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Anusha Hussain

How one scholarship is helping Anusha Hussain pursue her passion

Anusha Hussain, 20, has always had a soft spot for children, and now as a biology major, Hussain is training to be a pediatrician one day.

"Being with kids is exciting," said Hussain. "I volunteered at Methodist Children's Hospital and noticed that they just have a different attitude on life."

With a desire to help those children, Hussain introduced a new organization to campus called Love Your Melon. The student-led organization, with chapters across the nation, provides hats and comfort to children with illnesses. They visit hospitals and schools across the city hoping to brighten a child's day.

"We visit families who contact us," said Hussain. "On our first visit we met a girl named Christina, and we painted pumpkins with her. We then went to the Ronald McDonald House and made friendship bracelets, played puzzles and essentially anything to take their minds off of what's going on in their lives."

Aside from her involvement with the organization, Hussain has also worked on campus as a supplemental instruction leader, and alongside Dr. Richard LeBaron, as a research assistant studying colon cancer cells—all while maintaining a 3.7 grade-point-average.

The only daughter to Pakistan immigrants, Hussain grew up in San Antonio and graduated from Ronald Reagan High School. After applying to several universities she was attracted to UTSA for the scholarship opportunities, such as the Great Conversation! Scholarship, which she was awarded this semester.

Given to stand-out students enrolled in the Honors College, money for the scholarship is raised during UTSA's Great Conversation!, a fundraising event which brings together community leaders, scholars and university supporters for dinner and engaging conversations on diverse topics.

"It's an event that raises scholarship money for our honors students at UTSA," said Dr. Harriet Romo, co-chair of the event. "This is an opportunity for people to discuss fun issues and serious issues. You don't have to be an expert on anything, you just have to be curious."

For Hussain, she credits the scholarship for being able to take part in the Archer Fellowship in Washington D.C. this semester. The fellowship brings students from across the UT System to the nation's capital to study and intern with organizations like the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where Hussain is interning 40 hours a week. "The Great Conversation! Scholarship is helping to cover my housing here in D.C. and I'm really grateful for that," said Hussain. "I'm super thankful to the donors."

Hussain is on track to graduate with her bachelor's degree in May, and is expected to continue her education at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth.

More about the Great Conversation! Scholarship
Great Conversation! Is an annual event bringing together some of the city's top leaders from the business, government, culinary, art worlds and everywhere else in between. Hosted at the iconic UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures, the event benefits scholarships in the Honors College, allowing students like Anusha opportunities to explore their academic interests.

- Yvonne Zamora Byrd