A gift to the N Fund – College of Arts and Sciences Scholarships Fund provides much needed student scholarship aid available to students within the college.
Joseph Shea is preparing to shape our world for good.
Since his childhood, Shea has been passionate about discovering how and why things work the way they do. From exploring computers as a kid to being accepted into college at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, technology has been a steady thread running through his life.
“I’m a data science major from a small town in Kansas,” Shea said. “I’ve always been interested in computers.”
Shea is a junior pursuing degrees in data science and computer science through the College of Arts and Sciences and Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management, respectively.
Shea said he is committed to harnessing technology and applying it to fields that meaningfully change our lives.
“I envision machine learning to help make breakthroughs in medicine, automation and so many other places that can make the world better when done ethically,” he said.
This dream has been supported by donors who made it possible for Shea to pursue his education thanks to an N Fund – College of Arts and Sciences Scholarship.
Now, he has the time to focus on what he is truly passionate about.
“Thanks to my financial stability, I’ve been able to have a really good balance between school, personal life and extracurriculars,” Shea said. “I’ve had the opportunity to take classes like Spanish and ceramics, which have been eye-opening and completely different from my day-to-day field.”
For Shea, being able to explore new hobbies and interests is one thing that has made his college experience so impactful.
“Education is the foundation of our country,” Shea said. “Students need to be able to focus on learning and trying new things, and that can’t happen if they have to spend all their time working just to afford tuition.”
Shea has been able to participate in multiple student organizations on campus, work on personal projects and mentor students through the Nebraska Human Resources Institute Leadership Mentoring program.
Without the N Fund – College of Arts and Sciences Scholarship, Shea said balancing all of this while covering tuition would have been nearly impossible.
“Thank you so much for your generosity,” he said. “I hope you know it’s not being wasted. I’m doing everything I can to excel, and I hope to be in a position to donate to the next generation of students someday.”
To aid students like Shea in creating a brighter future, please consider donating to the N Fund – College of Arts and Sciences Scholarships Fund today.
