Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards (OMSFA)

My name is Thania. I am a first generation college student, illustrator, graphic designer, and storyteller. I was born in Siguatepeque, Honduras. My family and I immigrated to the United States when I was four years old. From the moment I learned how to speak English I became my family’s cultural navigator, ensuring they could have a basic understanding of how to navigate the American systems. Those moments were shaping my understanding of what it meant to show up for community. My humble beginnings created a burning desire within me to live a life I could be proud of. When I graduated from high school I did not know the direction in which I wanted to go. It took a couple of years of dealing with life to understand what I was truly passionate about. During the gap in my education I dove into my interests and found that graphic design was something I was deeply passionate about. It was the perfect blend of art and language.

In 2022 I had the opportunity to restart my journey as a student at Highline College. At Highline I was met with great instructors that inspired me to continuously challenge myself. I am currently pursuing my associates degree and plan to transfer to the University of Washington to receive a Bachelor of Design with a major in Visual Communications. I applied for this scholarship because having additional financial support would lessen the financial burden of attending a four year institution. This would allow me to primarily focus on my studies rather than worrying about financial matters. In addition to the monetary award, I applied for this scholarship as a means to overcome my fear of academia. I am excited for my future! Getting this far into the scholarship process is something I am proud of!