In 2009, we awarded scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 to 19 college-bound students. All entered their freshman year, this past fall, at the college or university of their choice. We congratulate this diverse group of remarkable students and wish them the best in their future academic endeavors.
The following are the 2009 Southern California Chapter Scholarship recipients:
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James Larson's mother was diagnosed with MS when he was only 3 years old. He said, "My mom's determination to overcome the effects of MS and have good times with me has been inspiring." James, who was diagnosed with Tourette's six years ago, continued, "I tried to mirror the strength and courage I saw my mom display for many years. Thanks to her lessons and support, I was able to accept and battle my own condition." James has excelled in academics, student government and athletics and now looks forward to majoring in business and communications in college, and a career one day as a sports analyst or commentator. | |
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Gabriella & Kayla Gutierrez credit their father's optimistic attitude and courage, in the face of severe, progressive MS, for leading them to become the young women they are today. Their mother and father are both doctors, though their father had to retire several years ago. Gabriella said, "From a young age, I loved my parents' medical books. As my dad's illness progressed, I researched the medical parts of the disease. I felt if I had the knowledge, I'd be less afraid." Many trips to the emergency room with her dad and seeing how the doctors saved him, influenced her decision to want to be an ER doctor. In spite of various learning disabilities, Gabriella has graduated high school and finished studies to be a certified EMT. She volunteers weekly at the local community hospital and is now studying medicine in college. Kayla said, "Luckily, I inherited my dad's artistic and math ability." She looks forward to a career in architecture and hopes to design all types of buildings with the physcially challenged in mind. "Clearly, experiences with my dad have shaped my life, my career choice, and my understanding of what is important," she said. |
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Emily Dawson was only three years old when her mom was diagnosed with MS, so the disease has always been a part of her life. Emily believes the disease has actually brought her closer to her mom. She explained, "Through watching her conquer MS in her life, I have been inspired to conquer trails in my own life." She hopes to one day be a teacher. | |
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John-Laszlo Kiss and his father, who has MS, share a love of sports. John recounts his father teaching him to play catch and baseball, attending their first NFL game together, fishing trips during the summer, and how his dad attends each one of John's water polo matches. So, it's no wonder that when John uses a sports metaphor when he thinks of the future. He said, "I know it will be hard to leave my dad when I go away to college, but I will bring a part of my teammate with me because I model my personality, behavior and respect all after him." | |
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Tanya Vander Vis has learned many things from her mother, who has MS, especially to be an independent responsible woman. She has also learned the value of living in the moment and appreciating what you have. She explained, “My family and I have learned to treasure the times that my mom is feeling well enough to do something with us.” Tanya is deciding between being an architect or a history professor. | |
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Emilia Correa said, “multiple sclerosis taught me that everybody has something that stands in the way of his or her life goals. Those who climb over that hurdle or work to get to their goals are those who find success and happiness in their future.” She has learned this attitude first-hand by watching the fortitude of her mother who has MS. Emilia is determined to be successful in achieving her goals and to make her mother proud. | |
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Nicolette Paul chooses to see the positive in life and therefore can easily list off the benefits her mom having MS has brought to her family. She said, “Because we are all working together, we spend more time together as a family, this strengthens our love and bond. Chores give us a sense of responsibility and make us feel needed and important. The service we give to our mother has caused us to broaden our horizons and serve everyone around us.” Nicolette hopes to become a magazine editor. | |
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As a child, Jessica Rubio told her mom she would cure her of MS. The care and well-being of her family has been and remains a top priority for Jessica. A teenage mom of two boys, she at times feels she is caring for three. She said, “I don’t mind though…God gives me the strength I need to carry on…Having to depend on myself, and have my mother depend on me, is a stress I cannot ignore or push away. I feel I’m my mother’s hero.” Jessica plans to become a registered nurse. | |
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Benjamin Goldblatt has a deep desire to dedicate his life to public service. Logging in over 400 volunteer hours by the time he graduated high school has placed him well along that path. Public service is never an easy task but he’s up to the challenge. He said, “My mom’s battle against MS has taught me a lesson that I may have not otherwise learned: Never give in and never stop fighting.” | |
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Lauren Incerpi's life received a jolt at the age of eleven when her father was diagnosed with MS. It was a challenging time for her as she not only struggled to understand the changes in her father’s health and the multitude of doctor’s appointments, but was also faced with trying to answer the questions of her younger siblings. Time and perspective can change things. She wrote, “Almost ten years later, the meaning of multiple sclerosis transcends the scientific. For me, multiple sclerosis means dedication and hope.” Lauren aims to be a school psychologist. | |
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Being actively involved with school, football and music left little free time for Seth Kaplan but he knows the value of pursing your passions. At the age of 45, his father, who has MS and is a former dentist, went back to school to become a chiropractor. He said, “Whenever I am having a hard time…I think about my father…and I get back to work.” Seth plans to attend the Berklee School of Music to become a composer and producer of music. | |
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Uncertainty is a key quality of MS, often resulting quite a bit of worry. Kevin Rae has learned, through the example of his father, to put the worry aside. He said, “Even when recovering from surgery from prostate cancer my father continued on, with a smile on his face and a joke on his lips.” Kevin plans get a degree in film production. | |
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Courtney Smith's plans have already extended past undergrad; her sights are set on law school. If you press, you’ll find her greatest aspiration is to be the kind of woman her mom is – a woman who is strong, never self-pitying, is brave in the face of and determined to overcome any challenge. She said, “This is beauty. This is grace. This is inspiration. This is my mom.” | |
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Determined is a great descriptor of Maryanne Gladstone. She began working at 14 in order relieve her mom, who has MS, from some financial stress. She explained, “I know what I want, I set my sight on it and go for it. I know that these things have happened for a reason and I am making the most of it.” Maryanne plans to obtain a degree in international business and hopes to one day own her own business. |
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Ilse Valtierra has distinct memories of the impact her mother’s diagnosis of MS had on her childhood. She wrote, “Everything was perfect until I found out that my mother was extremely ill.” Through these challenges Ilse finds inspiration in her mother’s words, action and determination. She plans to be a chef because as she says, “When my mother cooked for us, even in her state…my family was a normal family at the dinner table.” |
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Jena Massey would be the first to tell you that MS changes a person, and often in positive ways. She has witnessed her father, who has MS, become a more caring and dedicated family man, for which she is grateful. She said, “I have watched my father become a different person. He has shown me all the positives that can come from a challenging fight with a debilitating disease.” Jena aims to have a career in communication disorders. | |
| Andrew Mikolajczyk, who played both varsity football and baseball, aims to be a positive influence on those who surround him. He has gleaned this desire from his father who was diagnosed with MS in 2007. He said of his father’s diagnosis, “I have learned to always look on the bright side and make the best out of every day.” Andrew plans to get a degree in business. | ||
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Sloane Goldstein, the youngest of three, felt a special responsibility to care for her mom when she was diagnosed with MS. The two have grown very close. Applying to colleges caused her to worry about the future care of her mother, but through the process Sloane learned a valuable lesson. She explained, “I have come to realize that I am not responsible for what happens to my mother in her future.” Sloane is debating between becoming an athletic trainer or opening her own bakery. |
