We're highlighting amazing UVM students as part of our Summer of Scholarships campaign. Donor-funded scholarships help thousands of students on campus and each one of those students has a story. Our next story is about Anka Delos Reyes '28, the second in our series.

Four suitcases and a lot of uncertainty

Anka Delos Reyes '28 is a first-generation college student at the Grossman School of Business, studying Business Administration. In her first year, she's already thriving in and outside of the classroom.

But the journey to get here was anything but easy.

A few years ago, Anka and her mother relocated to a small town in northeastern Tennessee for her mother’s work as a registered nurse. “We started completely from scratch,” Anka recalls. “Just the two of us, four suitcases, and a lot of uncertainty.”

After graduating high school, Anka chose to delay college for two years to help her mother and find her own footing. She worked to help the family's finances - but she never stopped trying to figure out how she was going to build her future.

It wasn't too long until she was ready to pursue higher education. How to afford college was the great obstacle standing in her way. 

Thanks to donor-funded scholarship support, Anka was able to step toward making her dream a reality by coming to UVM.

Now at UVM, Anka is embracing every opportunity to grow.

She’s not only gaining an education that will prepare her for a future career, but she’s also building community across campus. She’s involved with the Women and Gender Equity (WAGE) Center, serves as an analyst for the Catamount Innovation Fund, and is a member of the Grossman Student Advisory Committee.

She’s been able to do this because she's extraordinary and motivated person. But it is scholarship donors who brought this extraordinary person to join our community of Catamounts at UVM.

When reflecting on the impact scholarships have made on her time here, Anka says, “I’ve been able to focus fully on my studies without the constant weight of financial strain.”

Through it all, Anka remains deeply grateful for the people who supported her along the way - the mentors who believed in her, the donors whose generosity made her education possible, and most of all, her mother.

“My mom is my biggest supporter. I wouldn’t be standing here without her.”

Take Action

Now is the time to support UVM students with a scholarship gift. Join Andrew in paying it forward to the next generation of Catamounts

You can also read three stories (and watch three videos) of current UVM students who have had their lives changed by donor-funded scholarships:

• Hannah Smith '24

• Ginger Larson '28

• Andrew Bowen '15