One top scholar each year is awarded a four-year Presidential Scholarship. This award was started by the National MS Society’s current president and CEO, Joyce Nelson.
Laura Hermanns—National MS Society Presidential Scholar
Wisconsin Chapter
Father with MS
4.1 GPA, Top 10% of Class
High ACT Scores
More than His Disease
Laura was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Government, and captain of her Walk MS team for four years. She recently accepted the challenge, and will walk in the Wisconsin Chapter’s first Challenge Walk in Door County this fall. Laura plans a career in environmental science where she can study “the rhythm of life.” She is greatly influenced by her family’s perseverance and especially by her father who lives with MS. “My dad knows that he is more than his disease. As a pastor, he continues to inspire so many.” She says her family’s determination and devotion will guide her life always.
Each year a four-year scholarship is awarded to a top scholar in honor of the Society’s past president and CEO, General Mike Dugan, USAF, retired.
Iwona Krzysiak—National MS Society Mike Dugan Scholar
Greater Illinois Chapter
Father with MS
Top 3% of Class
4.1 GPA
Power of a United Family
Iwona’s dad was injured on his job and later was diagnosed with MS. She and her mom work to support the family. Despite the hardships, she has been in the honors program academically for three years and one of the top students in her class. She says she has learned many things from her experience: Sheer determination to succeed (she will be the first of her family to attend college); compassion for others with disabilities; and the power of a united family unit. She will study business management in order to continue to help support her family.
Dana Walker
All America Chapter-Panhandle Division
Mother with MS
Valedictorian, 4.0 GPA
In Her Footsteps
Dana was only seven years old when her mom passed away. She is now old enough to understand what MS is and how it affected her mother. She is inspired by what she has learned. Knowing what a great student she was, Dana is following in her mom’s footsteps as the top student in her graduating class! She will continue to broaden her horizons as she studies psychology in order “to help people in need as often as I can out of gratitude for those who helped my mom.”
Alexandrea Hatcher
All America Chapter–Great Basin Sierra Division
Person with MS
3.9 GPA
Pursuit of a Dream
Ever since she was a little girl, Alexandrea has wanted to be a doctor. When she was diagnosed with MS, she was now the patient and uncertain of her future goal. Because of weakness in her right hand, she knows she cannot study to be a surgeon. So, she has adjusted her ambition and now would like to study neurology. She has just completed an 80-hour internship with a local hospital observing physicians in their daily practices. She will surely find a way to achieve her childhood dream.
Brittany Hower
Allegheny Chapter
Mother with MS
Ingenuity x 2
One of six children raised by a single parent, Brittany took a year off school to work three jobs in order to save for college. She is inspired by a mom who not only struggles with MS but is blind. This woman continues to raise six children by herself, do all her own housework and even learned how to use a computer. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Brittany is determined to enter college to earn a degree in nursing.
Anthony Albanese
Central New England Chapter
Mother with MS
Self-dependence
A computer whiz, Anthony wants to enter the technology field and perhaps design video games. Since he is an only child of a single parent, he has become a strong and independent person who has been responsible for himself at an early age. As soon as he was able to cross the street by himself, he recalls, he was making his own dinner and doing household tasks. He was “a partner in the household instead of merely growing up in one.” He will go away to college this fall and his mom will move in with her adult daughter and her husband to give Anthony a taste of college life and freedom to explore new horizons.
Sabrina Cruz
Central New England Chapter
Mother with MS, Person with diabetes
Shining Star
Sabrina knows much about chronic illness — her mother’s and her own. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in her sophomore year. Yet she is a shining star at school, at home and in the community. She has been a leader in the Best Buddies program which pairs a mentor with a special education student. She also finds time to play tennis and be a part-time lifeguard. She would like to work in the medical field someday, perhaps as a physician’s assistant. She is also interested in working with children as a diabetes educator.
Julie Denberger
Greater Washington Chapter
Mother with MS
Top 5% of Class
3.9 GPA
A “Can of Soup” Theory of Life
Persistence is the key word for describing Julie’s mom. When reaching for a can of soup in the cupboard, she had a fall. Julie explains that her mom “is not trying to deny the fact that she has a disease when she reaches for the soup can… she is merely trying to retain her identity” as a wife and mother. Julie wants a future career in medical research and says “I know that college is another can of soup on the shelf. I will continue to reach for it, because it is an experience which will help me to further define myself.”
Thad Callaghan
Greater Washington Chapter
Mother with MS
Top 11% of Class
3.9 GPA
Life is Precious
A series of life-threatening events last Christmas made Thad realize how precious life really is. His mom is better now but has progressive MS and needs much help at home. He says, “Tomorrow is not a promise, so we have to make the best of today.” He says he tries to live each day to the fullest and to be sure to tell those who are close that he loves them. He will study exercise science in school next year and will surely succeed at anything he attempts.
Shannon Miller
Ohio Valley
Mother with MS
Outstanding Student Leader
From all reports from teachers and counselors, Shannon is an outstanding student, athlete and community leader. Almost too many activities to count, she has been active in honor roll, volleyball, softball, choir, key club, bowling, church youth group and more. She also finds time to volunteer for Walk MS, a food pantry, St. Jude’s hospital, Meals on Wheels – the list goes on and on. She credits her mom for helping her define her future life’s work – occupational therapy. She will surely be successful in all her life pursuits.
Clayton Giraudin
Lone Star Chapter
Mother with MS
Spokesperson for Hope
On his way to obtaining a business management degree, Clayton will surely succeed. The son of a single parent with three older siblings, the family has pulled together over the years to help each other. His mom has also instilled the need to serve others. He and his mom were chosen as the national spokespersons for the MS 150 Bike Tour (now called Bike MS). They appeared on the Donnie and Marie Show and talked about the affects of MS. He is proud of his role and continues to participate in Bike MS. He says of the MS Society: “The support this organization has provided my family continues to offer hope that one day there will be a cure.”
Zachary Gaston
Louisiana Chapter
Mother with MS
Top 15% of Class
4.0 GPA
Survival Skills
Although he has had to grow up more quickly than his peers, Zachary is not complaining. He says he has learned many survival skills from his mom who is a single parent. She gets up at 5 a.m. to get him to band practice. He has learned to help by cooking, cleaning and doing yard work. When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wrecked havoc on their home, mother and son began the rebuilding process themselves. Zach would like to become a physician in the future.
Anna Marie Crum
Mid Florida Chapter
Person with MS
Top 10% of Class, 4.0 GPA, High SAT Scores
Faith & Hope Build Character
Anna Marie is an acclaimed student (Who’s Who Among High School Students) who has overcome great odds in her young life. She was diagnosed with MS at 16 and became legally blind for a time. She managed to maintain her straight ‘A’ status and continue as a vocal musician. She became fluent in basic Braille and is now writing a book in Braille for children with visual impairments. She quotes Helen Keller: “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened… and success achieved.” This future English teacher knows well of what she speaks.
Marissa Gaulton
Oregon Chapter
Mother with MS
Top 5% of Class
4.1 GPA
Finding the Good
The theme of her essay on MS, “find the good,” characterizes Marissa and her family’s approach to adversity. When her mom was diagnosed with MS, her father raised over $9,000 to give to the chapter; her brother wrote an article for the MS teen magazine; the whole family bonded together to stay the course. She writes: “The MS road is a rough ride, but we’ve got our seatbelts on.” Marissa has the same "can do" attitude when it comes to academics, athletics and community service. She will surely succeed when she studies political science in order to become an advocate for human rights someday.
Taylor 
Arroyo-Rabin
Pacific South Coast Chapter
Mother with MS
3.9 GPA
Student of the Year
A talented student and community volunteer, Taylor was named inspirational volunteer of the month by a local TV station. Some would call her volunteer of the year for her community service alone. An animal lover who wants to be a vet, she has logged over 500 hours working for others, especially the four-footed kind. No stranger to adversity, her dad died when she was 12 and her mom learned she had MS the next year. Through it all, Taylor is determined to succeed and credits her mom as her main inspiration.
Jesse Faerber
Utah Chapter
Mother with MS
To Serve Others
The need for long-term care is an issue Jesse knows all too well. Because of her mom’s progressive MS, her dad is her full-time caregiver. Her little sister is also severely disabled and completely dependent for all her needs. Jesse has found the time to complete a certificate in medical assistance while still in high school. She will use this knowledge to further her medical education as a pre-med student at the University of Utah this fall.
Holly Schram
Utah Chapter
Father with MS
Top 10% of Class
3.9 GPA
A Father’s Legacy
Holly has chosen to become a nurse because of her dad’s long time struggle with MS. She and her family dedicated the last four years of his life to his devoted and loving care. Her dad was a trained nurse himself and committed his life to helping others. When the tables were turned, Holly says she saw how much others were able to help him and how important the nursing profession is.
Bradley Konkel
Wisconsin Chapter
Father with MS
Top 10% of Class, 3.8 GPA
Making a Dream a Reality
Keenly interested in medical science ever since his father was diagnosed with MS, Bradley has been an active participant in a NMSS funded research project conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “This has been a tremendous experience for me, that I will carry with me for the rest of my life!” When Bradley was not involved in clinical research, he participated in Forensics, Varsity soccer, Student Council, and the National Honor Society. Bradley plans on attending medical school so that he can fulfill his dream, “helping people with physical ailments and giving back to the community.”
Cassandra Anderson
Wisconsin Chapter
Mother and two Aunts with MS
Memory Walk
Cassandra was a distinguished high school scholar, all conference athlete, and Walk MS participant. She loves animals and plans on studying veterinary medicine. Having three beloved family members diagnosed with MS has framed her outlook on life. “I did lose my mom to MS when I was in the fourth grade, but in that short time with her, she taught me so much. The most important thing was - how you spend time with the people you love.”
Melissa Harris
Upstate New York Chapter
Person with MS
Online to the World
"Thirteen-year-olds aren’t supposed to get MS," was Melissa’s first thought. Needing to share what she was going through, she joined an online MS chat room. Everything changed. She was able to find people who could answer her questions and connect with her as a person with MS. She now says the trick to living with MS is not to anticipate problems, but “to know how to get back up on your feet when you’ve been knocked down.”
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