Philanthropy Connects the Generations
Scholarships in the college of humanities
Thanks to hundreds of individual donors who invest in humanities students, the College of Humanities provides a wide range of scholarship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students throughout our departments, centers, and programs. This support is critical for students; scholarship support is often the reason they are able to pursue coursework at the University of Utah, as it significantly reduces the financial burden of higher education. Scholarships allow students to focus wholly on their studies, take full advantage of the many opportunities on campus and in the college, participate in extracurricular activities, and build the professional network that leads to ongoing success. These scholarships would not be possible without support from individuals who recognize the importance of a humanities degree and value the role humanities plays in our future.
Each person who contributes to humanities scholarships is supporting academic excellence and a robust student experience. But as you’ll read in the words of the students below, you are giving more than dollars. For many students, being chosen to receive a scholarship is a much-needed vote of confidence, a pat on the back, or a boost in what feels like a long and daunting climb towards graduating. These scholarships represent much-needed material support, but also an intellectual affirmation and even an emotional bolster. With the generosity of our amazing community, the College of Humanities was able to award $318,600 in scholarship funds to 133 students, an average of $2,400 per student during the 2023-2024 academic year.
Shirley Gaufin Endowed Scholarship in the College of Humanities
The Shirley Gaufin Endowed Scholarship in the College of Humanities was established by Shirley Gaufin, French alum. After an inspiring and successful career in Human Resources for various global engineering and construction companies, she now supports students in the College of Humanities as they pursue higher education.
Recipient: Daphne Rosales
“My name is Daphne Rosales and I am a fourth-year student at the University of Utah, where I am pursuing a triple major in international studies, French, and world languages and cultures, with a minor in Spanish. I was born and raised in the Salt Lake Valley, although my parents are originally from Mexico. Growing up in a bilingual household, with Spanish as my first language, I always had a strong desire to explore the world around me and was always fascinated by how my experiences in two different cultures compared to those around me. I would eventually come to learn French in high school and completely fall in love with both the language and the rich culture.
Now at the University of Utah, I continue to study these foreign languages and hope to someday work in a field where I can use my international experiences to help others, perhaps in foreign language education or as an advocate for human rights. I have been on the Dean’s List every semester since starting at the university in 2020, and am currently on a semester-long study abroad trip in Pau, France. I take pride in the work that I do, whether it be in academics or in my volunteering, both in the U.S. and abroad. Finally, as the child of immigrant parents and a (soon-to-be) first-generation college graduate,
I know firsthand the struggles that can arise for immigrants and their children. In my future career, I want to use the skills and knowledge I have gained to support those who are navigating similar situations.
This scholarship is not only a source of financial relief for my family and me, but also a source of great encouragement as I work to complete my final semester of my undergraduate studies at the University of Utah. I am finishing up my triple majors in French, international studies, and world languages and cultures, and my minor in Spanish. Studying at the U has been an incredibly rewarding and enriching experience, and it is thanks to scholarships like yours that I have been able to continue my education and pursue my passion.
"It is an honor and a pleasure for me to support deserving students in the College
of Humanities through the endowed scholarships in my name. As a U alumna (B.A. ’67),
I know that the education and leadership experience I gained while attending the university
and participating in campus organizations provided a strong foundation for achieving
my career goals. It is my hope that these scholarships will help the recipients achieve
their
educational and career goals as they continue on their journey forward."
– Shirley Gaufin
Ophelia Flores Laurella Pathfinder endowed scholarship in the college of humanities
The Ophelia Flores Laurella Pathfinder Scholarship in Humanities was established by Carl L. and Vanessa B. Laurella in 2015 as a way to honor Carl’s late mother, Ophelia. The scholarship is available to first-generation college students studying humanities at the University of Utah with demonstrated financial need. While Ophelia could not attend college herself, she made sure her children could. Carl was the first in his family to graduate from college and has established this scholarship with his wife to help encourage other first-generation college students to graduate in the humanities.
Recipient: Kira Kammerer
“My name is Kira Kammerer. I am a first-generation student and I expect to graduate in the fall of 2025. I graduated with an advanced diploma from Hillcrest High School in Midvale, Utah. I have completed 37 credit hours so far at the University of Utah. I knew I wanted to major in communication prior to beginning college classes in the fall of 2021. Being in the College of Humanities at the University of Utah has vindicated this decision by being everything I hoped for and more. Political science was what I wanted to major in at first but now I’m considering it for my minor. I was intrigued by the broadness of communication which enables me to continue exploring different opportunities in this field of study. I’ve already experienced some of the benefits of enhancing my communication skills by receiving a higher education on the subject. It’s such a dream to be able to pursue what I am passionate about and anticipate that the success I’ve achieved so far is just a beginning.
I strongly wish to be able to continue my education whilst supporting myself without having to take out student loans or go into debt. Being offered this is an honor that I won’t take for granted.
I appreciate the generosity of Carl L. and Vanessa B. Laurella for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship, and I admire the legacy of Ophelia to support first-generation students studying the humanities.”
"Both my wife Vanessa (MSN ’86, Ph.D. ’96) and I (B.S. ’82) are U alumni and first-generation
college graduates. We have two endowed scholarships; one at the College of Humanities
and one at the College of Nursing supporting first-generation students. The one in
humanities is in honor of my mother and the one in nursing is in honor of my wife
Vanessa. My view is that an advanced education—for those seeking it, of any type,
is the most significant stepping stone available in the pathway to a more substantive,
generous, and productive citizenship. We were fortunate that even though no one in
our family before us attended college, they encouraged and sacrificed to the best
of their abilities to help us achieve our dreams of a college education. These scholarships
reflect our goal to offer a leg up in that path for other first-generation students
to fulfill their dreams of a college education and the benefits they will bestow on
all of us in their journey forward. Hearing the stories of our scholarship recipients
and the genuine impact on their lives
are some of the most valued gifts I could ever hope to receive. And for that, I am
grateful."
– Carl Laurella
Kenneth and Eva Meng Wollam Endowed Scholarship
Jean Wollam created the Kenneth and Eva Meng Wollam Endowed Scholarship to honor her parents and support students pursuing writing and rhetoric studies. This scholarship supports incoming writing and rhetoric students who will be the first-generation of their family to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Recipient: Derek Wooley
“When someone like me, who is a first-generation, low-income student, receives financial support, it is worth far more than the money alone. People from my background don’t receive encouragement to attend college. Tuition is a hurdle that must be overcome with grit and many hours working jobs that are often menial and unfulfilling. For me, receiving a scholarship is a vote of confidence and an affirmation that I am on the right path. It is a hand-up in a life with few free opportunities and many obstacles.
My scholarship came to me at a time when I didn’t know how I was going to pay my rent. Between frantic convenience store applications and visits to the local foodbanks,
I hardly had time to attend class and finish homework. Optional readings were thrown to the side and eventually, the mandatory ones went the same way. Your endowment gave me the opportunity to learn—I could focus and apply myself to my studies. Thank you for relieving some pressure that is felt too often by first-generation college students.”
"I created the Kenneth and Eva Meng Wollam Endowed Scholarship to honor my parents.
As students graduating high school during the Great Depression, they did not have
the opportunity to attend college. However, they fervently
valued education and supported my pursuit of a degree from the University of Utah. I
believe philanthropy connects the generations and expresses hope for the future.”
– Jean Wollam
David Wells Bennett and Bonnie S. Bennett Scholarship Endowment in the department of Philosophy
Established by Amy Johnson, the David Wells Bennett and Bonnie S. Bennett Scholarship supports philosophy students who are excelling in their coursework. In addition to supporting tuition, this scholarship helps cover the cost of textbooks, providing overarching support for students in philosophy.
Recipient:
K. Hudson Guttman
“My name is Kyle ‘Hudson’ Guttman, and I am a steadfast student and worker. Through my many pursuits around the university, I aim to engage with relevant coursework in a contemporary fashion, applying the skills and information learned in philosophy to modern topics like psychology research or systems design. This past semester, Spring 2023, I took part in two psychology research labs, took 21 credits which included a Ph.D. level course (full marks), gained second author on a psychology research paper, led a discussion group of freshman students for the Honors College, presented a paper at an international conference, and worked a part-time job as a line cook in a downtown SLC restaurant. I will continue most of these pursuits in the coming semesters and hope to publish a philosophy paper in my third year of undergraduate studies.
This scholarship is extremely important to me for many reasons. The financial burden on students is massive, and with it focusing on schoolwork becomes extremely difficult. This support lowers the price of my education, and allows me to work less on top of school.
Further, it brings me happiness to know that my education is being supported by a stranger. The fact that someone is kind enough to help me with my financial difficulties gives me hope. Thank you so much for giving me the chance to work more on my education, and less on paying for it. This scholarship helps me stay on track and continue an educational career where I can work as much as I want when building a future.”
"My grandparents, father and siblings all benefited from attending the U over the
span of the past 100 years! My late husband, Kevin Johnson, particularly benefited
from donors who made his college education possible when his own family couldn’t manage
it. So when we realized how simple it is to create a scholarship and how impactful
it could be, we decided to do it and
honor my father, a much beloved philosophy professor. It’s not hard, and it can change
the lives of students, families and our community."
– Amy Johnson