Scholarship highlight: Bex Cabral
Bex Cabral, a sophomore majoring in Immersive Media and Game Design with a minor in Studio Art, earned the VMware Fellow Martin Casado Computer Science Scholarship. Sponsored by Martin Casado, a software engineer, entrepreneur, and NAU alumnus, the scholarship awards up to $30,000 per person and recognizes students in computer science and related fields.
Cabral said being able to combine their passion with creativity, which is developing games that make a difference in healthcare, is important to them. Inspired by Dr. Jared Duval, an NAU professor who has created several games for health, Cabral said they hope that one day they can design a game that supports mental health treatment.
Cabral said receiving the VMware scholarship opened doors that would have been difficult to reach otherwise. After receiving the scholarship, Cabral started working as a teaching assistant (TA) for a course in Immersive Media and Game Design.
“I have gotten a lot of valuable experience grading students’ work and I’ve been able to give thoughtful feedback throughout the semester,” Cabral said. “I hope that my experience as a TA can open more doors to work in ways that are valuable to my career.”
Cabral said the scholarship helped them to take a step back, lessening their financial stress and allowing them to focus on their college career. Before receiving the award, Cabral worked as a Starbucks barista to help pay for college.
“After receiving Martin Casado’s generous donation, I was able to quit my job at Starbucks and focus on my academics,” Cabral said. “It allowed me to spend more time on career-related work that truly helps me grow as a developer and artist.”
With financial aid, Cabral bought a drawing tablet that helped them with their coursework in animation and 3D modeling.
Besides academics, the scholarship gave them more time to prioritize their mental health and take advantage of mental health resources during their free time.
“I have recently started going to therapy and seeing a psychiatrist to treat my anxiety,” Cabral said. “It has not only helped me perform better in my classes, but it has increased my overall quality of life.”
The scholarship also led them to real-world experiences, where Cabral traveled to California with other students to tour the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Cabral said they learned about innovations in renewable energy and nuclear fusion, while also connecting with NAU alumni who shared career advice.
Cabral said they hope more students will feel encouraged to apply for scholarships, even if the process is difficult.
“When I applied to the VMware scholarship, I did not think I would actually win,” Cabral said. “I genuinely believe that students should apply to every opportunity that comes their way, as you never know what will happen.”
Cabral said that studying Immersive Media and Game Design is a perfect balance of art and technology. Scholarships like the VMware Fellow Martin Casado Computer Science Scholarship don’t just support education but also encourage students to create their own futures. Learn more about the scholarship and its past recipients by visiting the scholarship’s webpage.