Forty Acres Scholars Program

Lucienne Moran from the Class of 2026 just graduated with her degree in Canfield Business Honors and a minor in Computational Engineering but will be staying on campus this year to finish a degree in Physics!

"When I first started college, I was focused on finding the right answer. To my future, that is. I saw it as something to be solved. It was a matter of picking the correct career, one with a formulaic path. It took me years to realize that none of the answers felt right because I didn’t know what the question was. My biggest takeaway from college is that when you feel uninspired or lost, you shouldn’t force yourself toward an answer. It will come if you focus on asking the right questions. For me, the right questions came from being curious, staying open-minded, wrestling with ideas, and paying attention to what genuinely interested me. That’s how I ended up adding a physics major to my business major junior year, which became the best decision I made at UT."

Lucienne is from The Woodlands, Texas. Some of her favorite enrichment memories traveling to a town in rural Georgia (the country) with an Australian, Argentinian, Belorussian and Ukrainian, and taking part in an ancient Georgian festival called Lelo Burti, interning at a venture capital firm while studying abroad in Madrid, and accidentally flying to the Canary Islands instead of Mallorca, and spending the day with locals there. Her memories abroad inspired her to cook recipes from different countries in her free time.

"The Forty Acres Scholars Program made UT feel like home even before I stepped foot on campus. It provided me with a close-knit community and support system at a large university, and a deep sense of belonging. It opened doors to experiences I couldn’t have ever imagined. It’s pushed me outside of my comfort zone and constantly encouraged me to grow. It’s brought incredible people into my life: lifelong mentors and friends who have challenged and inspired me. My fellow cohort members jokingly refer to each other as “cousins”, because we truly feel like family. I’m especially grateful for my amazing donor, Marilyn White. Her support has meant the world to me. I'll forever be grateful to FASP!"

She is the recipient of the Charline and Red McCombs Family Forty Acres Scholarship and the Marilyn Marshall White Enrichment Award.

Back in March The Forty Acres Scholars Program dressed up and headed to Bass Concert Hall for one of our favorite annual traditions—a night of dinner and Broadway! We had the best time seeing Mama Mia, signing along and making unforgettable memories.

Congratulations to our Class of 2026 graduates!

Next for today's Senior Spotlights is Isabella Soares!

Isabella is from Pearland, Texas and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, and Engineering Honors with a minor in Materials Science in Engineering. When asked what her biggest takeaway from college is, she said "Approach everything with kindness and curiosity (including yourself)." Her favorite enrichment experience was visiting the fjords in Norway! "I not only got to check off one of my life bucket list items but also made a lot of memories and friends on that trip." After graduation she will be pursuing her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“The Forty Acres Scholars Program played a monumental role in my college experience. Through FASP, I was able to travel to Europe for the first time, network with sustainability entrepreneurs around the country, and pursue research projects I loved without having to worry about financial constraints. Through this program, I have learned so much about not only the world, but about myself. The diverse interests within FASP have opened my eyes to so many interesting avenues of life and helped me develop into the well-rounded, confident, and curious person I am today. But most importantly, I met some of my closest friends through this program. Des, Angie, Ash, Aksh*ta, and all of the amazing people in this program have been constant sources of joy and support during my time in college. I’ve laughed, cried, and grown with these amazing people, and I’m grateful to have them in life during and after my college career. Their presence, as well as the amazing opportunities I’ve received through FASP, will continue to inspire and guide me for years to come.”

She is the recipient of the Erin and Thomas A. Bunkley Forty Acres Scholarship. You can read more about her here: https://www.texasexes.org/scholarships/forty-acres-scholars-program/meet-scholars/2026/isabella-soares