Congratulations to Bianca Augusto!
In order to commemorate ten successful years the Lupus Inspiration Foundation for Excellence (L.I.F.E.) selected the top recipient from fifty past winners. Bianca Augusto is L.I.F.E.’s featured winner. She has utilized her scholarship and experience with the Foundation in order to better herself and others. Bianca Augusto has demonstrated academic merit, volunteer ambitions, and a hard working attitude verifying her potential to be successful in the future—all while facing lupus.
Bianca Augusto is currently a junior at the University of Florida where she boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.9 and a nomination for membership in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She is pursuing a degree in Psychology, volunteering in programs that advance her knowledge in the field. According to a professor, “Bianca is self-motivated and highly goal-oriented…As a thinker, she does not simply choose to accept, but rather she questions, ponders, and often poses hypotheses.” Bianca’s hobbies include reading, scuba diving, arts, and crafts.
Being a L.I.F.E scholarship winner has been a life-changing experience for Bianca in more ways than one. Besides helping with the expense the college demands, she has also gained knowledge that she may not have otherwise sought out. After her diagnosis, Bianca chose to keep herself in the dark regarding the facts about lupus. Choosing to live in ignorance allowed her to convince herself that the disease did not exist. After receiving the scholarship, however, Bianca now realizes that her diagnosis is not something that can be ignored but instead something that she must educate herself about in order to best control the symptoms. She also realizes the importance of making this chronic disease known to others across the globe, especially since it is so much more widespread than is recognized.
Since the summer of 2008, she has made herself actively involved in the Lupus Inspiration Foundation for Excellence, volunteering in multiple areas including--but not limited to—the new website, fundraising, and grant writing. Bianca was also a member of the 2010 Scholarship Committee and was active in the selection process. This was the first time a previous winner was given the opportunity to assist in selecting and notifying the new winners. Her goal is to continue to play an active role in the Foundation for as long as possible so that she may continue to help others with lupus.
Jenna Larsen, V.P. of L.I.F.E
Columbia University
Masters Student, Institute of Human Nutrition