Fall 2025 First-Gen Graduate Student Scholarship Awarded

Editor World is proud to announce that Angel Nuñez has been selected as the recipient of the company's Fall 2025 First-Generation Graduate Student Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes an exceptional first-generation graduate student who demonstrates academic perseverance, community leadership, and a commitment to supporting others in their educational journey.

Angel Nuñez, who recently graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, will begin his Master of Science in Applied Economics program at Purdue University this fall. As a first-generation college student, Nunez has overcome significant financial and cultural barriers to achieve academic success while maintaining a strong commitment to mentoring other students from similar backgrounds.

"Angel's story exemplifies the resilience and determination that we celebrate through this scholarship," said Patti Fisher, founder and owner at Editor World. "His journey demonstrates not only personal achievement but also his dedication to lifting others as he climbs. These are exactly the qualities we want to support."

Nuñez's academic journey has been marked by both challenges and remarkable achievements. After beginning college while working full-time in construction, he transferred to CU Boulder where he found his community through the Student Academic Success Center (SASC). There, he evolved from mentee to Lead Mentor, guiding six students over two years and helping them navigate the unique challenges faced by first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students.

His academic excellence led to a competitive internship with the United States Senate, where he contributed to economic policy research. This experience solidified his career goals and demonstrated the transformative power of educational opportunity and mentorship.

"Access to resources has been the difference between giving up and pushing forward," Nunez reflected. "While I've worked incredibly hard, I've also been incredibly fortunate. This scholarship represents not just recognition of my journey, but an investment in my ability to pay that support forward."

The Editor World First-Generation Scholarship was established to support students who, like many of the company's team members and clients, have navigated higher education without the traditional family guidance that many students take for granted. The scholarship recognizes that academic success is often a community achievement, requiring support from mentors, financial aid programs, and organizations that believe in student potential.

"At Editor World, we work with students and professionals from all backgrounds who are striving to perfect their written communication," added Fisher. "We understand that behind every successful document is often a story of perseverance and support. Angel's story reminds us why it's important to invest in the next generation of leaders."

Nunez plans to use his graduate degree in applied economics to continue his work in policy research and economic analysis. He also intends to maintain his commitment to mentorship and expanding access to higher education for underrepresented students.

The Editor World First-Generation Graduate Student Scholarship application process for Fall 2026 will open in Spring 2026, with applications accepted from March 15 through May 1, 2026. Recipients are selected through a comprehensive review process that includes a 900-word essay. Complete application details and requirements are available at www.editorworld.com/scholarship-information.

Angel's Full Essay:

Growing up in a household where hard work and persistence were expected, I learned early on that education was the key to opportunity. As the son of Latino immigrants and a first-generation college student, I’ve had to carve my own path through higher education—often navigating financial insecurity, cultural barriers, and self-doubt. My academic journey hasn’t been a straight line, but each challenge I faced was met with the support of people and programs who believed in me. From working as a union carpenter to being accepted into Purdue University’s M.S. in Applied Economics program, I know now that success is never a solo effort. Access to family support, scholarships, and mentorship changed my life—and I wouldn’t be here without them.

My academic record is not one of perfection, but of perseverance. I began my college career while working full-time as a union carpenter, balancing physically demanding labor with online classes. At the time, I wasn’t sure what was possible for someone like me. My parents—while incredibly supportive—had never been to college themselves. They couldn’t offer guidance on course selection or financial aid, but they gave me something just as valuable: unconditional support and belief in my potential. That belief gave me the courage to take a leap of faith and leave my job to continue my education at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Of course, I couldn’t have made that decision without access to financial resources. Scholarships played a crucial role in making college a reality. The Denver Scholarship Foundation and TRIO Student Support Services didn’t just ease the financial burden—they made me feel seen. These programs connected me to mentors, tutoring, and workshops that helped me build confidence and develop as a student. Most importantly, they showed me that I wasn’t alone.

After completing my first semester in person and understanding how much more I could grow academically, I transferred from MSU Denver to the University of Colorado Boulder. That decision pushed me far outside my comfort zone—I didn’t know anyone on campus, and I was stepping into a space where very few students looked like me or shared my background. But that leap introduced me to one of the most impactful communities in my life: the Student Academic Success Center (SASC). It was the first time I found a space where my struggles were understood without needing to be explained. The students and staff at SASC shared my experience of being first-generation, low-income, or from underrepresented communities, and it was there that I began to thrive.

Initially, I joined SASC as a mentee, leaning on the advice of other students who had faced similar challenges. Their stories helped me feel less isolated, and I learned how to advocate for myself academically and personally. Eventually, I became a peer mentor through the program. For the past two years, I’ve mentored six students, and I was recently named Lead Mentor. That role has been one of the most meaningful parts of my college experience. I’ve been able to give back to a community that gave so much to me—and in doing so, I found my own voice and purpose. Helping other students succeed gave me a new kind of motivation, rooted not just in personal ambition, but in collective uplift.

My academic journey also extended beyond campus. During my time at CU Boulder, I was selected to intern for the United States Senate, where I worked on economic policy research. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—and one I wouldn’t have pursued without the confidence and support I gained through mentorship and academic programs. That experience solidified my interest in economics and helped shape my career goals. It also reminded me of how far I had come. From working with my hands in construction to contributing to national policy discussions, the contrast wasn’t lost on me. Education had opened doors I never knew existed.

Now, as I prepare to begin graduate school at Purdue, I continue to carry with me not only the lessons I’ve learned, but also the support of the many people who helped me along the way. I’m deeply aware that my journey is statistically rare. Only 17% of Latino students earn a bachelor’s degree, and just 13% go on to complete a master’s. That reality weighs on me—but it also motivates me. I want to be part of the next generation of leaders who break barriers and expand access for others like me.

Academic success is often framed as an individual achievement, but in my case, it’s always been a shared one. My success belongs to my parents, who believed in me even when they didn’t have all the answers. It belongs to the organizations that stepped in when money was tight or guidance was needed. It belongs to mentors who saw potential in me before I fully saw it in myself. Every scholarship, every piece of advice, and every hand extended in support has shaped the student—and the person—I am today.

Access to resources has been the difference between giving up and pushing forward. And while I’ve worked incredibly hard, I’ve also been incredibly fortunate. As I take this next step toward my master’s degree, I do so with a deep sense of responsibility to pay that support forward—to mentor, to give back, and to keep the door open for the next student walking a similar path.

About Editor World: Writing, Editing, & Proofreading Services

Editor World is an on-demand, one-stop solution for writing, editing, and proofreading services. The company has an expert staff of university professors, marketers, published authors, and retired professionals who are highly qualified and available to provide round-the-clock editing services. Visit www.editorworld.com for more information.