The Charles Schwab Foundation Scholars in Financial Planning Scholarship is a scholarship program that was created in 2021. This scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance to students in underrepresented communities pursuing a career in financial planning. Recipients of this reward receive $10,000 per year in scholarship funds (for two years or until they graduate) and the opportunity for internships, professional development and mentorship opportunities.

Two students within our Finance program, Nader Dajani and Manny Guillen, have been awarded this scholarship in the past year. Nader Dajani, the most recent recipient, is a junior graduating in Spring 2024. Even though he’s just getting started, Dajani expresses his gratitude and how being in this program has helped already, “I definitely feel like this scholarship prepared me for interviews down the road. Charles Schwab's team helped me out and I feel more comfortable with my ability to interview, to talk to people, to communicate and such.”

Manny Guillen, in his final year, reflects on his takeaways from the program, “I can say if I wasn't in the program, I would definitely be a little behind on what I'd be doing when I come out of college. And the fact that they have a program set up for me, it's almost kind of like a secondary school advancing my education.” After interning and participating in the Advice Academy this past year, Manny was offered a full time position at Charles Schwab after graduation.

When asked what advice they would give their fellow students interested in this scholarship program, Manny and Nader both say to be optimistic when applying and use Virginia Tech’s CFP program to their advantage.