Legal & General Investment Management America (LGIMA), an investment solutions provider with $202 billion in assets under management, offered four students at DePaul University’s Richard H. Driehaus College of Business $5,000 scholarships. Scholarships were awarded to students who align with the firm’s commitment of fostering diversity and inclusion in the finance industry. “LGIMA is proud to offer this award to students right here in our community, in an effort to help set them on the right path toward financial success,” said LGIMA CEO Aaron Meder. “Through scholarships and awards like these, we aim to showcase the importance of financial inclusion and encourage diversity in our field. We look forward to hearing from our recipients and to advancing the financial literacy conversation.”
Driehaus students submitted a brief essay explaining why diversity and inclusion are important in finance and how their individual experiences will foster these values at home, at school and within their communities. The recipients had the opportunity to network with LGIMA’s leaders at its headquarters in Chicago. The recipients for 2019 were Sarh Alsalem, Zain Jaliawala, Nicholas Brown and Jason Malonga. The students had the chance to share their comments around what the scholarship award has meant to them.
Nicholas: “I expect to graduate June 2021. I am pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Business, majoring in Finance with a minor in accounting. Receiving this scholarship has proven to me that being a well rounded student is adventitious and will set you far ahead of the competition. By taking on leadership roles, internships, undertaking volunteer work as well as being a full time student helps to teach discipline and develops a strong work ethic. It means a lot when all of this hard work is recognized and I appreciate Legal & General Investment Management America for doing just that.”
Sarh: “Receiving this award tells me that I have made the right decision choosing finance as my major. Although I was told to change my major to Nursing to get a full scholarship, I believed Finance is the best major for me. I am very grateful for the current award. It encourages me to work harder.”
Jason: “I am expected to graduate in 2021 with a major in Finance and a minor in Accounting. Education can open many doors, but true success relies on initiative. I possess the drive and determination, but do not have the financial capability to pursue my goals in Finance. The LGIMA Scholarship provided me with the opportunity to pursue the career of my dreams, a career rooted in investment banking, and is allowing me to make a difference in the world of Finance.”
Zain: “To me this scholarship means that I have a lot of great supporters who are willing to coach, help, and guide me to accomplish my goals. All of this support has allowed me to continually push and make even bigger goals that I never imagined I could’ve had without the amazing education and opportunities I have received at DePaul!”
By Anastasiya Kadukov