My Story Etched In Tender, Strong, and True
Cavanaugh Council and President’s Circle Scholar
Coco Koloskov ’27
Embedded Files
Notre Dame has always been my North Star. From the tender age of six, my life's checklist was short: "Get into Notre Dame", "Graduate from Notre Dame”, “Live my best possible life”. But being estranged from my father, a Notre Dame alum, caused me to ponder Notre Dame’s meaning in my life with more depth. I felt called to cultivate my own, unique connection to Our Lady’s University, and was given a deep and abiding confidence that I should pursue that dream relentlessly.
And I am so glad I did. Before I was accepted, I was deferred and waitlisted. But even when I committed to another University while I was waiting (as patiently as humanly possible), I never relinquished hope. When I received my letter of acceptance on May 4th at 1:34 p.m. I was ecstatic, deeply grateful, and let’s just say there was “great rejoicing” in the halls of my high school.
The financial reality of accepting my offer meant trusting that Notre Dame, and the people who believe in her mission, were here for me. And my hope did not disappoint. Through your generosity, I received a financial aid scholarship that allowed me to step into my future at Notre Dame with full confidence. I was able to see every part of my journey in a new light, and felt affirmed and carried by the strength of your support and the knowledge that the Notre Dame community was here for me.
Because of you, I’ve been able to pour myself into the full Notre Dame experience. One of my proudest moments was working with the Student International Business Council on a project for St. Bakhita’s, a vocational training center for women in Uganda who were survivors of the Lord’s Resistance conflict. Together, we developed a plan for a humanitarian hotel that offered survivors meaningful, stable work after experiencing the disruptive trauma of violence. This experience taught me that the empathy and problem-solving skills I develop at Notre Dame are tools I can harness in real-world situations to uplift human dignity.
The resilient women of St. Bakhita’s inspired me to continue living in the truth of my story, and looking ahead, I aim to earn my JD-MBA and mentor young women navigating their own path without a clear map, the same way I once did.
As a Notre Dame student, I am a living, breathing reflection of your generosity, and I am so grateful!
As a Notre Dame student, I am a living, breathing reflection of your generosity, and I am so grateful!
Through the gift of a financial aid scholarship, I am honoring the community that has given me everything I dreamed of, and Notre Dame, by living tenderly towards my dreams, standing strong in the face of challenges, and staying true to the values that make this place our home. Without ever knowing me personally, you believed in the power of this little girl’s dream, and are an example to me of a life lived “Tender, Strong, and True”.
Thank you and Go Irish!
Coco Koloskov ’27
Cavanaugh Council and President’s Circle Scholar
Page updated
Report abuse