Winner of the Social Science Excellence Scholarship 2026

Meet Sisil, the winner of the Social Science Excellence Scholarship 2026!

Sisil is the winner of the 2026 Social Science Excellence Scholarship, awarded by educations.com in partnership with Girls on Campus. She has been awarded $1,500 towards her tuition as she pursues a double major in Economics and Finance at The University of Texas at Austin, in the USA.

Sisil's background

Sisil grew up in Bangladesh, where she saw firsthand both the power of education and the barriers many people face in accessing financial knowledge and economic opportunity. That early awareness shaped a lasting commitment to financial literacy, which she began acting on as a high-school student by teaching budgeting, saving, and financial independence to younger girls in her community.

Today, at The University of Texas at Austin, Sisil is pursuing a double major in Economics and Finance alongside a certificate program in business ethics and leadership. She has carried her passion for financial education with her: as a tutor with Texas First-Generation Investors, she leads multi-week sessions teaching first-generation high-school students the fundamentals of budgeting and investing. Her dedication to service also made her one of just 13 Rapoport Service Scholars at UT Austin.

How Sisil chose her country of study

Sisil chose to study in the United States for the openness and flexibility of its education system: the freedom to shape her own combination of courses, a strong emphasis on undergraduate research, and a practical, early focus on internships and on applying what she learns in real-world settings. She was drawn to The University of Texas at Austin in particular for the reputation of its economics and finance programs, and for a research project there that had captured her interest even before she applied.

How Sisil plans to become a globally-minded leader

For Sisil, leadership means using her education to expand opportunity for others, across borders. She has already put that into practice: during a summer internship at a garment manufacturing company in Bangladesh, she designed and led financial-literacy classes for the company's female garment workers, helping them build the skills and confidence to take charge of the money they earn. As a research assistant on a university study of young people who grew up translating for their families, she has also gained hands-on experience interviewing families and analyzing data, work she sees as closely connected to policy.

Looking ahead, Sisil hopes to bring together analytical thinking and a commitment to public service, working across countries and sectors to advance financial inclusion, ethical leadership, and more inclusive economic opportunity.

👉 Inspired by Sisil's story? Take a look at our past scholarship winners and finalists to meet more students making a real impact, and keep an eye on educations.com for future scholarship opportunities.