Part of God's Plan

Fall 2026 - During her years at Baylor, the financial assistance Ava has benefited from include the Paul and Norma Shultz and Family Scholarship Fund in Business and the Robert K. and Robin L. Nitsche Scholarship Fund in Business.

“I grew up in Rwanda and South Africa,” Ava said. “My parents are currently living and working in Africa as missionaries, providing clean drinking water to rural communities in need. These scholarships have made it possible for a family like mine to afford Baylor.”

Filled with gratitude

Ava has made the most of her time at Baylor, pursuing a double major in finance in the Hankamer School of Business and German in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Now a junior, she said that her on-campus experience has lived up to her first impressions as a visiting prospective student.

“Baylor has a truly amazing Christian community. The first time I stepped on campus, I knew this was the school I wanted to attend,” she said. “Baylor’s faithful commitment to Christian values, its strong academic programs and generous scholarships made choosing Baylor one of the easiest and best decisions of my life.”

Ava said her message to Baylor alumni and friends who are considering making a gift to student scholarships is both simple and direct.

“I know firsthand that these scholarships make a huge impact in a student's life,” she said. “I am so grateful for the generosity of everyone who gives to Baylor.”

Serving Christ

Ava’s international background has given her a broad perspective on how community can be built across boundaries of language and personal experience. During high school in Cape Town, South Africa, she hosted weekly Christian youth events at her church that brought together more than 200 students and were conducted in the Afrikaans, English and IsiXhosa languages.

“These gatherings included teens from a wide variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds,” she said. “I loved doing this to help bring my church and community together.”

As Ava looks toward graduating from Baylor next spring, she anticipates continuing to pursue her passion for serving others.

“I know that Baylor is not only preparing me for success in the workforce, but also to serve Christ faithfully,” she said. “I will forever be grateful that Baylor has been part of God’s plan for my life, and I am so excited to see what else He has in store.”