Young alum joins Pathway to Philanthropist program with gift to establish scholarship for first-generation students

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With a recent gift to establish the Ruth Andrade – Jose Alberto Maldonado Zavala Scholarship Endowment, computer science alumnus and first-generation college graduate Jose Maldonado ’17 has become one of the first members of FIU’s Pathway to Philanthropist program. The scholarship will benefit first-generation students in the Honors College, of which Maldonado is a graduate, […]

With gift to establish scholarship endowment in honor of her teenage daughters, FIU employee joins new Pathway to Philanthropist program

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Inspired to set an example for her two teenage daughters about the positive impact women can make in the world, Smilka Melgoza recently made a gift to establish the Vivian and Vanessa Melgoza Scholarship Endowment at FIU. The scholarship is named for her 13- and 15-year-old daughters and will support students in the Honors College, […]

FIU Foundation LinkedIn Series: Making Dreams a Reality Through the First Generation Scholarship Program

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Joan Casanova Gonzalez is the executive director of the Development Office for Student Success at the FIU Foundation. In her role, she oversees development for the First Generation Scholarship Program, which provides support to undergraduate students at FIU who are among the first generation in their families to earn a college degree. An alumna of […]

Leaving a legacy: What endowments mean for donors and the university

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–By Maria Rojas At FIU, we often say creating an endowment lets donors leave a legacy. But what does that really mean for a donor and for FIU?  An endowment is a safety net for FIU’s future, a way to ensure the impact of a contribution endures.   When donors initiate an endowment, their principal gift, a contribution of money or other financial assets, is invested. Though it may not start supporting university efforts for a few years (usually four to […]

My Internship at the FIU Foundation

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Born in Hyderabad, India, Syed Zain Ashraf graduated high school in 2013, attended Broward College for a year, and decided to enlist in the Army Reserves. In 2016, he was deployed to Central America, where he worked for a year for the United States Southern Command. He is now an FIU student pursuing a degree […]

Donations to First Generation Scholarship Program now matched 2-for-1 by state

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International business senior Alberto Garcia Marrero hopes to go to law school after graduating. To get there, the Honors College student spends his time attending conferences in his field of study and leading a number of campus organizations, including Golden Key International Honour Society, for which he serves as president. Garcia Marrero was born in […]

Scholarship recipients meet their benefactors for breakfast

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When longtime professor of architecture Nicolas Quintana passed away in 2011, his wife, Isabel Quintana, knew she must do something to commemorate his dedication to the university and to his profession. In honor of their mutual love for FIU, she set up a scholarship in his name for students studying architecture in the College of […]

Celebrating first-generation students

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If you meet a student from FIU, there’s a good chance that he or she is a first-generation student. Panthers come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and many of these students come from households where neither parent completed a four-year degree. These students face a unique set of challenges that can range from a lack […]

FIU First-Generation Students Featured in The New York Times

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FIU first-generation students in The New York Times
While college is difficult for every student, first-generation students are likely to face additional challenges. With more than 50 percent of its student body made up of first-generation students, FIU is particularly aware of these added hurdles. To support these undergraduates, FIU has awarded critical financial support to nearly 10,000 students through the First Generation Scholarship Program. […]

Chad Moss, Marcia Del Rey among honorees at Torch Awards

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Torch Awards 2017
Florida International University is honoring alumni and faculty at the 16th annual Torch Awards Gala on April 1. Among this year’s award recipients are businessman Chad Moss, the Honorable Judge Marcia Del Rey, and Dr. Seth J. Crapp. The Torch Award is the highest honor bestowed upon alumni and faculty by the FIU Alumni Association, and […]