EMILY NGUYEN

"I am eager to be a part of the O'Shaughnessy family of scholars. They have provided me with a wonderful opportunity to surround myself with people who seek a life of learning. I am eternally grateful for their generosity and look forward to the future."

Emily Nguyen

College:

University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

Major:

Psychology

Minor:

Spanish

High School:

Valley Center High School, 2023
Valley Center, KS

Activities and Interests:

Emily Nguyen of Valley Center High School was selected as a recipient of the 2023 Lifelong Learning Scholarship. Her parents are Dai Nguyen and Hanh Dang and she has two younger brothers named Byron and Gordon.

At Valley Center High School, Emily involved herself with a variety of extracurriculars and activities. Her primary activity was cheerleading, but she prided herself on being an active member of her school’s Educated and Empowered Student Voices Club (EESV) and DECA chapter. As a member of the EESV Executive Board, she promoted the diversity, inclusion, and understanding of all demographics in her community. Cheerleading in particular aided in the expansion of her social circle and the exposure to all corners of society. Since middle school, cheerleading taught her valuable lessons in teamwork, conflict resolution, leadership, and perseverance.

Emily currently attends the University of Kansas and is pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology. Her love of the psychological sciences stems from the diversity of world personalities, those in her community, and a lifelong desire to help others. She hopes to study the psychology of people of all demographics and find ways to strengthen bonds among others. “So much of how we view the world and interact with it is based on our understanding of what it has to offer––I’m excited to learn more about how those inner workings contribute to our lives.”

Her pursuit of psychology was strengthened by her time as an intern at McAdams Academy, an alternative school in Wichita. As a high school student, she valued the learning experience that she gained from interacting with the students. She especially enjoyed interacting with them one-by-one and will never forget the sense of community she felt during her time there.

Thrilled by what the future has to offer, Emily is grateful for the opportunity the Timothy O’Shaughnessy Foundation provided her and eagerly anticipates the coming years. She hopes to follow in Timothy’s footsteps and create long-lasting bridges between her own worldview and those of others around her.