Wartburg opened doors for me
As an undergraduate, Ana Julante ’17 was part of a team awarded a Clinton Foundation Resolution Grant to combat malaria using bat species capable of devouring 1,000 mosquitoes per hour near her hometown in Angola.
Though the team of students was unable to make a go of their project in Angola, she hasn’t given up on finding a way to help its people. Julante, who graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics, is currently working toward a master’s degree in cyber security at City, University of London with the hopes of someday soon returning to Angola to work for the Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology, where she could help build and strengthen the country’s cyber security strategies.
“There is a huge and urgent need for specialists in this area in my country, and with my background in math and computer science, I think I can make a difference,” Julante said. “Wartburg helped lay the groundwork for me to take the steps I am making now. I had great professors who not only taught me well, but encouraged me to become the best I could possibly be.”
Julante said the rigorous academic program, coupled with an internship and volunteering opportunities at Wartburg, prepared her well for her next step, which included applying for the highly competitive Chevening Scholarship. She recently learned she was one of 1,800 selected among more than 50,000 applications. Chevening Scholarships, which provide full financial support to study at any university in the United Kingdom, are awarded to individuals with demonstrable leadership potential, strong academic backgrounds, and a strong vision for the future, according to the website.
“My Wartburg professors provided me with the advice I needed and wrote excellent recommendation letters that not only got me accepted at all three of the universities I applied to, but made me one of the Chevening scholars,” Julante said. “I can’t say enough about the excellence of our Wartburg professors, and that is one thing I absolutely love about Wartburg — the long-lasting connection with the Wartburg community. It has been more than two years since I graduated, and at other colleges and universities, the professors would not even remember my name.
“I knew how competitive the Chevening program was, and I was scared that I wouldn’t get it, but when I saw the emails from my professors excited about my application and eager to help, it boosted my confidence.”
One of those professors, Dr. Terry Letsche, said it came as no surprise that Julante was selected for the prestigious honor.
“Ana is a perfect example of our graduates who are determined to make a difference in the world, and I’m sure she will,” he said.