Honorable Shawn Long Memorial Scholarship

My career goal is to build a successful future in business where I can lead with integrity, create opportunities for others, and make a lasting positive impact in the communities around me. I plan to study business in college because I am interested in how leadership, innovation, and strategic decision-making can help organizations grow while improving people’s lives. In the long term, I hope to become an entrepreneur or business executive who develops companies, creates jobs, and supports causes that strengthen local communities. I believe true success is not measured only by profit, but by the positive difference you make for others. One of the biggest influences on my goals has been my personal journey. I moved from Italy to the United States during high school, which meant adapting to a completely new country, language, and educational system while still striving for academic excellence. Starting over in a new environment taught me lessons that cannot be learned in a classroom alone. I learned resilience when situations felt uncomfortable, discipline when I had to work harder than before, and confidence when I had to believe in myself even without certainty. Those experiences shaped me into someone who does not fear change, but instead sees challenges as opportunities for growth. These qualities will be essential in college and in my future career. I have also developed leadership through athletics. As captain of my high school basketball team, I have learned how to motivate others, communicate effectively, and lead by example. Being a captain is not only about performance; it is about responsibility, accountability, and helping teammates succeed. Basketball has taught me that leadership requires patience, consistency, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. It has also shown me the importance of teamwork, because no one succeeds alone. These lessons directly connect to business, where strong leaders must inspire people, solve problems, and bring out the best in those around them. I am especially inspired by careers that improve the lives of others, which connects deeply to the mission of United Disabilities Services. In the future, I hope to use my business education to support organizations, services, or companies that increase accessibility, wellness, and opportunity for individuals who need additional support. Whether through nonprofit leadership, socially responsible business practices, or partnerships with community organizations, I want my work to help people enhance their abilities and live their best lives possible. I believe business can be a powerful tool for service when guided by compassion and purpose. This scholarship would help me tremendously as I pursue higher education. College is an important step toward achieving my goals, but it also brings significant financial responsibilities. This scholarship would reduce the burden of tuition, books, and other educational costs, allowing me to focus more fully on academics, internships, leadership experiences, and personal growth. It would also give me greater freedom to pursue opportunities that prepare me for the future rather than worrying as much about finances. More importantly, this scholarship would be an investment in someone who is determined to make the most of every opportunity. I have worked hard to maintain strong academics while balancing athletics, leadership, and the challenge of adapting to a new life in a new country. I plan to use my education not only to achieve personal success, but to create opportunities for others and give back to the communities that have supported me. Receiving the Honorable Shawn M. Long Memorial Scholarship would bring me one step closer to turning ambition, perseverance, and service into a lifelong career of impact.

In my future I want to be a Radiation Oncologist. A Radiation Oncologist is a doctor that treats cancers using radiation therapy. Throughout my years of highschool i’ve been growing interest in the medical field but I never exactly knew the specific field I wanted to work in. I’ve watched many hospital shows and they all only show 3 types of doctors mainly. The main doctor, nurse, and a psychiatrist. I never really felt interested in working in the ED and treating patients directly but there was a time where I thought I wanted to be a therapist. Eventually we started learning about cancer in biology and how different cancers are treated and I found it so interesting how many people die from so many types of cancer and how little we know about these cancers. I personally know a person who had cancer that didn’t survive unfortunately, but that person was also another reason I chose my future career field. Even though I don’t really come from a low income family. I do have a single parent and she has her struggles. I’m her eldest child and first to go to college. She has her financial struggles sometimes and me going to college also being far away from home with not a lot of money in scholarships because of her income at the moment, it freaked her out and it freaked me out as well. I don’t want my mother to have to struggle financially because my schooling is too much to pay for. This scholarship will help make my college financial situation better and lift weights off our shoulders. This scholarship will also help bring light to people also in my situation get more help financially because the more money you make the less money schools give you in financial aid which can sometimes be fair but is very understandable. I want my college experience to be as little stress as possible. Everyone needs a little assistance at some point, not everyone is rich and can put out thousands of dollars at a time. It is understood that their are payment plans as well for when you attend college but people need more than just a payment plan and it doesn’t hurt to give people a little assistance. My mom has 5 kids and she takes care of all our finances. School, clothes, food, all the basic needs she takes care of on her own and she wants to make sure that I won’t take on the need of financial struggle. This scholarship will be able to help me in so many ways.

The future is full of endless possibilities, and my list of things I hope to accomplish grows every day. My career goals are to go to Liberty University, graduating in May 2029 with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Upon graduation, I also would like to have a trauma certification as well as my RN. Following college, my goal is to start as a trauma nurse, and eventually do other specialties, such as emergency room nursing, PEDS nursing, and flight nursing. I have also considered returning to school and getting my Master's Degree in order to advance my job to a Nurse Practitioner. My dream of becoming a nurse stems from the root of having a strong desire to help others. When I was a kid, I was in the hospital for two weeks, and now ten years later I still remember my nurses and the impact they had on me. I want to be able to have that same impact on any life I have the opportunity to come in contact with. With this scholarship, I am one step closer to paying for college, meaning I am also one step closer to fulfilling my passion through nursing. Without college, I will have a much more difficult time getting a job as a trauma nurse. While it is possible to do it through programs, it will take much longer and be less efficient compared to going through college. Using the route of college, I am easily able to get my BSN, RN, and trauma certification and enter the job upon graduation. If I choose to go through programs or other methods of achieving certifications and license, it will take me years of experience to reach the trauma job. Getting this scholarship would help me get through the most important step of achieving my goals. College is expensive, and regardless of how much you work it is hard to save enough money. As an involved high school student in academics, sports and clubs, working two jobs on top of that is very challenging. Receiving a scholarship such as this one will allow me to focus more on school and less on the cost of it. My tuition each year amounts to about $40k, so any help I can get to pay for school is greatly appreciated. This scholarship obviously does not cover my cost of college, but it helps me get a little bit closer to achieving my goal and dream of becoming a nurse. I am very passionate about fulfilling this career goals and am very grateful for any help I can get in making it happen. Thank you for your consideration!

My hand shook with excitement as I firmly grabbed hold of the tattered rope. After much anticipation, the Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital clinic bell was finally ringing out for me. During my time spent in the clinic, this bell echoed through the halls from time to time. However, this time, it brought my family and I to tears; I was cured of cancer and gifted with life. After winning my battle with cancer, I felt called to help other patients. As a medical intern, I became someone on the other side of the exam room, ready to provide hope and comfort as patients experienced feelings that I understood all too well. Everyone knows that patients depend on their doctors to provide a correct diagnosis and treatment plan, but I know that patients also ask their doctors to offer care, empathy, and positivity. Moments of fear can turn into moments of hope when a patient and physician share a special connection of trust. Fortunately, I experienced this connection centered around trust in the moments of my diagnosis and throughout my cancer journey. One hot and sunny July day, I was taken to the emergency room for what I thought was a broken leg. Much to my surprise, I was whisked away for a spinal tap and bone marrow biopsy. Soon after, my parents and I heard the words we never expected to hear – I had cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Soon, a nurse was clicking the brakes off of my hospital bed and rolling me to the inpatient pediatric cancer unit - my home for the next three months. Unable to walk, weak from side effects, and in excruciating pain, I was unsure and scared of what was to come. Yet, I began to use my trust in God, family, and doctors to overpower any negativity, and I was released from the hospital to begin at-home physical and occupational therapy. I traveled over an hour to the clinic multiple times a week to receive IV chemotherapy through a port in my chest. Three years later, that port became my scar – the physical reminder of the fight I endured and the doctors who helped. My understanding of service and medicine was strengthened last summer when I created a research project at Misericordia University. In partnership with University professors and students, we created an aerobic exercise program to assess the mental and physical effects of aqua therapy on eight visually impaired volunteers. For two months, I observed the adversities of each participant and simultaneously admired their faith. Despite the difficulties, they were hopeful for brighter, healthier lives and trusted in our plan. Equality and trust should be the foundation of any medical relationship. Now, I don’t think about my cancer journey being difficult, but instead, everyday, I think about the hope and strength my doctors inspired. Our special connection will last a lifetime and will be the foundation of my service as a doctor. The day I rang that bell will forever be etched in my mind as the most beautiful day of my life. I know that beating cancer would not be possible without a loving physician by my side, and I want to be that physician for others. I want to celebrate with my patients in moments of joy and offer a shoulder to cry on in moments of difficulty. I live every day knowing that God has given me the chance to make a difference in the world, and I plan on doing just that.