Olívia Domingos and Ryan Arruda have deep roots in the north of Portugal, in Mangualde and Montalegre. Although they have lived in the United States of America for most of their lives, they have never lost their connection to the country. “I've always been very proud of my Portuguese roots and felt a strong connection to the culture”, says Ryan.
Now that it’s time to continue their studies, Olívia and Ryan decided to come back to Portugal, choosing Católica as their new home.
Olívia has always dreamt of coming to her ancestor’s country and studying at Católica. While still attending Neurosciences at Trinity College in Hartford, she discovered the Católica Fellowships for Portuguese American Students, a scholarship that made this dream possible.
Fascinated by research and passionate about the connection between pharmaceuticals and neuroscience, Olívia hopes to explore this relationship in the Master's Degree in Cognitive and Behavioural Neurosciences, taught by the Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing at Católica, in partnership with ISPA.
Excited about the possibility of doing research, Olívia chose the master's at Católica for this reason, but also for the support and personalised teaching at Católica, where the person is seen as a whole. “Talking to the two teachers on the course made me feel supported. It was as if they wanted to support me in getting where I wanted to go, instead of putting obstacles in my way”, she explains.
Ryan Arruda chose to study Microbiology at the Faculty of Biotechnology in Porto, and is the first ever Bachelor student to receive the Católica Fellowship for the Portuguese American Students.
His deep connection to Portugal made it the obvious choice when he started thinking about studying abroad. As for the course, Ryan chose it because of his passion for science and because “microbiology overlaps with all of the other life sciences and with medicine”.
He learnt about the scholarship through the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States, and so far, the experience could not have been better: “The staff and my fellow students have been welcoming and have made me feel like I belong here.”
Universidade Católica Portuguesa annually awards five Fellowships for Portuguese American Students applying for Undergraduate, Integrated Masters or Master degree programs in any field of study offered at the University, with the exception of Medicine.
