Nazarian College Alumnus Receives RELUI Scholarship

David Nazarian College of Business and Economics alumnus, Thiago D’Elia ’20 (Real Estate) was named a recipient of the Real Estate and Land Use Institute’s (RELUI) student scholarship in spring 2020. 

“I was ecstatic about receiving the scholarship,” D’Elia said. “For a student like me, the scholarship had a massive impact on my education.” 

RELUI administers student scholarships to economically or educationally disadvantaged students who have demonstrated academic excellence in CSU's real estate programs. Twice yearly, RELUI’s Advisory Committee solicits applications. Every year, the committee typically awards approximately $50,000.

For D’Elia, the RELUI grant helped him land his dream career and allowed him to take more time off work so he could dedicate it towards his education. D’Elia is working towards becoming a commercial appraiser and recently accepted a full-time position as a commercial appraiser trainee at Integra Realty Resources (IRR). 

When asked about the advice he would give to current students in the Real Estate program, D’Elia said, “I would tell them not to be afraid of failure. The industry is very competitive and it will take time for them to make a name for themselves, but in the end there could be a very successful career awaiting them.”

Thiago D’Elia graduated from the Nazarian College in 2020 with a BSBA option in Real Estate and a minor in Finance. Before he exited high school, D’Elia knew he wanted to be a business major and had heard great things about the Nazarian College’s programs. The Real Estate option was not a program he was originally enrolled in, though. While pursuing his degree in finance, D’Elia heard about the Real Estate program and figured that he should take time to learn about the industry since he would one day enter it as an investor. The program gave him the opportunity to discover more about commercial appraising and what the career entailed, eventually leading him down that path after graduation. 

About Real Estate and Land Use Institute

Created in 1974 and housed for the first time at CSUN, the CSU Real Estate and Land Use Institute (RELUI) is a collaborative effort among industry leaders, government regulators and faculty to promote education and professionalism in the industry and to support students pursuing real estate careers. 

The institute administers California’s Real Estate Education Endowment, which funds program improvements and student scholarships. The institute’s advisory board is made up of industry leaders, Department of Real Estate representatives, and CSU faculty. Every year, the committee typically awards almost $50,000 in student scholarships and more than $25,000 in program grants.