Meet a Carter Scholar!
Helen Teklu, now a junior at the University of Virginia, was first selected as a Carter Scholar in August 2017. She is now a second-time Carter Scholar. A native of Woodbridge, Virginia, she has a 3.4 GPA at the University of Virginia.
Following are some of the university activities in which Helen is involved:
| Organization Involved | Position Held | Dates of Involvement |
| Ethiopian Eritrean Students Association | Secretary (current) | September 2017-present |
| Hoos First Look | Events Committee Member | April 2019-present |
| Early Visions | Mentor | February 2018-present |
Helen would like to be a medical doctor. Therefore, this particular honor is incredibly important:
| Award / Honor | Organization | Date |
| Certificate of Achievement | Summer Medical Leadership Program | July 2019 |
When asked why she wanted to be a Carter Scholar, Helen said:
With this organization, I admire how the focus is to show students that finances should not be a barrier to receiving a proper education and achieving success. Being a first generation college student, sometimes it seems as though I am starting from scratch and am often lost whereas those around me seem to have a set plan for their future. I often seek help and am learning day by day; I do not want to let anything hold me back from reaching my goals of becoming a doctor. I want to be a Carter scholar because I want to dedicate my life not only to those who need medical help, but also provide resources to younger students on the process of pursuing higher education. With certain disadvantages, we tend to doubt our abilities, but I am learning to erase this doubt from my mind and transform it into drive and I want to encourage the same for those coming after me.
We are so proud of Helen and are rooting for her!