Padma Mendelsund ’26 came to University of Vermont from Brattleboro, Vermont, looking for a university that felt innovative and forward-thinking. Interested in public health and healthcare, she was especially drawn to the opportunities connected to the UVM Medical Center.

But ultimately, it was scholarships that made UVM stand out among the colleges she was considering. 

“I was sitting in my Advanced Biology class in high school when I opened a package from UVM,” Padma recalls. “I had been accepted into the Honors College — and with that came scholarships. At the time, I was considering other schools that would have cost tens of thousands of dollars more a year. I realized that with the money I would save by going to UVM, I could buy a house in the future. I could go to med school. I could go to law school. I could get an MBA. I realized that the scholarships UVM offered me would give me a lot of freedom.” 

From the moment Padma arrived at UVM, she was determined to make the most of her experience. She quickly found community through her roommates, classmates, and fellow Honors College students, while also beginning to explore where her academic passions truly lay. Though she initially entered UVM as a biology major on a pre-med track, a first-year seminar introduced her to a different way of thinking. With encouragement from faculty mentors, she eventually shifted her focus to Health and Society and Political Science. 

“I found that I really like being STEM-adjacent,” she says. “I’m most interested in the policy work that supports the sciences.” 

Outside of the classroom, Padma immersed herself in experiences that connected her academic interests to the broader world around her. One of her favorite involvements was the Prison Partnership Club, which brings UVM students and incarcerated individuals together through shared activities and conversation. 

“For me, it was a really interesting experience,” she says. “Being able to pair that academic experience with something in my personal life really helped bring the topic beyond the classroom.” 

Reflecting on her time at UVM, Padma says the generosity of scholarship donors left a lasting impression on her. 

“Well, first I would have to say thank you to them,” she says. “Being a donor is special because it means you're recognizing the potential and humanity of people you don't even know, and that gives me hope. It’s similar to the kindness I’ve felt at UVM — it makes you feel seen.” 

“Giving does the same thing,” she continues. “There’s a sense of reciprocity, of recognizing each other’s potential and believing in one another. No matter the size, a gift is a vote of confidence in someone you may never meet. I hope that I'm someone in the future who donates because I think it's really inspiring.”