Alumni scholarships helping students

The following content first appeared on the news page while UMass Global operated under its former name of Brandman University.

IRVINE, Calif. (Dec. 17, 2020) - The Alumni Advisory Board’s leadership, combined with generous donations from alumni, students, faculty, and staff, have made it possible for Brandman to maintain its Alumni Scholarship Fund. This year, Alumni Scholarship awards of $750 each to one undergraduate and one graduate student will help the recipients offset their expenses.

The undergraduate honoree, Tiffany Galindo, is preparing for a career in social work. Graduate recipient Susan Saadat is building skills for a life in teaching.

Galindo is enrolled in a program leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. She’s also minoring in organizational leadership and psychology, which is part of her plan to go on to graduate school and obtain the qualifications needed to practice as a licensed clinical social worker. She aspires to a career providing support to veterans.

“Completing my degree would allow me to help those veterans who feel lost and abandoned after completing their military service,” Galindo wrote in her essay. “As a veteran myself, I know how lonely it can sometimes feel when you don't have brothers or sisters to the left or the right daily. Having my bachelor's degree will kick my educational and career goals on becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to assist those veterans who have made sacrifices to keep our country free.”

Saadat is progressing toward a Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Education degree. She wrote in her essay that she is a single mother, caring for three young children and serving as a teacher’s assistant. She looks forward to helping her future students develop mental and emotional courage.

“Most of all, I wish to become a positive role model for students, whom I can hopefully provide stability, guidance and the motivation to maintain a positive mindset throughout life, combined with a fair amount of resiliency to persevere – not unlike what I am currently living through to try to survive, learn, and hopefully one day enrich the lives of young adolescents with the life lessons and knowledge that I am currently gaining through this program,” Saadat wrote.

Donors who contributed to the inaugural Brandman Gives Back campaign, which took place over the 2019 holiday season, provided essential support to the scholarship fund. This year’s Brandman Gives Back campaign is still active and donors who want to support a particular cause may support the Alumni Scholarship Fund or the university’s new Student Emergency Fund, which was established after being requested by the Alumni Advisory Board to help students deal with short-term, acute financial stresses. More information is available online.

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ABOUT BRANDMAN UNIVERSITY
Brandman University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. As part of the Chapman University System, Brandman blends a legacy of academic excellence with innovative programs and support services designed for students with busy schedules. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, credential and certificate programs designed to be relevant to more than 90 career paths. Brandman serves about 22,000 students, about 14,000 of whom are degree-seeking students, at 25 physical campuses in California and Washington, as well as online. Brandman offers fully-online courses for students anywhere in the United States and for military personnel serving abroad. For additional information, visit the university’s website.

Media Contacts:

Terri M. Carbaugh, Brandman University Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs: Carbaugh@brandman.edu

Andrew Edwards, Brandman University Senior Multimedia News Writer: Edwards1@brandman.edu