Coming from a high school in the Houston area with a graduating class of about 100 students, Chloe Aguas was concerned about attending the University of Michigan because of its size.
“I didn’t know if I was cut out for such a big school,” she said.
But Aguas, a first-year student studying nursing, has found a home at U-M. And that’s partially thanks to the Alumni Association’s Future Alumni of Michigan (FAM) scholars program.
Aguas is one of the 75 students in the inaugural FAM cohort that entered U-M in the fall of 2026. She was among the dozens in attendance at the FAM Meet and Greet, where scholars got to network with alumni donors to the program along with fellow scholars.
“Also sitting at my table were two engineering students. We don’t share majors, but they were so nice and welcoming,” she said. “That’s something I thought would be really hard to find at a school like U-M.”
In addition to a needs-based four-year renewable scholarship, the scholarship program includes community activities such as connecting the students with peers and accomplished alumni who support their academic, professional, and personal development. Scholars have opportunities to network with U-M alums on campus, virtually, and in their local communities.
Aguas said she got some helpful life advice from alumni donors, who told her not to worry too much or be stressed out about the future, just do your best and enjoy your time on campus.
“It was really nice to hear that from people who have lived this experience before because I do feel like I get wrapped up in what to do next,” Aguas said.
During the networking event, students and alumni were grouped at tables and given discussion questions. Scholars and donors switched tables midway through and then had additional time to chat with one another when the program ended.
Program donor Louis Glazer, ’71, MUP’75, said he really enjoyed talking with the scholars.
“They’re a real impressive group of students,” he said. “This notion that the next generation is not motivated, or whatever the stereotypes are, is a bunch of baloney. And that’s particularly true if you’ve gotten into the University of Michigan. If you’ve gotten here, you’re pretty impressive.”
Glazer said he became a donor to the program because he wanted others to have the same opportunity that he got by coming to U-M.
“This place has been an important part of my career success. And I wanted to make it available for the next generation,” he said.
For more information on the FAM scholars program, including how to donate, click here.
Jeremy Carroll is the director of content and creative strategy for the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan.
Photos by Jen Prouty, Michigan Photography
