Daniel Jones knew from the time he first toured the Rose-Hulman campus the school was where he wanted to learn. Jones, who is a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering, is a first-generation college student who always knew he wanted to attend college and study engineering. 

“In high school, I was always strong in math and physics, so I knew college was a step I wanted to take,” said Jones, he hails from Monrovia, Indiana. He originally thought about attending Purdue University. Yet when he visited Rose, Jones immediately felt the school’s energy and spark and saw himself there as a student.

Jones credits his parents—both of whom did not attend a four-year college—for many of the “life skills” he’s developed over the years. His mother is a nurse and father works in the HVAC industry. “My parents taught me to always be focused on what I’m doing and make sure I pay attention to details … they taught me how to be a successful person in life,” he said. 

Jones applied for—and received—a $4,000 Realizing the Dream scholarship. The scholarship is offered to first-generation Indiana college students by Independent Colleges of Indiana, through Lilly Endowment Inc. support. Students were selected based on their outstanding achievement during the first year at their colleges or universities. He hopes the scholarship funds will help alleviate some of the family’s financial pressures while he’s in college.

As a student at Rose, Jones has learned critical study skills and how to apply himself, academically, in a way he had not before. “Half the battle is staying consistent and doing your homework,” he said. “It’s important to build that foundation, even if you didn’t do that in high school because that will help you succeed at Rose.”  

When asked what advice Jones has for other first-generation college students, especially those considering Rose-Hulman, his lesson is simple: “Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith on yourself and know it will all work out in the end.” 

In addition to his schoolwork, Jones has been involved on campus in various ways. He currently serves on the executive board of his fraternity, the Iota Delta chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha, or “Pike” as it’s commonly known. He also participates on the Rover team and is a member of the volleyball club. Jones loves the feel of the welcoming community on campus and feels like the people he has surrounded himself with has made him a better person all around.