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Scholar Spotlight: Sidney Ayers

Bright Scholar at the University of Iowa

Checkout this Interview on our Instagram!

Bright Scholar, Sidney Ayers, is a Human Physiology major on the Pre-PA track at the University of Iowa. Sidney is expected to graduate in the Spring of 2022. Read more about Sidney to find out her favorite things about Iowa’s campus!

How are you exploring your career and preparing yourself for life after college?

After getting my bachelor’s degree, I plan to apply to a master’s program to become a physician assistant. My dream career is to be able to spend half of the year working inpatient and the other half doing non-profit work outside of the United States with an organization such as Doctors Without Borders.

What do like most about your school?

Definitely the diversity! Not only are there so many diverse areas of study but the staff and students come from vastly different backgrounds.

What has been your biggest challenge since starting college?

It took me a while to find a balance between my school curriculum and life outside of school. It helped to find friends who supported my studies and were also there to have fun with.

Where is your favorite place to study?

Although I came to love studying in my bed during quarantine, there’s nothing like studying in a coffee shop. My favorite is DASH.

What campus activities do you like to participate in?

The campus activities at the University of Iowa are endless! I am president of the MEDLIFE chapter on campus, which I love devoting my time to. I also love the school’s intramural sports because they offer different divisions for various levels of competitiveness.

Thanks for getting to know our wonderful scholars! Stayed tuned for more spotlights to come on our News & Events page, as well as other updates!

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“My first year in college has been amazing. I was able to get involved with intramural sports, Iowa Wishmakers and Dance Marathon because you took the financial burden off my back and allowed for me to get the most out of my college experience. I’ve been able to focus on school and not worry about working which has allowed me to get the most out of my education. I was also able to fulfill one of my dreams before going to college; I was able to pay for a child’s Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World with my graduation money because of your generosity and covering the expenses of my education. This first year has been great and I cannot wait for the next three years. Thank you Bright Scholars of Iowa!”

“I cannot even begin to properly thank or even put into words how much this foundation has helped put me on an amazing path to reach and accomplish my dreams. Ever since I was seven years old, I have wanted to become a doctor. I wanted to be able to help people, to make sick people better, to be a healer, and to learn and grow to the fullest of my abilities. Because of the Bright scholarship, these dreams and goals are closer within reach. I am achieving success in ways I never thought were possible. My dreams may have been to help others and learn as much as I possibly can, but this foundation has helped me and given me the chance to do the things I love, to push myself, learn, and experience the joy of hard work and success. This scholarship inspired me to help others as well. Currently, I am pursuing a research opportunity with Dr. Mario Ascoli, Carver College of Medicine, to help with work on finding cures for infertility. I am also in the beginning stages of recruitment for alpha Kappa Delta Phi sorority! A lot of things have been going on for me, but none of this would be possible without the Bright Foundation. This foundation gave me the blessing of not having to be stressed, financial security, the ability to reach my goals, but most importantly, faith in myself to do what I love best, so again, thank you.”

“During college, the Bright Scholarship allowed me to focus on school instead of working multiple jobs to stay afloat. In my three years since college, the same has been true – instead of being forced to worry about accepting any job just to pay my student loans, I’ve been able to chase (and land) my dream job!”

“With each passing semester I become even more thankful for this scholarship. My college experience has been phenomenal and this scholarship deserves all the credit. You have allowed to me the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy receiving my education at the University of Iowa. I am thankful to be a Bright Scholar of Iowa. Thank you so much for the college experience you have let me have through this scholarship.”

“I would like to take this time to thank you for your contribution towards the scholarship I have been granted through Indian Hills Community College. I will be attending Indian Hills with a major in psychology. I then plan to transfer to a four-year college and potentially graduate school after that to continue my education. Thank you again for your contribution and the endless possibilities you have given me!”

“As I finish my sophomore year, I am grateful that I have received the Bright Scholarship to help me achieve my goals. My grades have been good and I am proud that I’ve been making Dean’s List. I attended the Engineering job fair to target companies for a summer internship. After being offered two, I chose Nutra Flo, a liquid fertilizer manufacturer in South Dakota. I’m excited to see what I will learn and how much I know out in the real world of Mechanical Engineering. Thank you again for awarding me the Bright Scholarship. Thanks to the Bright Foundation, I have been able to attend ISU without the burden of deep financial indebtedness. It has allowed me to experience ISU but most importantly, I have been able to study in order to do well in my classes. It is because of the Brights — they had a vision to help young people in Iowa achieve higher education. I am excited to be a part of that vision.”