Students Build Home Sweet Green Home on Campus
The Utah Valley Parade of Homes included an unconventional stop this year: BYU campus.
Your Donations to BYU Make a Difference
BYU Senior Named Student Photographer of the Year
BYU Senior Brooklyn Jarvis Kelson was recently named Student Photographer of the Year by the University Photographers’ Association of America.
BYU Students Benefiting the World
BYU students working hard to bring about change in their field.
Landlocked BYU Asked to Help Molokai’s Reef
Reefs worldwide are constantly threatened. The Molokai-based conservation nonprofit ‘Āina Momona called on BYU for help.
BYU’s Next Unicorn? Student Startup Scores $905K
One of BYU’s student startups earned $905k in prize money at a major collegiate business plan competition.
Translating BYU Speeches Helps Launch Student Linguist’s Career
Kika graduated in 2023 and began her career in language services, a culmination of her experiences at home, abroad, and—finally—at BYU.
Foundations of the Restoration
Hundreds of BYU students shared their testimonies through a variety of mediums.
Data May Lead to Cancer Treatments
Biology professors Matthew Bailey and Sam Payne led the largest-ever study on how cancer spreads and affects proteins in the body.
Mapping Historic Units and Buildings
Can you name the oldest operating meetinghouse in Utah?
Learning the Healer’s Art
Thanks to my education at BYU, I realized that I want to be an advocate for those I care for.
Research on Faith and Family
The Wheatley Institute conducts and distributes research that supports family, religion, and constitutional government.
When Doors Are Opened
For Sarah Johns, a 2L student from Huntington Beach, California, attending law school and participating in competitions has improved both her knowledge and her spirituality.
Studying with People Who Share My Standards
Lauren Walker’s often found herself in places where members of her faith were few. Her
Assisting in the Savior’s Healing Work
Malka Moya is championing in-school wellness centers as a way to reduce depression and anxiety in students and improve their mental health.
Summer Knudsen: Space to Grow
SUMMER KNUDSEN loves to try new things. So when a student job opportunity opened at the Religious Studies Center, she jumped at the chance.
Telling the Family, Home, and Social Sciences Story
Eight students’ experiences in the BYU College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences are highlighted.
Dance Is an International Language
A BYU dance student collaborated with a student in India to learn each other’s dance heritage.
Animation Students Awarded Another Student Emmy
Twice in a row: BYU won in both animation and advertising at the Student Emmys.
AdLab Creates Film for NBA All-Star Weekend
The NBA chose BYU’s AdLab over professional agencies to make a film for All-Star Weekend.
AdLab Teams Sweep Student Emmys
Student advertisers from BYU continue to gather accolades for their work.
Both are Edified and Rejoice Together
Acts of charity often bless both the giver and the receiver. That was certainly true for Signature Scholarship recipient Kiley Yates and her scholarship’s sponsors, Michael and Sarah Ries.
You Can Just Change the World!
Donations helped Michelle Arias see possibilities she’d never imagined before.
It’s So Cool to Live Out My Dream
For Isaac Rex, the reality of playing football for BYU was better than anything he’d ever imagined.
Attempt Great Things for God
Kennedy Daniel wasn’t sure how she could afford her European study abroad.
Who Your Gifts Can Help
Shubham dreamed about being in this position, and it wouldn’t have happened without God and those who give toward scholarships.
Innovators Thrive on Honesty
Jeff Dyer and Taeya Howell, BYU Marriott School of Business professors, were part of an international team that researched the negative impact on innovation when organizations prioritize psychological safety over intellectual honesty.
BYU is First to Offer Azerbaijani
Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the United States recently recognized BYU as the first US university to offer Azerbaijani 101.
BYU Students Uncover 1,000-year-old Artifacts in Mexico
At an excavation site in northern Mexico, BYU archaeology students and professors recently discovered artifacts that have been buried for 1,000 years, including pottery sherds, hammer stones, maize kernels and — intriguing at a location 250 miles inland — a shell bead from the Pacific Ocean.
Voter Registration Award Comes to BYU
The Campus Cup is a statewide competition in Utah to see which college or university can register the greatest percentage of student voters.
Dancers Put BYU in the Limelight in Brazil
Recently though, a donor funded study abroad landed Kye Davis on national television in Brazil, talking about BYU. Luckily, he is fluent in Portuguese.
The Book of Mormon on a Golden Disc
Innovative BYU engineering students have etched what they believe is the smallest physical copy of the Book of Mormon on a thin silicon microchip.
BYU Animation Wins Student Emmy Award
Can a baby kraken become a pirate? Ethan Briscoe and Tyler Bitner led a group of over 20 students in creating an animation telling this entertaining story.
Sharing BYU’s Light
BYU’s new institutional message “Light Shared” introduces the university’s “Inspiring Learning” message with the world.
AdLab Wins Student Emmy Award
Can you imagine BYU students making an ad about selling your car to buy a wedding ring? AdLab students did and won a prestigious award.
Ten Secrets to Healthy Living—Greek Style
Emily Flake was one of a group of health and wellness students that traveled to Ikaria, Greece, to learn about eating, living, and cooking the Mediterranean way.
Video Game Wins International Award
Emily Ellis and Gabe Reed directed and produced Liminus: The Silent Guard with nearly 50 other students to receive an International Award for video game design.
NASA’s Artemis I Launched, and BYU Heard It
How loud was the world’s most powerful rocket as it blasted off from NASA? A team of BYU Accoustics students and professors waited weeks to record and study its impact.
Determined and Grateful
When it came time to apply to law schools, Erin Kitchens Wong submitted her application to only one: BYU. “I knew I could graduate with little or no debt and still qualify for any job that interested me.”
A Legacy of Helping
For Steve and Marilyn Rizley, Brigham Young University has been like a magnet: it drew them together, and it keeps drawing them back.
From Buses to BYU
Shannel Morin will be the first in her family to graduate from college. “BYU has pushed me to do things I wouldn’t have done otherwise.”
Seen, Understood, and Valued
Janessa Castaneda currently serves as a mentor for SOAR, a BYU college preparation and scholarship program that provides opportunities for multicultural students from various backgrounds.
Clearing the Air
Abby Mangum’s passion for helping people and communities respond to disasters led her to research earthquakes and tsunamis as a BYU undergrad.
Brightening the World
Can an animated series about time travel inspire kids to enlarge their circle of love and care? BYU Broadcasting creates engaging viewing and listening experiences that entertain, inspire, uplift, and improve families and communities.
Alum’s Research “Uplifts” Families of Children with Autism
When Jamie Easler was a BYU graduate student six years ago, she realized she wanted to better understand youth on the autism spectrum and, by extension, their families.
Taking a Load Off
Manufacturing engineering technology student Seth Huber developed and began testing a boot to offload foot pressure so diabetics can heal from these painful sores.
“It Changed My Life Forever”
Jace Watt jumped at the chance to study abroad in Tanzania, where he and other BYU students were hosted by the College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka.
For the Benefit of the World
As some universities have, over time, drifted from or discarded their faith-based moorings, BYU has held fast to its founding creed. As a result, the university has something unique to offer the world
Championing the Cause
Since BYU Athletics does not receive a tithing allotment from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ticket sales, donations, and television contracts provide much-needed revenue to keep the program competitive and successful.
Safety Is a Big Deal
Alexa Lowman organized the BYU Engineering Safety and Ethics Conference in January 2022. More than 200 BYU students attended interact with each other and learn from industry leaders.
Aiding One in Need
Recent nursing graduate Shawen Bueckers registered to be a bone marrow donor. Two years later she got an unexpected call that she was a match for a one-year-old.
A Hand Up, Not a Handout
To aid the struggling poor, Josie Zenger is working with a New York organization that helps disadvantaged students prepare for and get to college—particularly BYU.
A Prompting to Return
Millie Rapp never imagined she’d be a single mother. After graduation, she and her husband moved to the other side of the country and had two boys—and then their marriage unraveled.
Scholarship Was an Answer to Prayer
Hayley Whitlock was happily pursuing her dream of studying international relations and Russian at BYU when she experienced a sudden seizure that threatened to derail her plans.
Going Forth to Serve: A Greek Odyssey
Everyone knows the BYU slogan “The world is our campus.” For students like Savannah Bullock, donors make this a reality.
A Goal to Teach Math
Morgan Petersen had worked hard to keep her grades up as she entered her fourth year at BYU. When an expected scholarship didn’t come through, the pressure was on to find another way to finance her education.
Giving is Helping the College of Family, Home and Social Sciences
Your donations to the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences help make a difference for students like Abena, Rachel, Alyssa, and Luca.
BYU Students Build and Launch “Selfie Cam” with NASA
Video:More than 60 students over a five-year period helped build the inexpensive 10-centimeter CubeSat.
Giving is Helping the College of Fine Arts and Communications
There is an excitement on campus as tours for our performing ensembles are planned, study abroad programs are scheduled, and field experiences are restarting. Read about a few alumni who are making names for themselves and are boosting BYU's reputation around the world.
We Play for Each Other
With a goal to be the best teammate he can be, Hayden Livingston feels right at home at BYU.
Mitigating Hazards at Home and Abroad
Abby Mangum’s passion for hazard mitigation got her involved in researching earthquakes and tsunamis during her BYU undergraduate years.
Prestigious Film Festival Screens Animated BYU Film
Video: Salt , which was directed and produced by BYU students, was screened at the 2021 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.
Embracing Those in Need of Comfort
Shawen Bueckers, an April 2022 nursing graduate from Spokane, Washington, and her husband, Mathew, both worked part-time jobs to support their BYU educations. Buecker’s college scholarship gave her additional financial help that she deeply appreciated.
Filling a Knowledge Gap
For Amy Hernandez, solving the mystery of multiple sclerosis isn’t merely an academic pursuit; it’s personal.
Feeding the World with Hybrid Quinoa
Video:Teams of BYU students and their faculty mentors are enriching the world with nutritious, growable grain.
BYU Engineering Team Virtually Recreates Campus
Video: Using drone-captured and ground images and applying GPS systems for accuracy, a civil engineering student assembled a 3D model of the BYU campus.
Student Engineers Are Renowned Iceberg Trackers
Video:BYU—despite being landlocked in a state thousands of miles from the South Pole—has become a world leader in iceberg tracking.
Making Math More Manageable
Jamie Schroeder is mitigating math anxiety in children through an educational framework called cognitively guided instruction.
Serendipity in Scotland
Abby Thatcher’s study abroad changed her life, but not how she expected it would.
Bringing it Home
It wasn’t easy for Daniel Yirenya-Tawiah to come to BYU from Ghana, but the blessings have completely outpaced his expectations.
Studying the Runoff Effects of an Environmental Double Whammy
Video: In October 2018, BYU students had the rare chance to observe how back-to-back extreme events influenced water quality and quantity in Utah County.
BYU Biologists Seek to Create First Dragonfly Family Tree
Video: The BYU team’s goal is to piece together the first-ever phylogenic (genealogical) tree of all 6,300 known dragonfly species and their ancestors.
The Spell of Discouragement
When someone tells BYU Marriott graduate Dunia Alrabadi that she can’t do something, she finds the power to make that something happen.
Donors Changed My Life
“I can say the donors to the College of Humanities materially changed my life. Because of their contributions, I graduated debt free and worked fewer hours, which created time for me to concentrate on preparing for the Law School Admission Test.”
Cambodian Histories Preserved by BYU Researchers
Video:BYU professors and students are gathering stories from survivors of life under the Khmer Rouge regime.
BYU Students Create Animatronic Cougar
Video:Designed to introduce plays and similar events, “Cosmotron,” as he is fondly known, will bring added school spirit to BYU performances.
Family Support for BYU Spans Generations
It’s no surprise that support for BYU runs deep in the Spencer family. Their BYU connection spans generations.
Discovering the Culture of Christ
Culture is like a forest, where individuals are likened to the uniqueness of an individual tree,” says business professor Simon Greathead, who has invited his students to discover “culture of Christ” characteristics in general conference addresses.
Leadership and Preparation
When Daniel Ekpo became president of the BYU chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery, he learned that being a leader meant being a mentor and a friend.
Line of Sight
Tiny “windshield wiper” aids camera surgery
They Knew Who We Were
In the summer of 2020, BYU administrators invited a respected research firm to conduct an analysis of BYU Athletics to better understand its role within the Church Educational System. The firm came back with great news.
Welcome Back
Jeff Simpson sees BYU Broadcasting as a media organization that provides audiences something more than just clean, family-friendly entertainment.
Combining Culture with Counseling
Inspiring learning moves students to help each one follow their own path. For Bango Gancinia that path is to combine cultural heritage with counseling to better serve minorities.
Finding Her Place
Like most of BYU’s student body, first-generation college student Julie Irvine came to Provo with a purpose. “I knew I’d be able to combine my love of learning with the gospel.”
Caring with Music
Sarah remembers the enchanting feeling while visiting a critically ill family friend as a child. “A hospice worker came with a harp and played soothing music while my dear friend lay in bed dying.
Art to Help Healing
In 2016, Myleka Bevans’s five-day-old daughter passed away. Bevans, who recently graduated in art, shared her experience in her 2020 exhibit Encounters with Grief.
Promptings and Invitations Drew Her to BYU
Mary Williams’s love for BYU and its students grew from her experiences as a student, professor, and administrator in the College of Nursing.
Shaping Public Opinion
For political science student Kesley Powell, many of the most important experiences of her BYU career weren’t in a classroom.
Employee Scholarships a Pleasant Surprise for Mentored Students
In 2008 a group of BYU Risk Management employees created a scholarship to show appreciation to valued student employees in their department.
Rooting Out Alzheimer’s
Soon after graduate student Justina Tavana began studying Alzheimer’s disease, she discovered that many Pacific Islanders lack the tools to accurately identify the disease.
Investing in the Community
Mother of nine first considered law school after founding a nonprofit organization that connected families experiencing homelessness to community resources.
Five Years of Inspiring Learning
The report card is in — inspiring learning is changing lives.
Department Scholarships Boost Student Confidence
“This is my favorite committee to serve on. Helping out a struggling student warms your heart,” says Rebecca Gridley. “I wish we could help every one of them.”
“It Made All the Difference”
Logan Sackley thought he’d major in finance or strategy at the BYU Marriott School of Business, but after taking his introductory information systems class, he discovered a new passion.
Student-Created Device Helps Young Violinist
Adia Cardona is a 10-year-old violinist who has exceptional skill for her age and the determination to match it. The young Provo girl also has just one hand.
Donor-funded Internship an Opportunity of a Lifetime
Myla Parke’s donor-funded internship at the Religious Studies Center had special meaning in her life. “I love religious education. I am interested in publishing material that will help others deepen their conversion and bring them closer to Christ.”
VP Vorkink Considers "Special Financial Outpouring" at BYU
BYU Advancement Vice President Keith Vorkink recently addressed members of the Jesse and Amanda Knight Society in the Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center.
OIT employees rallied around a struggling student
When asked why she participates in the Employee Giving Campaign, Elaine Lauritzen answers without hesitation: “It’s the students. They work so hard, and they go out into the world and make a difference.”
BYU Singers Masked
Making music together. Even amidst all the necessary safety precautions, students say they are just grateful to be singing.
Learning Public Health and Public Policy
Before the COVID-19 pandemic dominated public health discussions, BYU public health majors were in Washington, DC, for a conference which focused on a law proposed to address the opioid crisis.
Student Researchers Find Their Way (BYU BFFs)
Applying skills learned in the classroom is what these two students have loved about their mentored learning opportunity at BYU as they try to give back to the community to improve people’s lives.
Creating Social Value
Alyssa Clark represented BYU at an intercollegiate competition that involved simulating policy in a European country during a refugee crisis—and her team won!
Marry Me and Move to Tokyo
Kevin Sites told his girlfriend he was hoping to take a position in Tokyo. “Then I asked if she’d marry me.”
Using Math to Connect Students to Resources
With more than 30,000 students at BYU, it’s not surprising that some of them don’t know where to turn when difficulties arise. That’s where Early Alert comes in.
Managing the Music
Esther’s internship with the Utah Symphony helped her see how making music for the masses is more than simply playing notes.
Student-Centric Professor Leads BYU Advancement
New advancement vice-president, Keith Vorkink, is excited to see the impact that donors have across campus, and how students are prepared and developed as leaders.
Ethnic Identity Spurs Physical Activity
McKay School of Education graduate Nathan Kahaiali‘i sees ethnic identity and physical activity as two sides of the same coin.
From Football to Fine Arts, BYU Is Better Thanks to Knight Society Members
Ray Matsuura’s wife Yukiko gained her appreciation of BYU through arts and music. “Ray supports business and football. I support the arts,” says Yukiko, who studied design in Sendai, Japan.
Learning and Serving
Samantha Lau started a club for women in civil engineering. “Women have a different way of thinking about things—our group offers support,” she says.
A Blessing for Students and the World
BYU Broadcasting offers a life-changing experience for student employees as they get hands-on, real world opportunities in the industry.
Supporting Religious Liberty
Austin Atkinson used his language skills at the G20 Interfaith Forum in Tokyo, Japan, where Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Sister Sharon Eubank spoke.
Measuring Impact
Generous donor support made Gregory Hutchins internship possible, where he learned there are sustainable ways to approach the world’s difficult issues.
Aiding in the Fight of a Lifetime
Nursing student Annie Welton and Davin Lyman, also a BYU student, had only been engaged for two weeks when doctors confirmed that Davin had thyroid cancer.
Finding Meaning and Defining Experience
Seamons says his work at the Maxwell Institute has defined his BYU experience, “Being part of a community of thoughtful scholars of differing faiths has enriched my life.
Out of Paradise Ashes, Nursing Student Shines at BYU
Camie Mendon’s father operated a plant nursery near Paradise, California, a town that, in practical terms, no longer exists. The business was destroyed - along with most of the town - in the devastating Camp Fire of 2018.
A Tale of Two Seasons: Tackling Athletics in a World with COVID-19
Last year was kind of a tale of two seasons. The first was a very joyful and rewarding experience with our student-athletes, coaches, and teams playing so well. And the other was the cancellation of our spring season.” –Tom Holmoe, BYU Athletic Director
From Mach 2 to 2L
Three years ago, Christopher Melling had never written a legal brief or attended a religious service of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Trained as a fighter pilot by the United States Marine Corps, Major Melling was ready to take the next step in his life.
A Wonderful Inspiring Learning Adventure
Mikayah Siufanua slept on a floating island of reeds at Lake Titicaca and taught Peruvian women to make soap for a living. Thanks to donors, this is just the beginning of her inspiring learning adventure.
Using Tech to Decipher Your Gait
With the help of a Fulton grant, Spencer Petersen is using a combination of resources that measures the forces under the foot to research the role your big toe plays in the simple act of walking.
Adding to Mathematics
Mathematics student Jonathan Hales says it was mentored learning that helped him develop a method that researchers can use to analyze equations.
Budding Consultant Manages His Course to Graduation
Zach Parker will graduate from the BYU Marriott School of Business’s business strategy program in December, but things haven’t always been so clear for Parker.
Cougar Club Accelerates Growth and Success for BYU Athletes
“We wouldn’t be who or where we are as an athletic department without our donors,” says athletic director Tom Holmoe. “They are the team behind each one of our 21 teams.”
A Tipping Point for “Lunge-Free TV”
The last time BYU Broadcasting managing director Michael Dunn visited Europe, he practically had to beg for appointments with people in the television market there. But now ….
Starring on a Chinese Reality Show
Josh Robinson entered a BYU language competition, and soon found himself competing at a global level with much of the competition broadcast on China television to millions of viewers.
BYU Gave Me a Chance
June Leifson says that her career goal of becoming a nurse was the result of more than a score of operations that introduced her to the field of medicine in a personal way.
Learning by Receiving and Giving
With her mother gone, Niederhauser, who is the youngest of five children, felt added pressure to cover her college education expenses herself.
Interacting with Marla the Fish
Student researchers use an animated fish to teach social interaction to children with autism.
Pulling Back the M&A Curtain
Law student got to be mentored by the largest law firm in the United States, as part of the first-ever BYU Law Deals Academy in New York City.
BYU Working to Uncover How Media Affects Families
Project aims to understand the long-term effects of media on children.
Volumes of Giving
Judy Garvin has given to Brigham Young University for at least 43 consecutive years. “I believe in giving back,” she says. “I don’t give a lot, but I know every little bit helps.”
Tenaciously Beating the Odds
From drugs and homelessness to succeeding at BYU In the accounting program. Hear from one grateful student.
Making a Sundance-Honored Film
Oscar Jimenez and Luis Puente were ecstatic to learn that the short film they made would premiere at this years Sundance Film Festival.
A Creative Epiphany
While on a study abroad scholarship in Cannes, France, Ad Lab student Maddy Thompson got to work on some ad campaigns for major brands. It was there that she had an epiphany about her potential.
Warming Hearts and Gers
Mongolia has a massive air quality problem that poses a serious health risk, especially to children. Some engineering students tackled the life-and-death problem as part of their engineering Capstone project.
A Simple Way to Make a Difference
Don and Ann discovered the Signature Scholarship, which gave them a chance to help a student (or sometimes multiple students) in need and meet that student in person at a once-a-year luncheon. “Not all young people come with equal family resources—some come from broken homes, some from homes where neither parent has been to college, some from homes where a father or mother has lost employment or has medical issues, and even a few where one or both parents have passed away,” Don says.
Coming Home
Richard Palmer had no intention of attending BYU until he traveled from his home state of Washington to visit campus one day during his high school years. In Provo, he got the distinct impression that he would attend the university and even live in a particular on-campus apartment complex that was then still under construction.
"I Would've Given Up and Gone Home"
The summer before Thalia Hull came to BYU, her father lost his engineering job. Though she’d thought about attending the University of California–Los Angeles, she had a full-tuition academic scholarship to BYU and realized it would be much more affordable.
Finding Meaning in Tragedy
Provo native McKay Heaton was on his mission in Taipei, Taiwan, when he learned that his brother—who had previously served in the same mission and who McKay had spoken with just a week before—had died by suicide back in Utah.
Academies Pull Back the Curtain and Raise BYU Law’s Profile
BYU Law student gets valuable mentoring opportunity in New York City, and may lead to opening new doors for the future.
From Malibu to Elk Ridge, Negotiation Competition Prepares Students for Service
Student takes lessons learned in law classes and is able to immediately help a small city find resolutions to problems while still attending school.
Student Seeks to Improve Learning with Technology
Sydney Boyer, an elementary education major, who researched how teachers integrate technology into curriculum to engage students in meaningful learning.
Bringing Wholeness to Victims of Civil War
Sierra Leone’s civil war left behind more than 27,000 amputees. Recent BYU students created an adjustable and affordable prosthetic socket for the veterans.
Be a Light On the Hill, BYU Broadcasting Director Inspires Knight Society Donors
Speaking to a group of Knight Society members (those who have included BYU in their estate planning) at their annual luncheon, Michael Dunn thanked the society as one of the groups responsible for the broadcast entity’s growth.
BYU Students Explore a New Reality
“As someone who wants to be a user experience designer, working in this lab has been an exciting challenge,” said Miah Dawes, one of the first students to take a class in BYU’s Mixed Reality Lab.
Striking a Balance Creates Joy - and Opportunity
Balancing nursing with tennis and her other love, music, has been a challenge, but one that has blessed Electra Cochran—and others in turn.
Dedicated to Innovation: Engineering Building Dedication Recap
BYU’s new Engineering Building and Engineering Research Lab were 100% funded by 17,000 generous donors.
An Unheeded Warning That Led to a New Passion
Julianne Francisco is grateful she ignored advice to avoid ruining her GPA by taking her information systems course too early. She quickly discovered she’d found her professional passion.
Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
Study abroad experiences are making an impact in students' educational experience, but the cost is still a significant and sometimes prohibitive amount. Scholarships help bridge the gap for many students.
A Second (Unofficial) Degree
With a major in biochemistry, Dallin Green might not be the sort of student you’d expect to find operating cameras at BYU Broadcasting.
Flutist Wins Top National Competition
BYU senior Catherine Boyack is one of the youngest performers to win the National Flute Association (NFA) Young Artist Competition.
Tackling Challenges on and off the Field
BYU scholarship makes playing football and competing academically in other areas a possibility.
Learning to Advocate for Underserved Communities
Brianna Rosier arrived at BYU dedicated to a future in public interest; she now enters her final year at law school with an idea of what her future holds.
All the Good We Will Do
BYU scholarships make it possible for Katelyn Woolley to focus on her passion for becoming a better teacher.
The Scholarship Was Just the Beginning
Emily Strong took full advantage of BYU’s inspiring learning emphasis, taking part in three mentorships before graduation, each funded by donors.
Battling Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotic-resistant bacteria infect two million Americans every year, causing at least 23,000 deaths.
Lighting Others' Smiles
After shadowing a dentist who specializes in dental care for low-income families, BYU senior Karen Membreño realized that she wants to be a part of the solution to this public health crisis.
Searching for a Cure in Russian
After learning about her family history of cancer, Emily Hoskins knew that she wanted to use her Russian and bioinformatics skills to find a cure.
Prevention Rather Than Treatment
After seeing people on her mission suffer from health problems, Naomi Rhondeau changed her major to find ways to help more people.
"I Love BYU and Its Mission"
Scholarships make a difference in the life of students, like William Pham who is studying strategic management and plans to graduate in 2019. He is currently interning with Disney's special events management team.
BYU Fundraising Guidelines
BYU may engage in fundraising for student financial aid, capital projects when directed by the board, and non-tithing-based activities, such as athletics.
Teaching the Teacher
BYU scholarships make it possible for Katelyn Woolley to focus on her passion for becoming a better teacher.
Reaching for the Stars
Patrick Walton also wanted to explore space. Along with starting the BYU Rocketry Club, he took a special projects class from David Long, who helped him write a proposal for NASA that was accepted.
A Love of Service
After discovering a love of helping others on a mission to his homeland, William Pham pursued a career in service.
Heeding the Call Leads to Internship in China
Thanks to a scholarship, and research funding, BYU student Matthew Tyler became the first American to complete a genealogy internship in China.
True Blue at Heart
How does a University of Utah graduate whose husband graduated from the University of Washington end up a member of the BYU Knight Society?
Scholarship Helps Bryn Nelson “Learn the Healer’s Art”
Bryn Nelson always wanted to be a nurse. When her father died in a tragic accident her career goal took on a whole new dimension.
Kalani Sitake Inspires Knight Society
“You don’t realize how much power is in this room,” Sitake told the donors. “The sacrifices you make in time, in money, no matter how small, have the power to change lives.”
Becoming a Scientist Through Mentored Learning
Jordan Finnell started college skeptical of science but being mentored expanded his perspective and led him to degrees in neuroscience, biochemistry, and molecular biophysics.
King of the Beautifully Landscaped Hill - Again
Marco Crosland took the top spot this year - and last year - at the National Collegiate Landscape Competition. He is a landscape management student and a grateful beneficiary of your support.
What Do Research, Service, and a Cello Have to Do with Cambridge University?
"Mentored research, service, and some skill with a cello have helped Anne Thomas receive the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Her mentored learning experience as a BYU student has propelled Anne to pursue a PhD in plant sciences at Cambridge this fall."
Passionate Student Singlehandedly Revives and Revamps a Lost Tradition
Student's scholarship allows her to also focus on her passion for the arts, and bring back an event for thousands to enjoy.
Bringing Together Mormon Humanities Scholars
BYU's College of Humanities convened a two-day summer workshop for up-and-coming LDS humanities scholars to discuss the integration of faith and intellect.
A Life-Changing Chance to Help Refugees
Providing pro bono legal counsel to refugees in Texas as part of a donation-funded externship was more than an experience-building class project, their efforts may have actually saved lives.
Providing Lifesaving Neonatal Ventilators to Developing Countries
The morning after Erica and Kindall Palmer's son was born, he turned blue from lack of oxygen. This experience brought to home the importance of ventilators for the recent BYU graduates.
A BYU Fish Story
"You can only learn so much in the classroom, but here, we’re actually getting our hands dirty, says Professor Mark Belk."
The Wizard Behind the Scenes
Most 10-year-olds at Disneyland just enjoy being there, but Bradlee Hager wanted to know how it all works. Now she's a behind-the-scenes wizard who makes on-stage magic happen.
The Machine Mozart
Suppose you could train a computer to compose music that actually sounds good. Helping artificial intelligence gain the ability to compose music is the subject of Paul Bodily's research.
Studying the Effects of Texting on Tanzanian Politics
A team of BYU students went to Tanzania with professor Daniel Nielson to examine the effects of cell phone use on the socioeconomic status of women in developing countries.
Balancing and Stretching
Rachael Langston is studying to be a nurse as a mother of three who returned to school to finish her degree. She is grateful for the financial aid she has received through the BYU Alumni Association.
BYU Men’s Volleyball Team Walk-On Signs with Team USA
Jake Langlois tried out for the BYU mens volleyball team as a walk on and made it. Proving himself to be an asset, he earned the Brent and Cheri Andrus Athletic Scholarship.
A New Look at Eye Care in Ghana
The nation of Ghana provides a free eye health program and even offers patients free transportation. There's only one problem: many patients never show up. Two BYU students looked at ways to encourage people to take advantage of the program.
BYU Broadcasting Jumpstarts Mentored Students in their Careers
Students are not only learning, but excelling in a mentored learning job environment. Employment at BYU Broadcasting adds experiential learning to what students are learning in class.
Encouraging Activity on the Front Lines
BYU student Kielee Wiser conducted research mentored by Professor Neil Peterson on the motivation provided by fitness trackers, including the Apple Watch.
“Mini Stroke” Led Student to Nursing
College of Nursing graduate Megan Parr was born with a hole between the top two chambers of her heart, disrupting the flow of blood to her body. This difficulty led her to a career in nursing.
True-Blue Couple Supports Mentoring
Earl and Anita Woolley support BYU students in mentored research through a planned gift called Charitable Gift Annunity (CGA).
Unfolding Potential: BYU and Origami
Who would have ever thought that origami could save lives or help technology to reach outer space, but that's exactly what BYU students studying engineering are doing.
BYU: Fortified by Faith
As the Presiding Bishopric, we have seen kindness and charity throughout the world. We are grateful to participate with you in the Lord’s work. You support many good causes, and we thank you for your kind donations to Brigham Young University.
That A-ha Moment
At BYU, Allyson studied how students have mathematical epiphanies; now, she’s making them happen.
Bringing It All Together
The end goal of a BYU education, James Lee says, is to give students chances to apply what they’ve learned. For him, that happened at the Simmons Center for Cancer Research.
Seeing the Impact
One question and two classes is all it took to change one student's major before he had a mentored student learning opportunity at BYU to try and solve the mystery of Australia’s Veevers Crater.
Finding and Feeding a Passion
Amy Briggs finds her passion in mechanical engineering after bouncing around several majors at BYU-Idaho and then BYU. Her mentored learning opportunity then helped her towards her final career choice.
The Magic Behind the Scenes
Most kids who go to Disneyland get swept up in the magic, but Bradlee Hager couldn’t help wondering what was going on behind the scenes.
Research Helps Reduce Falls, Lifts Nursing Student
Recent graduate Megan Parrr works as a nurse in the emergency room at Utah Valley Hospital. She had opportunities to conduct research as a nursing student. “Being involved in research really enhanced the broad spectrum of my education and helped me realize the importance of an evidence-based practice and how it helps create safety,” she says.
Education Student Researching the Role of Technology in Classrooms
Electronics mean that teachers have to compete for students’ attention like never before. Sydney Boyer, an elementary education student, observed teachers integrating technology into their lessons. She saw firsthand the struggles that teachers face in navigating this new world.
BYU Students Create Low-Cost Socket for Amputees in Africa
BYU engineering students have teamed with the nonprofit Engage Now Africa (ENA) to create a socket for above-knee amputees that fits neatly into prosthetics made available by the International Red Cross.
Politics, Women, and Cell Phones: Student Research in Tanzania
Learn about student research to improve the socioeconomic status of women in developing countries.
Amazing Undergrad Studies How Your Brain Affects Your Marriage
Despite a schedule that includes balancing an aggressive course load in neuroscience, a double minor in psychology and theatre arts studies, managing a research lab and teaching a fine arts class at a boarding school for teenage boys with developmental disabilities, BYU neuroscience student Erin Kaseda still manages to conduct cutting-edge research that wins international awards.
Of Bills and Trials
What did you do last summer? In 2015 BYU Law School student Brooke Ellis filed a bill in Congress.
BYU Students Stand Tall at the UN
Two BYU students win an international essay competition and address the United Nations in Arabic.
GivingCougsDay was a Success!
Unbelievable. In our first Giving Cougsday ever, nearly 1,000 BYU cougs donated $138,912—more than quadruple the goal of $30,000! Every dollar will help to make a tremendous difference for BYU students through scholarships, mentorships, internships, and much more.
A Personal Quest
Jenny Pattison’s story came full circle from what started with her dad getting cancer, to her fellowship at the BYU Simmons Center for Cancer Research. She has found a way to turn her tragedy into something that could someday bless other families like hers.
Overachiever Undergrad Publishes Fourth Article
Thanks to BYU’s mentoring program, it’s become almost commonplace for undergraduates to be published in peer-reviewed journals. But for College of Engineering and Technology senior Anthony Bennett, becoming an author once just wasn’t enough.
What "We The People" Meant
Union, justice, tranquility, defence [sic], welfare, and liberty are words in the preamble of the Constitution of the United States. Their meanings may seem clear to you today, but do you know how they were used in 1787 when the document was written? And does a change in meaning really matter?
Collaboratively Changing the World
"In one of our projects we partnered with a world-renowned nonprofit that has developed a program called Poverty Stoplight. It provides a tool to identify what will help people get themselves out of poverty." - Scott James, College of Fine Arts and Communications student
A Legacy of Joy
Remember how hard it was to pay for college? Your gift to BYU can help a student make up the difference when their savings fall short.
Paying It Forward
Brian and Linda both felt blessed to have received scholarships when they attended BYU 27 years ago. “After experiencing BYU and knowing how much we gained in all areas of our lives from being here, we choose to give to BYU,” Linda says. “We feel very strongly about the power of education.”
A Borrowed Book, a Changed Life
Donovan Gregory is now back at BYU studying in the College of Humanities and working toward a minor in Biblical Hebrew. None of this would have been possible if it weren’t for his BYU needs-based scholarship.
Risk Rewarded with Job
For Jessica Harris, a Marriott School of Management student, it’s hard to imagine a better introduction to the business world than her internship with Goldman Sachs at the global financial giant’s Salt Lake City offices this past summer.
Cougars, Is Giving in Your Plans?
As fundraising professionals on the Philanthropies Gift Planning Services team, Wes Mashburn and his team help people set up donations to BYU that involve more than writing a check or giving online. “We help people accomplish what they want to do with their resources," says Mashburn.
The Heart of Mentoring
A team of healthcare professionals and BYU students traveled to Samoa to help children and families understand a deadly illness: rheumatic heart disease. Amid beautiful people and a tropical paradise, the students learned and taught lessons that forever changed their lives.
Addiction Behind the Scenes
Opioid overdose kills more people every month in the state of Utah than car crashes or homicides. David Matthews, a neuroscience student, has made it his life goal to help people overcome addiction.
Caring for the Poor and Needy
A scholarship has made it possible for Moses Khombe to attend BYU so he can return to Malawi and bless the lives of others. He says, "My BYU training has helped me understand how to treat and help each and every person.”
Research Roadblock Helps Unlock Mysteries
Rebecca Plimpton says that being mentored has increased the relevancy of her education. “Hands-on training from faculty shaped my career desires and gave me the confidence and skills I needed to succeed as a grad student,” she says.
The Sobering Work of Righting Wrongful Convictions
BYU Law School student James Egan recently finished his yearlong fellowship at the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center (RMIC), an organization that works to prevent and correct wrongful convictions.
Superpower Superheroes
From an underground lab on campus, a team of students and faculty mentors, including undergraduate Stephen Erickson, discovered how to harvest more energy from the sun
Treadmill takes Mentored Student to Grad School
Kaylie Carbine is grateful for the professors with whom she worked and for the mentored learning she received as an undergraduate student. “The mentoring I have received has helped me launch innovative research ideas and design projects and carry them through publication ...."
Paving a Path to a PhD
Roads and pavements may not light up everyone's eyes, but they changed the perspective of BYU civil engineering student Tenli Waters.
From Utah to Ukraine - Again and Again
Student Danielle Chelom Leavitt Quist returned to Ukraine-where she had lived as a teenager and served a mission-to study how women preserve culture.
Pregnancy and Baby Care? There’s an App for That - Now
Most first-time mothers aren't up on all the medical jargon, but thanks to a new app developed by BYU undergrads, they don't need to be.
Outsmarting Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
MRSA is bad news; it’s a nasty bacterial infection and it can cause serious disease and death. Senior molecular biology major Jacob Hatch knows MRSA as the infection that took his dad’s leg. Now Hatch is exacting revenge on the bacteria.
Helping Students Improve Their Own Behavior
Children with disabilities who monitor their behavior can improve their ability to follow directions, says professor-student research team from BYU's McKay School of Education."
Reporting from Peru’s Reed Islands
Weaving a rich narrative of an ancient Peruvian culture, BYU communications student Donovan Baltich was a finalist in a national competition.
We All Scream for BYU’s Scoop Squad
With long hours, late nights, and a tight deadline, Marriott School student Ether Tam and two colleagues produced a three-minute video for a nationwide marketing contest-and won.
Discovering the Benefits of Repeated Exercise
Working alongside BYU faculty mentors, Amanda Gier was part of a student team that discovered the role of the body's immune system in exercise recovery.
From Science Fair to Master’s Degree with Sports Stats
Taking inspiration from his junior-high science-fair project, recent BYU master's grad Zachary Knowlton is predicting the performance of BYU football players.
Learning That Makes a Difference
Brent Adams, director of the BYU Center for Animation told members of the Jesse and Amanda Knight Society that BYU students are making a difference in the media industry. “[BYU students’] goodness and high moral standards defy stereotypes and ultimately contribute to their success,” he said.
Read—and Watch—All About It!
Weaving a rich narrative of an ancient Peruvian culture that survives atop man-made islands formed of reeds, BYU communications student Donovan Baltich was recently named a top finalist in a national journalism competition.
Engineering a Better World: New Building on the Rise
With students, faculty, and supporters gathered, President Kevin J Worthen marked the start of construction for a new engineering building at Brigham Young University. He spoke of how campus’s newest structure would help create a better future for students, families, and communities
More than Education
Crystal Montgomery dreamed of being an English teacher but never thought she could afford to go to college. “I was overjoyed when I read the email informing me that I had been awarded a BYU scholarship,” she remembers. Read more of Crystal’s story and a thank-you letter she wrote to those who made her BYU education a dream come true.
Of Needles and Haystacks
Imagine looking for a handful of mixed-up genes out of a pool of 3.2 billion - all with the goal of curing a rare genetic disease. Thanks to a donor-funded mentorship, that’s precisely what Lyndsay Staley did as an undergraduate at BYU.
Of Muscles and Mentoring
Why do your muscles get sore after the first or second workout but not after the fourth or fifth? A group of BYU exercise science students set out to answer that question. Mentored by Professor Robert Hyldahl, student Amanda Gier suggested they look at the role of T-cells.
Student from Japan Lives Lifelong Dream at BYU
A new scholarship honors the Ito brothers, whose cheerful perseverance has inspired many.
2015 Donations Advance the Mission of BYU
College of Humanities Celebrates 50 Years
If you attended BYU within the past 50 years you almost certainly enrolled in some humanities class. Through that class, and in many other ways since then, you are a participant in the broader human conversation. The College of Humanities is a nexus of giving, a place where we learn and grow through varied conversations. Thank you for your generosity in all its forms - for all you contribute to the ongoing human conversation.
Marriott Center Annex to Rise
“Our men’s and women’s basketball teams have been very successful, and this new facility will certainly enhance both programs,” says Tom Holmoe, BYU’s athletic director. “We would like to express our appreciation to the BYU administration, the board of trustees, and the many donors who have made this project a reality - particularly Ruth and Rex Maughan who made a generous lead gift.”
BYU's New Engineering Building: Ready, Set, Go!
When this building is complete, we believe it will positively benefit students, faculty, and ultimately the world,” said President Worthen. “Thanks to you and other generous alumni and friends, we’re now in a position to move forward."
Jim and Sandy Cook: Blessed to Give
For Jim and Sandy Cook, giving to Brigham Young University has meant receiving innumerable blessings. “We can’t get ahead of the Lord,” says Jim. “Whatever we give, it feels like He gives us more in return. It is unbelievable. For us, giving is not about getting credit for the gift; it’s about the good that happens in other people’s lives.”
Code Blue
It’s one thing to face a life-or-death situation in the classroom with a dummy; it’s something else to be in there in a hospital room with a real patient.
Help Others with the Climb: Athletics' Chad Lewis Inspires Knight Society Members
Speaking to the group of Knight Society members (those who have included BYU in their estate planning), Chad Lewis compared an experience he had climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to their own contributions to BYU students.
Blessed or Lucky
With a little help from generous donors like you, MPA student Ikaika Kim is discovering his calling.
Student Discovery May Lead to Lower Doses of Chemotherapy
BYU chemists found a protein switch that activates resistance. The discovery opens the door for medications that will make tumors more sensitive to chemotherapy.
Student Innovation is Providing Life-Sustaining Oxygen for Newborns
How You - Plus a New 1:1 Match - Equals Student Innovation at BYU
Turning Cancer Cell’s Best Friend into Worst Enemy
BYU doctoral student’s research gets world-class attention.
The “Springboard Scholarship”
BYU scholarship springboards single mother to security, success.
Her Scholarship was Truly a Matter of the Heart
Meredith Taylor feels doubly blessed.
Living an Exhausting, Exhilarating Life
Kari Durrant thrives on improving the quality of life for others.
Queen of the King of Instruments
On a quest to improve music in the Church one organist at a time.
Leading the Charge to Better Understand the World’s Largest Population
Brittany Strobelt excels as the only English major in the Chinese Flagship program.
Finally, the Miracles Mounted
From farming radishes to entering a doctorate program, Felix Jimenez scaled his Andes-like challenges with faith.
Longing to Bless
Caring for an ailing sister shaped Celeste Wouden’s desire to learn the healer’s art.
BYU Athletes are in a Service League All their Own
The highest profile athletes are also the most eager to serve.
Influencing the Masses, One Outlandish Hairstyle at a Time
Little did Stacey Harkey fathom the force for good that BYU would have on his talents.
Going to BYU Was an Impossible Dream, Until . . .
With her family struggling to support 12 adopted Russian siblings, Annette Fairbanks thought her window to attend BYU had closed.
Leaders with a Vision, Who Knew How to Use It
Erika Nash and Brandon Beck centered their leadership on connecting students with chances to serve.
BYU Receives Generous Gift from ExxonMobil Foundation
Donation will help prepare future employees who match the oil giant’s quality and integrity.
Saved by a Moral Compass and Hands That Reached Across Two States
When life was spiraling out of control, Jerad Todacheenie was welcomed into a safer place.
BYU’s Most Generous Donors Share Wealth of Knowledge
Best and brightest of BYU get up-close, firsthand instruction from successful graduates.
Texas Surgeon Goes Baroque with Gift to BYU School of Music
Ensemble is no cookie-cutter musical group
BYU Students Turn Smart Devices into Testimony-Building Time Machines
Learn the gospel by virtually walking the ancient dusty streets of Jerusalem.
Finding a Target for Tumor Suppression
Brigham Young University scientists recently stumbled onto a potential tumor suppressor with an especially ominous name: Programmed Cell Death Protein 5 (aka PDCD5). What they found opens a new avenue for cancer researchers. See why their research paper stands out.
An Act of Generosity Changed Their Family Forever
“Knowing this family, hearing their story, and seeing the joy that they freely shared turned on a light for us,” says Roy. “This example of anonymous kindness inspired us to regularly give in a similar fashion. Giving to others has been fun for us and a blessing for our family.”
Erica Owens: Keeping Goals on and off the Soccer Field
Owens is especially grateful to the Lunds for making her dream a reality. “If it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be where I am now. They are inspiring to me. I’ve been the recipient of their generosity, and I want to do that for other people. I want to give back to BYU.”
Students Learn the Art and Skill of Collaboration
For student Vanessa Burnett and graduate Kelsie Moore, the Laycock Center for Creative Collaboration in the College of Fine Arts and Communications has proven to be a “sacred gift.”