Austin, Texas-based self-storage aggregator SpareFoot recently awarded spare funds to Joyce Kim, the recipient of the companys first scholarship program.
In addition to $5,000, Kim, a junior psychology major at the University of Kentucky, received free storage space for the duration of the summer.
Kim is currently studying abroad in Chile at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. Prior to studying in Chile, she spent a few months in Peru tutoring children in English, reading and creative writing.
Nearly 90 applicants from around the world applied for the scholarship. Students ranging in age from 18 to 59 from countries such as China, Ghana, India, Pakistan and Tunisia competed for the grand prize. The applicants majors including everything from English to microbiology.
The choice was tough between Joyce and another well-qualified candidate who was dedicated to conducting research that could benefit those with Parkinsons Disease, said Rachel Greenfield, SpareFoots marketing analyst. We chose Joyce because of her service-oriented spirit and commitment to bettering not only herself, but also the lives of those around her.
In her scholarship application, Kim wrote, My passion is working to empower those who do not have the financial, cultural or academic resources to help themselves. This desire to help others has led me to become an advocate and a volunteer who strives to live my life for others. I aspire to become a non-profit immigration lawyer in a heavily immigrant-populated city, helping individuals escape difficult situations and seek the safety that every human is entitled to.
To be eligible for the SpareFoot scholarship program, applicants had to be full-time undergraduate college students in good standing at the time of the application and during the semester in which the prize is received. They also had to complete the Spare Funds Scholarship application on the companys website by June 1. The company chose a winner based on past academic performance, extracurricular involvement and the quality of answers to the prompts in the application.
The winning student received a check for $5,000 to be used for school-related expenses such as tuition, books, fees, etc., and reimbursement for rent paid on a self-storage unit if documentation is provided.
Founded in 2008, SpareFoot.com lists more than 5,000 self-storage facilities in its nationwide directory, which allows consumers to find, compare and reserve self-storage units online. Through multiple websites including SpareFoot.com, SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and many others, SpareFoot helps self-storage operators find new tenants through a pay-for-performance model. The company is backed by Silverton Partners, FLOODGATE and Capital Factory.