Success Fund Benefits Scholar
The Smittcamp Family Honors College Student Success Fund was established to provide essential support to address unmet needs of students, including research and travel funding, technological support, and other educationally-related expenses.
SFHC scholar, Ali Dadawalla, is one such recipient. Ali received Student Success funds to attend the International Neuropsychological Society’s 51st Annual Meeting on February 1 - 4, 2023, where he presented his research on Dementia with Lewy Bodies.
Ali shares his experience below.
“Before I start describing my experience, I must retrace my footsteps to recount all the work I put in and the generous support I received from Fresno State programs and donors that got me to present my poster in person at INS 2023.
“In July 2022, I submitted my first complete abstract, titled Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Prodromal Stages of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia with Lewy Bodies, to the International Neuropsychological Society committee. Prior to this, I had spent one full year in Dr. Ellen Woo’s Clinical Neuropsychology Lab learning about the scientific process of research, the art of developing a research question, and data analysis and its interpretation.
“Additionally, during this year, I spent time working on two research projects. The first project, unfortunately, failed to exhibit statistical significance. Despite being let down by the results, I did not lose hope. I spent the following winter break modifying my hypothesis and narrowing down my inclusion criteria for the study. In the spring 2022 semester, I introduced my modified plan and hypothesis about studying neuropsychiatric symptoms in early stages of dementia with Lewy bodies and it was approved by Dr. Woo for analysis.
“Shortly thereafter, the significance of neuropsychiatric symptoms in healthy controls and mild cognitive impairment groups was found, therefore indicating that specific neuropsychiatric symptoms are found early in the course of disease progression. This means that clinicians can rule in dementia with Lewy bodies whenever these symptoms present early in dementia patients. This was a “ground-breaking” finding for my research group, so it was quickly approved by Dr. Woo for publication and a poster presentation at INS 2023.
“Initially, I had no plans of attending INS 2023 due to a lack of funding. While the conference was held nearby in sunny San Diego, neither my parents nor I had the funds to send me 10 hours away for three days to talk for 75 minutes. Because of this, I delegated my research to be presented by another lab member who would be attending.
“Fast-forwarding to late January, I was notified by that same lab member who would be presenting my research that she could no longer attend the conference. I was left appalled by the idea that my poster would be revoked if someone did not attend the conference, so I began to scramble and look for funds. While contemplating my situation over the next few days, it dawned on me that I should ask Dr. Attar and the Smittcamp Office staff if they had any funding with which they could support me.
“I never had any knowledge that Smittcamp had funds set aside for the success of its students. I thought Smittcamp could only financially provide for its scholar’s tuition and housing each semester.”
“After speaking with Dr. Attar and Rebecca El-Bendary, I was quickly approved for funding within the same day! I was amazed by this generosity. I never had any knowledge that Smittcamp had funds set aside for the success of its students. I thought Smittcamp could only financially provide for its scholar’s tuition and housing each semester. With the help of the Smittcamp Student Success Fund, I was fully covered for my trip to INS in San Diego.
“While there were at least 50 other poster presenters presenting at the same time as I was in the event’s foyer, I still had a large number of people flock to my poster and ask questions or for a run-through of my study. Through this, I met many people from around the world, most Ph.D. or postdoctoral candidates, most of whom were shocked that I was an undergraduate student presenting alone at this prestigious international conference. I even met a postdoctoral fellow who is also a Fresno State Psychology Department alumnus!
“By the end of my poster presentation, I had gathered dozens of contacts information in my journal of the various Ph.D. and post-doctoral candidates I met who were willing to mentor me on my journey through neuropsychology. I felt gratified by all the support I received at the conference, it felt as if I were at home with my people.
“Throughout the second day and third days, I attended various poster and paper talks and continued to meet intelligent people and fill my journal with contact information for mentoring opportunities. As for the research, I realized that research behind Parkinson’s disease (my true interest of study) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies was scarce, very few people were talking about Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
“In some sense, I was annoyed by this. I was inspired to become a neurodegenerative disease researcher because of an individual I know who suffers from Parkinson’s disease who told me that they would like to see permanent and non-invasive treatments for them and others in the future. To see and hear very few studies exploring Parkinson’s further or seeking out interventions was saddening, although, this enforced a strong motivation in me that I must become a researcher in hopes of broadening the field and becoming the leader in intervention and treatment research for Parkinson’s disease.
“Without the help of these Student Success Fund and General Scholarship donors who probably do not even know who I am, I would not be where I am today. I probably would have not been able to attend university nor pursue my desire to research, acquire more knowledge, and apply my knowledge to one day help end those patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.”
“When I returned home from the conference, I returned to the Smittcamp office to prepare and deliver my reimbursement receipts to Rebecca El-Bendary. There I met Dr. Attar who congratulated me and asked about my experience attending the conference. From speaking with him, I learned that the Smittcamp Student Success Fund was created by the kindness and generosity of Smittcamp alumni and donors who donate to the fund either every month or during Fresno State’s Day of Giving.
“Without the help of these Student Success Fund and General Scholarship donors who probably do not even know who I am, I would not be where I am today. I probably would have not been able to attend university nor pursue my desire to research, acquire more knowledge, and apply my knowledge to one day help end those patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.
“The Smittcamp Family, Dr. Attar, SFHC Office Staff, and of course, SFHC’s generous donors inspire me to get out of bed every day, learn, and do something for the betterment of humanity. I hope to one day become a future Smittcamp Family Honors College lifetime donor and help future scholars that want to pursue their dreams and desires.
“I think I would not want it any other way.”