Computer science major Oluwatoyin Olaniyi received a ‘life-changing’ scholarship from Brenda Fonseca (B.A. ’75, French).
One of the first things Oluwatoyin Olaniyi heard when she arrived at the University of Maryland was, “You belong in computing.” That message came from Computer Science Lecturer Elias Gonzalez (B.S. ’17, computer science; M.Ed. ’18, curriculum and instruction), who taught Olaniyi’s object-oriented programming course, CMSC131.
“Elias was one of my favorite professors,” said Olaniyi, who is now a junior computer science major. “Coming into Maryland and having him as my first professor meant so much to me. He told us on that first day, ‘Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t belong in computing.’”
Just weeks earlier, Gonzalez taught Olaniyi basic programming concepts in TechStart, a UMD Computing Catalyst summer bridge program for students entering UMD. Incoming students spend five days in August learning about tech and applying design thinking to develop their own mission-driven app or website.
From there, Olaniyi pursued UMD computing programs and opportunities where she felt she belonged—starting with the Code: BLACK student organization.
“I came to my first meeting of Code: BLACK when I was a freshman, and being there was literally transformational for my computing journey,” Olaniyi said. “There were so many people who had either already had internships or were really passionate about computing. I knew that was the environment I needed to be in to progress my computing degree.”
In the Code: BLACK program, Olaniyi learned from her mentor about the internship application process, time management, crucial skills and more. She received additional mentorship through the Computing Catalyst’s RESET Project, a yearlong cohort program that facilitates career development, community building and scholarship support.
Through RESET, Olaniyi learned about a new scholarship opportunity: the Brenda Fonseca Scholarship in Computer Science and UMD Computing Catalyst. The timing couldn’t have been better; Olaniyi had been furiously applying for scholarships to help make ends meet for the upcoming academic year. With fingers crossed, she applied.
A ‘life-changing’ scholarship
Several weeks later, Olaniyi received an email congratulating her on the scholarship and immediately called her mom.
“My mom was screaming on the phone, ‘Oh my gosh!’” Olaniyi said. “I couldn’t believe it—the scholarship covered my tuition almost exactly. It was literally life-changing. Without this scholarship, I genuinely don’t know how I would’ve paid my tuition this semester.”
Established by Brenda Fonseca (B.A. ’75, French), the scholarship provides need-based scholarships for UMD computer science majors affiliated with the Catalyst. Fonseca’s philanthropy supports Forward: The University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless, a $2.5 billion fundraising initiative that aims to expand access to UMD’s world-class education, accelerate groundbreaking research and build stronger communities.
Fonseca grew up in a multilingual household and chose to study French at UMD because of her interest in French literature. After graduation, she spent years traveling the world with her husband, creating art, earning her MBA and volunteering with organizations such as the Centro Cultural Brasil-USA da Flórida. When she decided to donate to a cause important to her, a friend and fellow alumna suggested giving back to computer science students at UMD.
“Tech is something that I would have enjoyed studying, and I want to be able to help somebody who is going to do something constructive with their lives,” Fonseca said.
Seven students, including Olaniyi, received Brenda Fonseca Scholarships this year. For Olaniyi, the scholarship lifted a burden and enabled her to focus on her academic and career goals. She hopes to land an internship before her senior year that will lead to a full-time role after graduation and apply her computer science skill set to solve problems and help others.
“I want to be a part of a field that creates and develops things for all people,” she said.
Pouring into others
This year, during a summer internship at Microsoft, Olaniyi partnered with two fellow interns from Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University for a hackathon. They set out to answer the question, “What resources do we wish we had when we started in computing?” and created BlossomAI, a platform to help underrepresented communities break into tech careers. The platform features live artificial intelligence coaching, community networking, event listings and career planning tailored for users. Olaniyi and her teammates plan to launch BlossomAI for public use by the end of the year.
“I think it’s really important that we pour into diverse computing and technologists,” Olaniyi said, “so we develop a future that is more accessible for everyone.”
After graduating, Olaniyi is leaning toward software engineering roles but remains open to other tech opportunities and paths. Above all, she says she wants to continue “pouring into” others, paying forward what others—like Brenda Fonseca—have invested in her. And for Fonseca, knowing her investment will have a compounding impact means everything.
“It’s just brilliant [to know my gift could have a transformative impact on students like Oluwatoyin],” Fonseca said. “It’s what I wanted to do—help somebody who really needs it.”
2026-27 Recipients of the Brenda Fonseca Scholarship in Computer Science and UMD Computing Catalyst:
- Eniola Aloba
- Katherine Alvarenga
- Milkii Dagne
- Audrey Nguezet Gouanet
- Peace Oladunni
- Oluwatoyin Olaniyi
- Victoria Xiao