A late start, a remarkable finish – Gia Hung’s journey to conquering U.S. scholarships worth 1.3 billion VND

“It’s never too late to chase your dreams” — that’s the powerful message from the story of Tran Gia Hung, a 12th-grade student who turned pressure into motivation and broke through his limits to mark his name on the U.S. study abroad map.

While most of his peers had long planned their study-abroad journey and built a strong foundation in English, Gia Hung — a student specializing in Math and Physics at SenTia School — only began his journey at the end of 11th grade. Starting late with limited English skills, Hung didn’t choose to give up. Instead, he set his sights on achieving something extraordinary.

“At first, I felt like I was so far behind everyone else,” Hung shared. “But I believed that with enough effort, I could catch up — and even get ahead.” Driven by determination and resilience, within just one year, Hung impressively scored 1500 on the SAT, a dream result for many U.S.-bound students.

Beyond academics, Gia Hung quickly transformed into a young, dynamic leader at SenTia, taking on several key leadership roles:

– Head of Human Resources – SenTia DECA Club

– Plan Manager & Deputy Head of HR & Logistics – SenTia Business Club

– Head of HR – SenTia Student Council

– Head of Expertise – FinDigit (Investment & Money Management Club)

– Head of Content – Finance Impact

What stood out, even more, was his role as founder of the charity start-up project “Grandparent’s Plush Treasures”.Inspired by a deep empathy for the hardships faced by the elderly, Hung’s project not only provided them with stable job opportunities but also helped restore their self-worth and confidence. “The project doesn’t just support underprivileged seniors — it’s also taught me so much about social responsibility and management,” Hung said. “It’s been the most valuable experience in my personal growth.”

All of Gia Hung’s relentless efforts were rewarded with an impressive list of Business and Finance scholarships from top U.S. universities:

– Furman University (#45 National Liberal Arts Colleges, U.S. News 2025) with a scholarship of 1.31 billion VND/year ($51,000)

– Knox College (#83 National Liberal Arts Colleges, U.S. News 2025) with a scholarship of 1.29 billion VND/year ($50,000)

– Texas Christian University (#105 National Universities, U.S. News 2025) with a scholarship of 1.29 billion VND/year ($50,000)

– Luther College (#108 National Liberal Arts Colleges, U.S. News 2025) with a scholarship of 1.16 billion VND/year ($45,500)

– Augustana College (#100 National Liberal Arts Colleges, U.S. News 2025) with a scholarship of 1 billion VND/year ($38,501)

– Marquette University (#86 National Universities, U.S. News 2025) with a scholarship of 730 million VND/year ($28,500)

– Baylor University (#91 National Universities, U.S. News 2025) with a scholarship of 1.29 billion VND/4 years

– University of South Florida (#91 National Universities, U.S. News 2025) with a scholarship of 260 million VND/year ($10,000)

When asked about the key to his success, Gia Hung didn’t hesitate to share: “What influenced my growth at SenTia the most were the teachers and friends. I only joined in 11th grade, but everyone was so welcoming, friendly, and supportive from the beginning”. In particular, it was the inspiring Business classes with Mr. David that sparked Hung’s passion and guided him toward the field of Business and Finance. And it was his well-experienced friends who stood by his side during the college application process.

Gia Hung’s journey is living proof that: “Starting late doesn’t mean finishing last.” Wishing you continued success on your path to knowledge and the pursuit of your dreams!