2011 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS CELEBRATE!

Winners Alexandria (Alex) Allen, Mesha Wing & George Turner  
 
Thank you to everyone that was able to attend our Scholarship Dinner on May 22nd at Buca di Beppo.  Darlene Hunter, Paralympian and Wheelchair Basketball Player and Coach (just to name a few of her accolades) gave an inspiring speech on giving back to your community and teaching others about living with a disability such as Spina Bifida.  She talked about how to encourage others to learn and grow and how to not let your disability dictate your life.  When her injury left her paralyzed, she was still expected to do her chores, study and do well in school and participate in sports.  She now has a double degree, a doctorate, is a paralympian, coaches several disability sports and is constantly engaging with others in the disability community.  Children with Spina Bifida, their parents, newly diagnosed families and doctors need to be aware that life with a disability is not devastating - it's what you make of it!  She encouraged our scholarship recipients to be role models for youth with disabilities and bring awareness into the community.  

Congratulations to our winners!  They have a bright future and we wish them the best as they continue their path in education and life! Due to the overwhelming success of the Second Annual Walk N Roll in July, we were able to award scholarships to four outstanding students. Each applicant submitted an essay, transcripts, letters of recommendation and other documentation to support their request. A committee of five individuals, each dedicated to the mission of the Spina Bifida Association of North Texas in their commitment to the committee, reviewed the applications and made the awards. Please join the committee in congratulating these students:

Alex Allen will be a freshman at Tarleton State University, studying Special Education. She is a 2011 graduate of Godley High School, where she was a member of The National Honor Society, Student Council and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She was also a manager for the girls’ basketball team and active in her church’s youth group. As a participant in Ready, Set, Teach during her senior year, she was able to experience first-hand the many challenges and rewards of teaching. She is eager and well prepared as she starts her college career this fall.

Samantha Ross returns to Oklahoma to continue her studies in Meteorology. She is a determined student who faces challenges with enthusiasm and resolve. Samantha submitted a moving essay with her application that is surely to inspire many students, young and old, that are living with spina bifida. Please see her essay "Challenge" here!

George Turner returns to The University of Arkansas this fall to continue his studies in Communications. Last year, George took the campus by storm, and with the blessing of the university chancellor, organized the first ever University of Arkansas Disabilities Awareness Week. He secured corporate sponsorship, organized volunteers, planned programming and speakers and coordinated complete marketing efforts. He managed to do well in his classes, too! Look for great things to come from this young man, as he considers a career in Fund Raising and Development.

 Mesha Wing recently completed her freshman year at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where she is studying interior design and architecture. She is a strong student with goals to earn her degrees, succeed in her chosen career and eventually own her own business. One of her goals is to use her education and experience as a volunteer in her community and around the world, designing houses, schools, and community centers in areas with few financial resources. We wish her the very best as she pursues these goals.