How Scholarships Fuel the Dreams of First-Gen and Marginalized Students
Imagine the moment a student receives their first college acceptance letter. Now imagine that student is a first-generation college-goer who […]
Author name: Julie Wukelic
Julie Wukelic, MBA, is the visionary CEO of Believe in Me and founder of iLevelUP, a nonprofit platform dedicated to empowering first-generation and marginalized students with mentorship, academic planning, and career-readiness resources. A Washington State University Carson College of Business alumna, she holds an MBA and certifications in Salesforce, Marketo, HubSpot, and Google Analytics, blending nonprofit strategy with data-driven technology integration. Julie has led Emmy-nominated video productions and orchestrated large-scale fundraising events—like charity golf tournaments—to elevate youth programs and foster community engagement. Driven by her own experience as a first-generation scholar, she is dedicated to breaking down barriers for students from low-income, minority, and immigrant backgrounds, cultivating resilience and self-advocacy through innovative programming and strategic partnerships.