First generation scholar to future community leader

In 2015, Nam Nguyen set foot on the campus of Washington State University. This milestone accomplishment marked him as the first in his family to attend college. As a recipient of the FedEx scholarship from APIA Scholars, Nam has been able to maximize his career possibilities and life opportunities in and beyond the classroom. Nam notes, “I relied on financial aid, grants, and student loans to help finance my education. Thanks to this scholarship, I was able to afford my education without needing to work full-time. I was able to learn English in my spare time instead of earning money for school.”

“For me as a student, the four-year scholarship from FedEx has allowed me to truly immerse myself in my studies, the university experience, and American culture. When I first moved to this country from Vietnam five years ago, I could barely speak English. I couldn’t even ask the flight attendant on the plane for a glass of water,” Nam adds. “As a first generation college scholar, I was given the motivation and the drive to succeed in part due to the sense of responsibility this scholarship instilled in me. Moving forward, I now have the dream of one day being able to give back and to serve a community.”

Today, Nam is beginning his senior year as an international business and marketing major with future goals of pursuing a Ph.D. in educational psychology and becoming a renowned researcher in the education field. Outside of the classroom, Nam is a mentor for multicultural students like himself. He attributes his success to his engaged support system of family and faculty and exposure to career development and preparation experiences he was able to afford thanks in part to FedEx.