It is always nice to hear from past Scholarship Recipients and we heard from two last week! We thought you may enjoy hearing from them as well. One we met 9 years ago, the other last year. Enjoy learning a little bit about their journeys!
"I cannot express how much it meant to be your 2012 Brian LaViolette Scholarship Recipient. I think of Brian often and thanks to the kindness of your family.
Here we are 9 years later! A few weeks ago, I graduated Summa Cum Laude as a Doctor of Optometry from the University of Houston College of Optometry. Next, I will complete a 1-year Residency in San Antonio, TX, as I was selected to receive specialized training in Ocular Disease and Refractive Surgery.
My family always joked that I’d be in school forever and finally after finishing my "20th grade”, I am officially done with school and so ready to take on the world as an Eye Doctor. You all came into my life at such an important time — as a Senior at Preble High — when I was deciding what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Your support and encouragement meant the world to me and propelled me forward into this amazing career. When school was challenging, I frequently reminded myself that the "Journey is the Reward” and WOW what a Journey it has been!"
Thank you all so much,
Lily Arendt, O.D. 2012 Brian LaViolette Scholarship Recipient
"I wanted to send you an update on how my freshman year at Marquette has gone and to thank you again for what an amazing honor it was to have received the 2020 Brian LaViolette Scholarship.
I just finished my second semester exams a few weeks ago and am getting ready for a fun and relaxing summer. I am taking a few summer classes and will be studying Urdu, the official language of Pakistan, through UW Madison. It is a program that the Air Force ROTC encourages to teach future officers critical languages.
Additionally, my freshman year was challenging and rewarding. It was a lot of change all at once and navigating a new city and school during covid was definitely a little overwhelming. However, I made a lot of new friends and enjoyed learning topics in engineering. Some of my favorite classes were Calculus, Introduction to Computer Programming, and Theology. I am looking forward to my sophomore year in engineering and the Air Force ROTC program.
Lastly, I just wanted to say that I often think of the qualities Brian possessed and how I can implement his legacy in my everyday life. I am grateful to not only have received the scholarship, but have been able to learn about Brian's story and try to represent all that he encompassed.
Best Wishes,
Lauren Bonetti, 2020 Brian LaViolette Scholarship Recipient
