A Drive to Make a Difference

First-generation college student Gregory Rosario ’24 recognizes the privilege of pursuing higher education, never taking a day at Smith for granted.

A Banneker/Key Scholar and 2023–24 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar, Rosario earned these top honors with his strong academics, penchant for leadership and deep appreciation for the teachers who helped him get where he is today. “Professor Zeinab Karake developed my excitement for information systems and opened my eyes to the intersection between business and technology,” he says. He developed “a passion for supporting those in my community” as her teaching assistant.

Rosario, a finance and information systems major with a minor in business analytics, served as the president of the Smith Business Academy, an organization dedicated to empowering male students of color. “It’s necessary to have people in your corner who are supporting you and giving you the opportunity to grow,” he says. “Being part of an environment where people are willing to go above and beyond means everything.”