Elizabeth Djajalie, Research Analyst and Scholarship Winner

The World is Your Oyster

Elizabeth Djajalie was Thunder Mountain High School’s last valedictorian before the school closed its doors due to low enrollment and a lack of funding; she knows well the harms wrought by insufficient access to educational resources. Today, Djajalie is a rising sophomore at Harvard University and the recipient of over $100,000 in scholarships she found on Scholarships.com. She aims to use her winnings to make knowledge accessible to all.

Djajalie was not always the educational advocate she is today, though. Growing up in Juneau, Alaska, she had little access to the connections and resources that come with living in a more urban environment.

“Then, in middle school, my mom started this business,” she said. “It really helped me get out of my shell.”

Djajalie’s mother established Alaska Seafood Crunchies, a seafood chip business, completely by herself. From research to testing to promotion to market, Djajalie watched, fascinated, as the product developed over time. She got involved in every step of the process she could.

“I really enjoyed the research, but even more than that, I really enjoyed communicating the research that was being done,” said Djajalie. By the time she entered high school, she’d spent years teaching people about the science behind the business; she knew she wanted to pursue a career in the field of research and implementation.

“Through Scholarships.com, you can filter based on your interests. It really helps focus the search so you can put the most time into the ones that are the best match for you.”

At a high school with just under 600 students, though, the resources to chase that passion were practically nonexistent— so Djajalie took matters into her own hands, scouring the Internet for opportunities. Among her many extracurriculars were a writing residency at the University of Iowa, a position as an interviewer of female STEM professionals on her local radio station, and participation in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

“I remember the first board I took to International Science Fair,” Djajalie recalled with a smile. “My judge looked at it, and he looked around and said, ‘You probably have the smallest board in the entire room.’” She returned to the competition the next year and received an ISEF Grand Award for her project. The year after that, she won again.

It wasn’t just extracurricular involvement that Djajalie was proactive about. As a rural student, she didn’t have access to many local college planning resources or funds, so she turned to Scholarships.com early.

While the majority of the scholarships Djajalie found were only open to upperclassmen, Scholarships.com offered insight into what particular awards she could eventually apply for. This allowed her to tackle extracurriculars strategically and become the best possible candidate for scholarships she was drawn to by the time she could apply.

“You’re not going to be able to apply to everything, so just prioritize the ones that you feel like speak to what you do and what you’re passionate about,” she advised. “Through Scholarships.com, you can filter based on your interests. It really helps focus the search so you can put the most time into the ones that are the best match for you.”

“College is about the lifelong friends you meet there. I’m really grateful to scholarships for giving me that chance.”

When she was finally able to begin applying for scholarships, Djajalie took action, using Scholarships.com to apply for awards that suited her interests. She sent out applications for small scholarships like the Carson Scholars Program and large ones like the Coca Cola Scholars Program without hesitation. Then the acceptance emails started rolling in.

“I found out in AP Bio, sitting next to one of my best friends. We’d just finished taking an exam, and then I opened my email,” recalled Djajalie. “I got the Senate Youth one! So then I went to tell my principal. That was a really good moment.”

The total amount Djajalie has received with the help of Scholarships.com, over $100,000, is enough to completely cover her first year at Harvard, where she is studying economics to further the implementation of scientific research in daily life— an interest that started all the way back in her mother’s kitchen, watching Alaska Seafood Crunchies come to life. The most valuable part of her wins has been the ability to pursue that interest without needing to work a student job, allowing Djajalie free time to explore all college has to offer.

“A lot of my friends are in the music community, so I play with them. It’s a really great way to meet people,” she said. “College is about the lifelong friends you meet there. I’m really grateful to scholarships for giving me that chance.”

Djajalie’s advice to other students is simple: use the resources available to you, and if there aren’t any, make your own.

“Don’t ever limit yourself based on what you think you have,” she concluded. “If there’s something you want to learn, you definitely can.”

Sign up to receive your own personalized scholarship matches today, sent directly to your email inbox every week; get involved with ISEF by locating a competition near you.