Before coming to HKS, many students had to ask themselves a difficult question: “Is this attainable?” It was the generosity of donors that helped them turn their dreams of public service into reality. These stories offer a glimpse into the diverse perspectives and global expertise that define our community—all made possible by the visionary support of donors who believe in the power of a Kennedy School education.
Chet Agni MPP 2026
Financial aid was “a major deciding factor in determining whether I could afford to attend HKS,” says Chet, who grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. Before HKS, he worked at a Wisconsin think tank, the state legislature, and the governor’s office, gaining exposure to “nearly every aspect of state policy, from creating a fairer tax code to ensuring clean water is available to all to crafting strategies to reduce the prison population.” He says, “I was motivated to apply to HKS so I could both sharpen and broaden my policy skillsets and be exposed to new and different ideas and perspectives.”
Felipe Ricardo da Costa Conceição MPA 2027
“Financial aid was not a complement to my path to HKS; it was the condition that made my enrollment possible,” says Felipe. Raised in Brazil by his grandmother, a visually impaired widow with little formal education, and his father, a literacy teacher and community leader, he was the first in his family to attend college. For nearly two decades at Brazil’s National Social Security Institute, he helped vulnerable populations access benefits. “I applied to HKS because education changed what was possible for me, and I want to extend that chance to people the state routinely overlooks.”
Sasha Dierauf MPA/ID 2026
“When I first got the acceptance to HKS, I was over the moon, but I had a sinking feeling because I believed it was financially infeasible. It wasn’t until I realized I had received financial aid that I started crying from joy,” says Sasha. A native of Portland, Oregon, Sasha aims to address wealth inequality, increase economic opportunity, and improve reproductive health care access for women. “The MPA/ID was my dream program—it uniquely offers a rigorous economics training applied to policy-relevant questions, she says. “Financial aid played an enormous role in my journey to HKS.”
Bernadette Hicks MPP 2026
“Without financial aid, I wouldn’t have been able to enroll in HKS whatsoever,” says Bernadette. She is a first-generation college student from a small town in Georgia who, after receiving her undergraduate degree, worked at a policy research organization on labor, disability, and poverty issues. She says, “I applied to HKS because I hoped that the skills I would gain would help me turn research into actionable policy recommendations.”
Trey Leveque MPP 2026
“Financial aid made it possible for me to choose HKS,” says Trey. A native of Arizona whose passion is youth mental health wellbeing, Trey came to HKS to gain policy and leadership skills. His time at HKS has included meaningful moments learning alongside peers with diverse views and backgrounds. “Engaging across difference inside and outside the classroom has strengthened my ability to collaborate, listen, and lead in polarized environments—skills essential to my future work in public service.”
Yu-Hsuan “Sherry” Lin MPP 2027
Born and raised in Taipei, Sherry has worked across Asia and East Africa, including with a women’s empowerment NGO in Uganda. She says, “My motivation to apply to Harvard Kennedy School comes from strong commitment to gender equity and international development, and a desire to intentionally strengthen my ability to create sustainable, large-scale impact.” Financial aid was essential: “It played a crucial role in my decision and ability to attend HKS.”
Daniel Smith MPP 2026
Before coming to HKS, Daniel worked as a physics researcher in the U.S. Air Force and spent his free time as a skydiving instructor. He says, “I applied to HKS to explore the ethical, legal, and policy frameworks surrounding some of the emerging technologies I was exposed to in the Air Force.” Financial aid was decisive: “I would not have been able to attend HKS without the generous financial support of donors.”
Revati Vaidya MPA 2027
“Financial aid made all the difference in my ability to enroll at HKS,” says Revati, who before coming to Cambridge worked in public policy and technology with the government of India. “I witnessed firsthand how opaque technology design choices could deepen exclusion, distort public accountability, and weaken public trust. These challenges motivated me to apply to HKS.” She says that financial aid “transformed what would have been an impossible decision into an attainable one [and] has shown me how profoundly financial support can change someone’s trajectory.”