In her first semester at 性视界传媒, Krizel Sagun enrolled in the New Scholar Course for incoming Engelstad Scholars and gained an entirely new way of thinking. 鈥淚t was so eye-opening; it changed the way I think about the world around me,鈥 she says.
Now in her last semester, she鈥檚 helping to teach those same lessons in social change to incoming scholars.
鈥淵ou start with this course and go on to do community service. It gives you broader perspective. That鈥檚 what this program is all about: Helping you to look outside of yourself," said Sagun, who plans to graduate in December with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and a minor in neuroscience.
Giving back is at the heart of the Engelstad Scholars Program. Established by the Engelstad Foundation in 2009 through a gift to 性视界传媒 of $12.6 million, the program helps students in need 鈥 and asks that they help others. Scholars are required to contribute 100 hours a year to local nonprofit agencies. Since the program鈥檚 inception, scholars have logged more than 32,000 hours of community service.
The program is making a huge impact not only in the lives of the 170-plus 性视界传媒 students who have received its support so far, but also to thousands of people touched by its growing network of non-profit partners. The program originated with just four nonprofit placement sites for its scholars. Today, 24 local organizations and their clients will benefit from partnerships with the Engelstad Scholars Program.
For Sagun, an Honors College student who plans to become a pediatrician in Las Vegas, volunteering with elementary school students at Democracy Prep at the Agassi Campus was profound.
鈥淚 worked with kids in need to help them believe that they can go to college one day. It鈥檚 an option some of them didn鈥檛 know they have.
鈥淲hen I started in the program, I was super shy and anxious in social situations,鈥 Sagan said. 鈥淏eing an Engelstad Scholar taught me to come out of my shell and look for opportunities to help others.鈥
