PSUCenTex Annual Scholarship
Applications for the 2024 will be opening later this spring. The goal of this scholarship program is to provide financial support to Penn State students from the Central Texas area who have demonstrated academic and personal excellence. Thank you to everyone who donated and participated in our raffles throughout the year to fund this scholarship to benefit Penn State students in our area.
Eligibility:
The amount and number of scholarships to be given is subject to the Penn State Office of Student Aid final approval.
We Are...
Eligibility:
- Your permanent address must be in the Central Texas area
- You must be a current full-time undergraduate student at any Penn State campus with at least a Sophomore standing
- Your GPA must be a 3.0 or higher
The amount and number of scholarships to be given is subject to the Penn State Office of Student Aid final approval.
We Are...
Help Us Grow: Donate to the PSUCenTex Scholarship Fund
Each year, we award scholarships to local Penn State students, as our way of providing recognition and financial assistance to our most accomplished future alumni from our area. Applicants must be currently enrolled at Pennsylvania State University or World Campus, and have 30+ hours of undergraduate credits accrued. This is a local endowment specifically for our chapter's region, so the applicants must also have a home address on record with the University Registrar within the geographic area of the Central Texas Chapter.
Online Donations and Penn State Watch Party raffle proceeds will bolster our 2023 Scholarship Fund. More information about our 2023 Scholarship fund will be available in late Spring 2023.
Meet Our Central Texas Chapter Scholarship Winners
2022: Alyssa Curry
Environmental Resource Management
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We are proud to announce Alyssa Curry as one of our 2021 Scholarship recipients. Alyssa is a junior at University Park campus majoring in Environmental Resource Management.
Alyssa is focusing her undergraduate studies on research for honey bee behavior. Outside of academics, Alyssa participates in a hospitality committee for THON, AURORA - a freshman backpacking orientation program, and is vice president of the beekeeping club. The Penn State Central Texas alumni chapter is honored to have Alyssa represent our area up in Happy Valley. |
2021: Rishob Dasgupta
Pre-Medicine
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Rishob Dasgupta is a junior at University Park majoring in Pre-medicine. After undergraduate studies, Rishob will be attending Sidney Kimmel Medical College to become a physician. Rishob also participates in a South Ashian a cappella group - Fanaa - which allows Rishob to connect with peers and perform together. He also tutors at Mathnasium, cooks, and bakes. Penn State Central Texas is proud to support Rishob in achieving his goals!
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2020: Emma Cagle
English, Comparative Literature
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Our 2020 recipient is Emma Cagle, who is studying at Penn State University Park campus. Emma will receive a $1,000 scholarship for her 2020-2021 tuition. Emma is from Wimberly, TX and is studying the College of Liberal Arts as well as the Schreyer Honors College.
"Coming from a small high school, I never could have imagined all of the possibilities that a large college could offer. There is truly something for everyone- which has been a comfort to me in my collegiate journey. I have been so lucky to find myself immersed in many different activities and clubs at Penn State. I am president of No Refund Theatre, a theatre performance club of about 200 students. We put on 8-10 shows a semester, all for free! I have acted in 8 shows thus far, and have received two awards for Best Supporting Actress. I love the club dearly, it has truly been a home away from home for the past two years. An opportunity such as this one, to work with students, staff, and continue to put on productions, is an opportunity that I am eternally grateful to Penn State for. I also have a job on campus as a writing tutor for Penn State Learning. As a writing tutor, I work one-on-one with students from all different majors, and my goal is to help them evaluate their own writing, mentor their writing process, and help them understand higher order writing concepts. This job has been an amazing experience because it allows me to think more critically about my own writing, challenging me to think through the minutia of essay writing. A strong majority of the students that come to the writing center are freshmen, first-generation students, and international students. Because of this, I really feel as though my work allows me to create a positive impact on other Penn State students, and in turn-- these students help teach me too. In my eyes, this is what makes a Penn State education so special. Thank you for this opportunity!" |
2016: Emily Strang
Biobehavioral Health (BBH)
Biobehavioral Health (BBH)
Our 2016 recipient is Emily Strang, a Hays County native currently studying at Penn State University Park campus. Emily will receive a $1000 scholarship for her 2016-2017 university tuition.
"I am so incredibly thankful for this opportunity, and I cannot thank the Penn State Central Texas Alumni Chapter enough for helping me accomplish my greatest dreams." said Emily. "I will be thinking of them always as I pursue my path of becoming a physician’s assistant and work hard here at PSU! We are!"
In addition to her studies in Biobehavioral Health, Emily contributes to several extracurricular groups and associations, including the Red Cross, Global Brigades, Rotary Club, and Alpha Epsilon Delta, a prestigious Premedical Honor Society. She plans to continue her education after Penn State in a Physician Assistant (PA) program, and the Central Texas chapter is honored to assist her in reaching that goal.
"I am so incredibly thankful for this opportunity, and I cannot thank the Penn State Central Texas Alumni Chapter enough for helping me accomplish my greatest dreams." said Emily. "I will be thinking of them always as I pursue my path of becoming a physician’s assistant and work hard here at PSU! We are!"
In addition to her studies in Biobehavioral Health, Emily contributes to several extracurricular groups and associations, including the Red Cross, Global Brigades, Rotary Club, and Alpha Epsilon Delta, a prestigious Premedical Honor Society. She plans to continue her education after Penn State in a Physician Assistant (PA) program, and the Central Texas chapter is honored to assist her in reaching that goal.
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2013 & 2014: Allison Jaffe
Industrial Engineering (I E) Deciding on a university senior year of high school was certainly no easy decision. College research and visits became an extracurricular activity for me as I attempted to find where I'd spend my next four years. As I reluctantly engaged on my final college visit, Penn State, that apathetic feeling I became so used to was replaced by emotion and excitement. My careful and thoughtful nature momentarily gave way as I concluded: this is it! Freshman year, I felt at home right away in the Penn State community on 3rd floor Mifflin. I was also lucky enough to discover one of my niches in the Penn State community as a coxswain for the crew team. It was a sport I knew nothing about, but the dedication and work ethic of the team certainly pulled me in.
Three years of waking up at 4:45 am, or 6 am on a good day, has certainly made me stronger and has provided me with so many fond memories. The team, commitment, challenges, and competition involved with crew has helped me grow personally and also allowed me to feel involved and proudly represent PSU. My other top college experience so far would have to be my study abroad semester in Auckland, NZ last fall, for which I engaged in an exchange with the engineering department between Penn State and The University of Auckland. Studying abroad allowed me to combine my passion for my Industrial Engineering major, as well as my interest in foreign cultures. From the site-seeing and hiking, to the challenging engineering courses, to engaging with the locals and other international students, I could not have asked for a better semester. It has been almost equally satisfying to engage with the "Kiwi" students who study abroad here on the same program; I love seeing them awe at our beautiful fall, or snowy winters, and buy more Penn State apparel than I may ever own. These experiences have truly embodied my time at Penn State and are what make it hard to accept that four years will soon be over! However, it is also these experiences that make me excited to stay in touch with friends and faculty, as well as be apart of the alumni community, upon graduation. |
Allison Jaffe,
2013 & 2014 Scholarship Winner |
Kelsi Carrick,
2009 Scholarship Winner |
2009: Kelsi Carrick
Finance (FIN) Growing up in Austin, I was raised by my dad to be the ultimate Longhorn football fan. Because of this, when it came time for me to choose a school, most people thought it would have been an easy decision for me. It wasn’t that simple. While I loved UT and Austin, I had lived here my entire life. I was excited to finally be somewhere different where I could find my own way.
As of January of my senior year, I honestly had no idea where I wanted to go. Then, in April, I visited Penn State and realized the decision was easier than I had thought. Penn State was my school -- not my dad’s, not my sister’s and not my mom’s. I was excited for the opportunity to discover things for the first time on my own: Actually having four seasons, making snow angels in fresh snow or staying up all night talking to new friends that would soon become people I never wanted to part with. It was all new to me, but I could still feel the foundation that my dad had instilled in me my entire life. The school spirit and dedication of each and every student was the kind that I had been raised to love and the football experience is unlike any other school’s. Penn State was giving me my independence while still keeping my past and family close. I realized that by attending Penn State, I would not only be leaving with an outstanding education and highly respected degree in finance, but also the support of an entire community behind me. When people ask me why I chose Penn State, I generally come up with a lot of different answers but it’s really much simpler than that. Penn State just fit, and I can’t wait to continue to be a part of this school for the rest of my life. Kelsi graduated in May 2012 as a Schreyer Scholar with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from the Smeal College of Business. She joined IBM as a consultant shortly after graduation. |
