Selflessness isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s staying late to clean up after an event no one will remember you organized. Sometimes, it’s taking the time to answer a younger student’s questions when you’re already overwhelmed yourself. And sometimes, it’s using your passion, whatever it is to serve a purpose greater than your own. My name is Talar Sarkissian, and I’m pursuing a degree in Marketing, Media, and Business at the University of La Verne. I designed this major to reflect what I care about most: creating meaningful connections between people, using storytelling as a way to inspire change, and helping communities feel seen and supported. Community service has never felt like a box to check it’s just part of who I am. I’ve spent the last few years deeply involved in campus and local organizations, most notably serving as the president of the Armenian Student Association. I helped rebuild the group from the ground up, creating a space where students could find cultural pride, emotional support, and a sense of belonging. We hosted remembrance events, educational workshops, and partnered with other cultural clubs to foster unity on campus. Every event was a chance to bring people together and remind them that they matter. Beyond school, I’ve volunteered with youth mentorship programs, community food drives, and voter outreach campaigns. One of the most meaningful experiences for me was helping at a summer camp for underprivileged children, where I led art activities and simply listened. A lot of those kids just needed someone to treat them with patience and kindness. It reminded me that making the world better doesn’t always mean fixing something big it means showing up for people in small, consistent ways. In everything I do, I lead with purpose. Even in my professional life, where I work in the music and events industry, I use my platform to create inclusive, uplifting experiences. Music can be a form of healing, and I’ve seen how powerful it is when people gather to let go, connect, and feel alive. Behind every event, I think about how we can be more thoughtful whether it’s making events more accessible, promoting mental wellness through music, or being intentional about who we platform and why. Perseverance shows up in the way I keep going, even when the work gets hard. I’ve taken on leadership roles I didn’t always feel ready for, stayed committed to causes even when they didn’t get much attention, and kept moving forward even when life felt heavy. I don’t give up on what I believe in, and I don’t forget why I started. To me, honoring someone like Michael Rudometkin means living with heart. It means using every opportunity every skill, every moment of connection to make someone else’s life a little easier, a little brighter. I carry that intention with me every day. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship and for continuing Michael’s legacy in such a beautiful way. Sincerely, Talar Sarkissian

My name is Talar Sarkissian, and I’m majoring in Marketing, Media, and Business at the University of La Verne. I work in the live music and nightlife industry, where my job is to build experiences that give people joy, connection, and escape from the stress of everyday life. Through my work, I’ve seen firsthand how music can bring people back to themselves. I’ve watched strangers become friends in crowded clubs, seen people cry during sets that hit too close to home, and witnessed moments that heal more than words ever could. But the industry I love also has a responsibility. With every show, every venue, every stage, there’s an opportunity to choose sustainability. In the next five years, I plan to combine my passion for experience-making with a commitment to environmental impact. I want to help the music and events industry shift toward greener practices from the marketing materials we use to the waste we produce. I want to show that we can create unforgettable nights while being conscious of our footprint. At my current job, I’ve already started having those conversations. I’ve worked on promoting events with digital-first flyers instead of paper ones. I’ve suggested reusable cups at venues, supported artists who speak out about environmental justice, and made sure our messaging around events highlights ride-share options and local partnerships. These may seem like small steps, but I believe they build momentum. People want to do better they just need to see that it’s possible. My goal is to lead marketing for major festivals and nightlife brands with purpose. I want to launch campaigns that celebrate music and wellness, but also encourage people to think about the impact of their choices. I want to integrate environmental messaging into the culture of nightlife in a way that feels natural, exciting, and empowering. In five years, I see myself managing a creative agency that partners with venues, artists, and wellness brands to promote events that are good for the soul and better for the planet. I want to help transform how we plan, promote, and protect our spaces. Whether it’s reducing food waste at VIP tables, designing content that educates about sustainable partying, or helping venues find local vendors, I will be part of a movement that proves hospitality can be both electric and ethical. This scholarship would allow me to deepen my education and expand my work without the weight of financial pressure. It would give me the freedom to keep creating, to keep learning, and to keep pushing the industries I love toward something more conscious and community-centered. Thank you for supporting students who are not only chasing success, but also choosing impact. I’m not here just to entertain I’m here to elevate the way we experience life, and to make sure that joy doesn’t come at the planet’s expense.

My name is Talar Sarkissian, and I am a driven and determined undergraduate student at the University of La Verne. I created my own major in Marketing, Media, and Business because I believe that education should reflect who we are and what we aspire to change. I currently hold a 3.9 GPA, and behind every grade is a story of perseverance, late nights, and a quiet promise to myself that I will build a life of meaning and impact. During my senior year of high school, I nearly let go of my college dreams. Financial uncertainty, family pressures, and self-doubt made higher education feel far out of reach. I remember quietly researching scholarships on the floor of my bedroom, unsure of how I would make it work but too stubborn to let go of the idea. I was determined to find a way forward, even if I had to create that path myself. Since then, I have made it my mission to turn every challenge into momentum. I’ve interned at a music marketing company, created social content for major festivals like Coachella, and led cultural and community efforts through campus organizations. I’ve also volunteered with youth mentorship programs and dedicated time to helping other first-generation students navigate the college process. My background has not held me back—it has fueled my ambition. In Fall 2025, I will be studying abroad in Barcelona. This will be a life-changing chapter in my education, not just because I’ll be immersed in a different culture, but because I’ll be studying how communities around the world use storytelling, media, and design to shape their future. I am eager to bring those lessons back home, applying them in ways that support nonprofits, small businesses, and students like me who are often overlooked. This scholarship would mean more than financial support. It would be a recognition of how far I’ve come and how far I plan to go. It would remind me that students who start with less can still become leaders, creatives, and changemakers. I see marketing as more than a career—it is a tool for building empathy, influencing positive change, and creating space for the stories that deserve to be heard. My long-term goal is to start my own creative agency that works with mission-driven brands and social impact campaigns. I want to use strategy and storytelling to help people feel seen, heard, and empowered. I know the road ahead will not always be easy, but I also know I have the heart and hustle to keep going. Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I carry this opportunity with deep gratitude and the intention to pay it forward, every step of the way. Sincerely, Talar Sarkissian

My name is Talar Sarkissian, and I am a proud Syrian-Armenian undergraduate student at the University of La Verne. I initially entered college as a political science major because I have always been passionate about justice, advocacy, and using my voice to create real change. As I navigated my academic journey, I realized that I could make an even greater impact by combining that passion with my creative strengths. That realization led me to create my own major in Marketing, Media, and Business an intentional blend of disciplines that allows me to tell powerful stories, shift narratives, and engage communities in meaningful ways. I fully understand that this scholarship prioritizes political science students, and I deeply respect that mission. While my path has shifted, the heart of my work remains deeply political. I believe that change happens not only in government buildings, but also in the messages we amplify, the content we create, and the conversations we lead. Through media and marketing, I aim to educate, inspire, and drive action. Over the past two semesters, I have maintained a 3.9 GPA while balancing a demanding internship with a music marketing company. I have contributed to major productions like Coachella, running social media and managing guest logistics at large-scale events. These experiences have shown me the scale and influence of modern media, and how carefully crafted messaging can shift the public’s view on everything from social movements to personal values. I’ve also led the Armenian Student Association on campus, organizing events that honor our culture, advocate for justice, and build solidarity among marginalized communities. As a Syrian-Armenian woman, my identity is rooted in survival and strength. My family’s story, marked by genocide and displacement, inspires everything I do. I am determined to use the tools I have—whether it’s strategic messaging, digital campaigns, or cultural organizing to fight back against the political and social forces that attempt to silence women, especially those from Middle Eastern backgrounds. This scholarship would help lift the financial burden of my studies, particularly as I prepare to study abroad in Fall 2025. I will be spending the semester in Barcelona, where I hope to explore global media systems, cross-cultural communication, and the ways different communities use storytelling to push for justice. While there, I plan to study how public narratives are shaped across borders and bring that knowledge back to my community here. In the future, I see myself leading socially conscious campaigns that center equity and representation. Whether I’m working alongside political leaders, nonprofit organizations, or cultural institutions, I want to be the person who makes people feel seen and heard through intentional storytelling. I am incredibly grateful for your consideration. While my major may not fall under the traditional umbrella of political science, my mission to drive change, empower women, and reshape systems is deeply aligned with the purpose of this scholarship. Sincerely, Talar Sarkissian

My name is Talar Sarkissian, and I’m a student at the University of La Verne majoring in Marketing, Media, and Business—a concentration I created myself to align with my career goals in digital storytelling and brand development. I built this major because I wanted a program that blends creativity with strategy, and allows me to study how content, marketing, and culture intersect. As a first-generation Armenian-American, I’ve always felt a deep responsibility to represent voices from my community and create space for meaningful stories. I’ve served as president of the Armenian Student Association, where I helped lead cultural and educational programming to foster visibility and connection. Outside of school, I’ve gained hands-on experience in the music and events industry, interning for a music group where I create content, manage guest lists at high-profile events, and run social media for major festivals like Coachella. This scholarship would help relieve some of the financial pressure I am facing, especially as I prepare to study abroad in Fall 2025. I’ll be spending the semester in Barcelona, where I plan to dive deeper into global marketing practices, cross-cultural communication, and the creative industries from a new perspective. This experience will not only strengthen my academic knowledge, but also help me grow personally and professionally as I learn how different cultures tell their stories and build community through media. Receiving this scholarship would mean the world to me. It would allow me to fully embrace this study abroad opportunity without the added weight of financial stress. I’m committed to returning home with the knowledge, skills, and global awareness to give back to both my local community and the industries I hope to work in. Thank you so much for your time, support, and for considering my application. Sincerely, Talar Sarkissian