As one student after another came up to the podium on the dais of the sixth floor of the Rice-Eccles Stadium tower on April 23 to share their stories, it became apparent that while the various members of the Opportunity Scholars program come from unique backgrounds and circumstances, there are commonalities binding and bonding them together.

The pre-graduation End of Semester Luau taking place was “a powerful reflection on the resilience and grit of our scholars,” noted Erica Rojas, Director for Belonging Cohorts at the David Eccles School of Business.

More than 20 first-generation students from the Opportunity Scholars program were celebrated by peers, family, friends, advisors, administrators, and donors that night — for overcoming obstacles, persevering through heartbreak, and pushing through every challenge thrown at them en route to becoming college graduates.

Half a dozen of them offered testimonials on the importance of the Opportunity Scholars program while giving insight into the impediments they refused to be derailed by. As they did so, there were plenty of tears shed — some by the speakers, and many more by audience members.

Januel Gomez-Colon utilizes a wheelchair because of a condition known as spinal muscular atrophy, but he spoke not of physical obstacles but rather a structural one he was faced with: “How can I keep the Medicaid benefits necessary for me to hold a job, while that same job — by paying me what I am worth — would make me ineligible for those same Medicaid benefits?” The solution was simple: change the law; the process, however, was convoluted and frustrating. Gomez-Colon went on to highlight and thank each person who helped him through the myriad steps of ultimately getting the law changed, which proved a significant factor in him completing his degree.

“If there’s one thing I hope you guys take away from my story,” he said, “it’s [that] when someone tells you something can’t be done, don’t believe it — not because it’s easy, but because you’re not alone.”

Rachel Matautia is Australian by birth and Samoan by heritage. When she was young, a car accident left her parents disabled; so, since she has been working since the age of 14. As one of nine kids, she had to pay for her own schooling (though a scholarship from program donors helped ease her financial burden). Meanwhile, three of her siblings have died just in the time she has been at the University of Utah.

“There were days I didn’t think I would make it. Grief tried to silence me,” said Matautia. “But my culture taught me that we do not walk alone.”

After thanking the many people who helped sustain and support her during the hardest times, she concluded: “This degree might have my name on it, but it belongs to us.”

The final student speaker was Alamissi Ouro-Gneni, an immigrant, wife, and mother who began with a poignant reflection: “Being a first-generation student, I wasn’t just carrying books — I was carrying the hopes and dreams of my entire family.”

Ouro-Gneni was initially excited to be at the U but quickly felt overwhelmed: “Tuition costs felt impossible, and balancing school and work became a daily struggle.” She found her student account placed on hold, preventing her from registering for more classes. After pouring her heart out to a friend, the friend asked: “Are you part of Opportunity Scholars?” When Ouro-Gneni said no, the friend marched her over to the then-director’s office, and she was assisted in filling out a scholarship application.

“A week later, I got an email saying that I was awarded one of the Opportunity Scholars’ scholarships. My tuition balance was cleared, and I was able to enroll for the next semester,” she said. “That scholarship was more than just financial help — it was a powerful reminder that people believed in me, just like I was learning to believe in myself.” Making her journey even more special, Ouro-Gneni is now graduating alongside her eldest son.

The graduates and administrators got plenty of encouragement and praise throughout the night. Eccles School Dean Kurt Dirks praised the Opportunity Scholars program for enabling students “to meet their aspirations based not upon their means but their motivation.” Nate Webster, the Opportunity Scholars Advisory Board Chair, noted that the night was “a celebration of sacrifice, hard work … that led you to achieve something great and amazing — a degree from the University of Utah.”

Opportunity Scholars Program Manager Franscine Anmontha announced that each graduate would receive a ribbon lei (representing accomplishment and community), a graduation stole, and a business card holder. She said succinctly of the people she helps: “These students are go-getters. … These students inspire me every day.”

Congratulation to our 2024-25 Opportunity Scholars graduates:

• Abraham Ortell Sessions, Accounting BS
• Akilah Pham, Management BS, Marketing BS
• Alamissi Ouro-Gneni, Business Administration BS
• Ali Francisco Camacho, Entrepreneurship BS
• Andrea Vazquez, Accounting BS
• Ashis Dhakal, Entrepreneurship BS
• Briant Moreno, Finance BS
• Coleen Lee, Psychology BS
• Damián Osiris Cisneros-Pasillas, Health And Kinesiology BS, Psychology BS
• Daniela Mata, Accounting BS
• Emily Savann Lim, Marketing BS
• Eric Davtyan, Finance BS
• Gabriela Lima Demelo, Information Systems BS
• Jael Marian Jaimes, Business Administration BS
• Januel Alexander Gomez-Colon, Quant Analys Of Mkts & Org BS
• Jeffery Payan, Business Administration BS
• Jonathon Mai, Operations & Supply Chain BS
• Joseph Kingston, Accounting BS, Finance BS
• Kaylee Faith Hodges, Marketing BS
• Keerthana Cholapura Ganganarasegowda, Operations & Supply Chain BS
• Kevin Vo, Finance BS
• Kimberly Michelle Cuevas, Business Administration BS
• Larsen Ren Stephens, Accounting BS
• Laura Parra, Graphic Design, BFA
• Litzy Iveth Flores, Marketing BS
• Loc Nguyen, Information Systems BS
• Matias Vale Armesto, Information Systems BS
• Mckyer Hunterali’i Stevenson, Business Administration BS
• Mia Girmai Tadesse, Management BS, Marketing BS
• Michelle Zhuo, Information Systems BS, Operations & Supply Chain BS
• Natnael B Kidane, Finance BS, Information Systems BS
• Rulon Eskel Williams, Accounting BS, Finance BS
• Sefuluai Rachel Mata’utia, Management BS
• Shayla Truong Le, Management BS
• Tim Enkhbaatar Odjav, Accounting BS, Finance BS
• Vivian Chau, Finance BS, Marketing BS

The goal of the Opportunity Scholars program at the Eccles School is to support and enhance the educational experience of first-generation business students as they progress toward graduation. For more information, visit Eccles.Link/opportunity-scholars.