Thanks to your continuing generosity over the years, we are very pleased to announce that this year, RFSA is awarding a total of $50,000 in scholarships to 20 accomplished UT students! Each student is selected by the Office of Student Financial Services on the basis of academic merit and financial need and will receive $2,500 for the year. RFSA has been awarding these scholarships every year since 1988, but this was a banner year for our program, and we expect it to continue to grow. These scholarships are funded by the earnings of an endowment with a market value of $680,122 (as of 6/30/2016). Available income from that fund varies, depending on prevailing interest rates and market conditions.
Our 2016-17 RFSA recipients are shown below, along with their amazing and inspirational responses.
In addition to undesignated donations, the scholarship endowment benefits from gifts made in memory or honor of family, friends and colleagues; in celebration of particular events; and estate donations. Please consider making a contribution to the scholarship fund – it will make a difference in a student’s life!
Contributions, made payable to “The University of Texas at Austin”, may be mailed to: Carol Barrett, RFSA Coordinator, Texas Exes, P.O. Box 7278, Austin, TX 78713. Or to donate online, go to: http://giving.utexas.edu/RFSA2012 and complete the information requested. If you are donating in honor or memory of a person or event, write that information in the “notes” section.
Jacqueline Falcon 
What does receiving a scholarship mean to you?
Receiving a scholarship means a lot of things to me: opportunity, faith, and commitment. Coming from a socioeconomically disadvantaged background, getting a scholarship means that I can continue to pursue my dream of graduating college with a degree. It gives me the opportunity to show the world my talents and commitment to education. It gives me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of becoming a physician and giving back to my community. Getting a scholarship means that someone out in the world had faith in me and my abilities to conquer my challenges and put the scholarship to good use. They believed I could contribute to society and make a change as a student in college. Finally, getting a scholarship means commitment to respecting the donors’ help by making sure to stay focused and motivated to complete what the scholarship meant to help me with in the first place—graduating college with a degree and motivating others to do so as well.
Outside of class, what are your interests – hobbies, volunteer work, etc.?
Outside of class I enjoy volunteering on behalf of my organization, Texas Interdisciplinary Plan Community Outreach, where I am the current Treasurer and former Volunteer Director. I enjoy family-oriented events, such as Family Play Day and HopeFest, where I get to interact with people and help out the community at the same time. I make sure to volunteer at least twice a month. I also enjoy going out with my friends to the movies, the mall, and out to dinner. Our personal favorite locations include Alamo Drafthouse, Regal Cinemas, Barton Creek Mall, Pluckers and Texas Roadhouse. However, I also love to bake and read fiction books in my downtime. My friends love my Philadelphia Mousse Cheesecake the most, and, surprisingly, it placed 3rd at a Charity Bake-off competition! My favorite book genre is Sci-fi/Fantasy and my favorite book are the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. I love being creative, so I enjoy helping friends with art projects and posters, and I absolutely enjoy playing the clarinet. Though I haven’t played in a few years, I am still very involved with my high school band and make sure to go to their competitions to show support. I love recruiting for the University of Texas at Austin back in my hometown during winter break and I feel very accomplished when I can get a student or two to consider the university for their secondary education.
If you had two extra hours in a day, what would you do?
If I had two extra hours in a day I would make a trip down to Rio Grande City, TX and have a good time with my family. I feel like I don’t see them enough and I would kill to have a moment to relax by the pool and cook some good barbecue while my father sings on the karaoke and my mother tells me about her friends/co-workers at the school cafeteria. I would like to sit down with my brother and talk about all the shows on TV while my niece and nephew learn how to swim in the pool. If I had two extra hours in a day I would totally spend it doing this. I can already smell the barbecue and hear the excitement in the air.
Once again, thank you so much for the opportunity. Please let me know if you need any additional information and I would be delighted to respond as soon as possible. Thanks!
Best,
Jacqueline Falcon
Human Development & Family Sciences|College of Natural Sciences
T.I.P.C.O.|Treasurer
University of Texas at Austin ’17
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Jessica Goldwater
1) What does receiving a scholarship mean to you?
This scholarship means that I am one step closer to realizing my dream of completing my pre-medical degree at the University of Texas at Austin. Without scholarship patrons willing to support medical education, students such as myself would be unable to pursue advanced health care degrees. I look forward to a long career providing OB/GYN healthcare to underserved communities in Texas. I would like to create a practice that provides the best medical care available while respecting the patient’s wishes and making them feel included in the decision making process.
2) Outside of class, what are your interests – hobbies, volunteer work, etc.?
When I am not too busy with classwork, I have a passion for all art. I like to draw or visit museums. I am also very interested in Astronomy and would like to visit the McDonald Observatory again. I visited it once while completing a summer internship at the UT Center for Space Research, but it was cloudy the night we were there. Hopefully this summer I can make another trip to there when the conditions are more favorable.
3) If you had two extra hours in a day, what would you do?
If I had two extra hours in a day, I would spend it on homework. I always feel like I could have studied more, researched more, or written more. There never seems to be enough time to do everything as well as I would like. I would also find a place where I could intern or volunteer as a doula or in some other health related capacity.
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Emily Nguyen 
What does receiving a scholarship mean to me?
To me, receiving a scholarship means that someone, whether it be a donor or the school or the state, is invested in my education and wishes to see me succeed and get a degree. This is an incredibly humbling experience, and it motivates me to do better in school in order to not disappoint those who have decided to help me with my financial burdens.
Outside of class, what are my interests, hobbies, volunteer work?
I do not have a solid hobby or interest. Or, rather, I don’t have a conventional hobby. My hobby is finding funny people or things in life and, using those as inspiration, creating my own humor that will make the people around me smile or laugh. I like to spend my time making people feel less stressed and happier, and I find that being goofy helps me do that.
If I had two extra hours in a day, what would I do?
I would spend that time making friends and maintaining strong relationships with those I am currently involved with. School takes a lot of time out of my social life, and I would love to be able to have a special time set aside each day just for talking to people and catching up with them or learning more about them.
I would like to quickly thank you for this scholarship, and I will do my best to succeed in the future as thanks for this gift.
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Julissa R. Castilleja 
What does receiving a scholarship mean to you?
To alleviate my parents from their expenses and to help myself get a step closer to achieving my goal of becoming a doctor, I try to apply to rewarding programs and scholarship opportunities. It means so much to me knowing that my parents have smaller amount to pay for my education.
Outside of class, what are your interests – hobbies, volunteer work, etc.?
I enjoy playing soccer and dancing. I am the Social Director of Hispanic Health Professions Organization and I am in charge of organizing social events, so I enjoy spending time with friends and other members of the organization. Together, we volunteer at a nursing home here in Austin, TX.
If you had two extra hours in a day, what would you do?
This question depends on the day. If it was a busy day, I’d enjoy another two hours of sleep. If it was a regular day, I’d spend the two hours exploring Austin and trying food from a restaurant new to me.
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Tarek El-Afifi 
What does receiving a scholarship mean to you?
Being selected to receive this scholarship is an honor. I have spent the past four years working incredibly hard so I can have a successful career and having the financial assistance you have provided so I can focus more on my schoolwork.
Outside of class, what are your interests – hobbies, volunteer work, etc.?
I love to go on distance runs and play soccer in my free time. I also spent the past three years choreographing a traditional middle eastern dance team as well.
If you had two extra hours in a day, what would you do?
I would definitely take longer naps!
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Manuel Diaz 
What does receiving a scholarship mean to you?
This scholarship will help pay for my living expenses and allow me to concentrate on school. I want to mention that this scholarship is more than just financial support to help pay for my education it is motivation and that is worth more than all the money in the world. In other words I see this scholarship as a reflection of my tenacity to succeed no matter what against all odds. It might take many years of hard work, but somehow I will see it through. I hope to prove to you that investing this scholarship in me was more than worth it as it will now be part of my motivation to keep following my quest for answers.
Outside of class, what are your interests – hobbies, volunteer work, etc.?
Besides school I am most kept busy by being a neurodiversity advocate. Neurodiversity advocacy means that I promote a paradigm shift from the dominant viewpoint in the world that Nick Walker calls the pathology paradigm to the neurodiversity paradigm. The pathology paradigm basically says that there is such a thing as “normal” or a “normal range” in which human brains should function. If you don’t fall into what is categorized as “normal,” then you have some kind of disorder. By shifting to the neurodiversity paradigm, you no longer believe that there is a correct or “normal” way for brains to function. It was in college that I became fully aware of my internalized ableism, or self-hatred, due to not being like everyone else. I found myself trying to pass as a neurotypical and failing. By seeing things through the lens of the neurodiversity paradigm, I accepted myself as Autistic because I understood that I am just a member of a neurominority and that there is nothing wrong with me. I want to help others make that same realization, and I want to change the hateful message this society ingrains not just in neurominorities, but in disabled people in general. Part of my advocacy is done through my blog called Neurodivergencia Latina. Another part is done through the student organization here at UT Austin called Texas Neurodiversity and the Longhorn Autism Alliance. As president and founder of Texas Neurodiversity, and together with the organization’s other officers I help educate the student population about neurocognitive variants as well as host events like sensory friendly concerts. And well, between school and my advocacy I am kept pretty busy, but when I find time there are a few things I like to do. I love listening to music. I’m also a hardcore Dragon Ball fan, and I always make time to watch new Dragon Ball Super episodes. I also like weightlifting a lot, and I practice a bit of boxing as well. I do like to go on walks, especially when I am in an “imaginative state of mind.” It really is a very wonderful experience to be in that state and to walk at the same time because it is both soothing and stimulating. And I think the most satisfying type of activity when I cannot get my Kinetic (“ADHD”) brain to pay attention is dancing, especially to Latinx music.
If you had two extra hours in a day, what would you do?
My best friend and I usually whenever we can go to a Tapioca place that I really like. And we have long conversations about physics, mathematics, or science in general. If I had two extra hours in a day, I would love to be able to do that. I would also love to talk to everyone about the “miracles” found in mathematics and physics because they are something most people never get to experience, and I want everyone to get a glimpse of these things.
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Anna Hiran 
What does receiving a scholarship mean to you?
Receiving the RFSA scholarship has allowed me to focus more time on excelling in my classes rather than worrying about tuition and the cost of living my senior year. I cannot thank the RFSA enough for helping me finish college on a high note. I am now motivated more than ever to work hard upon graduation as I pursue a career in business and to give back to UT in the future to help students achieve their academic goals. I feel fortunate to be a recipient of this scholarship and am incredibly appreciative of the generous support and encouragement.
Outside of class, what are your interests – hobbies, volunteer work, etc.?
I am passionate about government, politics, and civic engagement. During my time at UT, I had the opportunity to intern at the Texas State Capitol and hope to one day be able to contribute to the community through public service. I like to say that my head may be more business-oriented, but my heart is in helping others through service, whether that be other students or the community on a broader scale. I served as a member of the UT Student Government and as an undergraduate fellow at the UT Center for Politics & Governance, and I strongly believe it is important for students to become informed about relevant legislation and the impact government has on our everyday lives. In addition, I am serving on the Business Honors Program’s Make-A-Mark campaign committee this year to fundraise scholarships for incoming Business Honors students. The campaign will help relieve some of the financial burden college places on many families, and I am personally grateful to have had some of that burden relieved through scholarships.
If you had two extra hours in a day, what would you do?
I would love to get more time to read incorporated into my daily life! While I do read for classes and keep up with the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, I miss being able to sit down with a good book and letting my mind expand with creativity. I truly believe that more reading helps you become a more whole person, and I feel it is particularly important for my generation to detach from social media every now and then to connect with a story that pours out of the pages of a good book.
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Kaylen Parker 
1. Receiving a scholarship means being able to create architecture models without worrying about how much money I will spend on materials. This give me the ability to create beautiful models every time.
2. Outside of class time, I love to dance, read and workout. I am a member of Steel Dance Company here on campus and I volunteer for various interior design events in Austin.
3. If I had two more hours in each day I would spend them reading.
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Mark Teffeteller 
What does receiving a scholarship mean to you?
Receiving a scholarship is brings up a mixture of emotions. The first emotion I experienced whenever I found out that I was awarded this scholarship was sheer relief. Balancing work, school, and extracurricular activities can be very exhausting, and making money is one of the more stressful things to worry about, and this award significantly eases the stress and allows me breathing room. The second feeling that I experienced was pride. This is because I knew that I had to work extremely hard to be recognized as a potential recipient, and seeing that others recognize this is very fulfilling. Lastly, and most importantly, I experience extreme gratitude. A monetary gift as generous as this has helped make my life more efficient and fun, and allows me to focus on what matters the most.
Outside of class, what are your interests – hobbies, volunteer work, etc.?
My favorite thing to do in the world is travel. My mom was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina and I am lucky enough to get to visit once every year or so, and cherish those times very much. Given this background, I also love to play soccer. I have been the captain of many teams in my life and am currently an intramural champion going for a second year win. I also teach soccer classes to little kids on the weekends. What I am most interested in is technology. I study MIS and work at the SWAT desk at McCombs, so I enjoy learning something new about technology every single day.
If you had two extra hours in a day, what would you do?
Get a dog and play guitar. I know this sounds weird but I would love to have a dog, but I don’t have enough time in my day to take care of it. 2 hours would allow me to give my doggo plenty of exercise every day. And I also used to play a lot of guitar, but unfortunately haven’t had as much time to do so lately!
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Priyanka Patel 
Receiving this scholarship is such a privilege and I truly appreciate it!
Outside of class I like to explore Austin, volunteer at local schools and shelters, and participate in some of my organization events.
If I had two extra hours in a day, I would love to give back to the community!
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Vincent Truong 
What does receiving a scholarship mean to you?
Receiving this scholarship means a bit of weight lifted off my shoulder. It means that I know a have a lot more room to breathe when paying next month’s rent. Having that helping hand makes me feel like what I’m doing with my life is appreciated and that there are those out there who want to help me to succeed. I feel that it is my obligation then, to make sure those who support me know that their support isn’t misplaced. I will continue to work my hardest in order to achieve my goals so that I too can one day help others.
Outside of class, what are your interests – hobbies, volunteer work, etc.?
Outside of the classroom, I spend my weekends working as a pharmacy technician at a local pharmacy serving patients by filling their prescriptions and dealing with their insurance information. I’m also working in a research lab focused on finding more effective treatments for anxiety. On top of this, I have a love of martial arts and have had experience in several martial arts in my life time including Taekwondo, Vovinam, and Karate. I also love Disney–especially Donald Duck.
If you had two extra hours in a day, what would you do?
With an extra couple hours a day, I’d make sure I get a more adequate amount of sleep for the next day. In addition to this, I’d spend more time focusing on my interests in martial arts rather than on work, research, and school.
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Danny Kim 
By receiving this scholarship I am able to further my education without worrying about putting financial strain on my parents and myself, letting me focus more on my studies.
Outside of class, I enjoy playing football, basketball, playing guitar, and also volunteering at soup kitchens.
If I had 2 more hours in my day, I would probably spend those 2 hours going to the gym and playing some basketball as a way to destress since I don’t really find time to do so these days.
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Roger Lam 
1. What does receiving a scholarship mean to you?
Receiving a scholarship means that I can take calculated risks with my college experience rather than working a steady part time job. In the past, I have interned at startups, co-founded a new student service organization, and underwent an unpaid internship in China.
2. Outside of class, what are your interests – hobbies, volunteer work, etc.?
Reading with children, writing short stories, meeting business leaders, public speaking, watching TED talks, graphic design
3. If you had two extra hours in a day, what would you do?
Finish writing the children’s book I have been working on for the past year
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Erinn Wright 
This scholarships means the world to me because it has helped give me the world. It is motivation to continue to relentlessly and fearlessly pursue my dreams.
Outside of class, I love running, country music, art museums, trying new foods, painting, and working with kids. If I had two extra hours each day, I would spend more time pursuing these interests, and more time volunteering in the community or exploring somewhere I have never been.
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Hannah Cruz 
What does receiving a scholarship mean to you?
To me, receiving this scholarship means I am able to worry less about the financial side of my education. I can focus on the real reason I am here, and get everything I can out of my classes this year. This scholarship is helping me become much closer to my career goals and the future I want to myself and my family.
Outside of class, what are your interests – hobbies, volunteer work, etc.?
Outside of class, I have a huge passion for visual arts. I love painting and creating in any form I can! I am also currently a volunteer at the Austin Animal Shelter. This particular opportunity is very important to me because of my love for animals. As a busy college student, I don’t have enough time to have a pet right now, and volunteering gives me a way to put my love toward animals and families looking to adopt.
If you had two extra hours in a day, what would you do?
In all honesty, if I had two extra hours in a day, I think I would use that time to sleep! The joke that college students never sleep is real and I would just love to have a little more of this luxury.
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Jasmine Valencia 
What does receiving a scholarship mean to you?
I am putting myself through school, with no financial aid from my family, so this scholarship tremendously helps me to even have the ability attend this great school and get my degree. When I graduate, I will be the second person in my family, after my mother, to get a degree and that is a very important goal of mine. Receiving this scholarship means, I am on the right track in what it takes to reach my goals.
Outside of class, what are your interests – hobbies, volunteer work, etc.?
Outside of my studies, I have many hobbies, which include writing poetry and journaling, not necessarily to share with the world, but for my own benefit. I also like to volunteer at Austin’s local domestic violence victims’ shelter called Safe Place. Most of my time, I like to find new food places to try and go on adventures with my twelve year old dog. My interests range from social issues like the Black Lives Matter movement and women’s equality, to fashion coverage from Vogue and other magazine publications.
If you had two extra hours in a day, what would you do?
I would like to say that in the two hours I could come up with something to change the world for women, that I could create a platform for women to share their stories of their journeys to become successful. That is a goal I have set in mind. The reality though is very different from my dreams, so anything I would want to a accomplish would take more than two extra hours to have dedicated to that goal. Instead, right now working, studying, and trying to gain life experiences, I would use those two extra hours to dedicate more time to myself, so that in the future I can achieve those goals with the right mindset.
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Maria Rodriguez
I am delighted to have been chosen to receive this scholarship because as a nursing student, my time is mainly devoted to my studies and I only have opportunity to work part time. This generous contrition has helped me be a step closer in fulfilling my educational journey in the healthcare field and make a difference in people’s lives.
My interests outside of class are to volunteer with the organizations that I’m involved in such as Hispanic Nursing Students Association and Intervarsity La Fe Fellowship. I also enjoy going on long distance runs on ladybird lake, exercising, baking desserts, knitting, and spending time with my family.
If I had two extra hours in a day, I would definitely try to use them wisely by getting more sleep because sometimes having 24 hours a day is just not enough for a busy college student!
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Jailyn Pena 
Receiving this scholarship is a humbling experience that I am incredibly grateful for. The support that this scholarship represents from retired UT faculty and staff is truly overwhelming to me, and inspires me to continue to strive for excellence during my academic career.
Outside of the classroom, I enjoy oil painting, creative writing, and rock climbing with friends. I also teach at a homestead camp in the summers. There I work with children ages five to twelve, teaching them basic cooking skills and green building concepts and strategies through hands on experience. I am passionate about this camp because it offers a unique, personal experience at an affordable price to young children to create an interest in sustainable living.
If I had two extra hours in a day, I would spend them with my family. I have two younger brothers, ages nine and 12 and I strive to be a strong presence in their lives.
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