Collin is a graduating senior at the University of Georgia majoring in Entertainment & Media Studies, with a minor in International Affairs and a certificate in Environmental Ethics. A native of Brunswick, GA, he hopes to use these specializations to solve social and environmental justice issues through documentary filmmaking. He is also an avid photographer with particular interest in its documentary capabilities. His favorite films are those that tackle an important topic or narrative while remaining expressive of reality and challenging tradition- films like Koyaanisqatsi, Harlan County USA, The Battle of Algiers, and Children of Men.

Collin served with an AmeriCorps Conservation Corps, where he worked with federal land management agencies in the Eastern US. As part of his service he was deployed to the U.S. territory of Guam in July 2023 to assist with typhoon disaster relief. On this deployment he served as Public Information Officer and took photos and documentary footage to be used by AmeriCorps HQ.

In his free time, he enjoys street photography, hiking, working on his car, and watching movies. He looks forward to attending the Cannes Film Festival through a UGA Study Abroad program, for which the Abacus scholarship will be immensely helpful.

Check out his extraordinary story below: 

Angela Renzello is 20 years old and from Pocatello, Idaho. She has a love for the outdoors and enjoys activities such as running, skiing, pickleball, hiking, and traveling. Angela is also actively engaged in volunteering and helping others in her community. She finds fulfillment in making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Angela is a pre-med student at Brigham Young University-Idaho, studying Public Health with a strong passion for working with children. Her ultimate goal is to become a Pediatric Doctor and positively impact young patients’ lives.

Angela hopes that her video inspires others to never give up on their goals and to push through setbacks.

Check out her inspiring story below: 

Sarah Secrist is a fourth-year student at the University of Georgia in Athens. She is currently studying music therapy and gerontology, with a goal to one day provide music therapy services to older adults in assisted living or hospice care.

Sarah was inspired to pursue geriatric music therapy by her grandmother who suffered from dementia. She remained connected with her family through music until her passing in 2020. Sarah hopes to help others connect with their loved ones through music therapy.

She is returning as a drum major for the University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band as well as the Band Captain for the season. The band traveled with the football team in January for the National Championship, and she received the special opportunity to conduct the band as they pulled ahead in the fourth quarter. This is a memory she will never forget.

She is also the President of Sigma Alpha Iota- Iota Zeta, the international music fraternity chapter at UGA. She acts as an Ambassador for the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and is the Secretary for the Music Therapy Student Association. On top of being a conductor for the band, she plays trumpet and studies voice. She is part of UGA’s Musical Theatre Certificate program and loves performing on stage whenever she can. She is honing her guitar and piano skills for her major and loves learning new instruments.

Sarah hopes her story inspires others to set goals and stick with them. Anyone can dream, but it takes hard work, perseverance, and kindness to make them come true!

Check out her heartwarming story below: 

Ashley Lunford’s journey began years ago, in her early 20s, when she began taking courses in Montana. As life progressed, she wound up in Oregon, and continued her studies, while raising a family. Her family shrunk when her husband passed away in 2021. His death only kept the fire burning underneath her as she began her junior year at Oregon State University.

Her passion for learning and progressing in life seeps through all aspects, keeping her on her toes for the completion of her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her goal is to move onto a master’s program in acupuncture, in order to complete her education in the healing arts.

“I honestly believe through hard work and a good dream, anything is possible!” – Ashley Lunsford

You can view her scholarship video submission below: