Krystal LePriol
Major: Elementary Education
High School: Basic High School (Henderson)
Engelstad Scholar Partner: Boys & Girls Club
Has your time at the Boys & Girls Club affected your post-graduation plans?
My original major was psychology, but my time at the Boys & Girls Club helped me realize I wanted to change my major to elementary education and become a teacher.
What is your most memorable Boys & Girls Club experience?
My favorite experience was being a part of the third-grade reading program at the Boys & Girls Club. It was like teaching my own class. I was given the freedom to make a number of educational additions to the program. It was incredibly rewarding. I didn't expect to learn about classroom management at the Boys & Girls Club. This is a skill that will be vital in my future career.
How has service learning improved your college experience?
Volunteering on a consistent basis has made me a more responsible and accountable person. It has broadened my horizons and made my time in college more meaningful. It also connected me with the community I will someday serve in my career.
Without this scholarship, I would not be able to attend UNLV. The Engelstad Scholarship has been a blessing I will always be grateful for.
Related Link: Learn more about the Boys & Girls Club
About the Engelstad Scholars Program
The Engelstad Family Foundation pledged more than $12 million in 2009 to create the Engelstad Scholars program. It funds full scholarships for select undergraduate students who meet academic and financial-need criteria and who perform 100 hours of community service each year. The program is the largest scholarship endowment pledge in the university's history.
Kris Engelstad McGarry, trustee of the Engelstad Family Foundation, describes the scholarship as both an investment in the community and a testament to the generosity of those who came before.
"My father was a scholarship recipient -- someone else's generosity enabled him to attend college and gave him a head start in life," she said during the program's announcement. "Now, in his honor, our family has the opportunity to continue that tradition by 'paying it forward.' Students will learn the importance of giving back and having an impact in the community."
Students receive $5,000 each year for up to four years, allowing them to focus more on school rather than work. They also connect with such community agencies as the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, Boys & Girls Club, Goodie Two Shoes, Opportunity Village and Three Square.
