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The Lantana Stamps Scholar Ariana Tashakkori
LANTANA RESIDENT RECEIVES Stamps Scholar
by Leena Duwadi | photos courtesy of Ariana Tashakkori
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The Lantana Living team is honored to celebrate Ariana Tashakkori, who’s now a Stamps Scholar! She’s determined, hardworking, and ambitious! On top of that, she loves animals and wants to spend her life working for their protection and welfare.
The Stamps Scholarship is a prestigious undergraduate scholarship for students who demonstrate academic merit, strong leadership potential, and exceptional character.
“I was in the middle of a session with the college student that I tutor. I saw the ‘225’ area code and knew where the phone call was coming from,” Tashakkori said. She is 18 and a freshman at Louisiana State University. “Naturally, I expected a rejection. So I was crying tears of joy before they had even finished delivering the news to me. All I could say was, 'thank you,' over and over again. I eventually had to return to my tutoring session slightly puffy-eyed.”
She was awarded this scholarship during her senior year of high school, and it will cover four years of full tuition plus the cost of attendance. There is also a $14,000 enrichment stipend. Before enrolling at LSU, Ariana attended Guyer High School, Harpool Middle School, and E.P Rayzor Elementary School.
Ariana is a science lover, with biology and ecology being her main interests. She’s pursuing a major in Natural Resources, Ecology, and Management, with a concentration in wildlife ecology. She also intends to minor in physical
theatre and animal science. Ariana dreams of becoming a zoo veterinarian at a zoo accredited by the American Zoological Association. Along the way, she hopes to aid in endangered species conservation efforts and educate the public on the importance of ecological protection. She also looks forward to assisting in increasing populations of endangered and vulnerable species while also improving the welfare of animals in captivity. “I believe that zoos are imperative to protecting and maintaining biodiversity, and I want to help ensure that zoo animals are kept ethically," Ariana said. "After graduating from LSU, I will go on to attend veterinary school and then complete an internship and zoological medicine residency."
Growing up, her parents instilled in her a love for academics and a drive to succeed. Her family always supported and encouraged her in all of her endeavors. “I am immensely grateful for my family. I also
think that my love for animals played a huge part in my success. Everything that I have achieved so far was motivated by my ultimate goal of protecting animals, and that goal is what keeps me going,” she added. “It truly is the reason why I get up every morning, and knowing that all of my hard work will help me reach my goals is enough to push me through every challenge.”
Ariana has lived with her mother, father, and grandpa in Lantana since 2009. Her father was an immigrant from Iran, and he worked tirelessly to build a life in America for his kids. Both of her parents are psychologists who worked in academia, so she grew up recognizing the importance of education. “It is so important to me that I make my parents proud after they sacrificed so much to help me get to where I am, and I know that adding the DVM title to my name will do exactly that,” she mentioned.
Her mother, Marylyn, said she is very proud of her daughter.
“Her intelligence, passion, humor, and compassion toward others are just a few of her remarkable characteristics. She has been determined her whole life, so there is no doubt that she will succeed in life no matter the direction she chooses,” she shared. “Ariana’s greatest strength is her self-motivation and persistence.”
On her typical days, Ariana is occupied with classes and homework. Outside of class, she’s an undergraduate research assistant under Dr. Ashley Long, a renewable natural resources professor at LSU. Her duties include compiling wildlife camera data and assisting with educational outreach at the LSU AgCenter Botanical Gardens. Ariana is also a member of various clubs on campus, including the Pre-Veterinary Club, Feminists in Action, and the Wildlife Society. She also can be found exploring new restaurants and trying different foods with her friends! Most of her Saturdays are spent cheering on the LSU football team with her friends! She’s also been dabbling in circus performances, which she hopes to continue with LSU in the spring.
The Stamps Scholarship is a significant turning point that she will cherish all her life. Ariana also plans to use the funds to study wildlife ecology abroad in South Africa and complete summer internships at zoos around the country.
