Finding a way: Sayeda Ali earns scholarship from Megan Thee Stallion’s foundation
For Sayeda Ali, the path to a career in nursing didn’t come with a roadmap. It came
with undying determination.
UNT Health Fort Worth's College of Nursing student is forging her own way as the first in her family to enter the healthcare field. Along the way, she’s balancing an accelerated nursing program, working in the operating room and mastering the art of finding — and winning — major scholarships.
After working as a multiskilled technician and certified surgical technologist at places like JPS Health Network, Cook Children’s and Baylor Scott & White All Saints, Ali decided it was time to go to nursing school.
One day after work, she decided to check out UNT Health’s campus. She ran into Dr. Darla Gruben, assistant professor and founding faculty member of the College of Nursing. Ali explained that she was interested in the accelerated BSN program.
“Darla took me to her office, told me about the program and answered all my questions,” Ali said. “She made me feel so welcome and gave me her card in case I thought of any other questions.”
At an advantage
Being a full-time working student has proven to have its advantages for Ali. Through current and past jobs, she built hands-on experience across some of Fort Worth’s busiest hospitals. From trauma cases to labor and delivery, she gained early exposure to the realities of patient care.
Those experiences not only confirmed her passion for nursing, they gave her a critical advantage in the classroom.
“I’ve seen things my classmates are just now learning about,” Ali said. “When we talk about different conditions or procedures, I can actually visualize them because I’ve been there. That’s helped me connect everything on a deeper level.”
Making it happen
Choosing to pursue her nursing degree came down to her passion for the field. She knew it would be a challenge, but she was up for it to make her dreams come true.
“I knew financially I wasn’t going to be able to go off to college like most people,” she said. “That’s a huge privilege. I had to stay in Fort Worth and work.”
Ali didn’t let that stop her. She knew she would have to balance a full-time job with school to pay tuition. Once she received her acceptance letter — much earlier than she expected — she never looked back.
“It was a huge accomplishment for me,” she said. “Especially knowing everything I had to balance to get here.”
Balancing is something Ali knows well. While enrolled in an accelerated BSN program, she continues to work—often overnight shifts in the operating room—while keeping up with demanding coursework and clinical rotations.
“It takes a lot of discipline and time management,” she said. “You’re in clinicals for 12 hours, and then you still have to study and figure out when you can work. There’s not a lot of flexibility.”
She knew she could handle the work and course load, but the financial aspect was something she needed to tackle.
“I’m the first in my family to go into healthcare, and the first to do nursing,” Ali said. “So, I didn’t really have guidance on things like financial aid or how to navigate school. I just knew I had to figure it out.”
A chance worth taking
Ali never in a million years thought that Megan Thee Stallion would be part of her financial plan for nursing school.
The Pete & Thomas Foundation, created to honor Megan Thee Stallion’s late parents – Joseph Pete III and Holly Thomas. The foundation provides resources to bring meaningful and positive change in the lives of women and children, senior citizens, and underserved communities in Houston and across the globe. The foundation’s programs are focused on education, housing, health and wellness, and community goodwill.
The Best in Class award gives $5,000 to 10 individuals each year, five students and five public school teachers. Applicants submit a video explaining about how the grant would help them and Megan selects the recipients herself.
Ali’s introduction to the foundation and grant came through social media. A friend sent her the opportunity. At first, she hesitated.
“I thought, ‘There’s no way’” Ali said. “She has millions of followers—so many people are going to apply.”
But after researching the foundation’s mission, Ali saw a connection to her own values.
“I like to look beyond what you see on social media,” she said. “I wanted to understand what she stands for, what her values are. And when I saw that, I thought, ‘Why not try?’”
In true Sayeda fashion, she filmed her application video during a break at work.
“I used the time I had,” Ali said. “That’s how it is for me. I take any opportunity I can to move forward.”
When she learned she was one of the five student recipients, she was shocked.
“I didn’t think I would get it,” Ali said. “So when I did, I immediately told my professors and thanked everyone who supported me.”
But this wasn’t the only scholarship she earned.
Within the same week, Ali also received a national nursing scholarship from Johnson & Johnson—a clear reflection of both her academic commitment and her strategic approach to applying.
That strategy, she says, is something many students overlook.
“People always ask me how I find scholarships,” she said. “The biggest thing is you actually have to take time to look.”
Ali uses platforms like Kaleidoscope to search and filter opportunities by field, location and eligibility. She also keeps a detailed spreadsheet tracking deadlines, requirements and recurring applications.
“Every week, I try to apply to at least one,” Ali said. “And I reuse what I can—resume, essays and my LinkedIn profile. You have to work smarter, not harder.”
She also emphasizes the importance of presenting a full picture of who you are—not just academically, but personally and professionally.
Her applications highlight her work experience, volunteer efforts and commitment to community health, including involvement in a local nonprofit run club that supports outreach initiatives like food drives and partnerships with children’s hospitals.
“I like to show that I care about more than treating my patients,” Ali said. “Nursing is about understanding a person’s environment, their challenges and their access to resources. Showing the full picture of who I am shows that I can do all of that.”
Sayeda Ali, BSN
As she continues through the program, Ali is already thinking ahead—considering future roles in leadership, education or even becoming a CRNA. But no matter where her path leads, one thing remains constant, her commitment to creating opportunities where none existed before.
“I didn’t have a guide for this,” Ali said. “But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t do it.”
For other students navigating similar challenges, her message is simple:
“Apply anyway. You never know what could happen.”