Nolan Yee

Hi! I’m Nolan Yee, a Computer Science major at UT Austin from Katy, Texas. I’ve always loved solving problems, but college has broadened what that means to me. Today, I’m just as interested in building a piece of software as I am in figuring out how people will actually use it, working with a team to turn an idea into something real, or finding a creative solution to a problem I didn’t expect to encounter.

At UT, I’ve had the chance to explore that curiosity in and outside the classroom. I’ve grown through challenging computer science courses, collaborated with other students through organizations like Texas Product Engineering Organization, and worked on projects that range from campus navigation to productivity tools. My internship experience has also shown me what it looks like to build software for real users and real constraints, and has made me increasingly interested in the intersection of technology, product, and people.

Just as importantly, the Forty Acres community has shaped how I think about college. FASP events, late-night conversations with fellow scholars, and the opportunity to learn from people pursuing completely different paths have pushed me to be more open-minded about what I want to do and who I want to become. I’m grateful to be surrounded by people who challenge me to think bigger, give back, and make the most of the opportunities around us.

Major
Computer Science

Extracurricular Activities 
Engineering Lead @ Texas Product Engineering Organization; Software Engineer @ Texas Convergent; Prev. Software Engineering Intern @ Abode Money; Founder @ Acta; Researcher @ Freshman Research Initiative

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
As soon as I got in the car to head home from finalist weekend, I told my mom, "I really want this." To be honest, I was a little surprised by myself. After all, UT had just been another school on my college list, and I hadn't even known about FASP before I got the email to apply. But seeing how passionate the older scholars were, hearing their experiences in the program, and learning about the impact scholar alumni were making in the world, I knew I wanted to be part of this community. Aside from the obvious financial allure of a full-ride scholarship, FASP provides so much more. If Finalist Weekend didn't solidify it enough, I had plenty of opportunities to bond with my cohort before my first semester even began, and I feel like I've found a second family—people I can look up to, learn from, and laugh with.