William H. Pitt III Scholarship
About the Scholarship
The William H. Pitt III Scholarship was established in 1995 by the William H. Pitt Foundation.
Student Recipients
Gilmar Barrios '20
Hometown: Norwalk, CT
Major: Exercise Science
"At SHU, I love the atmosphere and the cleanliness that our school has. Not to mention, the professors are very passionate about what they teach and helping you succeed. Whether it be the staff or other students that I come across, they are always happy and that makes going to SHU such a welcoming and lively experience.
I plan on becoming either a Physical Therapist or Nurse Practitioner. Although two very distinct fields, they deal with pathological and physiological aspects of the human body, which is what fuels my interest. My major has helped me work toward my goal because I get to take classes such as anatomy and physiology, immunology, pathology, kinesiology, etc. to give me that strong background/basis for the rigorous programs that I will begin post graduation.
Outside the classroom, I am part of the Sacred Heart Cross Country team as well as the Track & Field team. I get to do a log of team bonding activities throughout the year, and that makes my school year that much more enjoyable.
I would really like to thank my donors for this scholarship because this money that I didn't spend on my undergraduate program is being saved to pay for my graduate program and it will assist me in taking less loans. I appreciate the generosity of my donors for having blessed me with this scholarship opportunity because knowing how expensive universities can be, this help definitely takes a burden off my shoulders."
Marc Anthony Colon '22
Hometown: Stratford, CT
Major: Marketing
"What I love most about SHU and the SHU Community is that it's a home away from home! You always feel so welcomed. I am going into my sophomore year of college. Within the first weeks of being here freshman year, I already considered SHU to be a big family. My professional goal is to become very successful within the marketing field. Taking some business classes have really helped me to understand the business field. The "Intro to Business" course has taught us how to create our own business with a team of classmates. I really enjoyed the marketing aspect and that is how I knew what I wanted my major to be.
Sacred Heart is known for community service. It's actually one of the reasons I picked the school. I really wanted to give back to the community. Not only is the community service a great aspect of experiences outside of the classroom, but SHU also has many clubs. I enjoy la Hispana and the multicultural club.
I would truly like to thank my donor for the scholarship, which I have received. It's not every day that you receive something as generous as this scholarship. Quite honestly I don't think I could continue if it wasn't for the very generous donor, and for that, again, I thank you for your generosity."
Merivan Galchabaeva '20
Hometown: Stratford, CT
Major: Health Science
"I love that SHU has so many programs and clubs to join, which helps you make friends and never feel alone. Also, I love that SHU offers all kinds of opportunities to build your career as early as you wish. I love the campus, professors, and students. Everyone is so nice, understanding, and always ready to help each other.
I look forward to becoming a physical therapist or nurse practitioner. I am a Health Science major with the concentration of public health. My major is comprehensive and gives me a fundamental base to become a physical therapist. Knowledge about the human body, health administration, public health, health politics and professionalism in health care settings makes me aware of all the changes that are happening within the HC system, be professional and improve my critical thinking.
Being part of the SHU community taught me to stay physically active and put my health before anything and I love to work out. I am not part of any clubs or Greek Life because I am alone in the country without any support from my family. In my free time, I mostly work outside of the school to pay for daily expenses.
I am so thankful for your scholarship. Without your help, I may not be able to attend SHU. Thanks to you I can manage my time to be part of an incredible community like SHU and continue to work. You gave me the possibility to achieve my dream career and I could not be more appreciative. Thank you very much and I hope one day I will be able to do the same for students in need!"
Sarah Idarraga '20
Hometown: Stratford, CT
Major: Health Science; Concentration in Public Health
"What I love most about being a member of the Sacred Heart Community is all of the opportunities that are offered to better prepare me for my future career and life. Not only has SHU given me an amazing education, but throughout the years it has shown me how to work hard, better interact with others, and develop leadership skills. I am very grateful to be a SHU student and look forward to giving back to the community in the future.
My professional goals after I graduate from Sacred Heart University is to enroll in an accelerated nursing program to become an RN. I'm currently majoring in health science with a concentration in Public Health where I am learning how hospitals function as well as understanding the needs of a community. I believe this major will help me achieve my future goals since my passion has always been to help the ones around me, especially if I can help to heal them in any way.
Experiences outside the classroom that I most enjoy is volunteering at LifeBridge Community Services, a social services agency in which I have been volunteering for almost 2 years. Through this organization, I have met many people and learned how to be more understanding and compassionate with others. Not only have these moments given me joy, but they have helped me to discover who I am.
Thank you so much for this scholarship. Not only have you given me an opportunity to study at Sacred Heart, but also the chance to fulfill my parents' dream, as well as my own, to be the first person in my family to go to college. I very much appreciate your generous gift and I will continue to work hard not only in my studies but also in my daily life to become a nurse."
Carlos Ruiz '21
Hometown: Norwalk, CT
Major: Marketing
"What I love most about SHU is the many opportunities that I have been blessed to have received during my attendance. I have been able to grow as a student, be able to share my experience with others, and as a result I have been able to see my school grow into what it has become today. I have been able to get involved within the SHU community in different aspects of it. I was a part of the D1 Cheerleading team and Student Government, I currently am a part of Greek Life, Student Ambassadors, and working on a new campaign called PioneerVote. I also work for SHU Dining. I love how active, but yet academically successful I have been. there is no doubt that "Heart is where the home is," and in many aspects of my life, SHU is my home and I couldn't imagine it not being my home.
My ultimate goal would be to work for Univision or American Spanish-Speaking TV because I grew up watching that. Another goal would be able to work at Sacred Heart or have my own business. My Marketing Major prepares me for this because I have been able to learn about how businesses work with the core classes that are taken, but since I have also been able to take classes in the School of Communications, I have been able to learn how to record, edit and create videos, and do a news report and present in the class.
My fraternity and being an active member in Greek Life plays a big role in my college experience and I have been able to grow as a student. I am an executive officer, VP of Communications, in my fraternity. This role has been fun and I have been able to work on many of my social media marketing skills with my fraternity, receive an award from the Office of Greek Life for our PR, and have our colony recognized at the national level.
Without this scholarship, I don't think that my dreams of being at this university would be possible. I am blessed because my life would not be where it is today and I wouldn't have been able to experience my academic and college experience to the fullest without this opportunity. I am so thankful and I will continue to work hard and makes sure that SHU is not only my home, but also home to everyone around me."
Moetiz Shileleh '21
Hometown: Monroe, CT
Major: Accounting
"My favorite thing about SHU is the students and how friendly they are. It is very easy to get along with them and make friends in the community. I want to become the best in my field. My major has helped me toward that because Accounting is a very competitive area of study.
I am a member of the Track and Field Team and love being around the team and being able to travel with them. Thank you so much for the scholarship donation to the University. My family does not have a lot of money so this is a big way for us to relax and help me pay for my own tuition."
Leanne Suazo '22
Hometown: Trumbull, CT
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies
"What I love most about Sacred Heart University and being a member of this community is that I feel wanted and safe. The people, staff and teachers are all helpful and kind. My professional goal is to be an elementary teacher with a concentration in English. The major that I have declared, Interdisciplinary Studies, is helping me become an elementary teacher in 5 years with a Bachelors, Masters, and a teaching certificate. I love volunteering. It really helps me to interact with other people outside of the SHU community. I get to learn and do new things. This year, I plan to join clubs.
Thank you for this scholarship. I will try my best to succeed and do well these next 3 years so that I can do what I love to do. It is a blessing to be able to love the job that I will have. With this scholarship, I can wake up everyday with a smile on my face - I thank you for that!"
Jennifer Teixeira '21
Hometown: Bridgeport, CT
Major: Nursing
"What I love and appreciate about being part of the SHU community is how every year is so different. My biggest fear before attending a seemingly small campus was that it would be tiresome seeing the same people every day. However, every year is much different from the last and I have met so many great people. Everyone has a different story and background and I have fallen in love with the SHU community. The welcoming smiles, the sports, majors, and heritage all come with a brand-new face that I am excited to have met and have a connection with.
I aspire to be a traveling Nurse Practitioner. My Nursing major clearly exposes me to the work I will be doing in the future. Since I am in the Nursing Program, I have been part of critical science classes and labs and have started clinical. I will graduate with a BSN and start my career while going to school to eventually earn a Masters in Nursing.
Yes, the subjects and teachers are great but I live for the activities that take me away from my vigorous studying and homework. I love being a part of clubs such as the MCC and BSU and am trying out for club volleyball, which I genuinely excited about for the upcoming year.
I could just say "Thank You" but that will be an understatement of how much this scholarship means to me. I am the first generation to even graduate high school let alone college and I am doing it all on my own. I barely have a summer because I work three jobs, and I barely have a piece of mind throughout the school year because I know I owe money. Anything that can be taken off of my tuition is a blessing for me and I am glad to be one of the few selected for the William H. Pitt III Scholarship."
Donate
To make a donation by check, make checks payable to Sacred Heart University and mail to:
Sacred Heart University
University Advancement
5151 Park Avenue
Fairfield, CT 06825