Giving Day Stories of Impact

Every gift makes a difference. Your support and engagement in UTSA Giving Day will create greater educational opportunities for our undergraduate and graduate students. These inspiring stories of philanthropy represent the impact of your generosity.

Abigail Munteanu

“Having these donors is the reason I can keep motivating myself to work hard. They are investing in me, and I understand this is a wonderful opportunity I’ve been given.”

Read Abigail's Story

Natalie Malluru

“Through the Top Scholar program, through the financial support, I’ve really been able to carve out my own unique experiences and do things because I’m intrinsically motivated to do them.”

Read Natalie's Story

Dillan Graham

“I’ve had to take out loans and work part-time jobs throughout my entire academic career. The fact that I’m able to get scholarships really makes it where I can focus on the actual schoolwork, and it’s really the most important time for that since I’m doing my master’s project this semester.”

Read Dillan's Story

Courtney McMahon

“I would like to thank them for their support and for realizing how important research in brain health is. And I love that they are giving to rising researchers. We are always going to need more scientists, so anybody who is helping to encourage early career scientists is very important.”

Read Courtney's Story

Priscilla Okolie

“It’s really just understanding who they’re giving to – it’s students. We are their legacy, and it’s important to make sure that they highlight and amplify that legacy – and protect it.”

Read Priscilla's Story

Selina Angel

“The financial support was great, because I work so much to pay for school. Having the scholarship let me cut back on work and to focus on my studies more.”

Read Selina's Story

Trinity Schaefer

“If you ever wonder whether what you do is making an impact on the students, just know it absolutely is for every one of us. For some of us it’s the difference in making it all the way through college and not making it through."

Read Trinity's Story

Zack Dunn

“Without the law school academy there is no Penn Law, there is no job at a law firm. There is no career. It really meant that much to me.”

Read Zack's Story

Jesus Guillen

“Keep striving, never settle. That was the advice my parents gave me, and I thank God I have such supportive and amazing parents who pushed me to do my best. That’s why I am where I am today, but even then, I continue thinking that I could do more, always do more, never be satisfied.”

Read Jesus' Story

John Wynkoop

“Being part of that first band was absolutely amazing. Two hundred-plus students – just a big group of band nerds coming onto the field together for the first time, not knowing each other, but knowing that we all love music. We come together for this whole week at band campus, and we turn into a big family immediately.”

Read John's Story