2026 Student Scholarships: This First Generation Student is Putting Down Roots
Maayan Almog is an incoming first-year student at the University of South Carolina Honors College and a recipient of Hillel International’s Jules and Gwen Knapp First Generation Student Scholarship.
Maayan Almog spent her childhood summers beneath a mango tree in her grandparents’ backyard in Israel.
She picked the ripest mangos, as instructed by her grandmother. Her family would then sit underneath the shade of the tree, swapping stories, laughing for hours, and eating sweet fruit. That tree became a place of meaning and memory, a space where loved ones came together for a few weeks, reuniting those who had emigrated to America and those who had stayed in Israel.
As she grew older, Almog came to see herself in that tree, planted in unfamiliar soil, tested by challenges, and growing nonetheless.
“I realized that these roots that still remain strong actually represent a lot of my own journey and my own growth,” Almog said. “Because as a daughter of immigrants and as a first-generation student, there have been many moments where I’ve had to step into unfamiliar spaces. I had to learn to ask questions and find my own path. I think that is really what the mango tree is all about.”
And now, Almog is preparing to plant roots in new soil, as she moves from Massachusetts to South Carolina to begin her first year of college, with plans to major in neuroscience at the University of South Carolina Honors College.
Almog will start her college journey with the support of the Hillel International Jules and Gwen Knapp First-Generation Student Scholarship, which recognizes first-generation Jewish college students who have made an impact in their community.
For Almog, reaching this moment took perseverance and a drive to learn as much as she could.
Her parents, who were born and raised in Israel, immigrated to America when she was just a toddler. They encouraged her every step of the way — as she took on dance, as she tutored students in math, and especially as she began applying to colleges.
As a first-generation student, Almog had to navigate the college admissions process without a roadmap. She did hours of research, asked a lot of questions, and pushed through stress to get answers. The experience built her confidence and independence, helping her learn to figure things out for herself.
“Receiving this scholarship means so much to me because it reminds me that everything it took to get here mattered,” Almog said. “As a first-generation student, there were so many moments where I had to figure things out as I went, and having people believe in my future makes me even more excited to keep growing and give that same support to others.”
As a high school student, Almog studied research that showed the way under-resourced single mothers struggle to support themselves and their families. Inspired by a passion to serve, Almog helped establish an organization called RiseHer Foundation, which provides single mothers with care packages full of toiletries, medicine, and first-aid products, among other need-based items.
To run the organization, Almog taught herself to become a strategist, fundraiser, and project manager. Under her leadership, the foundation raised $5,500 and delivered a first shipment of care packages to more than 100 mothers in Colombia through a connection made by one of her co-founders.
The way Almog approaches community service and care has been heavily influenced by her Jewish identity, particularly the Jewish value of tikkun olam, to repair the world.
“I’ve always admired the way that the Jewish communities show up for one another, even during the most difficult times,” Almog said. “And that experience, that perseverance, has stayed with me, as well as the idea of repairing the world through small acts of kindness.”
Almog will lean on her lessons in leadership as she moves through her first semester of college, learning all she can to pursue a future career in healthcare. Knowing that her scholarship will allow her to focus on her studies gives her peace of mind.
“There are people who really do believe in students like me and want us to succeed,” Almog said. “And the support will allow me to focus less on the financial stress.”
She is also looking forward to becoming a part of campus life outside of the classroom, especially her campus Hillel. “I’m excited to meet so many new people from so many different backgrounds and to build new friendships,” Almog said. “And also to build a community for myself that encourages curiosity and eventually collaboration.” Almog is looking forward to attending her Hillel’s open house to learn more about the Jewish community on campus.
To other first-generation students who are preparing for new experiences of their own, Almog offered a piece of advice: Never forget your roots, which are a source of strength. “Your background is not something that you need to fear,” Almog said. “But rather, it’s something that is unique to every single person — it makes you, you.”
She first learned that lesson beneath a mango tree. Its roots held firm, outlasting storms, while its branches continued to bear fruit, year after year. Almog continues to draw inspiration from the tree’s seemingly limitless strength. “Being a first-generation student allows you to grow in ways that are kind of amazing,” she said. “I think that it makes you a stronger person.”