Two Project Legacy Participants Share Their Journeys
Today we catch-up with two Project Legacy Alumni, Bond and Ashwakh, who are Project Legacy participants that have been supported through their college years. As a result of generous donors that enabled their continued support, both will graduate with their Bachelor’s degrees in May.
Below are two essays with an update from Bond and Ashwakh.
Bond’s Update
“This year has been academically and professionally better for me. I was able to finish my Spring semester of 18 credits strong with a GPA of 3.9, while working 20 hours a week. During this time, I was able to land an engineering internship with Andersen Windows and Doors in Dubuque, Iowa, where I ended up spending my time during the summer to work. It was a great experience, and I learned a lot from it, and was able to improve both personally and professionally.
But I wouldn’t have been able to have good grades and find a job if I didn’t have the support of Project Legacy. Project Legacy contributed to my 2020-2021 school year and summer school too, which took most of the stress of making money and being able to afford my education off my shoulders. This let me concentrate more on my college education and career while I continued to better myself. Thus, I was able to finish both of my semesters strong and go into the summer with an internship in hand.
As my internship came to an end, I was offered to continue working part time during Fall 2021 in another engineering role in Andersen. I gladly accepted it and interviewed for another role with Andersen that starts after I graduate. I can proudly say that I got the job and accepted a R&D Rotational Engineering Program position with Andersen that starts after I graduate from school in May 2022 with my BS in Mechanical Engineering. Thus, I had a job lined up before my last school year in college started which I’m very proud of. I was also able to buy my first car using the money I saved during my internship.
All of these successes so far this year couldn’t have been done without the support of Project Legacy throughout the year. The financial and personal support took a lot of weight off my shoulders and helped me believe in myself and keep pushing until I reached my goals.
I deeply thank each one of you who make these opportunities possible. Your help reaches miles and affects people’s lives significantly and results in the types of successes I had this year.
After Project Legacy’s contribution to my tuition for my last year of school year, I promised Karen that this would be the last one. From now on, I’ll be among you helping others who are part of Project Legacy have a better life, reach their goals, and be a better person.”
Ashwakh’s Update
“I’m currently in my senior year of college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison hoping to graduate in the Spring of 2022. I’m currently double majoring in neurobiology and psychology; on a pre-dental track after undergrad. I'm on the executive board for a student organization on campus called African Student Association. I'm in a research lab that focuses on Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. I'm also a resident assistant where I'm required to live in the dorms and be in charge of a floor. I’m constantly finding different opportunities to stay active and become involved on campus as much as possible.
Being a Project Legacy Scholar for nearly 4 years has helped me in many different ways whether it's emotionally, physically, financially, or simply having a support group that I can go to when needed. Project Legacy has provided me with many opportunities to stay motivated and keep going. I know I can always count on Project Legacy; it has become a place that I call home. I had the great pleasure of being a PL scholar and meeting new people as well as building connections.
I would like to thank everyone who has helped make a difference in my life and to guide me to where I am today.”