Aspiration to Achievement: Nathan’s Scholarship Story

Nathan Santana was unsure if he would be able to continue his education. He finished his junior year atop his class at the University of South Florida but found himself at a crossroad.

The drive and determination to graduate were not the issue; it was the financial burden.

Nathan, the son of Maritsa Santana, a Care Manager, Telephonic Nurse with Humana, Inc., exhausted his grants to pay for tuition through his junior year and, while sitting atop his soon-to-be graduating class, remained one year shy of completing his degree in health sciences.

Searching for answers, Nathan and his family learned of the Humana Foundation scholarship – a renewable award of up to $3,000 for dependents of Humana employees. Nathan applied for the scholarship and became one of 75 new scholarship recipients in 2022.

At a time when he needed it most.

“I felt both shocked and relieved when I first found out I was awarded the scholarship,” Nathan said. “Every day, I was motivated to excel in my courses as I felt that I had been given an opportunity that rarely occurs. Being selected for this scholarship has helped me to continue my venture of service and education as I advance into my next part in life.”

Nathan applied the scholarship funds to his senior year expenses and graduated a semester early in 2023 with honors with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences. He said he was able to direct his focus more toward his classes while worrying less about the expenses behind his education.

“Nathan is the first to obtain a bachelor’s degree in the immediate family,” Maritsa said. “He is a role model to his sibling and cousins. They all look up to him.”

“As a mother who taught him about sacrifice and seeing him not only finish an undergraduate program but also with honors, it is the greatest accomplishment. He himself sacrificed vacations and spending time with friends to focus on school. That sacrifice paid off.” 

Nathan is an inspirational example of how the Humana Foundation seeks to eliminate barriers to empower employees and their families. Including the 81 scholarship recipients from 2023, the Foundation has now awarded more than $15 million to assist nearly 1,700 children of Humana employees in their pursuit of higher education.

However, the initiative is not just about financial aid; but fostering the next generation of leaders and professionals. 

Looking to the future, Santana is eager to pass on the lessons he’s learned as he pursues a career focused on helping people improve their life.

“Whether it’s through different community programs or volunteer opportunities, I aim to continue expanding my skills and knowledge within the health field, where I can grow,” Nathan said.

As for future scholarship applicants, Nathan shared part of his journey and advises his peers facing obstacles in their educational journeys to maintain discipline, set achievable goals and seek guidance when necessary.

The Humana Foundation invites applications from dependents of Humana employees during December of each year. The program is a partnership with Scholarship America and awards up to $12,000 over four years for scholarship recipients. The scholarship supports students, who, like Nathan, aim to advance their careers without the added pressure of financial constraints.

And as Nathan and many other scholarship recipients begin the next step in their professional journeys, Maritsa hopes her son’s path to success can be a roadmap for others.

“(I want Nathan to) continue to strive and work hard towards his goals,” Maritsa said. “But most importantly, to pay it forward what was given to him; just as Humana Foundation helped him, that he too will be able to help others and inspire others to do the same.”