2016 Meritus Annual Report | Page 5

POST-GRADUATION SUCCESS

Joanne Fung is one determined young woman . When she was 13 , Joanne and her family immigrated to the United States from Hong Kong . Joanne found it difficult to transition to a new language and an unfamiliar community , but she kept her eye on a goal : Joanne wanted the education and career choices that were not available to her parents .

While supportive of her goals , Joanne ’ s parents didn ’ t know what it was like to be in college , and they lacked the resources to help her navigate the system ’ s many complexities . That ’ s where Meritus came in .

In addition to benefiting from the financial award and guidance from her Meritus advisor , Joanne took full advantage of our Career Connections Program . She held two summer internships through Meritus ’ internship program and was paired with a career mentor . Joanne also took the initiative to meet with members of the broader Meritus community for informational interviews to help her decide on a career path .

All that hard work paid off . In 2015 , Joanne graduated from UC Davis and began working full-time in San Francisco at Marsh , a global leader in insurance broking and risk management . Eager to share her success , Joanne joined the Meritus Young Professionals Council in 2016 to help give back to the next generation of Meritus Scholars .

Graduate

1.2 years earlier than the average college student nationally . 2

Make an average of

$ 50,000- $ 75,000 per year within two years of graduating .

MERITUS ALUMNI

94 % of alumni surveyed plan to stay involved with Meritus .

“

Meritus not only provided me with financial assistance — they helped me make the most of my college experience . They had internship programs and career workshops that helped me figure out what my interests were and which opportunities I should pursue .”

Joanne Fung 2015 Graduate : UC Davis Major : Economics

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