Opportunity Scholarships: Julio Meza tells a story of growing up in El Salvador where a local cobbler used to tease him about becoming a shoemaker when he grew up. "No, I want to own the store," the precocious young man would reply.

Not long after, Meza and his family moved to Southern Nevada. He worked hard to become student body president at Desert Pines High School and was involved in Leadership Las Vegas and the Hugh O'Brian Youth Conference.

Meza sought local and national scholarships to support his dream of a college education. Perseverance paid off, and three scholarships, two jobs, and an 18-credit spring semester later, Meza finds himself in sophomore standing this fall. He credits his success to the UNLV Writing Center, a tight circle of encouraging friends, and the generosity of donors who made his enrollment possible.

"If it weren't for the scholarships I received, I never would have made it to my first year of college," says Meza, the recipient of an opportunity award from UNLV's Student Financial Services. The scholarship is partially funded through the UNLV Foundation Annual Fund.

For information on UNLV's Annual Fund, call 702-895-3641.