Scholarship Finalists 2024

1. Fenet Dargie

The rhythmic beating of heart monitors, the warmth of my parents' hands, and the weight of my eyelids shaped my earliest memories. At six years old, hearing the word “tuberculosis” shattered my world, replacing my dreams of school and beach trips with endless medications and hospital visits. While my parents worried about my health, I was focused on whether I’d miss our class field trip to the beach. I remember sitting by the window, watching other kids playing outside, their laughter echoing through the glass. While I longed for the beach, my illness felt like quicksand, dragging me into despair.

Yet, amidst the darkness, I found hope in the doctors who treated me. They became my lifeline, transforming my fears into believing I would recover. Strangers turned into my shining armor and family, saving me from the tall dull tower I forever thought I would stay in. My constant fear turned into hope, believing that this wasn’t the end and that I would get better. With each passing day, I gradually regained my strength, not just physically, but mentally. I excelled in school and became president of my class, fueled by the drive that tuberculosis had almost taken from me.

In high school, I deepened my passion for medicine especially for pediatric science through volunteering at children's care and traveling to Kenya to shadow doctors through the program, International Medical Aid. There, I witnessed the stark realities of healthcare, financial struggles and the power imbalance between patients and providers. However, I also saw the incredible impact that compassionate doctors can have, especially in comforting frightened children, much like I had once been comforted. It was in these moments that I saw how medicine wasn’t just about healing the body, it was about restoring a lost hope.

Looking back, the scared six-year-old me could never have imagined that I’d one day be helping others overcome their struggles. If I could meet that little girl today, I’d sit beside her, hold her hand, and reassure her that while she may miss that beach trip, far bigger adventures await us both.

2. Brooke Lizette Carrasco

An act of kindness can go a long way and leave quite an impression on someone. It can inspire and uplift an individual, even changing their life. I am a volunteer at Kaweah Health Medical Center where I shadow nurses and doctors. I have gained insight to what my future career in nursing can be. I have provided companionship and care and have been introduced to basic nursing skills. It has shed light on different aspects of nursing, hospitals, and more importantly interactions between nurses and patients.

In the beginning of my fourth grade school year my cousin got hit by a truck while he was riding his quad. Miraculously he lived and was in the hospital for 3 long months. During this time, after school, my mom would take myself and his siblings up to the hospital to be with him. He had severe skin, head, and leg injuries. It was horrible. The amazing thing to me was watching day in and day out all the nurses care for my cousin. They would check his monitors, change wounds, give medications, all while talking to him and trying to make him laugh and be comfortable. One nurse I will never forget was Sarah. She was very patient with my cousin and during some of her shifts she brought him flowers and different card games. A simple gesture filled with kindness that brought joy to my cousin and would put a smile on his face. For four straight weeks a new bouquet would appear and a new card game was learned. Nurse Sarah truly touched the lives of our whole family.

Not only did this act of kindness help lift the spirits of my cousin, it is one of the reasons that I want to become a nurse. Those flowers, cards, and her thoughtfulness made me realize I want to help others while spreading a little kindness along the way.

3. Reilly Williams

In the hustle of everyday life, little moments of kindness often pass unappreciated, yet they hold profound potential to change the basis of our interactions with one another. A recent experience at my local Dunkin’ taught me just how powerful a small act of generosity can be, not only for those directly involved but also for the wider community. It was a typical afternoon when I found myself waiting in the line of cars, craving my favorite strawberry dragonfruit refresher. Little did I know, that day would become a meaningful lesson in kindness.

As I approached the window, the cashier had a huge smile on their face. By the time I reached for my card to pay, they informed me that my total was taken care of by the car that was just in front of me. At that moment, I felt a wave of warmth wash over me. This simple act of kindness, conducted with no expectation of a reward, struck a deep chord within me. It was a reminder of the humanity that still exists in the world, something that is often overshadowed by our daily stresses.

Instead of merely thanking the cashier, I felt compelled to continue the chain of generosity sparked by the stranger before me. After all, I had just witnessed firsthand the sheer joy that one simple act of kindness could bring. It felt only natural to pay it forward, so without hesitating, I asked the cashier, “How much is the order for the person behind me?” With another smile, the cashier informed me of the total. I gladly paid for that person's drink, continuing the cycle of goodwill initiated by the stranger in front of me. I can only hope that the cycle continued on for at least a little while longer.

4. Deneisha Fields

When my 1-year-old son was admitted to the hospital for RSV, one act of kindness by the care team stood out: how they went above and beyond medical care to ensure he felt safe and comfortable. After several failed attempts to insert an IV, the nurse who ultimately succeeded noticed how restless he was. Instead of trying again immediately, she spoke to him in a gentle voice and played peek-a-boo, which eventually coaxed a small smile from him. She even gave us a few precious minutes for some mommy cuddles. Although I may not remember her name, I will always remember her kindhearted face and spirit. Her patience and efforts calmed him enough to get through the process with less distress. That small act of kindness made a difficult moment feel a little lighter and reminded me how much compassion can make a difference—not only for a child but also for a worried parent. This experience with my son in the hospital reflects how compassion can have a profound impact on even the smallest and most vulnerable patients. As a blood bank professional, when I prepare blood for a baby, I often think of the nurse who went the extra mile to comfort my son. Though the baby may never see me, I strive to select and prepare safe blood products with the knowledge that somewhere upstairs, a parent and a child are relying on care and support. My work helps ease a family's burden and offers them hope during a difficult time, just as that nurse did for me.

5. Alexander Joel Deppen

In February of 2023, I took a trip to the Dominican Republic for a mission trip. The entire time I was in disbelief at how the Dominicans were living in their small villages. It made me sad to see so many people hurting, and desperate for food when they had so little. Every day we would visit a different village, and I helped our medical professionals take blood pressure and pulse aux. As someone who was getting ready to go to college for nursing, I was so grateful to have gotten to observe and learn from some of the nurses through my church. One of the nurses I got to learn from on the trip is named Sharron, she is a wonderful nurse and has pushed me to do my best throughout college. Now, Sharron had trouble walking especially because we are in a very rocky area, so she had two walking sticks that she used to help herself get around. On our third or fourth day in the Dominican, we drove to a village about thirty or forty minutes from where we were staying, so that we could set up our medical tent and take care of some of the people who needed help. I don’t distinctly remember the name of the village, but I do remember that a turkey was walking around, not bothering anyone, but just keeping to itself. While the turkey was walking around, we were helping the people in the village, whether it had been taking vitals or giving them medication for wounds or parasites. We were starting to finish up and a lady came to us holding herself up on the shoulders of two other men and said she was having trouble walking. I remember thinking to myself that there wasn’t much we could do. There were limited supplies, we didn’t have a boot for her to put on, and we couldn’t give her an x-ray, but then I saw Sharron give the lady some medication for the pain and hand her one of her walking sticks. It was such a moving moment to watch someone who is struggling, give something up to help someone else with their struggle. It brought tears to my eyes to watch the lady walk away with the stick that Sharron had given her, and to see the joy on Sharron’s face. Her act of kindness will never be forgotten by me, and she is the perfect example of what a nurse should be, and I couldn’t have been luckier to have her as a guide, and still have her as a guide to this day.

6. Joshua Hall

One summer when I was eight years old, my mom enrolled me in a day camp to keep me active during summer vacation. That year, I witnessed an act of kindness that changed my life.

During a group gathering in a park gazebo, my friend accidentally fell backward off a handrail into a dense bush. Unbeknownst to us, a sharp stick was hidden within the foliage. It pierced his thigh, leaving him in agonizing pain and surrounded by chaos. The teenage camp counselors, overwhelmed by the sight, panicked and screamed.

At that moment, an older woman walking nearby heard the commotion and approached. She was an off duty volunteer EMT with the local ambulance service. Her calm and collected demeanor immediately transformed the scene. She assessed my friend’s injury, reassured him, and provided initial care until the ambulance arrived. Her presence provided a sense of strength and reassurance in the midst of all the chaos.

This woman’s actions stuck with me. I admired her ability to bring calm to a crisis, and I found myself wanting to embody that same quality for others. Inspired by her act of kindness and selflessness, I decided to pursue a path in emergency medical services. For the past seven years, I’ve worked as an EMT, dedicating my life to supporting those in need during their most vulnerable moments.

Now, I am pursuing a nursing degree to further my education and expand my ability to make a difference in the lives of others. The act of kindness I witnessed that day not only shaped my career but also instilled in me the value of compassion and resilience. I aspire to pass this kindness forward every day in my work as a healthcare professional.

7. Stephanie Maree Alonso

Being a nurse isn’t about hearing “thank you” every day—it’s about the quiet joy of making a difference, even in the smallest ways. I’ve always found meaning in creating moments that leave my patients feeling seen and cared for. But 2020 was different. It tested me in ways I could never have anticipated; without a doubt, it was the most challenging year of my nursing career. My time as an EMT prepared me for intense situations, but the pandemic was a different kind of challenge altogether—a relentless storm for which there was no true preparation.

As a nurse, I thought I knew what it felt like for the families I cared for until I found myself in their place, with my own family member in the hospital. I became the one nervously awaiting every update, hoping for good news. The nurses who care for my grandfather were excellent, providing updates and allowing us to see him through FaceTime. It brought me comfort knowing he could hear our voices and feel our love from afar. On July 26, 2020, he lost the short but brave battle with COVID-19. Following his passing, I returned to the frontlines, battling the unyielding pandemic while grappling with the profound sorrow of his loss. Like so many families, we suddenly found ourselves navigating the unexpected financial challenges that came with his loss.

Shortly after returning to work, a coworker called to tell me they had started a fundraiser for my grandfather’s funeral costs. I was overwhelmed by their selflessness. Despite being exhausted and overworked during the grueling pandemic, they came together without hesitation to support one of their own. Their generosity made it possible for my family to lay my grandfather to rest.

Words cannot express how grateful I am for my colleagues who stood by me during one of the most challenging times in my life. In their acts of kindness, I found not only comfort but a reminder of the immense capacity people have to bring love and hope into the lives of others.

8. Stephanie Michelle Lopez Lopez

My senior year, I joined the Wilson Youth Council where we are a group of teens and we go around to help our community in any way possible and in exchange, we get volunteer hours. I volunteered at the NC Whirligig Festival last year and had the second shift. I was in charge of one of the inflatables in the Kids Zone where the kids got to race each other and make it through the end. There was one kid who fell as he was coming out of the inflatable and fell on his head on the cement. He was bleeding a lot from his forehead and started to cry very loudly. Everybody was just staring at him and didn’t know what to do in that situationship, especially the leaders who were in charge there. I decided to step up to take leadership to make sure the kid was okay while not getting the rest of the children in line scared. I told my partner to be in charge of the inflatable to keep the line moving and to make sure nobody sees the kid’s injury. While my partner kept the activity going, I did my best to calm the kid down so he could tell me where his family was. Once I escorted him to his family, I ran to my booth where we had a first aid kit ready at the stand. I grabbed it and quickly ran back to the family and cleaned him up. I made sure to clean the blood up, put a Band-Aid on his forehead, gave the kid a piece of candy, and apologized to the family about the incident. That experience and being in WYC has shown me many times how much I really want to become a nurse because it combines my passion for helping the community and meeting new people and I want to be someone that patients can be comfortable with, especially in high tense situations.

9. Sophia Redfeairn

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all” is a saying many of us were taught growing up while still learning the fine skill of discernment. Something I believe is perhaps just as impactful is, “to say the kind things in life”. My mind goes back to a particular moment when I was standing in the grocery store, minding my business, when an older women was passing by and says to me, “you’ve got a beautiful smile, keep it up!”. From that single moment, my whole day became brighter and my heart became lighter. Even though I’d never met her before, and she had no reason to be kind to me- she made a choice that day. The choice of kindness is not always an easy one. But ever since that experience I’ve challenged myself everyday to choose kindness, to compliment that stranger on their cool shoes or pretty earrings, to say hello and smile as someone passes by, to hold open a door or offer assistance- even when it’s not convenient. Life is short, and I’d hate to come to the end of it without giving it my all. This mentality has spilled over into my desire to become a nurse, someone whose entire job is to serve others and show kindness everyday. My mom has always told me to have a servant’s heart, someone who is selfless, their first thought always to put others before themselves. One day, I hope to be that old lady in the grocery store, who inspires another young girl to continue smiling and to choose kindness everyday.

10. Kristin Kodama

Though she was only six years old at the time, my younger sister, Kaitlyn, has always been the kindest person I know. She has a way of putting others before herself, even when it isn’t easy. During my angsty teenage years, I was often overwhelmed by negative emotions, shutting myself away in my room. Kaitlyn, despite my moods, would knock on my door, only to be met with my rude comments or tearful outbursts. No matter how many times I sent her away, she always came back to check on me.

One day, when she was just six, Kaitlyn did something I’ll never forget. She left a heartfelt note on a small napkin outside my closed bedroom door. Her writing was barely legible, but the message was crystal clear: “To sister, be happy please.” Next to it, she placed three small stacks of Cheerios. When I opened the door and saw her simple gesture, all the negativity inside me seemed to melt away.

Kaitlyn’s kindness, so pure and unconditional, left an impression on me that I’ll carry with me forever. Her heart was larger than her years, and in that moment, she taught me a lesson about love and compassion.

Unconditional love and kindness are gifts that can be given freely, regardless of age, language, culture, or background. I think about this every day, especially in my work now and as I pursue my future career as a nurse. There’s no limit to the kindness we can share. Kaitlyn showed me what it means to give without expectation, and she has had the most profound impact on my life because of her kindness. I’m forever grateful, and I vow to pay it forward every day, knowing that no act of kindness is ever too small.

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