Florida A&M University News September 30, 2015 Life Gets Better Scholarship Lifts Student Leader The Life Gets Better Scholarship has been a life changer for hundreds of students attending Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Considered one of the nation's unique scholarships, it rewards high school graduates for their exceptional and consistent academic performance rather than financial need. Three decades ago however, the concept was considered undoable. Educational leaders scoffed at the idea of a historically Black university competing for top scholars. For nearly 30 years the Life Gets Better Scholarship has played a major role in producing engineers, doctors, lawyers, corporate executives, scientists, college professors, and many more professionals of color. By removing the financial burden that normally derails a college education, the scholarship relieves the stress and strain that normally overwhelms families. Justin Bruno, a junior computer engineering student from Orlando Fla, is one of the current FAMU students who has benefitted tremendously from the scholarship. "The Life Gets Better Scholarship actually has made the impact the name is coined after; it has actually changed my life," Bruno said. "Now I don't have to worry about paying back student loans or putting a strain on my mother to pay back the money that it costs to go to school." Another major advantage was the fact that Bruno did not have to get a job and work his way through school, which allowed him to focus on his studies maintaining a 3.7 GPA while at the same time serving in student government as the student body vice president. Bruno shows his appreciation of the scholarship by being totally immersed and involved in the University culture. He is a member of the University Housing Annual Rental Rate Review Committee, FAMU-FSU Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Organization & Finance Committee where he serves as a chairperson. With two years to go in his undergraduate studies, Bruno is unsure of what the future holds. However, he does know he wants to make a difference in his community. "I'm a big believer in letting God take me wherever he wants me to be," Bruno said. "I do know in some way I will probably be involved in community affairs or activism." Bruno knows that if it weren't for people like former Frederick S. Humphries, Ph.D., who founded the program, he might have never had the opportunities FAMU has presented to him. And he never takes that fact for granted. "He (Humphries) was on to something great. I'm not sure if he realized how much of an impact what he came up with was going to make in the lives of people like me," said Bruno. "I think it's something he can be proud of, and I'm very grateful for it." The Life Gets Better Scholarship is designated for incoming freshmen who are National Achievement, Hispanic, or National Merit semifinalists as determined by the National Merit Corporation, with the intent to major in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, or physics, and who have met the GPA and test score requirements. Students who earn the scholarship will receive the following over four years: tuition and fees (in-state rate only), room, board, books, $500 per semester stipend, internships, and a laptop. To learn more about the Life Gets Better and other FAMU scholarships visit www.famu.edu<http://www.famu.edu/>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.