![\"\"](\"\/alumni\/files\/2025\/01\/Tyler-Pauly-CAS\u201924.png\")
<\/p>\nScholarships at Boston University are more than just financial aid\u2014they\u2019re the foundation for life-changing opportunities. For students like Tyler Pauly (CAS\u201924), Jeremiah Somoine (CAS\u201927, ENG\u201927), and Julyssa Villa Machado (CAS\u201926), 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. <\/p>\n
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Growing up in San Francisco, Tyler Pauly (CAS\u201924)<\/strong> witnessed the impacts of sub- stance abuse in her community\u2014and felt called to do something about it. \u201cI want to go in and solve those issues,\u201d says Pauly, \u201cand do the work that no one else is doing right now.\u201d 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\u2019s ready for \u201ca role where I can make a difference,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n Thanks to a scholarship she received\u2014funded in part by Giving Day donors\u2014Pauly is graduating without excessive student debt, so she\u2019s able to pursue a career in public service. \u201cI\u2019m extremely grateful for it,\u201d says Pauly, a first-gen and low-income student. \u201cWithout my scholarship, I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n When Jeremiah Somoine (CAS\u201927, ENG\u201927)<\/strong> was a freshman, he immediately joined the BU chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). \u201cI was drawn to its mission,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt encompasses everything I\u2019m passionate about: advancement in academia, professional development, and contributing positively to the communities I\u2019m part of.\u201d 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 \u201ccentralized platform for BU students to build community and find clubs and organizations that suit them,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n Born in the United States but raised in Kenya, Somoine decided to major in computer engineering because it has the potential to \u201cbridge the gap in the standard of living between those countries,\u201d 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\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n \n For more than a year, Julyssa Villa Machado (CAS\u201926)<\/strong> has worked as an undergraduate researcher in BU\u2019s Robomorphic Computing Laboratory, a lab dedicated to studying robotic applications that can improve people\u2019s lives. \u201cWe\u2019re benchmarking motion-planning algorithms in the assistive technology space,\u201d explains Villa Machado. She recently studied algorithms that allow \u201crobots to perform caregiving duties\u2014 like feeding, bathing, and dressing people. We\u2019re trying to determine the best algorithm and processes for this.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s \u201cfallen in love\u201d 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.<\/p>\n \nThe 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\u201994, Sargent\u201996,\u201998)<\/strong>, the impact of giving is deeply personal: \u201cAs 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Support student scholarships<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every gift, of every size, counts. You can have an impact at BU\u2014and you can choose exactly where to do it.<\/p>\n Not yet a donor? Give now<\/a> and receive email updates on the impact donors have throughout the year. Visit \u201cWhy we give\u201d<\/a> to read more about the many committed donors to Boston University.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Meet Tyler, Jeremiah, and Julyssa\u2014three inspiring students showcasing the life-changing impact of scholarships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16028,"featured_media":24074,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[37,4],"tags":[802,867,60,1045],"featured_img":"\/alumni\/files\/2025\/01\/CDS-building-800x600.png","agg_excerpt":"Meet Tyler, Jeremiah, and Julyssa\u2014three inspiring students showcasing the life-changing impact of scholarships.","agg_title":"How scholarships are empowering BU students","media_icon":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24043"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16028"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24043"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24043\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24215,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24043\/revisions\/24215"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\u201cI want a role where I can actually put measures into place to help people.\u201d<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"\/alumni\/files\/2025\/01\/Jeremiah-Somoine-CAS\u201927ENG\u201927.png\")
<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m doing my best to make sure the time I spend here at BU is having a positive impact on the school and broader community,\u201d he says.<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"\/alumni\/files\/2025\/01\/Julyssa-Villa-Machado-CAS\u201926.png\")
<\/p>\nAs a first-gen, low-income student, Villa Machado \u201cwould not be here if I didn\u2019t receive a scholarship,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019m very grateful to the donors who funded it.\u201d<\/h2>\n
Your giving matters<\/h3>\n