By Audrey Maynard

There were times during college when simply getting through an exam took everything Ishita Juluru (HBS ʼ26) had.

Long before arriving at the University of Utah, testing proved to be a difficult undertaking. She took the SAT five times in high school, sometimes becoming physically ill from the stress. As a college student, she pursued a demanding degree in computer science while managing the complexities of her mental health.

But at the U, Juluru had something that made continuing possible: a strong network of support.

Through the university’s Center for Disability and Access (CDA), Juluru received the accommodations necessary to succeed. When she needed more time to complete an assignment, she could request an extension. And when a crowded lecture hall became overwhelming, recordings of the lessons allowed her to learn the material in an environment where she could better focus.

My grades would have definitely suffered if it weren’t for my accommodations,” she said. “The CDA office literally got me through my degree.”

For all the ways in which Juluru was supported during her undergraduate years, none of it would have been possible without the scholarship aid she received. Born in India, she moved to the United States as an infant and lived in 14 different places by the end of high school. While her parents always encouraged her to follow her dreams, the cost of college was a significant obstacle for them. Juluru knew financial aid would be a primary factor in where she enrolled, and the scholarships offered by the U were the most comprehensive of the universities she considered.

Among the awards Juluru received was the Keaton Walker Endowed Scholarship, which is designated for students who are assisted by the CDA. Together, her scholarships covered both her educational and housing expenses, allowing Juluru to graduate debt free. Their impact, however, went well beyond the financial. Without the added demands of a part-time job, Juluru could devote her energy to her education—a gift that helped her persist through difficult moments and make the most of her time at the U.

I was stressed enough as a student; I couldn’t imagine working a job on top of that,” she said. “Scholarships allowed me to fully focus on my studies and not worry about the financial burden of affording my education.”

Juluru graduated in May with an honors bachelor’s degree in computer science and a minor in mathematics. As part of her senior capstone project, she co-founded and served as the technical developer for Conscious, a mobile app that helps consumers understand the carbon emissions and water use associated with everyday products and identify more sustainable alternatives.

With her Conscious team, she pursued grants and pitched the venture at entrepreneurship and research competitions, including the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge. They ultimately won the Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize, earning $20,000 in start-up capital.

When we finally released Conscious on the App Store, I literally sobbed happy tears,” she said. “The thing I had worked so hard on came to life and people are actually using it in their day-to-day lives. It meant a lot to me—it was one of my proudest moments.”

Today, Juluru is a software engineer at a local industrial bank and is already thinking about what might come next, which may include a graduate degree in business or computer science.

Her journey from a struggling first-year student to a successful young professional was made possible by her own determination. But she is quick to acknowledge the people—those she knew, as well as those she never met—who helped create the environment in which that determination could flourish.

People were rooting for me who I didn’t even know were rooting for me,” she said. “I couldn’t have gotten to where I am without the scholarships I received and the care that so many kind people showed me along the way.”