What does this scholarship mean to you?
We think our 2024 recipients say it best…
“Victoria was super surprised and blessed. She opened the envelope after she got off stage and started crying. She has been working and saving money to attend Youth With A Mission YWAM as a step of faith and training she wants to attain before full time college.
Her and her mentor were praying for God to provide the rest of the money she needed. She has been working and saving and praying! The amount of the scholarship was the exact amount she needed to go. It was a miracle! Thank you for being a part of this amazing testimony!” - Heather Faulkner Young Life area director awarding the Matt Schmidt Kindness Scholarship to Victoria Perez.
“It was amazing to be recognized and honored with this award. For me, attending college was not always a "given". Thus, having others believe in me enough to help fund part of my education is very meaningful.
In the fall I will be attending Western Carolina University. I'm excited to be a catamount. I am eager to learn, explore and use my talents to help others in need.
Michaela Kanelos, 2024 Ken Hess Scholarship of Honor recipient
“I’m extremely honored to receive this scholarship. Sal has been a personal hero of mine since the beginning of high school. Coming from the same town it really shows that anyway can make a difference.”
Trevor Scott, 2024 Sal Giunta Scholarship of Honor recipient
“I am extremely honored to be awarded this scholarship, it means a lot to me. Thank you for the support, I will put it to good use! This has inspired me to keep pushing forward and I will forever be grateful for this opportunity!”
Claire Pommerich, 2024 Journey is the Reward Scholarship recipient, Suring High School
I am very appreciative towards those that have grown this scholarship to aid students through their future endeavors because each of us has something great to share and give to the world.”
Zoe Dong, 2024 Ken Kubsch Scholarship of Honor recipient
"Although I have not met them in person, I would like to thank all the donors who contributed to the funding of the Foundation and for their positive impact on my life and future education.
I am extremely honored to be the recipient of this scholarship because it gives me an opportunity to honor the legacy of Ron Sager, Brian LaViolette, and other honorable men and women who sought to make this world a better place.”
Elijah Last, 2024 Ron Sager Scholarship of Honor
“It is a great honor to receive this scholarship. I am most grateful for your values and support and I would like to thank you for choosing me. Receiving this scholarship will allow me to continue to chase my dreams of becoming an orthopedic physician’s assistant.”
Kaydence Burclaw- Nueske Family Scholarship of Excellence- Food or Medical Science Scholarship. She is pictured here with Nathan Nueske on awards night.
“This scholarship means to me that I am working hard and I believe I deserve it, because I am a dedicated student with a passion to learn more.”
Anisha Rai, 2024 Andrew Brownfield Scholarship of Honor recipient
“This scholarship is not only a financial blessing, but an opportunity to pursue a career that will allow me to give back to those who have supported me, and those who are in need of support”
Myah Mlnarik, 2024 Above and Beyond Scholarship recipient. She is pictured here with Sue LeTourneau, sponsor of the award.
“This scholarship truly means the world to me. Being chosen for a scholarship of this magnitude was sincerely such an honor. There is nothing that I could accomplish in life that could ever amount to the sacrifice that Jesse Thiry made.
With this being said, thank you for believing in me. I am humbled that the scholarship committee thought that I possessed some of the personal characteristics of Jesse. For the rest of my life and career, I will try my best to make him proud.”
Lily I. Derenne, future RN, BSN, 2024 Jesse Thiry Scholarship of Honor recipient. She is pictured here with Jesse’s sister Denise Bastien
