Thaymiluz Santos Tang is making her dreams a reality—from playing flag football in Panama City, Panama to studying aviation management at Florida Memorial University (FMU), a UNCF-member institution, in Miami Gardens, FL.

Santos Tang wanted to attend school outside of Panama and was interested in going to college in the United States, but she didn’t know how she would get there. While playing flag football for Panama’s national women’s team, her coach advised her to apply to U.S. schools that offered athletic scholarships for the sport.

Through academic and student-athlete scholarships, Santos Tang was able to attend FMU. But as an international student, she still faced a significant funding gap.

UNCF helped her bridge that gap, allowing her to continue her studies and graduate on time. She recalls meeting with FMU’s financial aid director to explore funding options and that’s when she learned about UNCF scholarships.

Santos Tang started applying. And now, she’s a three-time UNCF scholarship recipient, recently awarded the Tell Us About “U” scholarship. “I’m doing everything on my own here in another country,” she said. “It’s just the fact that I know the help exist[s]. It’s really nice to feel that support.”

With UNCF’s support, Santos Tang was more at ease and was able to focus on her goals after college. Without these scholarships, she would have been stressed, frustrated and  unable to focus on being a great student-athlete. “I wouldn’t have enjoyed my college experience as much and it probably would have impacted my mental health,” she said. “I think I’d be desperate. I don’t think, I would have finished college on time. It would have taken me a long time or [at least] one more year.”

Instead of focusing on the financial burden of obtaining a college education, she was able to participate in extracurricular activities on campus. Throughout her time at FMU, she has held numerous leadership roles, including resident assistant, a member of Young Women of Excellence and a member of the student-athlete advisory committee.

She was drawn to FMU because the school was only a short plane ride to Panama and the culture in Miami Gardens resembled her hometown. Her most memorable experience on campus was connecting with other international students and learning about various cultures.

Her advice to students: “The UNCF scholarship website is easy to navigate and it’s not hard finding scholarships that match your background or interests,” she said.

She emphasized having the right mentality and being a go-getter makes a difference when applying to scholarships. “You just have to put in the time, put in the effort and go beyond and above,” said Santos Tang.

After Santos Tang graduates this May, she plans to enroll in a master’s of business program at FMU. In the future, she intends to obtain her private pilot’s license.

UNCF is proud of our students and alumni who have received scholarships that help them continue their education and graduate. These scholarships are invaluable to students, and UNCF is accepting donations to support students like Thaymiluz Santos Tang in their academic endeavors.

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