Scholarship Impact
UMass Amherst provides a world-class education that changes its students' lives. Your investment in their education through scholarships and fellowships demonstrates belief in their promise and helps them reach their full potential. The quotes and stories on this page illustrate the impact of your generosity across the university and beyond. Your support helps revolutionize access to education.
Because of You, Students See Opportunities
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Shon Hernandez ’29
JOURNALISM
“As a journalist, I hope to bring depth, integrity, and accountability to how stories are told‚ especially those that shape public opinion and influence decision making. In my community, I want to inspire civic engagement by showing that informed, respectful discourse can lead to meaningful change and stronger connections between people of different backgrounds.”
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Nicole Fakhri ’26
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING & ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT
“One experience that changed my perspective was an internship in medical manufacturing engineering. Being in that environment showed me how much of engineering is about teamwork, communication, and real-time problem-solving. [It] made me realize that being an engineer isn’t just about the technical side; it’s about adaptability, collaboration, and finding practical solutions that work in the real world.”
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Yousuf Al Attar ’26
BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
“One thing I have learned from my experiences and academic journey thus far is the importance of human connection. I look forward to making a difference in health care by focusing on individuals, their stories, and their needs. Building relationships that break down communication barriers is essential to making a meaningful impact in treatment.”
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Jimena Pueyo-Garcia ’26
POLITICAL SCIENCE & SPANISH
“Working at the Boston Court Service Center, I encountered individuals navigating the most challenging moments of their lives: from facing eviction to seeking child support from an abusive ex-partner. Being able to offer real, practical solutions in these situations fundamentally shifted my perspective on the impact of legal work. I realized that this kind of help can truly begin healing processes and reconstruction of communities.”
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Tatiana Restrepo ’28
NURSING
“As a proud Latina and aspiring nurse midwife, I hope to make a meaningful impact by providing compassionate, culturally sensitive care, especially to women in underserved communities. I want to use my background, language, and lived experiences to connect with patients, break down barriers, and make them feel seen and supported. Through my work, I hope I can help create a more inclusive and equitable health care system.”
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Zihan Rao ’26
PHYSICS & MATHEMATICS
“My goal is to help create instruments that push beyond the limits of what we can observe today, opening new windows into the universe and deepening our understanding of nature at its most fundamental level. By advancing these tools, I want to make discoveries possible that not only answer scientific questions but also inspire a broader sense of wonder about our place in the cosmos.”
Where Opportunity Leads
UMass Amherst students demonstrate their talent and ambitions in many ways. Across campus they are recognized for their academic achievements, groundbreaking research, creative expression, and community leadership. Your generosity helps provide the resources and opportunities that allow them to pursue excellence every day.
Spring 2026 Rising Researchers Announced
Seven UMass Amherst undergraduates have been named Spring 2026 Rising Researchers in recognition of their outstanding research, scholarship and creative activity in a variety of fields.
21st Century Leaders at Commencement 2026
The exemplary achievements, initiative and leadership of some of its most talented and accomplished University of Massachusetts Amherst undergraduates were honored during Undergraduate Commencement on Friday, May 15 in McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
$40.1 MIL
contributed to student aid in Fiscal Year 2025
3,799
students received philanthropic scholarship support in Fiscal Year 2025
Beyond the Classroom
The impact of campaign giving, and student support in particular, creates ripple effects that extend across families, communities, and generations.
Scholarships Make a Difference for Nontraditional Students
Supported by generous donor-funded scholarships, nontraditional students can forge their own paths to a degree through UMass Amherst University Without Walls.
When College of Education alumnus Don Davis ’74 lost his daughter to a rare genetic disorder, he chose to keep her memory alive through the gift of scholarship.
The Castañeda, Paredes, Krupczynski Family Scholarship Endowment was created by a multigenerational, Latino family of UMass Amherst faculty and alumni to expand access, opportunity, and belonging for first-generation students.
Explore additional Stories of Impact that reflect the many ways philanthropy helps students thrive and expand access to opportunity.
“Like so many in the UMass Amherst community, my education was supported by those who came before me. The aid and encouragement I received inspired me to help today’s students by focusing my giving on scholarships. This cycle of generosity perpetuates a legacy of compassion and leadership, where each new generation of students is empowered by those who believe in their potential and want to see them succeed.”
Arwen Duffy
President, UMass Amherst Foundation
Excellence is only possible through access.
Your continued support makes a profound difference.