ATLANTA — When she arrived at Georgia State University, Giselle Hernandez Avila was already a college sophomore, having taken undergraduate courses in high school through a dual-enrollment program. As one of GSU’s first Yardi Scholars, she learned finances wouldn’t be a barrier to finishing what she started.
Graduating this May with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and a minor in international business, Avila has taken major steps toward launching her career and furthering her studies in business, including a study-abroad experience and an ongoing internship that’s helping her hone her skills.
A native of Cairo, in rural southwest Georgia about 230 miles from Atlanta, Avila, 20, toured several colleges before a visit to Atlanta with her dad convinced her, and him, that Georgia State might be the right fit.
“I really liked that it’s an open campus and in the city,” Avila said. “And it forced me to become more independent from my parents.”
After enrolling at the start of the fall 2023 semester, Avila was chosen as one of the first Yardi Scholars at GSU. The scholarship, supported by Yardi Systems, is awarded to outstanding first-year, first-generation students who plan to pursue careers in business. Last year, GSU and Yardi announced they were expanding the program, with plans to award 25 scholarships each year, reaching a total of 100 Yardi Scholars over four years.
Recipients are awarded $10,000 annually and must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.8.
“We’re grateful for generous, ongoing partnership with Yardi Systems and the tremendous boost they provide to our student success mission,” said Allison Calhoun-Brown, Georgia State University's senior vice president for Student Success. “Students from all backgrounds succeed at equal levels at Georgia State when barriers to their achievement are removed, and by substantially growing the financial and support resources available to GSU students, Yardi Systems is eliminating barriers, creating opportunity, improving outcomes and helping more Panthers thrive.”
Avila said the scholarship has allowed her to focus on her studies while preparing for her career, rather than worrying about how to cover her next tuition payment.
“It’s been a big relief for my family and me,” she said. “I didn’t have to worry about getting the money for each semester anymore.”
While studying at Georgia State, Avila’s focused her attention on learning the ins and outs of product and event marketing, which she said allows her to combine skills in data analysis and strategy with her natural creativity. She said she’s long enjoyed organizing and promoting parties and other events among family and friends, and her studies at Georgia State are letting her grow her talents into a career.
Last May, Avila completed a study-abroad trip, a program known as “Soft Landing Chile & Peru, South America,” to learn about international franchise operations and meet with representatives from a large Colombian coffee company.
“It gave me a lot of perspective on how things work, internationally,” she said.
This semester, through a J. Mack Robinson College of Business internship program, Avila is working on a team supporting the Atlanta-based smoothie and juice company Arden’s Garden. Alongside of group of classmates, she’s researching local events that might dovetail with the company’s outreach and promotional strategies.
Avila’s also grown her confidence and people skills through classes in business communication and speaking opportunities, including an appearance as a panelist during an Internation Education Week “Global Horizons” event.
Just three months shy of graduating, Avila’s also already applied to GSU’s Master of International Business program with hopes of starting in the fall and focusing on the global supply chain and logistics concentration.
As her semester winds down along with her undergraduate career, Avila’s on the lookout for additional internship and early career job opportunities.
“One of the things I’ve liked about GSU is, a lot of the classes consist of projects. We have to go out and find companies to get to know. We have to communicate with them,” she said. “When you go out and you have those experiences, the education is invaluable.”