a resident assistant has helped Paige develop a strong desire to help others, especially those going through difficult times. Within the year following her graduation, she hopes to join the Peace Corps or the Mennonite Volunteer Service in order to serve others abroad before continuing on toward her goal of dancing professionally.
Learn more about the scholarships or make a gift to support them!
