If you told high school me that I would be attending college with my tuition covered and stepping into my dream job before graduation, I would have laughed, cried and then asked you to walk me through how on earth that happened. As a first-generation student, the idea of college felt distant. I did not understand admissions, financial aid or even where to start. College was something I hoped for, but it still felt out of reach.

That changed the day the Rudd Scholarship walked into my life.

My name is Bella Kilman. I grew up in Wichita and graduated from Valley Center High School in 2023. Today, I am a senior majoring in Business Marketing and International Business with a minor in Management. I currently work at the Rudd Foundation as the Marketing Coordinator and will step into the Marketing and Events Specialist role full-time in May. I still cannot believe I get to do what I love while studying at a university I love.

Wichita State has been the perfect home for me. It offers so many resources and makes it easy to get connected to the right people. Professors genuinely care and go out of their way to support you. It is the kind of environment where you walk into class and feel seen, not swept into the crowd.

But the Rudd Foundation is the reason I got here prepared and confident. Their support is immediate and personal. They do not just send an email. They show up in your school. They look you in the eyes and tell you your life is about to change. As a first-gen student who had more questions than answers, that moment shifted everything. Rudd guided me through every step of the college process. No question was too small. No fear was too silly. Their team made sure I understood what I was stepping into and reminded me that I belonged here.

One of the most defining experiences with Rudd is the freshman retreat. It is the moment your cohort stops being a list of names and becomes your community. It is relaxed, fun and the easiest way to make friends who truly get you. Those early conversations turned into the people I rely on most. My closest friends are Rudd Scholars. My roommates are Rudd Scholars. We study together, work together, serve together and laugh together. While it is a full-ride scholarship, it’s also a family that shows up for you in both the everyday moments and the big ones.

And the support does not stop with friendships. Rudd opens doors you did not even know to knock on. They introduce you to people who change the way you think, the way you carry yourself and the way you imagine your future. They place you in rooms where professionals take you seriously, where your ideas matter and where you start to see yourself not just as a student, but as someone with potential and direction.

Through professional development workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and opportunities that are intentionally crafted for your growth, Rudd gives you access to experiences most students spend years trying to find on their own. They walk with you through your first internship search, your first interview, your first moment of realizing you belong in spaces you once viewed from a distance. They remind you that you are capable long before you have the confidence to fully believe it.

Their support reaches far beyond financial stability. Rudd invests in who you are becoming. They notice your strengths, they challenge you where you need to grow and they celebrate every win, even the ones that feel small. They equip you with the tools, the guidance and the network to build a future that feels both possible and personal.

If you are a student, or know a student who is eligible for the scholarship, please apply. This is an opportunity that changes your life from the very first day and continues to shape your story long after.

Kindest regards,

Bella Kilman