Fall 2021 - When Rae Asay was deciding where to pursue her undergraduate studies, her heart was set on Baylor University for several reasons.

First, several members of her family, including her parents, had attended Baylor. "I grew up loving this school, and so Baylor was at the top of my list when the time came to choose a college," said Rae, who is from Mount Vernon, Texas.

The most important reason, however, was how well-rounded the Baylor experience appeared to be. "Baylor's excellence in multiple areas - from academics to student life, and especially the emphasis on faith - is what ultimately drew me to Waco," she said.

Rae is quick to credit the philanthropic generosity of members of the Baylor family for helping to open the doors to attending Baylor.

"I am so thankful for the scholarships I have received! They are an answered prayer!" she said. "They not only played a huge part in making it possible for me to attend Baylor, but they have also allowed me to fully engage with the incredible education and community that Baylor offers without having to worry about finances."

Leadership and Service

A recipient of several scholarships, including the Lois Murray-Browning English Scholarship, Rae is a senior English major who also has a minor in nonprofit studies.

She said she has been careful to steward her scholarship funds toward both her academic efforts and her contribution to the Baylor community through a variety of extracurricular activities over the years, including serving as a chaplain in her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and being a member of Student Foundation. She also has served on the worship team at Highland Baptist Church.

"What I love about Baylor is its emphasis not only on academics, but also on developing each student on a holistic level," Rae said. "At Baylor, I have had opportunities, academic and otherwise, that I could not have found at any other school, and I know I will graduate with a deeper love of learning, a stronger faith and a well-rounded variety of experiences that will benefit me for the rest of my life."

Rae said her plans after graduating are not finalized, but she hopes to either pursue a doctorate in English, with an eye on becoming a professor, or begin working in a nonprofit organization in a role that utilizes her interests in creativity, writing and her Christian faith. It's a bright future that, she said, would not have been possible without the financial support that served as a foundation for her Baylor experience.

"I would not be at Baylor without the generosity of those who have gone before me and have supported the next generation of students," she said. "The continued investment of alumni is what opens the door for many students to become part of the Baylor Family."