Lewis Ohana Scholarship

College is important to me because it will provide me with the resources needed to succeed in my career. However, it’s very expensive and causes a lot of people to be in debt for the rest of their lives. I'm wanting to pursue a nursing major which requires around three hundred to seven hundred dollars worth of textbooks for studying and course work each semester. In just my first year of college I'll be paying up to fourteen hundred dollars just in textbooks. I want the best books that will give top notch understanding of the curriculum and better help educate me. Unfortunately, higher quality textbooks are more expensive. Some adversities I have overcome while growing up in a rural area is living in a small town with those who have the same ideology. For many in my town, college is just a dream. However, college is not just a dream for me, but a goal. Another adversity I have faced in my small town is inconvenient access to healthcare. I have suffered from a stress fracture in my lower back that required surgery. However, to see the specialist I needed to treat this injury I had to travel to Little Rock, Arkansas, which is around two and half hours away from Alma. That may not seem like much, however, a day after my surgery I had to ride this route all the way back to Alma. I was uncomfortable and in significant pain. If the specialist I needed was closer then it would have been less expensive and more convenient for my health. In the next five years I will earn a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. After I receive my bachelors degree, I want to earn my doctorate degree in Nursing Anesthesia Practice. I am always looking for ways to keep advancing my future career and I think becoming a nurse anesthetist is the best route for me. As a nurse anesthetist I will be able to provide pain medication care for patients before, during, and after surgery. I have had several surgeries throughout my life and some of the interactions I had with the nurse anesthetists are some I will never forget. When I signed up for NJROTC I expected a strict military program. However, when I started the program I realized that this program isn’t just about the military but about leadership. Alma NJROTC provided me with leadership roles that will help me excel in my career goals. My last two years of the program I was the operations officer. This year I was provided the opportunity to command the unarmed exhibition drill team. I was able to make new friends within the unit that I wouldn't have even met if it wasn’t for NJROTC. This program let me out of my shell and provided me with the resources I need to excel in college and friendships that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Neither of my parents went to college. My dad joined the Navy but decided to not further his education in order to take care of me and my sister. My parents are successful but had to work harder when competing with college graduates for career opportunities. I know what it’s like to live in a household that’s living paycheck to paycheck. I want a higher education in order to give my family a more comfortable lifestyle. I’m willing to work hard in order to achieve this goal. My first step is graduating college debt free and with the help of this scholarship, my goal will be more attainable.

Let me first start by saying thank you for your consideration and for allowing me to apply for this scholarship. My name is Madison, I am looking to attend the University of Arkansas Fort Smith in 2023. A little bit about me, 2021 I was involved in an accident and suffered extensive tissue damage to my left arm that required multiple surgeries, skin grafting and months of physical therapy. Throughout my recovery, I was able to set goals for myself in my recovery, school work, and livestock showing and was able to meet them. I have been able to focus more on the little things in life and have gained a better perspective. Growing up in Rural Arkansas, I have always been involved in youth programs such as 4H and FFA and have been mentoring our junior members, helping them with their projects and feeding plans as well as just being someone to look up to. I love Agriculture, showing cattle, farming, camping, and hunting and hope to make the world a better place by encouraging others to always look on the bright side of things, work hard and never let a disability define them. I plan to enter the Surgical Tech program at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith so that I can help others who have suffered from similar injuries that I have recovered from. Having visible scars often leads to conversations about my accident and the most valuable lesson I can share is to set goals, overcome obstacles, be proud of who you are and never give up on your dreams. Being active in organizations such as 4H and FFA as a youth has given me a love for agriculture that I plan to continue to invest in. In five years I plan to be an active Alumni Member and supporter of youth organizations such as these will keep me grounded and in turn help keep younger generations involved and invested in Agriculture to improve this great state that we live in. Giving back to my community is very important to me as well. When I graduate College I plan to move back to my hometown and continue to farm in my free time and support the people that helped mold me into the person that I am today. One of the ways I will be able to give back and support youth will be to sponsor junior showmen for the Scott County Fair. Sponsoring the shows and donating some of my livestock for low-income families who cannot afford it otherwise are two of the main ways to change a child's 4H or FFA experience and to change their lives as it has changed mine. I would love to be considered for this scholarship and I appreciate your time. Sincerely, Madison Goff