We’re excited to launch the LiveOak Scholars program, an initiative that reflects our commitment to shaping the future leaders in STEM and business. This program goes beyond financial support by embodying our all-in approach to fostering growth within our community. Scholars will have the opportunity to connect with business and engineering leaders, leverage mentorship, and access internships and job opportunities—all within our network.
The program’s success is rooted in a thoughtful and collaborative selection process. We worked closely with our portfolio companies to identify students who graduated from Texas high schools and are pursuing STEM or business degrees at Texas universities. The top seven students were selected from a competitive pool of over 180 applicants based on their academic excellence and students who showcased resilience and leadership qualities. This program reflects our belief in the power of local talent and our dedication to nurturing it.
Our support for these scholars extends beyond their initial year. We have allocated resources to allow for annual reapplications for continued financial aid, ensuring ongoing support throughout their educational journey.
We are grateful to the Austin Community Foundation for its pivotal role in supporting us with the inception of this program and to the generous donors of the LiveOak Gives program for making these scholarships possible. Also special thanks to the portfolio members who contributed to the selection process: Ami Desai, Amy Beeler, Angela Dunham, Anna Pobbletts, Arlo Gilbert, Bill Tole, Christina Wells, Cole Hecht, Dustin Joost, Jamie Caramanica, Jamy Conrad, Jay Strayhorn, Kait Harrell, Katherine Allen, Ken Knotts, Kristen Stanley, Kyle Estep, Mark Didlake, Melanie Antoon, Mike Discenza, Michael Johns, Qingqing Ouyang, Ricky Reyna, and Sankalp Acharya.
We are excited to welcome these bright minds into our community and look forward to the impactful contributions they will make.