‘Truly changed my life’: Center for Scholarships and Scholar Enrichment’s transformative impact

Empowering students to graduate with less debt - or none at all - has been one of the key tenets of the UCLA Center for Scholarships and Scholar Enrichment since its founding in 1996, when it was known as the Scholarship Resource Center.

Through mentorship, resources and guidance open to all UCLA students regardless of major or financial aid eligibility, the CSSE is in its third decade of helping change lives and build relationships.

That includes administering donor-founded scholarships and stewarding the recipients through to graduation. Here are snapshots of three such recipients - graduating seniors Lev Afonine, Chris Bryant and Jenni Carmean - who hope to pay their experience forward.

Lev Afonine

Hometown: Martinez, California

Major: Economics and Russian language and literature

What are some of your favorite UCLA memories? Too many to name, but notable ones include grabbing sandwiches at the Study, taking Econ 131 with Professor Martin Hackmann and my friend Jaina, and building BioStrive with my BioFamily at the UCLA Anderson Venture Accelerator. (Afonine co-founded and is the chief operating officer of BioStrive, a life sciences technology.) Going to UCLA has been the best decision of my life!

What does it mean to you to have received scholarship support from donors? I feel like I don't say this enough, but the Junamici Scholarship has given me the opportunity to build and live the life I have today - I frankly would never have been able to afford college without that financial support. Beyond the funding itself, the incredible people at the Center for Scholarships and Scholar Enrichment, especially Angela Deaver Campbell, have been in my corner since day one. Being a scholarship recipient has truly changed my life.

What are your future plans? I want to continue to build BioStrive and really see how far we can take our dorm room idea.

What should everyone know about the CSSE? I came to UCLA knowing absolutely no one. The people at the Center for Scholarships and Scholar Enrichment, especially Angela and Mac Harris, were among the first people I had the pleasure of meeting, and they have never stopped supporting me throughout my college journey. Don't hesitate to reach out to the CSSE, as they have never been anything short of amazing.

Chris Bryant

Hometown: Fort Pierce, Florida

Major: Philosophy

Transfer school: Long Beach City College (Go Vikings!!!)

What are some of your favorite UCLA memories? Being accepted into UCLA, given everything that I had to overcome on the road here! I was homeless when I enrolled at LBCC. I slept outdoors, in the back of U-Haul trucks, my storage unit, etc. But becoming a Bruin made all of my struggles and losses worth it. Additionally, I love being a part of UCLA's College Corps and working with K-12 students - I have been blessed to see a number of them get accepted into the college(s) of their choice!

Lastly, I have truly enjoyed getting to know a lot of UCLA staff, professors and TA's and learning so much from them. I am not a traditional student; I turned 41 this spring and my first year at UCLA was difficult because I had a hard time finding my footing. Through visiting office hours and being honest and vulnerable, I was able to find a sense of belonging and realized that it's OK not to be OK and to ask for help - not just academically but emotionally and mentally.

What does it mean to you to have received scholarship support from donors? It means everything to me. I am low-income and I do not have close family and friends here in California - everyone still lives in the South - so without my scholarships I would definitely not have been able to afford college.

Donor scholarships also helped me with my imposter syndrome. When I was accepted to UCLA, at times I felt like I did not belong and that somehow a mistake was made. When I received my scholarships that were based on merit, academic success and writing, I truly started to believe that I had earned everything I received, including my place at UCLA.

What are your future plans? Obtain a Ph.D. in philosophy and then go to law school. My long-term goals are to become a philosophy professor and, after eight to 10 years of teaching, I would like to become a criminal defense attorney. After doing that for about a decade - if I am still alive (LOL) - I would like to pursue my artistic interests in photography, painting and making music.

What should everyone know about the CSSE? Don't be afraid to show up as your full, authentic self. What makes the Center for Scholarships and Scholar Enrichment so special isn't just the financial support, but it's also about the people who work there. I know from firsthand experience that the staff genuinely care about our success, not just academically, but holistically as well.

For me, building relationships and being open and honest about my journey made all the difference. Whether it was attending workshops, seeking guidance or just having real conversations, I found a community that wanted to see me win.

As someone who is a non-traditional student and who had to overcome a lot to get here; having a space where I felt/feel seen, supported and encouraged meant/means so much to me. So my advice is simple: Show up, stay engaged, ask for help when you need it and don't count yourself out. There is a place for you and the CSSE will help you find it.

Jenni Carmean

Hometown: I grew up in Phoenix but have lived in Los Angeles for 12 years

Major: Anthropology

Transfer school: Pierce College in Woodland Hills

What are some of your favorite UCLA memories? My journey to UCLA has been transformative. I came here as a transfer student and single mother, terrified of failure and struggling with imposter syndrome. But instead of letting that define me, I applied to the Honors Program within my major and was accepted. Over the past year and a half, I have completed an honors thesis on domestic violence recovery, based on interviews with 16 women across the United States. In June, I will graduate with honors, which feels surreal in the best possible way.

What does it mean to you to have received scholarship support from donors? It means everything to me. As a single mother of two, attending UCLA without financial assistance would simply not have been possible for me. The support I have received has been life-changing. I am so proud to be able to show my daughters that, at any age, anything is possible. As the oldest of eight children, with both of my parents gone, becoming a first-generation college graduate carries deep meaning for me and I am proud to set that example for all my family.

What are your future plans? I plan to take a year off to focus on developing a survivor-led community app I have been building. I will also continue refining my thesis and will apply to Ph.D. programs in the winter.

What should everyone know about the CSSE? The support and guidance they provide is incredible. Someone is always there to help.

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