Meet the fall MIT Scholars
Starting in fall 2022, the Master of Information Technology (MIT) program at Virginia Tech began awarding scholarships to students whose enrollment contributes to the diversity of the MIT program and the field of information technology.
The MIT Scholars scholarship is designed to aid student populations and enrich the program with a broader variety of perspectives and unique backgrounds.
The scholarship awards each recipient an average of $2,000 per spring or fall term as long as they continue to meet the program's enrollment requirements.
A top program for veterans
MIT Scholar Cristal Arnaldi-Trinidad is currently stationed in San Antonio, Texas, as a cyber officer in the U.S. Air Force. She learned about the MIT program from her coworkers and was immediately impressed by its ranking as the No. 1 MIT program for veterans by U.S. News & World Report.
Ariel Sanchez, another MIT Scholar with military ties, serves as a client systems technician in the Air Force Reserves. He decided to pursue a master's degree in information technology from Virginia Tech to continue building his strong foundation in information technology and the dynamic field of cybersecurity.
In addition to its top ranking for veterans, MIT is also ranked the No. 3 Best Online MIT Program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
An interdisciplinary approach
MIT Scholar Brian Anthony Beasley graduated from Capella University in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in information technology and decided to go to graduate school right away. He is a professional software developer based in the New York City area and plans to change the world through technology. Virginia Tech will help him do just that.
After earning an undergraduate degree in international relations from Virginia Tech in 2021, MIT Scholar Lula Phicadu decided to join the MIT program. She aspires to grow in a career that combines her passions for international relations, business, and technology.
The MIT curriculum takes an interdisciplinary approach to information technology, with courses stemming from both Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business and College of Engineering and spanning a variety of topics — business data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, and more.
A strategic career step
The MIT program helps students develop specialized skills and tailor their experience to support their individual career goals.
Fareeha Haidari, a civil engineer and 2023 MIT Scholar, is pursuing a master's degree to further her goal of crafting innovative technology applications tailored for the construction sector. She came to the United States from Afghanistan in late 2014 and earned a degree in civil engineering from George Mason University in 2020.
Jane Cayetano recently completed the Evening MBA program at Virginia Tech and is now pursuing a master's degree degree as part of the MBA/MIT dual degree option to further hone her skills and advance her finance career.
A flexible option
MIT scholar Parisa Dini is an Iranian refugee who studied software engineering in Tehran, started her career, and became a full-time caregiver for her son. In 2016, she arrived in the United States and has worked hard to resume her IT career. The flexible, online MIT program will allow her to earn an advanced degree while maintaining a full-time job to support her family.
Reeba Khan is another parent who appreciates the flexibility of the program and the support of the MIT Scholars award. She earned her bachelor’s in computer science from Virginia Tech in 2020 and chose Virginia Tech again for her graduate degree. Despite being a new parent, she feels there is no wrong time to start your education journey.
To learn more about the MIT program please attend an online information session.
