Honors Names West Scholars

Pictured Above: (top) Mauricio Morales, Emily Rodriguez; (bottom) Ethan Sellers, Samuel Yeboah

It can be easy to assume that everyone else at BYU looks exactly like you or that they fit the majority demographic: white, middle-class American. This simply isn't true. We are surrounded daily by students who are first generation, identify as LGBT+, come from different family backgrounds, and are of distinct ethnicities. As Maya Angelou so aptly stated, “In diversity, there is beauty and there is strength.” These students bring an unmatched beauty to BYU, but they often struggle to find the space to thrive and face any number of challenges to pursuing a university education. The Honors Program is excited to offer a new scholarship specifically aimed to help combat struggles faced by many first-generation students with financial need who are beginning their college careers.

This semester, the West Honors Program Endowed Scholarship was awarded to four remarkable Honors students whose journeys already demonstrate their commitment to excellence. The scholarship is funded by a generous donation from BYU Honors alumnus John Andrew West and Rebecca Donaldson West. With this half-tuition scholarship, the Honors Program hopes to help overcome educational barriers for first-generation college students, giving them both financial support and a welcome home in Honors at BYU.

Dr. Spencer Magleby, Director of the Honors Program, shared that the Wests are particularly invested in Honors because when they were in their undergraduate careers, they received a scholarship at an incredibly important moment. As they considered how they could give back to the Honors Program, discussions focused early on the needs of incoming students – particularly those who are the first in their families to attend college. Through interacting with these incredible students, Dr. Magleby found an acute “awareness of the challenges faced by first generation students” and shared his observations with the Wests. They enthusiastically gave their support to help fill this need with both a long-lasting endowment and an initial gift to provide scholarships immediately. We are grateful for their generosity and ongoing devotion to Honors at BYU.

Here are the incredible students named West Scholars in Winter 2022:

Mauricio Morales
Major: Political Science
Minor: Arabic
Mauricio is from Bolivia and aspires to return to build a cancer hospital and form a foundation to provide education opportunities for others. Raised by an incredible single mother and grandmother, Mauricio was taught to work hard and ferociously pursue his goals to honor the sacrifices made by his family. Coming to BYU did not just entail a drive or plane trip for him. It required multiple attempts at getting an approved visa and leaving his family for an extended amount of time. Despite the hardships he has faced, Mauricio still had the following to say about his outlook on life:

“I consider myself a dreamer and a believer in humanity; in a world where negativity and disbelief has become part of our daily life, I firmly believe that there is still a chance to improve and to do good in this world for all. Coming to BYU has been a very challenging experience for me and my family, but with hard work and determination my dream became true and every day I live it to its fullness.”

Mauricio decided to join the Honors Program at BYU because he wanted to do something more than just attend to college. “I wanted to have opportunities that would lead me to learn more and develop skills for my future career, I want to make a big impact in the world, and I think that the skills we learn at the Honors Program such as finding the unexpected connections in the world, building community, and challenging myself to get out of my comfort zone will help me to understand the world we live in.”

Emily Rodriguez
Major: Sociology
Emily is a force for social change as an aspiring professor hoping to focus on advocacy and policy making within social work. She is planning to take every experience available to her to honor her mother who immigrated to America from El Salvador for the opportunities here. As a native Spanish speaker, Emily recounted that she struggled to reach the English proficiency of her friends. Once she overcame this hurdle, her dedication to learning thrust her into Lacrosse programs, HOSA, FBLA, Key Club, and DECA in high school. After graduating, she plans on completing a master’s in social work and then a PhD to focus on research and advocacy. “Mainly I just want to help empower people and like most people, make this world a better place.”

As a true sociologist, Emily claims that the people in the Honors Program are her favorite part of working through the program. “My peers are the future of this world, and each has individual experiences that have led them to BYU. It is an honor to be able to work with and learn from them.” She was drawn to the program by the interdisciplinary approach. “I have loved the classes that I have taken so far, especially the unexpected connection courses. It is exciting to learn about connections that I had never considered before. These classes are changing my perspective and encouraging me to view the world differently.”

Ethan Sellers
Major: Computer Science
Ethan is a first-generation student who is passionate about safe minority housing and lifting minority populations on campus. He was introduced to the Honors Program by a friend who invited him to a virtual chocolate chat, and “instantly fell in love.” It only took that slight exposure for him to know he wanted the Honors Program to be a part of my BYU experience. “I had always loved looking at connections from unrelated subjects and looking at the world through different people’s eyes so, naturally, I knew this was the right place for me.”

Since joining the Honors Program, Ethan said he has had many unparalleled experiences, but none stick out quite like HONRS 120. “The class itself was good, but what made it phenomenal was the community and the people. The unique bonds I built with my classmates from that class are stronger than any I have made during my time here at BYU. While it was the opportunities that made me want to join, it’s been the community that has made me want to stay.”

Ethan hopes to someday work in software development and sees Honors as great way to strengthen his creative outlook on life, setting him apart from other software engineers. “Creating those unexpected connections from every aspect of my life is exactly what I feel I need to be successful, and the Honors Program is helping me to do just that every day.”

Samuel Yeboah
Major: International Relations
Samuel is an avid world traveler with an acute interest in diplomacy. He was born and raised in Ghana by a loving grandmother and aunt. His mom was in the United States earning money to send back home. It wasn't until he was 14 years old that he was able to join his mother in Virginia. Passionate about learning, Samuel excelled in school and on a mission in the Marshall Islands. Honors in high school led him to Honors at BYU. “It made me realize that there is more for me to explore if I join the Honors Program at BYU. I wanted to explore many interdisciplinary paths and concepts that can help me decide on a career path… and explore the magnitude of life itself.”

His own experiences traveling and adapting to new cultures have led him to an interest in a diplomacy career. He also wants to do policy work on the importance of the involvement of fathers and mothers in their children’s lives. It is clear that he loves the community here at BYU and he is the first to say how inspired he is by his peers. Of his experience at BYU, Samuel says:

“Life hasn't been easy for me, but I am truly grateful that I am surrounded by people who live the gospel the same way I live my life. I am grateful for their dedication and their example.”

We congratulate these West Honors Scholars!