2022 $5,000 Scholarship Award: Victoria M.
Victoria has discovered that being an adult with cystic fibrosis can sometimes be lonely. From her own experiences, she has gathered that mental health support is crucial, as mental illness can be a predictor of health outcomes. As her peers move on to different life stages, it often feels like they are living in another world. Achieving financial independence is challenging, not only because of the hospital stays that fragment her life but also due to the fact that many adults with CF struggle to attain financial independence.
Determined to make a difference, she aims to pursue cystic fibrosis scholarships to support her education. Victoria would like to earn a Ph.D. in psychology to eventually offer help in clinics, even if it is on a volunteer basis. She aspires to work on encouraging and educating patients about mental health for addiction prevention. Knowing that a Master's Degree in counseling could enable her to counsel effectively, she hopes to go further by generating research and teaching at a university level, all aimed at increasing awareness of mental health for healthier outcomes. This scholarship story exemplifies her commitment to combining personal experience with her professional aspirations.
2022 $2,500 Scholarship Award: Haley G.
During high school, Haley's favorite class was Earth Science, which sparked her long-standing concern for the environment. This passion led her to develop a keen interest in Geology, prompting her to plan for a degree at Iowa State University. Haley's ambition is to find a career that combines her love for the Earth with opportunities to travel and explore innovative ways to enhance our environment and ensure its sustainability for future generations. She's also aware of various cystic fibrosis scholarships available, illustrating the importance of mental health support and real-life scholarship stories that inspire students like her to pursue their dreams.
2022 $2,500 Scholarship Award: Annaka H.
Annaka is planning to attend Washburn University to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Following this, she aims to advance her education by entering the Doctor of Nursing Practice online program at Washburn. Inspired by her own experiences, particularly with cystic fibrosis, she hopes to one day become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Her ambition is to provide her future patients with the same medical and emotional support that she received from her doctors and nurses, which has been important for her mental health support. Additionally, Annaka is eager to explore scholarship stories that can help support her journey, including cystic fibrosis scholarships, which would greatly benefit her goal of becoming certified in Primary Care and potentially Acute Care.
2021 $5,000 Scholarship Award: Sam H.
Sam's next step in life is to study Kinesiology and Personal Training at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois. His interest in understanding how his body works is partly driven by his experience with cystic fibrosis. From a young age, he has been involved in sports and a few years ago decided to prioritize his health. Currently, he works out regularly and, along with his sports routine, aims to learn how physical fitness can enhance both physical and mental well-being. Moreover, he hopes to leverage his journey and scholarship stories to provide mental health support, ultimately helping others achieve their fitness goals through exercise. He is also exploring options for cystic fibrosis scholarships to further his education.