Fund: Hundred-Thousand Dreams Miriam Fadel Scholarship Fund in Public Policy Department: SPP Dean's Office Dept D01313 Purpose: Graduate or Undergraduate Student Support PURPOSE: This Fund shall be used to provide scholarship support to Public Policy undergraduate or graduate students. Annually, 50% of the available funds shall be allocated to recruiting new students as part of their admissions package in the form of a scholarship, and the other 50% shall be allocated to current students who may apply for the scholarship during a specified application period, as determined by the School of Public Policy. BACKGROUND: A natural protagonist, Miriam Fadel is disciplined, resilient, and persistent. Miriam believes passion is palatable—it is not just something you can talk about, but something that must be felt and seen—Miriam is relentlessly passionate, and that is demonstrated through her pursuit of ensuring equitable, accessible higher education. She believes, “The Wheels that create dreams do keep spinning in spite of tragedies”. Miriam dropped out of UCR the quarter she would have graduated, Spring 2017, after transferring in from a community college in the Fall of 2015. After a sevenyear academic hiatus and successfully starting her own business, Miriam returned to UCR to complete her degree. Miriam’s reentry was for a purpose greater than herself, and a testament to the idea that our past challenges do not confine our future possibilities. Miriam chose to come back not just for her own education, but to stand up for students who've been overlooked, to be the voice and support she missed when she was younger. By returning, Miriam found more than academic fulfillment; she uncovered a profound love for education and a clear mission to contribute positively to the community that had reignited this passion. Miriam’s return to UCR evolved into a profound commitment to ensuring that education should be a right, not a privilege. Through the UC system, Miriam has learned that what gets in our way, indeed becomes our way, guiding us toward unexpected horizons and teaching us that sometimes, life does not go as planned—it goes immeasurably better. CRITERIA & SELECTION PROCESS: Scholarship selection criteria for recruiting new School of Public Policy students: - Fund can be used for recruiting admitted students to the School of Public Policy as an incentive to enroll at UCR. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible. Offers will be determined by the Dean of the School of Public Policy, or their designee. - Prospective student(s) who have been admitted to the School of Public Policy; offered as incentive to enroll at UCR. - Available for prospective undergraduate or graduate students Scholarship selection criteria for current student applications: - Available for undergraduate or graduate students. - Student(s) must be currently enrolled in a Public Policy program at UCR. - Student(s) should have demonstrated financial need or hardship.