Leaving Portland for Austin meant more than swapping gray skies for blue. For Alyssia Menezes, BBA ’27, it was a step toward opportunity. As she weighed her college options, The University of Texas at Austin stood out for its nationally recognized business program and scholarship package that made it an easy choice.
The Greg Goodman and Susan Schnitzer Scholarship in Business didn’t just make attending UT possible financially. “It gave me confidence,” says Alyssia. “It’s more than funds — it’s knowing that UT, the McCombs School of Business and these donors believe in me.” That confidence inspired her to get involved in student organizations and take on new challenges.
Her impact on campus was recognized in 2025 when she received the John L. Adams Scholar of the Year Award, which honors McCombs Scholars for academic excellence, leadership, campus involvement and community service. “I believe the measure of a leader is not what they achieve for themselves, but what they provide for those around them,” a philosophy shaped by her own experience at UT.
That mindset guided her leadership in student organizations across campus, including Texas Handball, where she created Beginner Days to welcome new members, as well as the American Marketing Association and the Undergraduate Business Council, where she helped organize the McCombs Undergraduate Case Competition.
“People invested so much in me,” she says. “Now I want to offer the same to others.”
From Problem to Solution
Wanting to use her skills to create positive impact, Alyssia joined Texas Enactus, a student organization focused on social entrepreneurship. The idea for her project came during dorm move-out day, when she noticed full bags of clothing being thrown away, some with tags still attached.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about the scale of that waste across thousands of students,” she says.
She launched a project to collect clothing that would otherwise be discarded and upcycle it into home goods such as tote bags, pillows and ottomans. Leading an eight-person team for a year, she coordinated donations, taught teammates how to sew and kept the project moving from concept to production. Their efforts earned the team a national Enactus championship and an invitation to compete internationally.
“It was incredible getting to represent UT in Bangkok, Thailand,” she says.
Alyssia also studied abroad at the London School of Economics, where being immersed in a new culture and learning environment gave her a global perspective she now brings to her leadership on campus. “Being in London showed me it’s important to stay open to different approaches,” she says, reflecting on how navigating unfamiliar challenges strengthened her confidence and curiosity.
For Alyssia, scholarships opened the door to UT. What followed was the chance to grow, lead and give back in ways she never imagined.
Looking ahead, she hopes to one day run a business that makes a positive impact, but for now she is focused on exploring every opportunity UT offers.
“Being out of my comfort zone has been one of the best things about college,” she says. “Whether it’s leading a team or trying something new, I’ve learned to embrace challenges and see what’s possible.”
