Rotary Scholarship Applications

• Service Above Self
• Merit
• Bigelow

I believe I qualify for the Service Above Self Scholarship because of my strong dedication to giving back to my community. As Vice President of Lakeridge High School's Interact Club, in partnership with Rotary, I have led and participated in several service projects. I have distributed dictionaries to elementary school students to promote literacy, and I planned and hosted a fun run to raise money for Water Wells in Africa, helping provide clean water to underserved communities. I have also volunteered with SOLVE Oregon, participating in ivy pulls to restore natural habitats in local parks. Through Transition Projects, I have bought groceries and cooked meals at Jean's Place, supporting women escaping domestic abuse.

Beyond Interact Club, I am an active member of Girl Scouts USA, where my troop has completed many community service projects. We built a bench for a public park, constructed a Little Free Library, made dog toys for Oregon Dog Rescue, created blankets for Transition Projects’ houseless outreach, and taught younger members important skills. I also serve as a camp counselor at a summer camp, where I guide younger girls in developing life skills, teamwork, and confidence.

Through my school’s National Honor Society, I volunteered at a Respond to Racism Gala that raised over $40,000 for a community cultural center focused on anti-racism education. I also helped at multiple Lake Oswego elementary school carnival fundraisers, monitoring activities and using my first aid training to assist when needed. In addition, I volunteer by walking dogs at Oregon Dog Rescue and even helped walk dogs for a neighbor recovering from an injury.

I strongly value giving back to my community and working with others to make the world a better place. I strive to live every day by Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self, whether it's through large projects or small, everyday kindnesses.

I believe I qualify for the Bigelow Scholarship because of the resilience I've developed in overcoming both physical and mental health challenges.

During my sophomore year, I was in the best shape of my life, running cross country for Lakeridge High School. Our team qualified for the state meet, and everything seemed to be going great. However, that winter I contracted the flu, which triggered a series of unexpected and life-changing complications. I developed asthma due to the damage from prolonged coughing, a vocal cord disorder that caused my airway to close unpredictably, and severe food intolerances caused by damage to my cells during the high fever.

For months, I visited over ten doctors and specialists, but no one could give me an answer. Not knowing what was wrong made things even harder, especially as I was already managing anxiety disorder. I missed about a month’s worth of school spread over three months. Still, I maintained straight A’s — even when I couldn’t attend classes in person, I committed myself to my studies, using schoolwork as something steady to hold onto.

When track season started, even though I couldn’t run, I attended every practice. I brought my books and did homework on the sidelines, and I helped my teammates with their drills and routines. It was my way of staying connected and contributing, even when my body wasn’t cooperating.

After nine long months, we finally met a doctor — my allergist — who connected the dots and offered an explanation that made sense. His insight was later confirmed by another specialist, and with treatment, I slowly began to recover.

The moment I was cleared to run again, I laced up my shoes and got back on the track. I wasn’t as fast as before, and I had to take frequent breaks to manage my breathing, but I was determined to reclaim my place. By my senior year, after training all summer with my dad, I made the varsity cross country team again. We qualified for the state meet, placed third, and earned an invitation to regionals.

I still live with some of the after-effects, like food sensitivities and breathing challenges. But through it all, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t about avoiding struggle — it’s about facing it head-on, adapting, and continuing to move forward, step by step. I believe this mindset makes me a strong candidate for the Bigelow Scholarship.

I have applied and been admitted to:
Lawrence University
Pacific Lutheran University
Beloit College
Chapman University
Montana State University
Linfield University
Western Oregon University

I applied and was denied admission to Northwestern University.

I have accepted my offer at Lawrence University and will attend there for the 2025-2026 school year.

I do not