2013 Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Biography: Jacob Rabbanian was born and raised in Los Angeles, where he went to elementary and middle school at Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy and high school at YULA. He served as president of the student body at both schools and played on several sports teams. Jacob is second of four children in his family, with two brothers and one sister. In his free time, Jacob enjoys playing sports, making new friends, and exploring his family history. Jacob is currently nineteen years old and is in his final year at UCLA, where he is pursuing a degree in Business-Economics. His interest in business is motivated by his intellectual curiosity and his desire to contribute to a healthy American economic environment in the future.

Future Plans: After graduation, Jacob intends to apply his passion for real estate toward pursuing a full-time position in that industry. Jacob also hopes to enhance his business knowledge and skills by pursuing a MBA in the near future.

What does the scholarship mean to me?: I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive the Robert D. & Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship has provided me with great peace of mind by relieving much of the financial burden of rising tuition costs. This will allow me to pursue my passion for learning and to gain more business experience through internships and volunteer opportunities uninhibited by financial concerns. The existence of this scholarship has assured me that I am part of a caring community at UCLA that wants to see me succeed, and this knowledge motivates me to continue working with all of my energy and ability toward living up to those expectations. I am committed to one day reaching a level of success at which I can emulate Robert and Margaret Wark by supporting future UCLA students in need.