Perseverance Paying Off: Eden Elisapeta Koria '25 MSM
The John and Nancy Hambacher Perseverance Scholarship has made a significant impact on the academic journey of Eden Elisapeta Koria ’23 BSBA (Marketing and Entrepreneurship) ’25 MSM.
Koria exemplifies the scholarship's mission of recognizing students who demonstrate remarkable perseverance in their academic pursuits.
The Hambacher Scholarship focuses on character over conventional metrics, as it acknowledges students who maintain their educational momentum despite significant challenges, without consideration of financial need or GPA requirements. For Koria, receiving this award has been instrumental in supporting the final phase of her graduate studies.
The scholarship's emphasis on perseverance aligns closely with Koria's personal philosophy, shaped by early life challenges including her mother facing significant health issues. When she was just eight years old, Koria’s mother was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease, which meant she had to undergo eight hours of at-home dialysis every night for four and a half years, then three times a week at a clinic until a new solution became possible.
In 2013, her parents were lucky enough to be part of a new transplant process called the Swap Program, which ultimately led to her father donating his kidney to a man in Cincinnati. In turn, a family friend of that man donated his kidney to Koria’s mother.
"We were raised to believe that you can accomplish anything that you put your mind to and that rather than quitting, you can push yourself to do better," she says, articulating a mindset that embodies the very spirit of the Hambacher Scholarship.
"I feel like that was one of the prayers that got answered for me," she says, reflecting on receiving the award. The impact extended beyond financial support for Koria. Meeting with John and Nancy Hambacher after receiving the scholarship proved to be a deeply meaningful experience, as they made her feel truly supported and seen. This connection was further enriched when she later met fellow scholarship recipients and discovered they shared many common experiences.During her undergraduate years at Eller, Koria was actively involved in numerous professional organizations, including the American Marketing Association, Professional Women in Business Association, Blue Chip Leadership, and The National Society of Leadership and Success. Currently, she continues to serve as a manager for the beach volleyball team while maintaining an internship position at Tucson Electric Power (TEP).
"Pursuing my Masters of Marketing after finishing my undergraduate career at Eller opened the doors for many new personal and professional opportunities."
Originally from San Diego, Koria followed an established family connection to the University of Arizona. She credits Eller's supportive faculty as crucial to her academic success, noting how several professors have become valued mentors throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies. "Pursuing my Master's in Marketing after finishing my undergraduate career at Eller opened the doors for many new personal and professional opportunities," she says. "The program has not only given me amazing friendships, but it has set me up for success in my post-graduate career. The skills and tools we learn are directly related to the work that I do in my internship. The MSM program has motivated me further to use the knowledge I am gaining to grow my confidence in the corporate world and continue succeeding in the future.
As one of the scholarship recipients, Koria represents the award's goal of supporting students who maintain their academic aspirations despite facing significant obstacles. Her trajectory at Eller, from undergraduate studies through her current graduate program, demonstrates the kind of persistent dedication to academic achievement that the Hambacher Scholarship was designed to recognize and support.