Saint Louis University Scholarship Recipient Profiles
You Can Be the Reason SLU Students Excel
When you support Saint Louis University, you not only help alleviate financial burdens for students but also unlock doors to boundless opportunities. Each student’s college and career aspirations are fueled by the exceptional generosity of people who believe in the power of education to shape tomorrow's leaders. Donors like you are the catalysts who propel SLU students toward realizing their fullest potential and are the reason they can shape a brighter future for themselves and society as a whole.
Meet the Students You Support
You are why students of all economic backgrounds can access Saint Louis University's world-class Jesuit education, and the profound impact of your gift may be best understood through the eyes of our many scholarship recipients.
Meet just a few Billikens who benefit from your support below and learn how gifts to SLU advanced their college and career goals.
McKenna Smith credits her scholarship with giving her the freedom to lead as co-president of her class, conduct research and coach a Girls on the Run St. Louis team twice a week, without the stress of working to cover tuition. She sees these experiences as critical to building the leadership skills she will need to be a more effective physician.
Jesús Quiñones Pares decided to make a midcareer professional pivot after working at Casa de Salud, a St. Louis health and mental health clinic serving uninsured and underinsured immigrants and refugees, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspired by that experience, he began pursuing his passion for becoming a healthcare attorney.
Thanks to donor support, Anna Durfey has had to navigate fewer financial pressures, giving her more time to engage in her studies and service activities.
Prosperity Meade started SLU working to pay part of her tuition herself. Scholarships allowed her to spend more time studying and enjoying student life on campus. Learn how donor dollars helped transform this nursing student's SLU experience.
Eric Piening’s affinity for science and service led him to pursue a premed curriculum at Saint Louis University. His experiences here are not only deepening those passions but also preparing him for a lifetime of serving others in his community. Donors help make it possible.
Even when Gael Cosgaya’s parents had nothing, his family was able to contribute something, the Saint Louis University junior says. That lesson in giving and not counting the cost influenced Gael’s faith and educational pursuits, including his decision to attend SLU, work hard and give whatever he can to others.
Financial support from donors allowed Malaisyah Vann to explore and find the right fit. Although she came in as a psychology major, she said exploring classes like Issues in Corrections and Issues in Jurisprudence allowed her to contemplate laws and how they affect people. Without scholarships, however, she may never have been able to explore those options.
Thanks to the generosity of SLU donors, Caroline Kaczmarek can continue her volunteer efforts without worrying about balancing academics with a part-time job. She can work to improve lives without being overwhelmed by the cost of medical school.
The generosity of SLU donors is helping Faith Whatley-Blaine graduate with less student debt, allowing her to prioritize her goal of helping others instead of choosing a concentration based solely on income.
SLU’s nationally ranked, five-year bachelor’s-to-master’s track for occupational therapy and meaningful service opportunities caught Mariangela Acosta's attention. As an advocate, Acosta is frequently invited to speak to peer groups where she shares what it’s like to be a Deaf student in a hearing community.
When Esme Garcia, a first-generation college student who identifies as Latina, witnessed the impactful connections her elementary school teacher made with each student, she was inspired to follow in her footsteps. Now a senior in Saint Louis University’s School of Education, she aspires to create a welcoming environment for her future students, regardless of their background.
SLU LAW's Civil Advocacy Clinic clients are often isolated and experiencing trauma. Working with lawyers who resemble them can make a difference, says Jaylen Riley, president of the SLU Black Law Students' Association. Financial assistance that increases access to higher education helps make that possible.
As a first-generation college student and the oldest of three children, Emma Kidwell’s most significant concerns about attending SLU focused on affordability without incurring substantial debt, balancing work and her classes and saving enough money to attend graduate school. Thanks to SLU’s donors, she received the financial support she needed to fulfill her aspirations.
Before going to college, Miit Shah, a Saint Louis University public health major on a premed path, worried about the amount of loans he’d have to take out for his education and how he would pay them back after completing his degree. Scholarship support allowed him to prioritize his goals.
Ann Kelly says you never know where life is going to take you. A student in SLU's School for Professional Studies' Leadership and Organizational Behavior program, Kelly will be the first in her family to graduate with a traditional college degree, but her path to becoming a Billiken wasn’t direct.
Patients come from all backgrounds. Doctors should too, says Larry Yang (MED '24). But in medical schools and the medical field, diversity is not always well represented, often due to cost as a barrier to entry, said Yang, a past recipient of the Mr. and Mrs. Roland Pattillo Endowed Scholarship.
Make a Meaningful Impact
Are you considering a contribution to Saint Louis University? Explore your options for giving, including sustaining gift options.