2022 Anthony Munoz Foundation Scholarship recipient Lauren Dennis making the most of her experience at Xavier

May 24, 2023

Each year, the Anthony Muñoz Foundation provides scholarships to a myriad of high school seniors attending local colleges or universities. Lauren Dennis, who just capped off her first year at Xavier, is one of the dedicated students who received an award from the foundation’s 2022 scholarship fund.

The Anthony Muñoz Foundation was created in 2002 by Muñoz, a former Cincinnati Bengal and Pro Football Hall of Famer. The organization strives to impact the lives of Tri-State area youth mentally, physically, and spiritually through seven impact programs. Each year, the scholarship component of the foundation awards multiple $20,000 scholarships to select high school seniors.

Dennis, a Cincinnati native who attended St. Bernard Elmwood Place High School, was nominated by her school counselor. Every applicant needed a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average, had to submit a personal essay and go through a rigorous interview process.

The recipients of the scholarship can attend any school in the Tri-State region of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, but Dennis already had her eyes set on Xavier.

“A lot of my high school teachers attended Xavier,” Dennis said. “They would always talk about it, and one of my favorite teachers earned her degree in psychology here, so I knew I wanted to go [to Xavier].”

Although she is not afraid to travel, Dennis also chose Xavier to be closer to her family.

“When I was in sixth grade, my father was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and not long after my 11th birthday, he went away to get better,” said Dennis. “A lot of responsibility fell on my mom, and I had to watch her take care of my sister and me alone, while also seeing my dad change from the person I had known him to be.”

After four years away from his family, around Dennis’ 15th birthday, her father was finally able to come home and live with the family again.

“It’s something you never imagine happening to your family, but I learned so much from both my parents through those years,” said Dennis, “I’m really proud of my dad and him being able to come back because it shaped me into the person I am today.”

When it’s time to declare her major, Dennis has no doubt about the degree she will pursue.

“I plan to major in psychology and minor in business,” she said. “I’ve already started taking psychology classes and I love them. Every single one I’ve taken so far has been really good.”

Dennis said being a scholarship recipient has helped remove the financial burden of school and allowed her to focus on academics.

“I feel blessed. I don’t know if I would be able to attend Xavier without that scholarship,” said Dennis. “I’m really proud of myself because I’ve been keeping my grades up and I doubted myself when I first got here,” she said.

When Dennis is not in the classroom, she is working to help her family, but thanks to the foundation, the scholarship recipient has been making time to enjoy some of Cincinnati’s coolest events.

“This scholarship has given me a lot of opportunities. I walked in with the Reds for Opening Day. I’ve had dinner with Hall of Fame football players — it's been amazing,” she said.

Still, Dennis said there’s no place in Cincinnati she enjoys more than Xavier.

“I fell in love with Xavier the first time that I toured the campus and I have yet to be disappointed,” Dennis said. “The food is great. All the staff and workers are sweet. My professors are kind. I’m in a beat-making class. I’m part of the film club. There’s always something and someone to connect with.”

Dennis has no plans of stopping her campus involvement anytime soon.

“I want to get even more involved,” she said. “When I first came to Xavier, I froze and I was scared of everything, but I want to do something to make change. I got this scholarship because I faced my adversities, and I know I can do the same here.”