Proud Parents Pay It Forward
Pal and Uma Narayanan joined the USN community in 2008 when they enrolled their son, Neil, in kindergarten. Little did they know of the amazing adventures that lay ahead for their family. USN became a school where Neil could try a bit of everything—academics, of course, but also cross country, knitting, community service, science research, the Latinx affinity group (Aliados), and so much more—expanding his interests, challenging him in new ways, and helping him achieve his dreams over the next 13 years until his graduation in 2021.
Pal and Uma are incredibly proud of the person Neil has become and graciously extend their thanks to teachers, coaches, and administrators, who became lifelong friends.
“Where we came from, we didn’t dream of the extracurricular programs Neil got involved in. We never imagined him going to a language immersion program with a summer opportunity grant or gaining an appreciation for the visual arts through Artclectic. We didn’t grow up here and don’t have family in Nashville, yet the USN community is our family, our support system—the village that helped us raise Neil. To this day, Neil carries with him letters he received from coaches before cross country meets. Those coaches and those letters inspire him to be better, persevere, and grow forward,” says Uma.
It’s with tremendous gratitude as a family that they voluntarily concocted a plan to help other students and families follow their dreams at USN. Pal and Uma made a generous gift to endow the Narayanan Family Scholarship Fund at University School. This scholarship makes the USN experience possible for a student who otherwise could not afford to attend USN and supports the school’s mission to represent the cultural and ethnic composition of Nashville.
“This was the right thing for us to do. Even if you aren’t asked, you have to do the right thing. We want to have a positive impact in a meaningful way. This was our family’s way to do so,” shared Pal.
Like the Narayanans, you, too, can give deserving students the chance to pursue their dreams at USN. Contact Anne Westfall at (615) 277-7495 or awestfall@usn.org today to learn more.