Govindaraju Endowed Scholarship

A Young Woman’s Legacy Lives on to Benefit UTSA’s Special Education Majors

by Jordan Allen

A beloved sister and daughter, Samjatha Govindaraju was a cherished member of her family. Some described her as a person who others naturally gravitated toward. Although she struggled from a disability that left her unable to speak or walk, she never let that get in the way of her joy for life. Always smiling and laughing, Samjatha was able to light up any room with her cheerful and magnetic spirit.

To honor her memory, Samjatha’s family decided to create the Samjatha Govindaraju Endowed Graduate Scholarship for students in the UTSA College of Education and Human Development (COEHD). The endowed scholarship supports students who are pursuing a master’s degree in the field of special education.

From her first day in kindergarten to her high school graduation, Samjatha had a wonderful experience with the educators in San Antonio’s Northside Independent School District. Her teachers were some of the kindest and most passionate people the Govindaraju family had ever met. They were always active advocates for Samjatha, ensuring she received the best education possible. The Govindaraju family was so grateful to these educators, they wanted to create better pathways for more students to pursue careers in special education so that children like Samjatha could have the same positive educational experience.

The family’s endowed scholarship was created by Samajtha’s sister and brother-in-law, Swapomthi Govindaraju and Dr. Neeraj R. Nagella, and her parents, Dr. Rao and Mrs. Usha Govindaraju. Dr. Rao Govindaraju currently serves as a professor in the UTSA College of Engineering and says he has witnessed the impact scholarships have on students during their educational journeys.

Dr. Govindaraju explained that students on scholarship have more opportunities to focus on their education and participate in extra-curricular activities that enhance their learning because they do not have to worry about unnecessary barriers like maintaining employment while juggling course loads. Recognizing the importance of financial assistance, the family decided that endowing a scholarship in Samjatha’s memory would be the best way to realize their goal of inspiring more students to pursue special education degrees.

“Our family decided to fund an endowment because we wanted to make sure that Samjatha’s legacy continues on. It is a simple, onetime gift that will continue even when we are no longer here ourselves. We agreed that this is just a beautiful way to give in remembrance of my sister. Special education teachers were such a big part of her life. We really hope to inspire and foster this new generation of educators,” said Swapomthi.

August 31, 2021 would have been Samjatha’s 28th birthday. Her family believes that awarding the scholarship to a future special education instructor this fall would be the perfect gift for Samjatha.