Non-Profit

Hope For Three Announces Scholarship Winners

July 06 2023

Hope For Three, a local 501(c)3 nonprofit and autism advocacy group providing resources and support to families living with an autism spectrum disorder, has recently announced their scholarship winners, all of whom are students of families served by Hope For Three.

The scholarships are named in honor of a late Hope For Three Board member, Nina Saha Gupta, who tragically passed away from a car accident, as well as Finley Eugene Hibbeler, the late father of Hope For Three's founder. The recipients were awarded based on an essay and reviewed and selected by Hope For Three Board members. The Nina Saha Gupta scholarship is awarded to an individual with autism and the Finley Eugene Hibbeler scholarship is awarded to individuals with siblings with autism, with two scholarships at $1,000 each and two at $500 each.

Nawal Shabib, one of the Finley Eugene Hibbeler Scholarship award winners, has a sibling with autism. She is currently interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Houston. "From there, I want to venture on to graduate studies, whether it be attaining my Ph.D. or going to medical school. I am excited for the opportunity to spread my wings wherever I end up career-wise and be of assistance to my community," said Nawal.

Nawal Shabib, Hope For Three's Finley Eugene Hibbeler Scholarship award winner. (Source: Hope For Three)

Nina Saha-Gupta scholarship winner, Jillian Hahn, is thriving with autism as she pursues her associate's degree to transfer to a four-year university for her bachelor's in meteorology. Jillian shared, "I wouldn't like to be on TV, but I would love to work behind the scene as a job. Eventually, a long time from now, I'd like to get my Ph.D. in meteorology so I can do what I always wanted; get paid to research in my favorite field of study. I love everything about weather and climate- even about the universe and science - so I can't wait to move on to follow in the next stage of my life."

Jillian Hahn, Hope For Three's Nina Saha-Gupta scholarship winner. (Source: Hope For Three)

Andrew Dittmar, a Finley Eugene Hibbeler Scholarship award winner, also has a sibling with autism. He envisions a career path in civil engineering and is entering college.

"I always enjoyed building things and was increasingly interested in bigger projects. I took my first engineering class in 8th grade and attended the Engineering Academy at Elkins. I chose UTSA because, in addition to engineering, it also focuses on integrated design" said Andrew.

Andrew Dittmar, Hope For Three's Finley Eugene Hibbeler Scholarship award winner. (Source: Hope For Three)