Mary Minasyan, a second year student attending UCLA , received the Kenneth C. Forror, M.D. Scholarship in 2020. Read her thank you letter below:
“Last year, I had the honor of being awarded the 2020 Kenneth C. Forror, M.D. scholarship. I am writing to share my thanks for all of the support you have provided and continue to provide for students like me, although I’m sure my words won’t be nearly enough to express how much we all truly appreciate the work you do. As a young person hoping to make a positive impact in the world however I can, it means a lot to know that there are organizations like Kiwanis out there to support this endeavor by investing in my education.
Ever since I was a toddler pointing at the moon and declaring it to be mine and mine alone (clearly my younger self had no regard for space jurisdiction laws), I have held a strong interest in space. As I started taking more math and physics classes, this interest inspired me to pursue a career in astrophysics, which I am currently majoring in and plan to study in graduate school. In the future, I hope that I will be able to share my discoveries and make science—physics in particular—more accessible for others.
Besides my major coursework, I am also involved in community service. My time as a Key Club member taught me a lot about the value of servant leadership and the joy that one can only experience by performing acts of kindness, so I decided to continue exploring service in college and beyond. To that end, I am currently working with the Bruin Initiative, a student organization dedicated to preparing local high school students for college admission and success, to develop an AP Physics 1 exam preparation course. Additionally, this quarter I am planning to take a service learning course centered around the communities and issues unique to Los Angeles. I look forward to using these experiences and others to better serve and engage my community.
Kiwanis has played an instrumental role in shaping me to be the person I am today. In addition to seeing the benefit and impact of community service first-hand, the many service events and leadership opportunities allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, build my confidence, and conquer my fear of public speaking. Perhaps most importantly, I made several friends through Key Club who have been with me through thick and thin, and whom I am still in touch with today. For these reasons, it is truly heartening to know that, thanks to Kiwanis yet again, I can focus on my education and community service efforts without having to worry (or make my parents worry) about my tuition payment.
Once again, thank you so much for all of the time, thought, and work you put into nurturing my generation. I am confident that we will make the world a better place, one act of service at a time, thanks to your continued selflessness and generosity.
Sincerely,
Mary Minasyan”