Brandeis Magazine

Donor support is a critical component of Brandeis’ ability to offer a world-class education to extraordinary students, regardless of their background or financial circumstances. The opportunities these scholars encounter at Brandeis lead to intellectual growth and personal discoveries, and open professional doors throughout their lives.

Here, three Brandeis scholarship recipients, all well on their way to starting careers in a variety of fields, share some reflections on what this support has meant to them. 

Mila Manic ’24

Hometown: Plymouth, Massachusetts
Majors: Biology and neuroscience

Course of study

I loved biology in high school, so that major was an easy decision. I added neuroscience because, as I delved further into the sciences, I learned how neurodegenerative diseases have completely different pathways than diseases like cancer. I wanted to fully understand the depth of both disciplines.

My Brandeis experience

Brandeis helped me go from timid and insecure to professional and determined. I am so grateful for all the fantastic professors and friends who helped me learn, succeed, and fail without judgment. Every day, they pushed me to be the best person I can be, not just for myself, but for the benefit of the community.

Plans for the future

I plan to do clinical research in Boston for two years before continuing my education. In five years, I hope to be pursuing an MD/PhD program.

Lauryn Williams ’25

Hometown: Clarkston, Michigan
Majors: Public policy and communications

My Brandeis experience

Creating my own major is giving me a strong ability to understand communications work in different contexts, as well as a variety of skills in policy research, evaluation, and assessment.

Recent accomplishment

I traveled to Ohio to create a podcast covering environmental injustice. A few weeks earlier, a train wreck had caused a leak of toxic chemicals that terrified residents and created health problems in the community. Getting the opportunity to represent the people there and tell their story was an incredible experience.

Plans for the future

After graduation, I want to work with prison-reform organizations across the United States and launch a podcast series about incarcerated girls. And I plan to pursue a master’s program in public policy.

Andrew Nguyen ’24

Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam
Majors: Computer science and business

What my scholarship meant to me

It served as a constant source of motivation, and reminded me there are individuals and organizations who believe in my potential and are willing to invest in my education. That support inspired me to excel academically, maintain my place on the Dean’s List every semester, and seek out practical experiences that complemented my classroom learning. It also enabled me to engage fully in my education.

My Brandeis experience

I majored in both computer science and business to gain technical acumen and business proficiency. These cross-disciplinary opportunities are not available everywhere, which made my academic journey at Brandeis uniquely rewarding. Moreover, as a Vietnamese student studying in the U.S., I appreciated the multicultural environment at Brandeis, which enriched my worldview and fostered a spirit of global citizenship.

Plans for the future

I plan to use everything I’ve learned at Brandeis to pursue a career as a software engineer.

To support scholarships at Brandeis, visit giving.brandeis.edu/brandeisfund.