Scholar Spotlight with Valentina Preciado-Bello
While the Foundation has successfully transitioned many of its events to a virtual format, we were pleased to still be able to hold a safe, scheduled, and socially distanced version of our annual Scholar Photo Day this fall. Many thanks to our Foundation scholars who signed up, respected COVID-19 guidelines, and braved a frigid day to represent their scholarship awards – students like Valentina Preciado-Bello, a senior business administration major from Bogota, Columbia, who was directly impacted by the pandemic.
“I’m an international student who was severely affected by COVID-19, and my parents were unable to help me financially due to the currency exchange being so expensive,” explained Valentina. “I was afraid I wasn’t going to be able to return for my senior year.”
Valentina was aided by the Shepherd Student Relief Fund, which supports immediate student needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is also a recipient of the Dr. Oliver S. Ikenberry Memorial Scholarship, a general academic award named for the former Shepherd president that honors one male and one female student each year for their exemplary community service to the university.
“I want to thank the Foundation and its donors for these privately funded scholarship awards that help students in need,” said Valentina.
(Photo credit: Elmar Talbot and Khalil Covington)