Anne Cornelius '26 is a sophomore from Yangon, Myanmar, majoring in international business and business analytics. She is vice president of marketing for the Student Government Association, a digital media ambassador for undergraduate admissions and is a community assistant for her residence hall. She said the values of inclusion and the tight-knit community drew her to 91΄σΙρ. (Photo by Macson McGuigan/91΄σΙρ)

Why they Lov91΄σΙρ: Forced to leave one home, Anne Cornelius ’26 found another at 91΄σΙρ

by Ryan Cornell

Editor’s Note: This profile is the third of six about students and alumni leading up to Lov91΄σΙρ Giving Day on April 10. For more information about the day and to donate, visit .  

Three years ago and about 8,600 miles away in Yangon, Myanmar, Anne Cornelius ’26 boarded a plane and left the only home she had ever known.

Escaping the ravages of a civil war that tore apart her country, she and her family sought asylum in the U.S. A kind host family from Maryland welcomed them in, and Cornelius soon adjusted to life in America. She learned that a close friend from her home city, Rachelle Swe ’21, had just graduated from 91΄σΙρ and was working there as an admissions counselor. Cornelius decided to pay her friend a visit and take a campus tour of 91΄σΙρ.

She never imagined attending a college, let alone one in America. Her family wasn’t exactly flush with cash, especially after uprooting their lives to settle in a new country.  

Thanks to the incredible generosity of donors through the Yoder/Webb Scholarship, Cornelius could attend 91΄σΙρ without paying a dollar in tuition. The four-year, full-tuition scholarship is 91΄σΙρ’s highest academic award offered to a select few honors students each year.  

β€œI’m really grateful for the scholarship,” Cornelius said. β€œIt is the only way I could come to school at 91΄σΙρ.”

Her friend in admissions introduced her to other international and Burmese students. These days, Cornelius, a sophomore majoring in international business and business analytics, has plenty of friends and plenty going on.

She is vice president of marketing for the Student Government Association, a digital media ambassador for undergraduate admissions and is a community assistant for her residence hall. Cornelius also does her part in recruiting future Royals; she talks to students back in Myanmar and encourages them to apply to 91΄σΙρ. 

She might have been forced to leave one home, but she found another at 91΄σΙρ. 

β€œI love the community here,” she said. β€œEveryone’s so caring. I love how quickly I was able to fit in.”

Your generous support helps students like Cornelius pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Join us for the 8th annual Lov91΄σΙρ Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future 91΄σΙρ students. Let’s build 91΄σΙρ β€œStronger Together.”

Read the previous profiles in our Why they Lov91΄σΙρ series:

Why they Lov91΄σΙρ: Garrett Nyce ’25 says 91΄σΙρ β€˜just feels like home’
Why they Lov91΄σΙρ: Royale Parker ’26Β found the perfect match as a Royal