Congratulations to the Class of 2023
Posted April 25, 2023
Chandani Bansal
Chandani is from Naperville, Ill., and will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Canfield Business Honors and Pre-Health Certificate. After graduating, she will start as an analyst at Haveli Investments, a software private equity firm based in Austin.
During her time in the program, Chandani used her enrichment stipend to study abroad at the London School of Economics.
“My favorite thing about the program in general was that I made amazing friends from all over the world,” she says. “My favorite specific memory is when I went to the Wimbledon semifinals. As a tennis girl, being able to go was a lifelong dream of mine.”
Some of Chandani’s other favorite memories include her fellow Scholars Haley, Roosh, and Joseph.
“The best times in college have been with them—from our weekly roomie dinners, to arguing over who gets to pick the movie we are going to watch and our little weekend adventures. FASP truly gave me a family. As an out of state Scholar who genuinely knew no one in the state of Texas, let alone UT, I was terrified to make the leap and come here. However, right in the first month of being on campus, I knew that I had found my home.
FASP donors invite us to their homes for a home-cooked meal and have sat down with me for hours debating which career next steps would be best for me. Additionally, the FASP staff who have brought me soup when I am sick and handed me tissues when midterm season was particularly hard. And arguably, most importantly, my fellow Scholars who have become my best friends, roommates, and future bridesmaids. They truly inspire me every day to reach for the stars based on the incredible things they accomplish on a daily basis. I would not be the person I am today or achieving some of my dreams without the community that the Forty Acres Scholars Program has provided.”
Chandani is the recipient of the Vicky and S. Javaid Anwar Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here.
Roosh Bhosale
Roosh is from Houston, Texas and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Plan II Honors and History. After graduation, he will be attending medical school at McGovern Medical School in Houston.
As part of the program, Forty Acres Scholars have the opportunity to attend exclusive events. In the fall, the Texas Exes hosts the Distinguished Alumni Awards and Scholars can network with all of the recipients and their friends.
“DAA is always one of my favorite events!” Roosh says. “Also, Finalist Weekend—having the opportunity to connect with so many qualified candidates and learn about their stories is an incredible experience.”
Roosh enjoys cycling, reading, and spending time with his friends. His biggest piece of advice for college is to spend time with people you love.
“Four years speeds by. Say yes often, explore, cherish your friends. The people you meet, the connections you build are worth more than anything else. Don't take it for granted.
I feel that I have developed a very unique relationship with this university. The people in this program are out in the campus community putting their best foot forward daily. They are leaders, innovators, and Scholars who fight for what they believe in. But more than that, they're my friends. Having this community, knowing that I am loved and supported, keeps me going.”
Roosh is the recipient of the Lowell Lebermann Scholarship and the Marilyn Marshall White Enrichment Award. You can read more about him here.
Meredith Black
Meredith is from Dallas, Texas, and will be receiving a Bachelor of Arts in history and Spanish. After graduation, she plans to stay in Austin for work and enjoy living in this beautiful, energetic city!
During her free time, Meredith likes to read, do crosswords, and have game nights with her friends. Meredith’s favorite memories are meeting with friends to study on the Tower lawn or at Lucky Lab and chatting for hours.
“UT has brought me incredible friends and an easy sense of community, for which I am so grateful," she says.
Her favorite memory from the program was of the recent senior trip to Mexico City. She also had the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, Spain.
“One of my favorite memories was going to the Reina Sofia Museum to see Picasso's Guernica with my friend after submitting our papers on the painting for our modern Spanish art class.
The Forty Acres Scholars Program has helped me grow immensely as a Scholar and person over the last four years. This program has connected me to a community of intelligent, caring peers and given me the confidence to pursue my dreams, like living abroad,” Meredith says.
“The past four years at UT have taught me to trust in myself and my abilities. The challenges of college and study abroad pushed me to grow academically and personally, and I am excited for what comes next!”
Meredith is the recipient of the Pauline Allen Gill Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here.
Keri Christian
Keri is from Plano, Texas, and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in computational engineering. After graduation, she will be starting as a software developer.
Outside of class, Keri learned the importance of surrounding yourself with people who make you happy.
“A bit of a cheesy answer, but I truly think my college experience helped me to understand the importance of cherish friendships and connections with people. To always be looking to make new memories and have fun experiences with the people I care about,” she says.
While in class, she was able to explore interests outside of her major.
“I really enjoyed my Introduction to Printmaking for non-art majors class. Every morning we would learn new techniques and work on projects whether it be carve or etch into copper plates or linoleum blocks. It was such a cool process; the day I ran my first printers' proof, it was so satisfying to see the fruit of the surprisingly labor-intensive process. I love that I took that class too, because a lot of printmaking is not a hobby you can easily do on your own without the resources UT provided me in the printing lab.
I think one of the biggest impacts was the great connections the Forty Acres Scholars Program provided. I am naturally pretty introverted and the scholarship events help build my confidence networking. I think that was a big contributor to leading me to do well at my interviews and get a good full-time job for after graduation.”
Keri is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by the Cockrell School of Engineering. You can read more about her here.
Joseph Dowdall
Joseph is from Houston, Texas and is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Plan II Honors, as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration in Canfield Business Honors and Finance. Following graduation, he will be staying in Austin to work in financial services.
One of Joseph’s favorite things to do in college has been going to UT football games.
“I've enjoyed so many classes and experiences that it's hard to pick a single favorite memory. One thing I will never forget is going to the TX-OU game in Dallas my senior year and cheering from the first row as the Longhorns won 49-0. I couldn't have asked for a better result in my senior year.”
Like many Forty Acres Scholars, one of Joseph’s cherished memories from the program was his Freshman Retreat.
“I still look back fondly on freshman retreat. I got to meet some of my soon-to-be best friends and spend the week running around and having fun. It was a great way to start college.”
Joseph says college has taught him the importance of staying curious.
When asked how the Forty Acres Scholars Program has impacted his college experience, Joseph said: “It has been a wonderful base for me and a source of constant support, enrichment, and new experiences.”
Joseph is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Barbara and Alan Dreeben. You can read more about him here.
Maria Gu
Maria is from San Antonio, Texas, and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in computer science. Following graduation, she will be working as a software engineer at Apple in the Evolve Rotational Program in Cupertino, California.
Like many of the seniors, Maria mentioned the Class of 2023 Freshman Retreat as one of her favorite memories during the program.
“I will never forget the night that my cohort huddled up in one of the cabins at Camp Texas during our freshman year retreat to hang out and then stargaze on a field nearby. It is one of those memories that I look fondly back on in awe of how fast time flies as I admire how far we have all come and grown within the Forty Acres Scholars Program.”
One of Maria's greatest takeaways from her college experience was not to underestimate herself.
“When seeking opportunities, put your foot forward for all possibilities, even ones that may seem out of reach—the worst that can happen is that they say no. Likewise, when pursuing an opportunity, remember that you were chosen for a reason and have the potential to do anything.
The Forty Acres Scholars Program has transformed my college experience through incredible opportunities, mentorship, and an extraordinary community of diverse and exceptional people. I have learned so much from my peers and mentors within the program and have grown immensely from experiences studying abroad and attending various FASP events,” Maria says.
Maria is the recipient of the Preston M. "Pete" Geren Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here.
Haley Justiz
Haley is from Austin, Texas, majored in Canfield Business Honors and Plan II Honors, and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts. After graduation, she will be doing management consulting as an associate at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in the Austin office.
Haley had so many memories to share when reflecting on her past four years.
“I don’t know where to begin in narrowing down my favorite memories at UT—I don’t think I could even pick a top 10! So many experiences from the past four years have shaped who I’ve become, and most of these experiences happened with the senior cohort at my side. From watching Sarah walk in New York Fashion Week with Chan the first month of freshman year to now ending my college experience living on the 29th floor of Waterloo with Chan, Roosh, and Joseph, college has been more amazing than I could have ever dreamed it would be. This year I’ve found myself thinking over and over again, I truly can’t believe this is my life. UT Austin is the best university in the world, filled with the best people in the world, and not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for these sweet memories I’m living in.”
Another memory she mentioned was just last month during Finalist Weekend.
“This year, Will Florer and I led Bible Study early one morning during Finalist Weekend, and it was one of the most special moments I’ve experienced over my past four years in FASP. I can’t put into words how encouraged I was by the finalists’ faith and the gifts God has given them. I learned so much from them, and God is still putting new things on my heart from the conversations and friendships fostered that morning.”
Haley is the recipient of the Elizabeth Shatto Massey and John H. Massey Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about here.
Joshua Martinez
Josh is from Spring, Texas, and will be receiving a Bachelor of Science in computer science and a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance. Following graduation, he will be starting as a software engineer at Google in Mountain View, California.
During his four years, Josh attended and followed many UT sporting events.
“My favorite pastime is watching UT baseball as they continue to uphold their winning tradition. It’s always fun enjoying a pregame left field tailgate and then heading to the student section to give the opposing players a hard time. One great memory I have is a Texas football blowout win against Tech and immediately after attending a Longhorn City Limits concert to see my favorite country artist Zach Bryan from the front row.”
Due to many study abroad programs being cancelled during 2020, Josh will be using his enrichment stipend this summer to take a class through the McCombs Management Program in Prague.
“It will be my first time in Europe, and I am excited to travel to as many countries as possible and learn all about the local cultures.”
He was, however, able to travel on our Senior Trip to Mexico City this year.
“My favorite memory from FASP came during our senior trip to Mexico City. While there were many amazing sites to see, my favorite was a hike up the Nevado de Toluca Volcano. We got to walk by the Sun Lake and the Moon Lake at the volcano, and the views were incredible from every angle.”
Josh’s biggest takeaway from college was to make the most of every experience: “It is important to be truly present in each and every moment as you never know when things can change.”
Josh is the recipient of the AIM Foundation Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about him here.
Aditi Merchant
Aditi is from Austin, Texas, and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering. In the fall she will be starting her PhD in bioengineering at Stanford University, where she plans to work on research to expand therapeutic options for patients with neurodegenerative disease using gene therapy-based approaches. Aditi will also be continuing her work with Big & Mini and working to expand in-person connection and three-generational matching opportunities.
Aditi says college taught her the importance of making time to prioritize the things that are important to you.
“In the bustle of college life, it can sometimes feel like you're getting pulled in all directions and have way too much to do, making things that would otherwise be important to you fall to the bottom of your to-do list. Recognizing the importance of making sure to carve out time to do things you truly enjoy and spend time with those you care about it something I've learned and really grown in during my college experience.”
She also has had some cool opportunities using her enrichment stipend.
“This past semester, I had the opportunity to attend a conference and present my research in front of an audience of fellow students, faculty, and industry leaders. It was such a cool experience getting to learn more about the research going on in my field and meeting so many new friends throughout the conference.
FASP has made my college experience infinitely better! Having the opportunity to have a close-knit group of fellow scholars from day one has made the entire college experience so much more fun and rewarding. I've also loved hearing about all the amazing things my cohort is working on and have learned so much from my fellow Scholars, especially since we have such a diverse range of interests. Beyond the community, the opportunity to go to conferences and present my research through enrichment has been so rewarding and has allowed me to grow as a scientist and student. In sum, I am so thankful for the opportunities the program has provided me in every step of my college journey!”
Aditi is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by the Boyce Family. You can read more about her here.
Tobechukwu Phillips
Tobechukwu or “Tobi” is from Alvin, Texas and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Honors with a Minor in Business of Healthcare. She will be working at Texas Children’s Hospital at the main campus in the medical center in Houston as an Emergency Department nurse for pediatrics.
Some of her favorite memories from the past four years have been during finalist weekend eating donuts at the Capital while watching the magic show, adopting a cat from Austin Pets Alive!, and hosting worship nights and Bible studies every other Friday at her apartment. Tobi was even able to go shark cage diving while studying abroad in Cape Town South Africa!
When asked what her biggest takeaway from college was, Tobi said: “Serve and glorify God in all that you do. Knowing great people will open doors and being authentic to yourself will keep them open! You never know who is watching so be a light wherever you go! FASP has changed my life tremendously from financial freedom to start a ministry to global experiences that will stick with me forever I don’t know what I would do had I not been accepted into this encapsulating program.”
Tobi is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by the Milam and Tory Newby Family. You can read more about her here.
Eliza Pillsbury
Eliza is from Houston, Texas, and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Plan II Honors and Bachelor of Journalism. She plans to pursue a career in publishing and media, likely in New York City.
After studying abroad in Paris her junior year at Sciences Po, Eliza ended up staying in Paris to intern at a bookstore. After some time of processing inventory and learning to restore secondhand books, she was training other new interns, which taught her lessons in leadership.
“The most rewarding parts of the job, however, were my interactions as a manager with customers from all over the world," she says. "This experience was the most magical and meaningful of my life, beyond even my time at UT. It affirmed my conviction that working with books should be the driving purpose of my life and proved the vital importance of cultivating a learned community wherever I go."
In her free time, Eliza enjoys exploring Austin's coffee shops and live music events.
“Austin is a college town, but it's also an international hub for so much art & culture. I've enjoyed trying to take advantage of it all. Nikita Kakkad in the Class of 2024 cohort often joins me for both concerts and study sessions! Some of my favorite afternoons have been spent with her at Genuine Joe's or at the Austin Public Library, laughing between long stretches of silence as we work.”
When reminiscing on memories from the past four years, she mentions several of her professors and mentors.
“Most of my favorite memories from my time at UT have been thanks to the world-class professors with whom I've been able to study. Minou Arjomand, Erik Dempsey, Brian Gingrich, and Kevin Robbins ignited in me deep curiosity—the kind that quickens my heart rate and keeps me up at night with excitement. I remember one breezy, idyllic afternoon discussing Proust in a courtyard off the Six Pack and thinking to myself, This is the epitome of what I hoped college would be. These mentors have guided me with enduring commitment and care, beyond what would be strictly required for their professorial duties. I feel honored and undeserving of their brilliance!
From the support of the staff to the camaraderie with my cohort, to my ongoing friendships with Scholar alumni, I found my place on campus in this community. Forty Acres gave me the support and confidence to pursue opportunities that have changed my life.”
Eliza is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Lana Jones O'Hara and Will O'Hara. You can read more about her here.
Marrissa Rawls
Marrissa is from Houston, Texas and will be gradating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After graduation, she will be starting as a Level IV NICU Nurse at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Whether it was lunch after clinicals with her friends or late-night bowling, Marrissa has many fond memories from the last four years but one of her favorite memories was when her donor, Ann Seals, took her on her first plane ride to visit San Francisco!
“It is such an enthralling city with beautiful scenery, food, and people, and I cannot wait to revisit soon. Hopefully I can continue my career in nursing in San Francisco in the future.”
As we’ve heard from several other seniors, this year’s senior trip to Mexico City has been a trip they will remember for a long time.
“My favorite memory from the Forty Acres Scholars Program would be going to Mexico City during our Senior Retreat. I really enjoyed the time that we spent in Mexico as a cohort after our four years together. Not only were we able to enjoy the beautiful music, scenery, and food of the city, but also gain a global perspective of the different cultures and traditions throughout the country. I would do that trip a thousand times over!
Throughout my time at The University of Texas at Austin, it is no secret of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had during these past four years. Nevertheless, the Forty Acres Scholars Program continues to be an essential part of not only ensuring that we maintained some sense of normalcy, but also that we were truly supported and cared for during such a stressful time. I am forever indebted to the Forty Acres Scholars Program for continuing to support our personal and academic growth throughout the past four years.”
Marrissa is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by the Henry and Ann Seals Family. You can read more about her here.
Arya Saksena
Arya is from Round Rock, Texas and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. After graduation, she will be working at Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas as a Manufacturing Process Engineer!
As a fan of musicals, one of Arya’s favorite events to attend was our yearly Dinner and Broadway event where the Scholars have dinner then walk over to Bass Concert Hall for a musical.
“I absolutely loved the opportunities to watch iconic musicals with all the cohorts! It was so nice to have dinner before the show with every cohort and catch up with scholars I didn't see as often. But my favorite bits of the night would be the side commentary shared with the scholars sitting around me! Whether we were confused about the plot of Les Mis or laughing at the Genie's performance in Aladdin, I was glad to share those moments with my fellow Scholars.”
During the Spring 2022 semester, Arya used her enrichment stipend to study abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland in the University of Edinburgh Semester Exchange Program. Many Scholars will use their weekend and breaks abroad to explore other parts of the areas they are in.
“One of my favorite memories from my time abroad is when I travelled to the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland with some of my friends. We spent the entire trip cracking jokes, getting to know each other better, and exploring the limited cuisine Ireland had to offer. But after all the hectic plane rides, bus rides, and strange hostels, we made it to the Cliffs of Moher—these black, rocky cliffs plunging into the bluest water I've ever seen. We had a few hours to explore the area before our tour group left, and we spent the entire time sitting at the edge, watching the waves ebb and flow. I think that was one of the most peaceful moments of my life.
The Forty Acres Scholars Program has provided me with countless opportunities to enhance my college experience. My lovely cohort was the first community I had on-campus as a freshman, and they remain some of my favorite people to talk to. Because of FASP, I was able to spend a semester-abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland, where I made lots of friends from all around the world, travelled as much as I could, and took joy in the fact that I could confidently live in a different country. Lastly, this program has connected me with many alumni whose invaluable advice and experience has helped me with my career decisions. I am so thankful to the Forty Acres Scholars Program for all it has done to enrich my four years here.”
Arya is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Reba and Ralph Ferrell. You can read more about her here.
Sarah Spivey
Sarah is from Argyle, Texas and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Canfield Business Honors and Finance. After graduating, she will be starting as an Incoming Investment Banking Analyst at Moelis & Company New York.
As exciting as some of our events are, like the Senior Trip to Mexico City or our big annual dinner, some of Sarah’s favorite memories are from the smaller moments.
“Despite these exciting opportunities, my favorite memories are ones like walking into the staff office to hang with Whitney and Riley or visiting Marilyn on her porch with Diet Coke in Plano. I loved jumping on Zoom calls with incredible Texas Exes on Friday mornings or meeting scholar alumni who have become incredible mentors and friends. The little moments of members of my cohort becoming my lifelong friends are more impactful than any of our individual, life-changing accomplishments during our time on the Forty Acres.”
Her favorite memory from her time at UT was between winning the Texas vs. OU football game in Dallas 49-0 this past fall and studying abroad in London.
“Getting to meet Scholar alumna Katherine Kennedy in London and watching the 2021 Euro Final (England v. Italy) while in London—the energy was electric!”
Sarah’s biggest takeaway from college was learning that the people who you surround yourself with can define who you are.
“Pick people who work just as hard as you, hold themselves to high standards, and have personal perspectives different from yours to spend time with. They will teach you so much about the world and push you to be the best version of yourself. And do the same for those around you: be someone who encourages or inspires those around you to be their best selves. Finding this balance is integral to finding your own version of happiness.
The Forty Acres Scholars Program has given me: the confidence to pursue any goal imaginable, not matter how lofty the dream, the resources to explore the world, broadening my global perspective which is an especially important part of my business education, the opportunities to meet important mentors who have guided me on my professional journey, and lifelong friends who have changed my life for the better.”
Sarah is the recipient of the Carol and Jeff Heller Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here.
Chris Wang
Chris is from Houston, Texas and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Honors Computer Science and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Canfield Business Honors, as well as a Business Certificate in Spanish. After graduation they will be Working full-time as an associate at the management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group in Los Angeles.
During their four years in the program, Chris took full advantage of the enrichment stipend to visit Dubai, Guatemala, Los Angeles, and all over Europe. When asked out of all these trips, what their favorite memory was, Chris said: “If I must choose, as a long-time penguin lover, it was a dream come true to walk and get up close and personal with penguins at Ski Dubai. The icing on top was sharing the experience with Michael Smith, who joined me on a whim when I suggested it and enjoying delicious steaks for breakfast together afterward.”
Chris’s favorite memory from the program was from freshman year during Camp Texas.
“Aditi’s birthday happened to fall on those dates, and as a cohort, we planned a surprise birthday gathering for her complete with a cake and hosted it in my cabin. Even though we had known each other for less than a year at that point, in that moment I could feel the love in the small, tight-knit community we had already built for ourselves.”
Outside of FASP, Chris enjoys seeing plays and musicals. They even took a UT tennis class that awakened their love for the sport! Their advice was: “Always be confident, not care what others think as you work toward the life you want, and smile. Treat everyone kindly and share your positivity no matter what others around you are doing, and you can make a difference.
The Forty Acres Scholars Program didn’t only impact my college experience; in fact, I would say it played a huge role in making my entire college experience complete. The Forty Acres Scholars Program provided me with a supportive and tight-knit community from the beginning, giving me close friends and making me feel like I belonged at this vast university. In addition, I was fortunate to meet and have access to so many accomplished people as well as travel across the world (three continents and many more countries!), which allowed me to have experiences and opportunities I would never have had otherwise.”
Chris is the recipient of the BHP Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about Chris here.
