Our "Why"

Scholarship helps student take love of language overseas

Madison Hagaman hopes the scholarship support she has received at Trine University will help her have a worldwide impact.

Thanks to the generosity of those who have funded scholarships at Trine, Madison will travel to Athens, Greece, this coming summer on a study abroad experience. She eventually hopes to become an English teacher in another country, sharing “our wonderful culture and language.”

Originally from nearby Quincy, Michigan, Madison felt right at home in Trine’s tight-knit community.

“This university aligns with my future career and personal goals,” she said. “(Trine) holds every student to a high level of success and a high standard, which is something I have grown to love and want to continue in my career.”

She said having a smaller financial burden has helped her academically and mentally. Thanks to the scholarship she received, Madison also has been able to be involved in the Gamma Phi Epsilon sorority, where she serves as social chair.

“My scholarship has provided me with tremendous support in my ability to pursue a role in my sorority and balance work and academics,” she said.

She hopes her degree will allow her “to create a diverse community of learners who uphold values of leadership, positivity and excellence.”

A better life

Growing up in a poor family in South Bend, Indiana, Aylee Rupert said she “dreamed of a better life without the constant worry of food or rent.”

“In high school, I joined the robotics club and discovered my passion for engineering,” she said. “A field trip to Trine University during my senior year confirmed it was the right place for me to pursue my engineering degree.”

A first-generation high school graduate and college student, Aylee hopes to work as a design engineer in the field of robotics and automation.

“I aspire to design robots that can perform a variety of tasks and contribute to advancements in human technology,” she said. “I am also considering pursuing graduate school to deepen my knowledge and expertise in this specialized area.”

She also hopes to pay it forward by starting her own robotics team to “mentor and inspire a new generation of problem-solvers.”

“Coming from an underprivileged community and having grown up in poverty, my dream has always been to break the cycle of hardship that has affected my family for generations,” she said. “Thanks to the scholarship I received, I now have the opportunity to attend school and work toward making that dream a reality.”

Someone in his corner

Gavin Hardy says receiving scholarship support has encouraged him to apply himself to his coursework.

“Knowing there is someone in my corner who wants to help me get through college is super reassuring and makes me want to work harder in all of my classes,” he said.

Growing up in Holland, Michigan, he heard about Trine University through the Thunder’s rivalry with Hope College.

“I looked into the math/business majors Trine offered, and the actuarial science major stood out to me, especially since not many other universities offer it,” he said.

His long-term career goal is to be a statistician for a professional sports team.

In the meantime, he’s grateful that scholarships have lightened the financial burden on his parents and lessened the debt load he will have once he graduates.

“Instead of having to try to pay off a bunch of student loan debt, I am able to either invest that money or use it to help me advance in my career or start a family,” he said.

From burdening to providing

Coming from a financially challenged family background, Allen Jones fought hard to excel academically in school.

“It was the only way for me to attend college,” the central Indiana native said.

He said the scholarships he has received at Trine University have allowed him to avoid burdening his parents for assistance, enabling them to focus on paying bills back at home.

“Without the scholarships I have received during my first year at this university, I would have struggled to cover essential costs,” he said. “In fact, I might not have even considered attending.”

Instead, the design engineering technology major aspires to run his own business.

“I want to put 5-10 years into a company that helps me grow both as a person and as an engineer, and eventually move into management in that company,” he said. “My long-term goals include building my own business and providing for my family as much as I possibly can to help.”

Creating a brighter future

Fatima Rodriguez was born in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and came to the United States at age 10 when her family emigrated to this nation.

“Growing up, I developed a strong interest in both math and soccer,” she said. “My passion for these subjects inspired me to choose Trine University, where I could pursue an engineering degree while also playing soccer.”

As a first-generation college student and an immigrant child, she faced many challenges in financing a college education. But the scholarship support she has received will help her complete a civil engineering degree.

“I aspire to make a positive impact on my community through projects that benefit both the people and the environment,” she said. “Additionally, I hope to create a brighter future and inspire young people to pursue careers in engineering.”