Each year, the USSYAA Board of Directors seeks to award as many scholarships as we can to members pursuing continuing education opportunities with concentrations in public service fields. Applications open here at USSYAA.org in late fall, and our major scholarship recipients are announced at our Alumni Weekend Awards Dinner each year in March.
This year, thanks to our members’ generous support of our scholarship programs, we’re pleased to announce that we can offer three marquee scholarships to the following members in 2026:
The $5,000.00 Rosalie Wynn & George Randolph Hearst, Sr. Scholarship
Toby Arment, Wyoming 2019
Toby, originally from Rawlins, Wyoming, is the proud son of two public servants and has had a lifelong goal to work in public service himself. From working in elections and economic development as a young adult to now working in municipal government shaping housing policy, Toby has always sought to make a positive impact. With support from the United States Senate Youth Program, Toby received a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Sociology from Brown University where he deepened his passion for housing justice while working with a variety of organizations seeking to improve access to safe and affordable housing for everyone. Currently studying his Master of Urban Planning at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Toby is sharpening his understanding of housing policy to try and tackle out of control costs for most families’ biggest expense. Toby hopes to spend his career in state and local government shaping policies that reduce the cost of housing for all and build a more inclusive economy. Thanks to the Rosalie Wynn Hearst Scholarship, this path has been made even more attainable. Taking advantage of this financial support, Toby intends to launch his career directly into the roles in public interest where his individual contribution can create the greatest impact. By working closest to the people he hopes to serve, Toby hopes to restore faith in government by proving its ability to help those who need it most.
The $2,500.00 USSYAA Alumni Scholarship
Emmanuel Berrelleza, Nevada 2017
Emmanuel Berrelleza is a 2017 USSYP alum from Las Vegas, Nevada, and is completing an MSc in Comparative & International Education at the University of Oxford. After Oxford, Emmanuel will return to Harvard Law School to complete his final year of law school. As a Dartmouth graduate who studied Government and English, Emmanuel is working toward becoming an education lawyer. As a future attorney, Emmanuel is most excited about pursuing constitutional litigation related to K-12 public education, such as challenging the constitutionality of curriculum censorship laws and the legal status of charter schools. He is also interested in serving as legal counsel for teachers’ unions, school districts, and institutions of higher education throughout his legal career. Emmanuel’s interest in education law stems from his personal experiences growing up in Nevada, a state that has historically ranked last in the national public education system. Although his parents did not obtain university degrees, they instilled a passion for learning. As a first-generation American, Emmanuel has worked to bridge gaps in educational opportunities for all students. Before attending graduate school, he returned to teach English at his former Title I high school in Las Vegas. Emmanuel firmly believes that all students, regardless of their background and circumstances, should have access to a high-quality education. The USSYAA scholarship will enable Emmanuel to continue his pursuit of a career rooted in educational equity and social mobility.
Hamilton Sprawls, South Carolina 2021
Hamilton Sprawls is a graduate student from Florence, South Carolina pursuing his Master of Architecture degree at Clemson University. He previously graduated from Clemson Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree and minors in Nonprofit Leadership and Historic Preservation. His studies have taken him to Genoa, Italy for a semester and Charleston, South Carolina where he is currently obtaining a certificate in Design and Community Build while interning with the architecture firm Moseley. Hamilton plans to obtain architectural licensure with the goal of becoming a principal in a firm. His passion for design revolves around affordable, sustainable, and dignified spaces for all, stemming from experience with villages of transitional housing and deployable shelters. The support offered by the Alumni Scholarship will ease the financial burden of completing graduate school, a necessary step in achieving his goal of licensure.
The continuation of our marquee scholarships depends on your generous support. The entire USSYAA Board of Directors wishes to thank the individuals who have continued to support our charitable efforts over the decades, and looks forward to being able to present as many scholarships in 2027 as we have funds to support.
