Linh Le ‘28 came to the University of Vermont from nearby Essex Junction, Vermont. Growing up so close to UVM, she had heard great stories about the university’s strong sense of community and excellent academic opportunities. But when it came time to apply to colleges, Linh was initially unsure about staying so close to home. 

In the end, several factors led her to choose UVM. One was the proximity to her family, who she describes as one of her biggest sources of motivation. 

“My family is one of my biggest motivators,” Linh says. “They left their entire lives in Vietnam to immigrate across the world and provide me with a better education. The support they have shown in their actions motivates me to keep pushing forward and doing my best.” 

Ultimately, though, it was scholarship support that made the decision clear. Linh received both merit- and need-based scholarships when she was accepted, and UVM’s financial aid package made college possible. 

“Without that aid, I don’t think college would’ve been an option for me financially,” she says. “A lot of the reason that I was able to continue my education after high school was because of scholarships.” 

Since arriving on campus, Linh has immersed herself in both academics and student life. She quickly found that participating in clubs was one of the best ways to build community and meet new people beyond the classmates she already knew from high school. 

One of her favorite involvements has been FeelGood, the student-run nonprofit deli in the Davis Center that donates its proceeds to organizations working to eradicate extreme poverty. Linh eventually became a Friday shift lead and found the experience to be both rewarding and deeply social. 

“The people I worked with would always just talk about how our weeks went, our plans for the weekend, and outside of FeelGood, we became friends too,” she says. 

Linh has also found meaningful connections in the classroom through UVM’s neuroscience program. After participating in research as a lab technician in high school, she knew she wanted to study neuroscience when she came to UVM. She credits faculty like senior lecturer Allison Anacker for helping support her academic growth. 

“She has a lot of open office hours and is super responsive,” Linh says. “She’s been someone who has shown me a lot of support.” 

Looking ahead, Linh hopes to combine her passion for neuroscience with a future career in law. She plans to apply to law school and pursue patent law with a specialty in neuroscience. 

Through it all, Linh says scholarships have helped make it possible for her to balance academics, friendships, extracurricular involvement, and part-time work. 

“If I needed to pick up more hours, I’d have less time to study. I’d have less time to spend with my new friends,” she says. “I wouldn’t have time for extracurriculars and be involved with my community. So really, I think scholarships help reduce noise.” 

Reflecting on the impact of scholarship support more broadly, Linh believes donors are doing far more than helping students pay for college. 

“When people give to scholarships, they’re investing in the future,” she says. “Honestly, this is going to sound corny, but I truly think they’re making the world a better place.”