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H.M. Falkson Scholarship Launches Student's Dream Career

Melissa Gallagher, B.S.'08, is driven and determined. Since high school, she has been planning and strategizing the steps necessary to accomplish her career goals, and the H.M. Falkson scholarship, named by a Rensselaer alumnus in honor of his mother, has played an important role in the process.

She completed her education in three and one-half years, graduating in December with dual degrees in computer science and psychology. She plans to attend graduate school to obtain a master's degree and then go on to earn a Ph.D. in psychology with a focus in human computer interactions. Melissa's ultimate goal: To do post-doctoral research and become a professor at a research institution. "I think being able to teach and do research is quite possibly the coolest job in the universe," she says.

Melissa grew up in Boston and attended Boston Latin School, the country's oldest high school. She says the school was instrumental in leading her to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which fit her college and career goals the best because of its reputation as a world-class research institution. "I fell in love with the campus and atmosphere during my visit. It was a great fit," she explains.

Melissa says she is grateful for the need- and merit-based scholarships she received. Without them, she would not have been able to afford to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

"I worked very hard throughout high school and college to have all these opportunities," Melissa says. "Endowed scholarships, like the H. M. Falkson scholarship, make it possible for people like me who don't come from much money to have the potential to do great things."

Melissa is among the approximately 90 percent of students who require financial assistance to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. If you would like to help support students like Melissa, now or in the future, please contact Arthur T. Tracy, director of gift planning, at 518-276-2561 to explore options that make sense for your situation.

The information in this Web site is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income tax include federal taxes only. Individual state taxes and/or state law may impact your results.

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