Universidade Católica Fellowships makes dreams come true for Portuguese American Students | Applications open
With only 128 kilometres separating their families' hometowns, Olívia Domingos and Ryan Arruda have deep roots in the north of Portugal, in Mangualde and Montalegre. And although they have lived in the United States of America for most of their lives, they have never lost their connection to the country. ‘I've always been very proud of my Portuguese roots and felt a strong connection to the culture’, says Ryan.
Now that is has come time to continue their studies, Olívia and Ryan decided to come back, choosing Católica as their new home.
Olívia, who is passionate about the human mind, has always dreamt of coming to her ancestor’s country, and coming to Católica ‘had been planned for a long time’, since 2020. While still studying Neurosciences at Trinity College in Hartford, she discovered the Católica Fellowships for Portuguese American Students, a scholarship that made this dream possible.
Fascinated by research and passionate about the connection between pharmaceuticals and neuroscience, Olívia hopes to explore this relationship in the Master's Degree in Cognitive and Behavioural Neurosciences, taught by the Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing at Católica, in partnership with ISPA.
Excited about the possibility of doing research, Olívia chose the master's at Católica for this reason, but also for the support and personalised teaching at Católica, where the person is seen as a whole. ‘Talking to the two lecturers on the course made me feel supported. It was as if they wanted to support me in getting where I wanted to go, instead of putting obstacles in my way’, she explains.
If she could unravel one mystery, it would be the connection between the environment and the mind and how it can affect recovery, a topic that he believes has not yet been fully explored in humans.
Active and curious, she played soccer and was vice-president community action students’ association, doing what she loves most: sharing Neuroscience with others. Things she hopes to continue to do at Católica.
In the field of science, Ryan Arruda chose to study Microbiology at the Faculty of Biotechnology in Porto, as the first ever Bachelor student to receive the Católica Fellowship for the Portuguese American Students. Excited about the new adventure, the 18-year-old student says: 'The way my path to Porto and ESB evolved over the last few months feels like I was destined to be here'.
Deeply connected to Portugal, which has always been his 'favorite place to visit', when he started thinking about studying abroad, that was the obvious choice. He will be studying at Católica’s Porto Campus, a city he really likes, and highlights for 'its rich cultural history'. 'I’m also a big fan of FC Porto, which may have influenced me, just a little”, adds. As for the course, Ryan chose because of his passion for science and because “microbiology overlaps with all of the other life sciences and with medicine'.
He learnt about the scholarship as a member of the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States, and now he is making history as its first ever bachelor grantee. And so far, the experience could not have been better: 'The staff and my fellow students have been welcoming and have made me feel like I belong. I will miss my family and friends, but I already feel supported by ESB family here'.
As for the future, Ryan plans on going back the USA, and either attend medical school or continue his studies as a researcher. However challenging it may be “I think my time here at UCP will be extremely valuable for my future, and have no doubt I will make some wonderful memories which I will carry with me forever.”