Meet the scholars

The Helios Education Foundation First-Generation Scholarship has tremendously impacted my education by helping me fund my education when my parents nor I cannot. It's allowed me to be worry-free about accruing debt and has allowed me to focus a lot of my energy and time on my studies rather than other activities as a way of finding a means to fund my degree.

This scholarship was such a surprise and a blessing. Being a single parent and fulfilling my promise to my belated mother to complete my college degree and be the first in my family to graduate college. I am currently working full time and continuing to complete my bachelors degree full time as well. I would have been about to do this without you. Thank you again.

This scholarship has given me the extra funds to pay for books and tuition. Without the Helios Scholarship, my education would be put on hold until I saved enough my money to continue. After graduation, I intend on working with fellow military veterans assisting with transition assistance from active duty to civilian life.

This scholarship helps me do many different things when it comes to my schoarly responsibilities. I aspire to be a principal in a low socioeconomic school district and give back to the kids there and connect them with oppurtunities as well as give them the tools they need to become successful doing whatever it is they want to do in the future as someone once did for me.

My experience thus far at Florida State University has been incredibly positive. I have taken advantage of the countless opportunities at this university which have allowed me to continue to better myself. Though my college experience has had a few bumps in the road, I am striving to be successful in anything and everything that I do.

This scholarship has helped me pay for school and has able me to no take out loans. In turn I will be starting my career with very little debt compared to other students.

I am a single mom working a full time job and this scholarship has helped me tremendously. Thanks to this scholarship I was able to get the materials I needed to succeed in my classes.

The Helios Education Foundation First-Generation Scholarship had a great impact on my education. I did not have to worry about some of my financial burden and I could focus more on my academic. The past semester I became a member of the NSLS. I am very gratefully and blessed to know that The Helios Foundation believed in me.

The Helios scholarship is a dream come true for me. I have been trying for years to complete my degree, but due to financial hardship I felt that I would never achieve my goals. My program is in the field of Early Childhood Education. I want to own a small preschool and to offer one-on-one guidance for each child that will enter the door.

Without your generosity, my education at the University of West Florida would not be possible. This educational program has enabled me to pursue my dreams, contribute to the amelioration of elementary and special education in the US, and to invest in the future of my community and our nation through teaching. I am entirely grateful for this opportunity.

I have had the privilege to act as an official student ambassador to the University of Florida and welcome potential students to this campus. Through this, I have been able to provide hope to Latinx, children of immigrants, and future first-generation college students as proof that we can earn the right to be in places and positions that we have always dreamed about.

This scholarship helped me out so much. I was able to get my books for my semester because I no longer get financial aid. I am also a single parent and funds are tight. Getting my books and materials for my semester was a weight lifted off of my back.

I have always wanted to show young minds that we can beat the stereotype. We can accomplish more than society expects in spite of our many obstacles: language barriers, economic limitations, poor learning environment and even lack of support from home. I am going to be a teacher and my students will see that if I can beat the statistics, so can they.

This scholarship has impacted my education by allowing me to follow my dreams by futhering my education. Without this scholarship I would not have been able to due this coming from a low income family . Thank you for the oppertunity for this scolarship. Nikki Cullifer

By receiving this award, it gave me the opportunity to finish my degree of choice from Tallahassee Community college stress free. I was able to take additional classes as well. My ultimate goal is to receive a BS degree in education so that I maybe able to go work in the community where I can help make a difference in as many kids lives as I possibly can.

I was so thankful to be a recipient of the Helios Education Foundation First-Generation Scholarship. The grant came through just as the pandemic began to overwhelm the world.It was truly a blessing to receive the funds necessary to complete my Fall as well as the ability to take a summer class.

I am currently pursuing my degree in computer information technology. I plan on attending UCF after I finish up my degree at Lake Sumter State College. I have always been fascinated by technology whether it be the newest cellphone or a new software program.

This scholarship has helped to make it possible for me to be able to pursue my dream of becoming an Elementary School Teacher. With the help of this scholarship, I am better able to focus on my studies instead of trying to figure out how school expenses will be taken care of.

I am really grateful for the opportunity that this scholarship has given to me. This scholarship given me the opportunity to focus more on my education and worry less on the financial part of it.

Thanks to Helios First Generation Scholars I was able to pay for education resources, books, classes and housing. Without it I would have had to stop attending college and get a full time job to cover my expenses. I plan to obtain my bachelors degree and continue working to help others achieve what I have experienced.

My goal is to graduate with my degree next summer 2021 and transferring to a university to finish my bachelor’s degree. I work a full-time job at Neurorestorative, which is a rehab home for people that have had a brain injury and behavioral issues. I work about 50-60 hours every week so I can pay school, help my mother with bills, and my personal bills. Because of this scholarship, I will be able to focus more on my studies and reduce the number of hours I work per week. From the bottom of my heart thank you so much for your investments in students like myself and in our education!

How this scholarship has impacted my education is tremendously. The financial strain has lessened so much on both me and my family. I am able to not worry about the money aspect as much as just pushing forward, and getting my bachelors degree! Thank you so much!

First, I would like to appreciate the "Helios First Generation Scholarship" again with a big, warm, generous THANK YOU. I have been able to stay committed to my education even after years of putting off the return to finish my degree. I am a mother of three, and at some point I felt like maybe I didn’t need to go to school because of financial reasons.

I currently am a first generation college student; the first in my family to attend college! I am working hard to become a classroom teacher, most likely at an elementary level, but I have not officially decided yet which grade I will work with. This scholarship has helped me make my way through college on a substitute teacher salary.