Sarah Valentine
Miami University

Degrees: B.S. in Information Systems and Supply Chain Management, Minors in Computer Science and Chinese

How did the Stamps Scholarship help shape your undergraduate experience?
I’m incredibly grateful for the multitude of opportunities the Stamps Scholarship has given me. In my four years at Miami University, I’ve been able to explore the world around me as well as my own skills and passions through various study abroad, certificate, and other extracurricular programs. These experiences have helped shape the person that I am today, and I can’t thank the Stamps family enough for that. I’ve discovered how I want to give back to the world that’s given me so much: through helping to implement more environmentally and socially responsible technologies in growing communities and companies. This scholarship has helped me understand the importance of community, altruism, and hope, and I hope to follow in Roe and Penny’s example as I begin my life after college.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your freshman self?
Be open to new perspectives and experiences. There’s so much that the world around us has to offer, and we miss out on so much when we neglect to understand and appreciate what others have to offer. Try new things, engage others in thoughtful conversation, and try to learn from your various experiences in order to grow more holistically. You never know until you try!

Who has had the greatest impact on you throughout your college career and how so?
Besides the Stamps family, the two people who have impacted me the most have been my parents. They taught me to think both critically and creatively, and to approach the world with a sense of curiosity and imagination. They are simultaneously my role models, my coaches, and my best friends, and I can’t thank them enough for the amount of support they’ve given me. Every day they motivate me to be the best version of myself that I can be, and seeing their hard work and determination has inspired me to work hard, give back, and make them proud.

What’s your favorite Stamps Scholar memory?
There’s no question: the most powerful memories I have with my fellow Stamps Scholars have been from the Talent Show portion of the biannual National Conferences. Seeing a so many diverse, gifted students come together to celebrate each other’s talents is incredibly moving and empowering. Those moments have helped me to realize just how impactful our Stamps community can be when we are united as one, and I look forward to seeing what positive change we can have on our surrounding communities when we work together in the future.

What comes next?
After graduating this May, I will begin working at Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis, Indiana as an IT Analyst.

Please share your favorite inspirational quote.
“Life needs to be more than just solving problems every day. You need to wake up and be excited about the future, and be inspired, and wanna live” – Elon Musk