TIAA and 1,000 Dreams Fund Announce Local Winners of New Scholarship and Mentorship Program

National nonprofit 1,000 Dreams Fund (1DF) has partnered with financial services leader TIAA to create the Bold Futures Scholarship, an initiative designed to empower students pursuing careers business, technology and finance. The scholarship removes financial obstacles by funding key educational expenses, including exam application fees, training programs and textbooks.

Ten hardworking winners from the metropolitan areas of Charlotte, N.C., and Frisco, Texas, have been selected to receive scholarships of $1,000, giving them the support they need to pursue their dream careers.

In the N.C. area, the honorees are:

• Alana Stull, majoring in design and technology information at Duke University
• Avia Bevans, majoring in computer science at Voorhees University
• Mikayla Okyere-Boateng, majoring in information science and political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Nathan Holloman, majoring in mechanical engineering at North Carolina State University
• Xinyan Huang, majoring in civil engineering at North Carolina State University

In the Texas area, the honorees are:

• Danielle Zimmerman, majoring in chemical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin
• Juan Barajas, majoring in real estate and finance at the University of Texas at Arlington
• Marienis Pelayo, pursuing a master’s degree in business administration at the University of Texas at Austin
• Tammy Nguyen-Thach, majoring in accounting and finance at the University of Houston
• Yehab Girmay, majoring in computer information systems and supply chain management at the University of Texas at Dallas

The scholarship comes at a time when students are feeling high anxieties about the current economic landscape. With college costs rising at over double the rate of cost of living, pursuing higher education feels out of reach. Add that 36 percent of students say that an unexpected expense of $1,000—or even less—could force them to drop out, and the need for financial support becomes critical. By closing that gap, the Bold Futures Scholarship is easing financial stress while opening doors through mentorship connections and networking opportunities.

“Bold Futures will help me afford the laptop I need to work as a design technologist,” said scholarship winner Alana Stull, a Duke University undergraduate. “In the long term, I aspire to design technology that addresses real human needs, particularly for people and communities whose perspectives are often overlooked.”

In its inaugural year, the scholarship combines 1DF’s decade-long history of empowering dreamers across 41 states and 10 countries with TIAA’s deep commitment to expanding opportunities in business and finance. Together, the organizations are giving the next generation of professionals the boost they need to succeed as these industries grow in Charlotte and Frisco.

“As Charlotte and Frisco become booming business centers, the need for talented young leaders becomes more critical than ever,” said TIAA CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett. “Bold Futures gives students—especially those who may not be able to cover key non-tuition expenses—in these areas the chance to support their communities’ growth.”

By adopting 1DF’s model of distributing fast-acting microgrants and professional development opportunities, the Bold Futures scholarship meets students where they need it most. The scholarship leverages TIAA’s footprint in the financial services and insurance industry and 1DF’s experience supporting financial hardship to build a better future for the students who need it most.

“When I started 1DF nearly 10 years ago, the dream was always to back students with real talent and determination who just need someone to invest in what comes next,” said 1DF Founder and CEO Christie Garton. “Partnering with TIAA allows us to scale that vision in large, growing hubs like Charlotte and Frisco.”

To learn more about the Bold Futures Scholarship, visit 1000dreamsfund.org/programs/tiaa-bold-futures-scholarship/.

About 1,000 Dreams Fund

1,000 Dreams Fund (1DF) is a national nonprofit that empowers the dreams of talented women and students in need with scholarships, mentorship and other critical resources. 1DF believes that big obstacles should never stand in the way of big dreams. Since its launch in 2016, over $1.1 million in funding has been granted to talented young women in need, helping them pay for the “extras” in school like study abroad, tech devices for the classroom and travel to conferences and seminars. 1DF has been featured in NBCNews.com, USA Today, MarketWatch, Forbes, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, Entrepreneur, TODAY and others. To learn more about 1DF, visit 1000dreamsfund.org.