About Us

Our Purpose

The McIntire First Generation Scholarship is designed to reduce the cost of attending UVA, but more importantly, to provide a community that equips and emboldens students to succeed in business and make a lasting impact on their communities at UVA and beyond.

Recipients will have access to a robust mentorship program with alumni working in Consulting, Investment Banking, Technology, Private Equity, Venture Capital, and more.

Our Story

The McIntire First Generation Scholarship was created in 2024 by two first-generation McIntire graduates, Sarrah Abdulali (COMM '24) and Manish Dahal (COMM '24), who imagine a world where underrepresented students have equal opportunities and a community that empowers them to become pioneers in their respective fields.

Initially, the two faced hardships in navigating college and the business field because they lacked the necessary resources. Determined to succeed, the two worked hard in and out of the classroom.

In their final semester, they created UVA's first community dedicated to supporting and empowering First-Generation and/or Limited Income students interested in business – One Generation Network.

Later, they invited Jack Banbury (COMM '78) and his wife Mary Beth (Edinboro '81), a first-generation graduate, to their team. Inspired by Manish and Sarrah's vision to assist other first-generation students, the two made a generous donation to ignite the program.

Our Founders

Our Vision

Our long-term vision is to create a sustainable and impactful program that not only provides financial support but also builds a strong community of first-generation business leaders. We aim to:

  • Expand our mentorship network to cover a wide range of business fields
  • Increase the number of scholarships awarded each year
  • Develop additional resources and workshops tailored to first-generation students' needs
  • Foster a supportive alumni network of scholarship recipients
  • Collaborate with other organizations to create more opportunities for underrepresented students in business