UW 50th Reunion Student Assistance Fund
Sponsored by University of Washington Alumni in honor of their 50th class reunions, the 50th Reunion Student Assistance Fund supports hardworking students who are balancing being deeply engaged in school, work and other responsibilities and in need of financial resources. Read more about eligibility requirements and consider applying.
2023-2024 Scholars
Mariah Thompson
Biochemistry major
I am a sophomore studying biochemistry at the UW. Outside of classes I work part-time in the Lagunoff Lab which focuses on the study of Kaposi’s Sarcoma herpesvirus, a virus that is known to cause one of the most common cancerous tumors in AIDs patients. Through this work I can make a meaningful contribution to scientific research while learning skills that will help prepare me for my future career. As important as my work in the lab is, it’s easy to get caught up in the technicalities of your work and lose touch with the community you hope to help. Last summer, I also spent time working as a teacher’s assistant for an ESL class in my local community college. Working as a TA last summer allowed me to form meaningful connections with people in my hometown who I might otherwise have never had the opportunity to meet. There is nothing more rewarding than the feeling that you are contributing to something bigger than yourself, and this is the fulfillment that I hope to find through laboratory research. I am so grateful to have support from the UW Alumni Reunion Scholarships as I continue to pursue my goals of attending graduate school. I applied for this scholarship in the hopes of finding more financial support as I become more involved in my lab’s research and prepare for a career in medical research. From my work in the lab, I hope to better serve my community and make a positive difference in the world.
Mariah’s short and long term goals: Currently, I am focused on preparing to apply for graduate school to earn a PhD in a biomedical science. Following graduate school I hope to continue to follow my longstanding passion for virology through meaningful laboratory research.
Aarun Hendrickson
Neuroscience major
As a man of color, a future graduate student, and eventual faculty member, I am committed to giving back to the communities that helped me succeed and uplift other historically marginalized groups in higher education. Attending the UW allowed me to determine this path and goal as an aspiring researcher while opening my eyes to the foundational issues students of color face in STEM spaces at predominantly white institutions. As a graduating senior majoring in neuroscience, my inclination for the sciences can be seen both in and out of the classroom. Over the past three years, I have been focused on studying topics of aging and Alzheimer’s disease under the mentorship of Dr. Kimberly Alonge. With her guidance, I have learned the importance of scientific collaboration and have developed numerous skills that have helped develop me into a budding neuroscientist. Just recently, I published my first first-author publication, and I am incredibly excited to continue down this path. The time spent in the lab has motivated me to pursue a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry with the hopes of one day becoming a professor. Outside my time spent in the lab, I have focused my efforts on diversifying academic spaces. My initial steps into undergraduate research were marked with numerous challenges and failures that could have been avoided if I had received proper advice from other students who had already found success in their research journey. To alleviate this problem for future students of color, I founded the class Brothers in Research (BiR). BiR is a year-long course that covers every aspect of undergraduate research. I have designed the curriculum to dismantle the perceived barrier of entry and provide them with the necessary skills to get involved while emphasizing that their diverse perspectives are needed to expand the bounds of research.
Aarun’s short and long term goals: In the upcoming year, I will be working as a research scientist in the Alonge Lab while applying to Ph.D. programs nationwide. Hopefully, my time spent in graduate school will lay the foundation for my goal of one day becoming a professor.
Aarun’s tips: Take your time and get help! My essays only got better when I had other people take a look at them.
Scholarship Archive
Browse our archive for more 50th Reunion Scholarship history.