Biography: Luke Garlick is wrapping up his Junior year in the Economics department at UCLA and after approval of his application to the Data Science Engineering minor, the Computer Science department. Luke is a dedicated student and executive at the Bruin Capital Management club on campus. He is transitioning well from his upbringing in the small and economically disadvantaged Northern edge of California aided by the strong and kind UCLA community where just about anyone can feel welcome. While the competitiveness and unbelievable successes of his peers can be daunting, it motivates Luke to excel. With his final year and graduation quickly approaching, he is eager to explore life beyond education and is thankful for what he has learned, the confidence he has gained through his studies, and the connections he has made at UCLA. 

 

Future Plans: Luke is looking forward to his wealth management internship this coming summer and the opportunity to build on the education he has received from UCLA. He is not cemented on any career path but is hopeful that wealth management will be a promising career option, allowing him to add real value to individuals and institutions. His educational plans include finishing his last few Econ classes in the coming quarters, completing a Data Science Engineering minor, and continuing in club leadership at Bruin Capital Management. Upon graduation, Luke will see where his intersection of skills in finance, economics, and data science takes him. However, he would prefer to use these skills in industries with a real capacity to improve the lives of people like AI, robotics, infrastructure, and urban design. In combination, improvements in these sectors offer hope of dramatic improvements in the human condition and rapid growth toward a sustainable global economy. He is also open to pursuing an MBA or master’s program in Computer Science or Economics if necessary to open doors into interesting fields.

 

What this scholarship means to me: I am ecstatic about this unbelievably generous scholarship. Besides being a reflection of my academic accomplishments, it is a huge monetary benefit that will not go to waste. It makes continuing my education at UCLA and beyond more attainable and for that I am grateful. However, this scholarship means so much more to me than the dollar amount. It is a fulfilling culmination of a difficult and academically rigorous year. I am so appreciative of the generosity of the family of Mr. Donald Lipschutz and of their continuing quest to make education more accessible. I hope that the UCLA Economics Department scholarships continue to touch and inspire UCLA economics students like me for decades to come.