"It’s Not Just About Me:" First-Generation Student Gives Back

Growing up, Emmanuella Hyde watched as her parents went above and beyond to support their family of six. They moved from Accra, Ghana, to Houston in search of better opportunities, but without college degrees, Emmanuella’s parents struggled to find jobs that paid well. Her father worked six days a week and her mother worked night shifts to try to make ends meet.

“When I saw that, I knew I had to go to college,” Emmanuella says. “But I didn’t know how we would be able to afford it.”

That’s where Texas Tech came in. Thanks to generous donors, Tech offered Emmanuella enough scholarship support to make her educational dreams possible.

“It’s not just about me,” Emmanuella says. “My whole family is so happy that Texas Tech has created these chances for our family’s future.”

Emmanuella follows in the footsteps of two older sisters, Red Raiders who also received scholarship support. Like her sisters, Emmanuella is pursuing a passion for science, majoring in psychology with a minor in chemistry. Her extracurricular activities — including a leadership role at The Free Clinic, mentoring youth, volunteering at the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research, and serving as an undergraduate research scholar — reflect Emmanuella’s own generous spirit.

“My scholarships energize me and give me the motivation to keep pushing forward,” she says. “One day, I would love to pour into someone else’s future just as people I don’t even know have poured into mine.”

Your Generosity Paves Their Way

The thoughtfulness of donors like you turns the Texas Tech University System into a reality for students like Emmanuella. To learn more about smart ways to give, contact Nathan Rice, CFRE, at 806-742-1781 or nathan.rice@ttu.edu.