Scholarships at Boston University are more than just financial aid—they’re the foundation for life-changing opportunities. For students like Tyler Pauly (CAS’24), Jeremiah Somoine (CAS’27, ENG’27), and Julyssa Villa Machado (CAS’26), these scholarships have paved the way to pursue groundbreaking research, meaningful careers, and service-driven goals. These three exceptional individuals are turning their passions into action, all thanks to the generosity of donors who believe in the power of education to transform lives.
Growing up in San Francisco, Tyler Pauly (CAS’24) witnessed the impacts of sub- stance abuse in her community—and felt called to do something about it. “I want to go in and solve those issues,” says Pauly, “and do the work that no one else is doing right now.” At BU, Pauly has prepared for that future by working on public health issues in Boston. For example, through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, she teamed up with Boston Medical Center to validate an electronic health records algorithm that identifies homelessness and housing insecurity among patients. As a next step, Pauly is planning to go to graduate school for public health so she’s ready for “a role where I can make a difference,” she says.
“I want a role where I can actually put measures into place to help people.”
Thanks to a scholarship she received—funded in part by Giving Day donors—Pauly is graduating without excessive student debt, so she’s able to pursue a career in public service. “I’m extremely grateful for it,” says Pauly, a first-gen and low-income student. “Without my scholarship, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
When Jeremiah Somoine (CAS’27, ENG’27) was a freshman, he immediately joined the BU chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). “I was drawn to its mission,” he explains. “It encompasses everything I’m passionate about: advancement in academia, professional development, and contributing positively to the communities I’m part of.” Those values continue to drive Somoine, now a sophomore. For example, through the Innovation Pathway, he is developing an app that will serve as a “centralized platform for BU students to build community and find clubs and organizations that suit them,” he explains.
Born in the United States but raised in Kenya, Somoine decided to major in computer engineering because it has the potential to “bridge the gap in the standard of living between those countries,” he says. Outside the classroom, he is active in several organizations that support his fellow Terriers: He is vice president of internal affairs for NSBE, co-chair for BU Student Government’s Rules Committee, a student ambassador for Innovate@BU, and a Hackathon ambassador for Duan Family Spark!. Grateful for the BU scholarship he received, Somoine believes in giving back to the community that supported him.
“I’m doing my best to make sure the time I spend here at BU is having a positive impact on the school and broader community,” he says.
For more than a year, Julyssa Villa Machado (CAS’26) has worked as an undergraduate researcher in BU’s Robomorphic Computing Laboratory, a lab dedicated to studying robotic applications that can improve people’s lives. “We’re benchmarking motion-planning algorithms in the assistive technology space,” explains Villa Machado. She recently studied algorithms that allow “robots to perform caregiving duties— like feeding, bathing, and dressing people. We’re trying to determine the best algorithm and processes for this.”
Villa Machado has also analyzed robotic table tennis players to better understand their computation, sensing, motion, and energy limitations, and to develop more efficient systems. Her long-term goal is to specialize in computational biology. She found this career direction at BU, where she’s “fallen in love” with computer science and discovered research opportunities through the Undergraduate Research to PhD Mentoring Program and Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. But a scholarship to BU, funded in part by Giving Day donations, also paved the way.
As a first-gen, low-income student, Villa Machado “would not be here if I didn’t receive a scholarship,” she says. “I’m very grateful to the donors who funded it.”
The stories of Tyler, Jeremiah, and Julyssa demonstrate how scholarships open doors for students to pursue their passions and make a lasting impact on the world. This transformative support is made possible by donors who believe in the power of education. For donors like Kelly Pesanelli (CGS’94, Sargent’96,’98), the impact of giving is deeply personal: “As a donor, I know I am helping the next generation overcome financial barriers to education. I want students to have access to the same education I did.”
Their generosity ensures that more students, regardless of their circumstances, can achieve their goals and give back to their communities. Together, we can continue to empower future generations and create a brighter tomorrow.
Your giving matters
The many donors who support scholarships at BU help students focus on learning without having to worry about making ends meet, now and in the future. They help the University attract and retain the brightest students, regardless of their financial need. And they join a community of like-minded donors, encouraging others to follow their example. Anyone can make a gift, of any amount, to support scholarships here.
Every gift, of every size, counts. You can have an impact at BU—and you can choose exactly where to do it.
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