For nearly 30 years the Life Gets Better Scholarship has
played a major role in producing engineers, doctors, lawyers, corporate
executives, scientists, college professors, and many more professionals of
color. By removing the financial burden that normally derails a college
education, the scholarship relieves the stress and strain that normally
overwhelms families.
Justin Bruno, a junior computer engineering student from Orlando
Fla, is one of the current FAMU students who has benefited tremendously from
the scholarship.
Another major advantage was the fact that Bruno did not have
to get a job and work his way through school, which allowed him to focus on his
studies maintaining a 3.7 GPA while at the same time serving in student
government as the student body vice president.
Bruno shows his appreciation of the scholarship by being
totally immersed and involved in the University culture. He is a member of the
University Housing Annual Rental Rate Review Committee, FAMU-FSU Chapter of the
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Organization & Finance
Committee where he serves as a chairperson.
With two years to go in his undergraduate studies, Bruno is
unsure of what the future holds. However, he does know he wants to make a
difference in his community.
“I’m a big believer in letting God take me wherever he wants
me to be,” Bruno said. “I do know in some way I will probably be involved in
community affairs or activism.”
Bruno knows that if it weren’t for people like former
Frederick S. Humphries, Ph.D., who founded the program, he might have never had
the opportunities FAMU has presented to him. And he never takes that fact for
granted.
“He (Humphries) was on to something great. I’m not sure if
he realized how much of an impact what he came up with was going to make in the
lives of people like me,” said Bruno. “I think it’s something he can be proud
of, and I’m very grateful for it.”