Congratulations to the Class of 2024
Posted April 22, 2024
Jackson Bellard
Jackson is from Carson City, Nevada, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering on the Atmospheric track. This fall he will return to The University of Texas to begin his master's in aerodynamics.
As an out of state student, Jackson made sure he took full advantage of life in Austin. "There is so much to do!" he says. "I have explored coffee shops, bookstores, record shops, and music venues. I love trying new things, and being here at UT has let me explore Austin and find some of my favorite places and events in the most unassuming of locations."
Some of Jackson's favorite memories included the UT vs. Kansas game during the 2023 season. "It was one of the closest I've ever been to the field, and I had a great time with all of my friends around me—and the game was a thriller!" he says. "I knew after that game that we were going to be Big 12 champs!"
Another favorite memory was his enrichment travel to Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada: "I have had the dream to learn how to fly float planes for my entire life, and through Forty Acres, I was able to learn and fly in the glacier lakes near Banff National Park. I had the most amazing time, and feel so lucky to have had that experience."
"The Forty Acres Scholar Program has been vital to my experience here at UT," Jackson says. "Coming from out of state, it was incredible to have a built-in group of colleagues and friends who were all interesting and devoted in their own aspects. Growing and going through the past four years with the same group was so reassuring, and I have met some of my lifelong friends thanks to FASP."
Jackson is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by the Humboldt Mandell Family. You can read more about him here.
Ethan Davila
Ethan is from McAllen, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration. After graduation he will be working at Hall Capital Partners in San Francisco as an investment research analyst.
During his time in the program, Ethan had the opportunity to travel to Berlin to study marketing. “It was amazing to learn about the city's rich history, where one of my donors, Mrs. Inman, grew up,” Ethan says. “I got to explore Berlin with my fellow McCombs students. Trying to figure out the U-Bahn subway system and cramming for our final in German coffee shops made me some lifelong friends.”
Outside of FASP, Ethan was also involved in other student organizations on campus, such as Texas THON. “My favorite memory from UT is Pancake Night, an event that Texas THON puts on every semester,” he says. “We serve all-you-can-eat pancakes to UT students to support Dell Children's Hospital. Being able to navigate the chaos, bump into my friends, and even learn to cook while supporting the kids at Dell Children's has been a great memory I will look back on from UT.”
“The Forty Acres Scholars Program gave me an incredible network to call on, with the opportunity to meet experts and leaders in all kinds of fields,” he adds. “It gave me a close community of fellow scholars and friends that motivate me to excel in all aspects of life. Being able to build a relationship with my donors and faculty within the program gave me people I needed to look up to throughout my college journey.”
Ethan is the recipient of the Inman Foundation Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about him here.
Daija Esparza
Daija is from San Juan, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a minor in entrepreneurship. After graduation she will be moving to Dallas to start her new job as a marketing analyst at PepsiCo Frito-Lay.
“The greatest takeaway I’ve learned during my past four years of college would have to be that if you were invited into the room, you are there for a reason and shouldn’t allow yourself to doubt whether you are worthy of being there,” Daija says. “Coming into UT, being in an honors program, and on a very prestigious scholarship as a first-generation college student from a border town, I had major imposter syndrome. I spent most of my first year questioning my abilities and whether I was capable of keeping up with everyone else. Thanks to some amazing mentors, professors, and our extremely welcoming FASP coordinators, I was able to overcome these fears and doubts, and it is something that I will never allow to weigh me down again.”
Daija is a big fan of sports and made it a goal to attend every home football game during her senior year. On top of football, she has supported other Longhorn sports including baseball, softball, and volleyball. She said winning the Big 12 championship made up for the heartbreaking game against OU. Choosing a favorite memory was difficult, but she cherished her time as an officer on the executive board for the Hispanic Business Student Association (HBSA). “As an officer I had the privilege to take over our College 101 committee,” she says, “through which my committee and I brought to campus more than 150 high school students from low-income high schools from all over Texas, including the Rio Grande Valley. Seeing these high schoolers get the chance to experience the campus, see students who looked like them, interact with our HBSA members, and get excited about the possibility of coming here was one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of my college career.”
“The Forty Acres Scholars Program gave me the tools I needed to succeed in college,” Daija adds. “I had little knowledge on how to get around college academically, socially, or professionally. Forty Acres set me up to succeed in all these areas through their resources, support, and most importantly their attentiveness to helping us succeed throughout college. I don’t know where I would be without the Forty Acres Scholars Program.”
Daija is the recipient of the Madison Charitable Foundation Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here.
Will Florer
Will is from Dallas, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Plan II Honors and a Bachelor of Science in Radio-Television-Film. After graduation, he will be moving to Houston to help found and develop a Texas-themed theme park called TexasLand. "Come visit us in a few years!" he says. He also hopes to produce some film projects that will be developed here in Austin over the next few years.
Will is in a group within the Forty Acres Scholars Program whose scholarships are supported by the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation. These Scholars have additional programming they attend throughout their four years at UT, including the Stamps National Convention. "I have so many incredible memories from the Forty Acres Scholars Program," Will says. "Our Stamps trip to Atlanta always stands out in my mind. That was a uniquely fun weekend because I got to explore a new city with a large handful of the Forty Acres group."
Another cool opportunity Will had was through the UT Los Angeles program, one of the ways in which he used his enrichment stipend. "Meeting Michael Keaton during UTLA was such a special moment," he says. "We talked for several minutes about the film industry and the work we each had going on. He’s a legend. My entire summer in Los Angeles would not have been possible without the generosity of Forty Acres."
"The Forty Acres Scholars Program gave me the chance to explore my academic interests with security and freedom," Will adds. "I traveled across the world, studied in a multitude of programs, and worked in a few industries, all thanks to the great blessings that this program bestows. Above all else, I made amazing friends in the FASP community that I intend to hold onto for the rest of my life."
Will is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Gayle and Jeff Stouffer. You can read more about him here.
Thomas Grannen
Thomas is from Houston, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Canfield Business Honors and a Bachelor of Arts in Plan II Honors. This summer he will begin training with Texas 4000, then take a gap semester before attending med school.
Thomas’s senior year has held some of his favorite memories from college. “Getting to see our Longhorns play in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl was probably the most exciting experience I have had during these past four years,” Thomas says. “While the outcome unfortunately didn't turn out in our favor, I will never forget the rollercoaster of emotions I rode that weekend in New Orleans.” He adds, “You can't really compete with the senior trip; I loved our time together in Belize. I'm sure in the next few years/decades, we'll still be reminiscing about karaoke in Caye Caulker and our game of dominoes in the Belize City airport among other things.”
Outside of watching Longhorn football, one of Thomas’s favorite college pastimes was playing the piano at the Tejas house. “I stopped playing in middle school but started to pick it back up during our nationwide quarantine,” he says. “I definitely enjoy this pastime more than my ‘audience’ does, but hey, you don't necessarily have to be great at something to enjoy it. That’s what counts.”
During his enrichment experience, Thomas worked as an interpreter and clinical assistant in Panama as part of a trip with Global Medical Training: “It allowed me an actual view into the type of work I want to do as a career and was an altogether rewarding and eye-opening endeavor.”
“The people of FASP have made an indelible mark on my experience at UT,” Thomas says. “Some of my best friends are in Forty Acres, and I am incredibly grateful to have gotten to know them so well through the program. These are friendships and connections that I know will last well beyond our time as undergraduate students on this campus.”
Thomas is the recipient of the Ray and Denise Nixon Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about him here.
Nikhil Guddati
Nikhil is from Flower Mound, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance. After graduation, he will be moving to New York City to work as an investment banking analyst for Moelis.
Nikhil loves food and enjoys spending his free time exploring the Austin food scene. “Always say yes to new experiences and invest in friendships,” he says of his biggest takeaway from college. As many other seniors mentioned, his favorite memory from the program was bonding more with his cohort on their senior trip to Belize. He also had the opportunity to study abroad in Budapest.
“The Forty Acres Scholars Program has allowed me to pursue opportunities I never thought I'd be able to do,” he adds, “like studying abroad, exploring personal and professional experiences at UT without financial burden, and meeting amazing group of scholars and friends.”
Nikhil is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Sandy and Phil Green. You can read more about him here.
Anushka Gupta
Anushka is from Frisco, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Canfield Business Honors and finance. After graduation she will be moving to New York City to work as an investment banking analyst at Evercore.
Like many other seniors, Anushka mentioned their cohort's senior trip to Belize: "It was an immensely enriching and fun trip with my cohort, and we all felt a lot closer to each other following it. During the trip, the late night conversations I had with fellow Scholars Hellen, Daija, and Sophia really emphasized how thankful I am for this community and how much it means to me." Some of her other notable memories were attending the Outstanding Young Texas Exes Awards, studying abroad at the London School of Economics, and rediscovering her love for tennis.
"Everything happens for a reason," Anushka offered as advice, when looking back at her college experience. "At various points throughout college, I faced rejection or obstacles in my path that felt like the end-all, be-all in the moment. However, the community that I found during my four years supported me through it all, as well as the belief that even the toughest periods hold some sort of lesson or redirection that will become important in the future. Overall, I feel like I have grown and achieved a level of clarity that I did not know was possible before I started college, and I owe it all to the incredible breadth of experiences I have received at UT."
"The financial independence I gained from the program allowed me to focus more on my professional, academic, and extracurricular pursuits," she added. "I do not think I would have been able to dedicate as much time to getting a job in my dream city or taking on various leadership roles while balancing a full course load if I had to simultaneously worry about supporting my living expenses. It has been an incredible gift to have the college experience that I have had, and I am so thankful to the program for it."
Anushka is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by the McCombs School of Business. You can read more about her here.
Connor Hrachovy
Connor is from Houston, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Canfield Business Honors and finance. After graduation, he will be moving to New York to be an investment banking analyst at PJT Partners.
Some of Connor’s favorite pastimes include running, meditating, going to the Austin Film Society, and intramural softball. During his semester studying abroad, he got to watch the northern lights while driving through the empty roads of Sweden in the Artic Circle.
“Like a muscle, your mind and character are forever malleable and ripe for positive change,” Connor says of his most important takeaway from college. Two of his favorite memories from the last four years were watching the solar eclipse and playing games with his FASP cohort on one of their last nights at dinner in Belize.
“The Forty Acres Scholars Program has introduced me to a lifelong group of friends with diverse viewpoints,” he adds. “It taught me the importance of continuing to meet new people in order to grow.”
Connor is the recipient of the Susie and John L. Adams Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about him here.
Nikita Kakkad
Nikita is from Austin and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Plan II Honors. In the fall, she will be continuing her education at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine.
When asked what her biggest takeaway from college was, she said the importance of reflection, self-direction, and staying flexible. “I came into college thinking I was going to do a certain thing, and I had an idea for what my career path would look like,” Nikita says. “In some ways, it changed drastically, and in other ways, it didn't. I wish I had listened to myself and the way I was feeling earlier on, rather than thinking about what other people's expectations were for me—that way, I could discover what I was truly passionate and excited about earlier! This takes a lot of reflection and flexibility, and I feel like I've developed those skills over the past four years. If there's anything I would tell entering students, it would be to try a lot of different things to see what you like!”
When Nikita isn’t training for a marathon or working on her thesis, she is biking with Texas 4000: “My favorite memory outside of school happened recently. In Texas 4000, we have to bike 100 miles in 10 hours to be able to join the ride from Austin, Texas, to Anchorage, Alaska. A few Saturdays ago, my entire team biked 100 miles around Austin, and we all finished within 10 hours. Two of my closest friends were in my group, and it was such a special experience to share who we were riding for with one another and persevere through the long day of biking. Seeing everyone roll in to the finish line smiling, crying, and cheering, is one of the most special memories I have from the past four years.”
“FASP has taken the financial burden totally away from my university experience, allowing me to pursue activities solely based on my passions and interests,” she says, “whether that be study abroad, a research fellowship, or starting a new organization at UT. That's the smallest part of what I've gotten from FASP. FASP has given me a community of motivated, intelligent, and driven individuals who inspire me each day to pursue the things I love without fear. Although my cohort has very different experiences and interests than I do, I know that they're a community that will constantly support me and push me to be my best in all that I do.”
“The unsung heroes of FASP are our support staff and donors who are involved deeply with the program,” Nikita adds. “Whitney, Ashley, Riley, Megan, Ann, and Marilyn are the heart and soul of FASP. I can't imagine going a semester without checking in and receiving support, love, and encouragement from each of them. Having a support system at a big university is a game changer, and I am so thankful to have had the best one out there!”
Nikita is the recipient of the Carol and Gary Kelly Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here.
Helen Kalleb
Helen is from Garland, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is the recipient of the Elizabeth Shatto Massey Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here.
Sara Kothia
Sara is from Frisco, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is the recipient of the Jeanne L. and Michael L. Klein Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here.
Sophia Li
Sophia is from Murphy, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in computer science and a Bachelor of Business Administration. After graduation, she will be moving to New York to be a software engineer.
One of Sophia’s favorite memories while in the program was her cohort’s senior trip to Belize. Her favorite activity from the trip was the cave-tubing! She also participated in more adventurous activities while on her study abroad program, where she checked paragliding off her bucket list in Interlaken, Switzerland.
Some of her favorite memories outside of FASP were adopting a dog with her junior year roommates and watching movies on the campus lawn in front of the Tower. Her biggest takeaway from college? “Be kind to yourself.”
“Forty Acres surrounded me with a community that has constantly inspired and shaped my growth over the last four years,” Sophia says. “The family I made through this program has truly made me a more passionate and curious individual. The Forty Acres Scholars Program also gave me opportunities that I would have never imagined, like being able to climb ancient temples in Belize, study management in a foreign country, and meet some of UT's alumni whom I have looked up to all my life. The knowledge, connections, and memories I made in this program are truly immeasurable and will last beyond my time here at UT.”
Sophia is the recipient of the Charline and Red McCombs Family Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here.
Amanda Mackenzie
Amanda is from Fort Worth, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Education with a focus on Youth and Community Studies. She 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.
Lana Mohamed
Lana is from San Antonio, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by Diana and S. Todd Maclin. You can read more about her here.
Aria Morgan
Aria is from New Orleans, Louisiana, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance and a minor in Law, Justice, & Society. In the fall she will be joining UCLA Law's Class of 2027!
One thing Aria tried to practice through college was consistency. "The greatest takeaway I have from my college experience is the importance of maintaining balance and consistency," she says. "I've worked really hard to develop a schedule for myself that I can stick to that includes time for classes and homework, a social life, and personal time for myself, such as going to the gym. It's important to me to keep a keen eye on where I spend my time." Even her friends kept this goal in mind when meeting for regularly scheduled game nights.
Some of Aria's favorite memories from college were spent not on campus, but on other various adventures. One example was the senior trip to Belize: "This was a very important bonding experience for my cohort and a truly wonderful way to begin to wrap up our time together." She also spent a summer in Cape Town, South Africa. "I did a lot of hiking after class, which included climbing Table Mountain,” she says.
"The Forty Acres Scholars Program has left an impact on every facet of my college experience,” Aria adds. Looking at the work done by previous scholars as well as by the others in my cohort has pushed me to excel and ensure I was always surrounded by a group of supporters."
Aria is the recipient of the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here.
Alice Nguyen
Alice is from Friendswood, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in May. After graduation she will be interning at Citadel in New York this summer, then returning to the Forty Acres to finish out her master's in Professional Accounting in the fall.
Some of Alice's favorite memories from her time at UT are the 2022 Red River game—"49-0 shutout, the Texas State Fair, and a Buc-ee's stop are pretty tough to beat, and I loved seeing some fellow Scholars in Dallas"—and karaoke the last night of the senior trip. "I wish Thomas, Helen, and Aria would give us an encore!"
Alice also had the chance to form a close relationship with her proxy donor, Linnet Deily. "My favorite college pastime was needlepointing! I actually started needlepointing because Linnet gifted me a nutcracker needlepoint starter kit when we realized we both loved stitching," Alice says. "I have been needlepointing ever since and am currently working on a UT cowboy boot ornament!"
"The Forty Acres Scholars Program has given me so much freedom to explore my interests and gain new perspectives," she adds. "Without Forty Acres, I would never have been able to attend the incredible cultural event that is the Sienese Palio, have conversations with Texas legends like Coach Eddie Reese, or meet my incredible Scholar friends who are always down for a pizza or ice cream night. I am so grateful for the incredible network of staff, Scholars, alumni, and donors that make the program so special because they have truly defined my time at UT."
Alice is the recipient of the Marilyn and Ron Neiman Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here.
Amelia Nickerson
Amelia is from Austin, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in computer science and a Bachelor of Business Administration. Following graduation, she will be starting at Bain & Company as a strategy consultant in Austin.
"Spend your time in ways that bring you excitement and joy," Amelia says of her biggest takeaways from college, "and don't worry about impressing others or copying what worked for them." For her, this meant staying active by running, paddleboarding, and competing on the Texas Equestrian Team.
Some of Amelia's favorite memories include her study abroad program and organizing the National McCombs Women’s Case Competition. "It was inspiring to be a part of the the first nationwide, women-only event of its kind and provide a space for the brightest business students across the country to show their skills," she says.
"My enrichment experience was truly amazing and one of my favorite parts of the Forty Acres Scholars Program," Amelia added. "I got to explore more than fifty cities and see incredible sites like the ruins of Pompeii, La Sagrada Familia, and the Austrian Alps. My most memorable moment was running up a 30% incline ski jump on a mountain in middle-of-nowhere Slovenia during a Spartan obstacle course race."
"The Forty Acres Scholars Program has made my college experience more exciting, educational, and enriching than I could have ever imagined. The community of scholars, donors, alumni, and staff that I gained through FASP provided incredible support and opportunities."
Amelia is the recipient of the Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here.
Devan Patel
Devan is from Dallas, Texas, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Canfield Business Honors and a Bachelor of Arts in Plan II Honors. After graduation, he will be attending UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas.
Devan's favorite FASP memory was from the recent senior trip to Belize: "Spending time with my friends in my the cohort in such a beautiful setting made the experience incredible. We did everything from exploring ancient ruins to relaxing on the beach, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The best part of the trip was how much closer we all got to each other."
During his time in college, he prioritized his relationships. "While academic knowledge and technical skills are undoubtedly crucial, it's the relationships I've cultivated with professors, classmates, mentors, and friends that have truly enriched my college experience and shaped my personal and professional growth," Devan says. "Fostering genuine connections with others has helped me feel fulfilled and find a sense of belonging on campus."
"FASP has helped me find lifelong friends and figure out what I wanted to do professionally. Some of my best friends, past roommates, and mentors are other Scholars. The connections I’ve made through the program with older Scholars such as Jonathan Go and Brian Chavez helped me learn more about myself and shaped my future career. The support system within FASP has been invaluable; whether it's navigating challenging courses or exploring internship opportunities, I've always had someone to turn to for guidance and encouragement."
Devan is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by the McCombs School of Business. You can read more about him here.
Olivia Pierce
Olivia is from Easton, Massachusetts, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. After graduation she will work for Walt Disney Imagineering in Orlando as a Project Management Intern!
Olivia says her biggest takeaway from college is "that the path you think is the right one may not be the only one to your goals. Leave yourself open to experiences and other paths, and you may find yourself happier and more fulfilled," she says.
Her favorite pastime during college was spending time with her student organization Texas Theme Park Engineering and Design. "Together we built incredible escape rooms and haunted houses, explored themed entertainment destinations in Texas and beyond, and created a strong network of friends that will continue as I move to Florida for my career," Olivia says.
"My favorite memory from the Forty Acres Scholars Program was when I met up with fellow Scholar Amelia in London while we were both studying abroad to see the coronation of King Charles III,” she adds. “It was an amazing weekend witnessing history, and we capped it off by taking trapeze lessons in Regent Park! Without the Forty Acres Program, I would have never met my roommate and close friend and gotten to spend such an amazing weekend with her!"
Olivia is the recipient of the Moore Family Forty Acres Scholarship and the Chevron Enrichment Award. You can read more about her here.
Walter Stark
Walter is from Plano, Texas, and is earning his Bachelor and Master of Science in mechanical engineering through the Engineering Honors Program. This summer, he will be doing an internship at Shinkei Systems, a robotics startup in Los Angeles. Walter has been accepted to Cornell Tech for his Master of Engineering in Computer Science, but he is deciding between continuing his education and working full-time.
“During the pandemic before our freshman year, three of the other Dallas-based scholars and I met a couple of times at Sonic to get to know each other while socially distancing,” Walter says of his favorite FASP memory. “It was fun to learn more about each other before the school year started and make great friends.”
His greatest takeaway from college was to always do what he felt made him learn the most, even if it made him uncomfortable. “I also learned that it's okay to switch paths to do what interests me most,” he adds. “I started college perusing design and manufacturing for mechanical engineering but switched halfway through to robotics because it interested me more.”
When he was not playing pickleball in his spare time, Walter was a member of the Solar Car Team. “Countless sleepless nights working on making UT's first functioning solar car in seven years was one of the most fun and rewarding experiences of my life,” he says.
He says the Forty Acres Scholars Program has made him a more well-rounded person, allowed him to experience the world, and changed his trajectory on what he wanted to pursue post-grad.
Walter is the recipient of the Stamps Forty Acres Scholarship, supported by the Cockrell School of Engineering. You can read more about him here.
