Ali Al-Tharwan
Zarqa, Jordan
PepsiCo Foundation ExCEL Award, 2010
When you take a look at any person's life, you see that they have goals they want to achieve, and for which they study and work. Arriving at those goals -- a good life, happiness – is more valuable than any amount of money. But during the attempt to get there, waves of adversity send you back, and you have to imagine a strong wind from behind, pushing you toward your dreams. Growing up poor, in a poor suburb, in a poor city made my dreams very distant. Read More>
Cristina del Arco
Salamanca, Spain
PepsiCo Foundation ExCEL Award, 2010
I first applied for this scholarship when I started my studies at university. Each school year since, it has helped me study Physical Therapy. Now, I am moving from Salamanca to Madrid to study for my Master's Degree. I am so grateful that this scholarship is still helping me fulfill my dream.
Catia Ferreira
Trofa, Portugal
PepsiCo EXCEL Scholarship, 2009
According to my knowledge, I am the first and only Portuguese person to have the privilege of receiving a PepsiCo Excel Scholarship. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to keep studying and to reach my goals of completing my degree in Accountancy and Administration, following onto a Masters Degree and applying for the position of Inspector of Accounts. I want to take advantage of every opportunity in my studies, and acquire as much knowledge as I possibly can to be in the world of business. The meaning of this scholarship is that it will enable me to follow and complete my dream of academic achievement!
Jeffrey Leavitt
Toronto, Ontario
Baxter International Scholarship, 2008
When I first received my scholarship I was ecstatic, because I had realized my hard work throughout high school had paid off. It is incredibly nice to be rewarded for trying your best. I really have to thank Baxter International for helping me along my educational and career path. My scholarship helped me get into and stay at the school I wanted to go to. I am currently working in an advertising position at EngWeek, which is a committee that organizes events to bring the engineers at my school closer together and raise money for the Engineering Society. Throughout university, I've realized the new challenges that face me, and how wonderful it is to know that it is possible to see your hard work come to fruition.
Felipe Leite
Sorocaba, Brazil
PepsiCo Foundation ExCEL Award, 2009
I am from a lower-middle class family of five people. My father doesn't earn a lot and hasn't had the opportunity of studying in an undergraduate program. My mother has a degree, but she had to leave her job to take care of me and my two brothers. When I finished high school, I applied for a Brazilian government program that gives scholarships to students who achieve the best grades on their ENEM (national high school exam) and can't afford to pay for college. Read More>
Cyril Slavcev
Prague, Czech Republic
Baxter International Foundation Scholarship Program, 2010
I firmly believe that everybody should have the possibility of receiving a good education. Unfortunately, not all of us have the same possibilities, whether because of economic conditions or family background. That's why I highly appreciate the existence of generous organizations that provide access to a university for students who want to learn something new and extend their views and future prospects. Money should not hinder anyone from receiving the education they wish for, and this program proves that if there is a will, there is a way -- if we are prepared to follow our dreams at any rate, almost everything is possible. Read More>
Jose Alberto Ramirez Tamayo
Guanajuato, Mexico
PepsiCo Foundation ExCEL Award, 2008
Studying a BA Program and having a career have always been part of my life goals, and every step of my education has confirmed that big wish to continue learning. I have never stopped being fascinated by the study of the human being and the world where he lives, and I have always questioned the 'why' of things – that may be the main motivation for my choice to study philosophy. One of the hardest decisions in education is deciding how to define the course of your life; how to define the answer to 'what do you do'? This entry to university comes with an environment of economic, social, family and geographical aspects; when I was to begin my BA program, the economic factor was not favorable. Read More>
Hande Yildirimkaya
Istanbul, Turkey
PepsiCo Foundation ExCEL Award, 2007-10
I am studying Industrial Engineering at Kadir Has University in Turkey, thanks to the PepsiCo Foundation and Scholarship America. In 2007, I learned about this scholarship thanks to my father. After a few months, I not only passed the university exam to be admitted to Kadir Has University, but learned that I received this scholarship. When I was a child, I dreamed of being an engineer, and I will reach this dream thanks to Scholarship America. Read More>
