DutchCrafters Amish Furniture is pleased to announce Urwa Hameed, Maly Sears and Tan Vu as the winners of its 2018 Heritage Scholarship. Selection criteria included grade point average, a statement of financial need, and a 750-word essay on how their heritage has shaped them and their aspirations.

Urwa Hameed, Vernon, Conn., plans to attend Boston College to pursue a dual degree in political science and international relations on an advanced pre-law track. Inspired by her deceased father who was a lawyer, she was compelled during Ramadan activities in her community several years ago to invest in her neighborhood. “By receiving my help, my neighbors catalyzed intellectual and social growth within me,” she writes, leading her to pursue her studies “in a field which encompasses a heightened dedication to social work, advocacy, and social equity.”

Maly Sears, Adrian, Mo., has chosen to major in landscape architecture thanks to the support of her adoptive parents, and a 2015 trip to her birth country, Vietnam, where she was inspired by a large, tree-filled park in the busy business district of Saigon full of people partaking in various activities. “My dream is to design outdoor places where families and friends can make great memories together.” She will be pursuing her goal at Kansas State University.

Tan Vu, Westminster, Calif., credits his mother for his determination, drive and career path. Immigrating to the United States when Vu was two years old, his family experienced many hardships, but he watched as his mother persisted. “She instilled in me the sense that I can always work harder, and there is never a time to give up,” Vu writes. The University of California, Berkeley undergraduate is double majoring in media studies and social welfare. He aspires to “create videos with narratives that are not often discussed” and influence future generations that anything can be accomplished with hard work.

The three annual recipients of the Heritage Scholarship receive $500 each to assist with the costs of their undergraduate tuition.