1,000 Dreams Fund Blog

Sophie Brandt, 19 – FUNDED

Sophie Brandt is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in criminology and law studies at Marquette University, but that’s not all! She’s on the pre-law track, and after she graduates, the 1,000 Dreams Fund Scholarship recipient plans to immediately go after her J.D. at Marquette Law School. What is your professional dream? I want to be a

Hanaan Khabir, 18 – FUNDED

Hanaan Khabir is pursuing the pre-med track at George Washington University, and like many, she has been personally affected by the pandemic. But, that hasn’t stopped this 1,000 Dreams Fund Scholarship recipient from overcoming the obstacles and continuing to step forward to her dreams. What is your professional dream? I want to become a trauma/emergency

Natalie Cunningham, 19 – FUNDED

Natalie Cunningham will be the first to admit she is pursuing a profession — law enforcement! — that is male-dominated. But, this 1,000 Dreams Fund Scholarship recipient knows women can be just as successful if they believe in themselves — and they can prove to others just how much they deserve to be there! Her

Natalie Villacres, 18 – FUNDED

Natalie Villacres knows firsthand that when you remove some financial burdens from low-income students’ education journeys, it gives them the opportunity to invest their time and passion in community service and extracurriculars. And that’s just what this 1,000 Dreams Fund Scholarship recipient will be doing when she starts Brown University in Fall 2021, to pursue

Ellie Gao, 17 – FUNDED

A personal tragedy is what fueled Ellie Gao’s dream to help support families struggling with health issues. The 1,000 Dreams Fund Scholarship recipient will be attending Harvard College with plans to study chemistry. What is your professional dream? My dream is to be a physician assistant. How will you use the 1,000 Dreams Scholarship? I will

Angela H., 18 – FUNDED

Angela H. is on track for studying biological sciences — most likely on the molecular and cellular track — at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That’s because the 1,000 Dreams Fund Scholarship recipient has big dreams of heading to medical school so she can help others. But you could also say that she has

Maryann Benny Fernandes, 24 – FUNDED

Maryann Benny Fernandes is a first-generation college student coming from a low-income background, which makes her all the more proud of her acceptance into Stanford University as a full-time master’s student in electrical engineering — and grateful to be a 1,000 Dreams Fund Scholarship recipient. She describes her feelings as “out-of-this world” because her dream that

Shalom Yam, 23 – FUNDED

As she continues to overcome language barriers and financial challenges of her own, Shalom Yam aspires to work in finance and find her own ways to give back to the community. In the meantime, this 1,000 Dreams Fund Scholarship recipient will be taking the first step towards it all at University of California, Santa Cruz!

Parenda Foroghi, 35 – FUNDED

Lights, camera, action! Parenda Foroghi is transferring to UC Berkeley, beginning with the Fall 2021 semester, to pursue a film studies major. Here’s what else this 1,000 Dreams Fund Scholarship recipient had to say. What is your professional dream? I want to become a film editor. How will you use the 1,000 Dreams Scholarship? It will

Angelina X., 18 – FUNDED

Angelina X. knows the power of perseverance. To get a research internship, she reached out to more than 50 professors — and didn’t let rejection derail her dreams. Now, the 1,000 Dreams Fund Scholarship recipient is on her way to MIT to study computer science and biology. What is your professional dream? I hope to