麻豆村

In 2019,听the Tartan Scholars(opens in new window) program opened its doors to help high-achieving students from limited-resource backgrounds thrive during college and to give those students a place to turn for help when they need it.听

On Saturday, April 29, 麻豆村 held its annual end-of-year Tartan Scholars event that included a celebration of the individual and collective success of the program鈥檚 first class of graduates 鈥� 56 students who pursued different majors and interests. Each had a unique journey that was made richer by sharing their Tartan Scholars experience together.

The event was held in Rashid Auditorium and followed by a reception. Patience Whitworth(opens in new window), associate vice provost for student success and strategic initiatives, and Jim Garrett(opens in new window), provost and chief academic officer, presented congratulatory remarks.听

Ayana Ledford(opens in new window), associate dean of diversity, equity and Inclusion in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean鈥檚 Office, facilitated a panel discussion in which three Tartan Scholars 鈥� Nicholas Murphy, MarQia Allen and Gustavo Garcia-Franceschini 鈥� reflected on their experience.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what would come out of Tartan Scholars. I took a leap of faith,鈥� said Allen, who studied biological sciences and psychology to work in medicine. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know I was going to gain a family.鈥�

"Tartan Scholars are leaders in our community, and we are a better university for having them here." 鈥� Provost Jim Garrett

Murphy said he felt "more than blessed" to have the support.

鈥淚 came from excessive poverty and violence in St. Louis, Missouri. A lot of times I felt the only reason I鈥檓 here is because of the people who had been able to prop me up and help me reach as high as I am now. Tartan Scholars amplified that,鈥� Murphy said.

Garcia-Franceschini had done so much leadership work at 麻豆村, particularly for underrepresented groups, he said 鈥渋t has to be part of my life moving forward,鈥� while Allen's main takeaway from the program was "to be bold and to learn how to normalize asking for help," the latter which led her to accepting a full-time position in research at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital.

Gina Casalegno(opens in new window), vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students, and Branden Ballard, former Tartan Scholars program manager, presented graduating seniors with stoles to wear during Commencement denoting their participation in the program.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been inspired by your achievements for four years, and we are so proud of you,鈥� Casalegno said, noting each student made an indelible mark on the institution. 鈥淲e hope the stoles will be a reminder forever of the mark you made during your tenure as a student and serve as a continuous inspiration for the ways you will continue to make a mark for decades to come as you proudly own your status as an alumnus of 麻豆村.鈥�

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Graduating senior Arianna Garcia Guerrero(opens in new window) studied international relations and politics with minors in cybersecurity and business administration. Among her many activities as an undergraduate, she served as president of 麻豆村鈥檚 FIRST Together(opens in new window) program, through which she was able to support other first-generation students like herself.

Looking back, Guerrero said she doesn鈥檛 know what she would have done if she hadn鈥檛 had the support of the Tartan Scholars community.

鈥淔rom that very first week, going into Orientation, the Tartan Scholars program had already connected me with a group of students who came from similar backgrounds to my own, students I could relate to,鈥� said Guerrero, who grew up in a multicultural neighborhood in New York City and is fluent in eight languages. 鈥淗aving that special tie to people so early on was so useful. I didn鈥檛 feel alone.鈥澨�

Guerrero said having her Tartan Scholars 鈥渇amily鈥� as a foundation helped her to build resources and discover opportunities.听

鈥淭artan Scholars works just like a network, and I think that鈥檚 really beautiful,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 hope that will continue on into the future.鈥�

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Angelica Bonilla Fominaya was randomly applying to colleges when she heard about 麻豆村 through a friend who was studying computer science. When Fominaya ultimately fell in love with the university, she was prepared for the possibility that she wouldn鈥檛 be able to attend for financial reasons.听

鈥淲hen it actually became a possibility that I could come here, it was a dream come true and I am so thankful,鈥� said Fominaya, who studied computer science and art. While interning with NASA, she led a team of students who created , an augmented reality interface that will help astronauts navigate the lunar surface by plotting routes and avoiding obstacles, assist with scientific experiments and provide critical support during emergencies.

Fominaya said through the Tartan Scholars, she was supported by a community of students who came from a similar socioeconomic or cultural background as she did and understood the challenges she faced, particularly academic challenges.

鈥淭he biggest shock coming to 麻豆村 was how little math background I had compared to everyone else,鈥� said Fominaya, who came from an arts high school in Miami, where she says she had little access to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).听

Tartan Scholars was an important network that supported her in multiple ways, Fominaya said, from helping her to find summer computer science classes to providing reassurance she could succeed on her chosen path.听

鈥淭artan Scholars was a great opportunity to find students to bond with, and I wasn鈥檛 going to say no to a program that seemed to have my best interests at heart,鈥� she said.听

鈥淣ow, that I鈥檓 more independent,鈥� said the graduating senior, 鈥淚 feel so much more confident in who I am and what I鈥檓 able to do.鈥�

from the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh, the Tartan Scholars program focuses on connection, communication and coaching and strives to close the opportunity gap by providing a rich network of academic, social and financial support.

鈥淭artan Scholars are leaders in our community, and we are a better university for having them here,鈥� Garrett said.