Family and Consumer Sciences Education Scholarship Winner: Vanessa Ahlborn 

Utah State University’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences offers a variety of scholarships each year, encouraging students to take advantage of these opportunities to help fund their education. Vanessa Ahlborn, a student in the Family and Consumer Sciences Education (FCSE) program, did just that. 

Vanessa enjoys her studies within the FCSE program, and her ultimate career goal is to become a mother. She stated, “Having all this knowledge behind me from this major is huge because I can use it in my own home and in my own life.” 

Vanessa, a senior, gave birth to her child in April. To her surprise, she was awarded a scholarship in June, which provided her with the opportunity to complete her degree. 

“Without the scholarship, I don’t think I would have continued,” Vanessa shared. “It’s given me that encouragement that I can do things even though I have a four-month-old.” Now that her tuition costs are covered, she can not only finish her degree but also focus on her studies and her family. 

As Vanessa pursued her FCSE degree with the support of the scholarship, she felt inspired to help others who may not always have a reliable support network. “I know that I could also be an example to any child in the community that thinks, ‘Oh, I can’t because of whatever reason,’” Vanessa said. “I’m so grateful that these donors have offered me this opportunity.”