As an Animal Science/Pre-Vet scholar at Florida A&M University, I know firsthand how challenging it can be for students like me to find scholarships that truly fit our needs. During my freshman year, I spent countless hours searching for opportunities, only to find that most scholarships were either limited to students in other states or reserved for those already in veterinary school. This left many of us in the largest program at FAMU with very few options for support. Hearing similar frustrations from my friends in the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences Living-Learning Community made me realize just how widespread this problem was. I decided it was time to take action and create a scholarship specifically for Animal Science undergraduates who share a genuine passion for this field.

On Valentine’s Day, I launched the Paws and Hearts Scholarship and was able to award several deserving students at FAMU. I’ve gotten a lot of people from different schools who saw the scholarship and even had a student reach out about the scholarship. This showed me how much need there is for targeted support across the country. My goal is to expand the Paws and Hearts Scholarship to reach more undergraduates at HBCUs nationwide, giving them the encouragement and resources they deserve to pursue their dreams in animal science.

Every dollar raised will go directly to scholarship awards for students who demonstrate a true commitment to working in animal science. With your support, we can help more students overcome financial barriers and make a lasting impact in this important field. Thank you for believing in the next generation of animal science leaders.