My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. My greatest influence was watching my mom throughout her career. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in either intensive care, mental health, or addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. She chose a career as the EMS Coordinator for our county. One lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. In school I continue to find time to give back through clubs and my varsity sports teams. I have adopted the motto service above self. One of my most proud involvments is my role in our school's Best Buddies Club. Best Buddies is an international club that pairs typically developing students (peers) with students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (buddies) in a social and activity driven environment to create an inclusive space without barriers for all. I am honored to be serving as President of the Best Buddies Club for my senior year. I have spent the last three years experiencing something powerful — a space where students of all abilities gather each day, share time together, and leave feeling seen and supported. That kind of space doesn’t happen by chance. It’s built with care, and it takes consistency, trust, and leadership. The experiences I have had in this club creates relationships and partnerships where all students grow and become better people, community activists, and friends to one another. Best Buddies at North Rockland isn’t built on paired partnerships. I also found it important and rewarding to take on activities such as our Hockey Fights Cancer campaign to raise money for a children's cancer program and Wounded Warriors golf match. I plan to use this scholarship to help fund my college education as I take the next step toward PA school. I have been accepted into a 5-year accelerated Physician Associate/Assistant Program at Alvernia University where I will continue my studies and play golf. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer work and teaching. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way. Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story and to be considered for this honorable scholarship.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in either mental health or addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, She started as a youth member in Stony Point Ambulance and remains active as the President of the Corps and a life member. She chose a career as the EMS Coordinator for our county. One lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. I plan to use this scholarship to help fund my college education as I take the next step toward PA school. I have been accepted into a 5-year accelerated Physician Associate/Assistant Program at Alvernia University where I will continue my studies and play golf. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer work and teaching. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way. Adversity comes with every journey. One aspect of adversity I had to overcome was becoming the youngest cleared Emergency Medical Technician in my ambulance corps. I had to prove to my more senior experienced providers that I was competent, mature, and very capable of caring for patients without any direct supervision as I ride on my own. This also came into play with my patients, especially those that know I am only 17. I must go above and beyond to explain what I am doing and what my treatment plan will be so that they understand they are in competent hands and I can quickly earn their trust during an emergency. Overcoming this obstacle took confident communication, lots of studying to ensure I was competent, and the belief in myself that I was ready. Having the qualities instilled in me by mom also serve as a source of inspiration in these situations.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in either intensive care, mental health, or addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. Adversity comes with every journey. One aspect of adversity I had to overcome was becoming the youngest cleared Emergency Medical Technician in my ambulance corps. I had to prove to my more senior experienced providers that I was competent, mature, and very capable of caring for patients without any direct supervision as I ride on my own. This also came into play with my patients, especially those that know I am only 17. I must go above and beyond to explain what I am doing and what my treatment plan will be so that they understand they are in competent hands and I can quickly earn their trust during an emergency. Overcoming this obstacle took confident communication, lots of studying to ensure I was competent, and the belief in myself that I was ready. Having the qualities instilled in me by mom also serve as a source of inspiration in these situations. Overcoming this adversity taught me a lot about people and life. My perception prior was I will never earn the respect of these people but with patience, compassion, and competent patient care day in and day out I learned that anything is possible in life. I know use the lessons I learned in my own journey which is far from over to help mentor my younger or newer youth squad members. I have been accepted into a 5-year accelerated Physician Associate/Assistant Program at Alvernia University where I will continue my studies and play golf. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer work and teaching. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness, particularly in the youth population. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way. Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story and to be considered for this honorable scholarship.

The hardest struggle I have faced did not come from something I lost, but from someone I never had. My biological father has never been in my life. I have never seen his face or heard his voice, yet his absence has shaped much of who I am. People say I have my mother’s eyes and my other mom’s fire, but there are parts of me that belong to no one. Small, quiet pieces feel borrowed from a stranger I will never meet. As a child, I told myself he was watching, proud of me from afar. I needed that story to make sense of the emptiness. But as I grew older, I realized he had not left; he was never meant to stay. He was a donor, not a parent. That truth hit harder than I expected. It was not abandonment exactly, but something colder. His absence was not a scar. It was the space before a wound could even form. For a long time, I envied him. I could not understand how someone could help create a life and move on as if nothing had changed. I wondered if he ever thought of me. Over time, I stopped giving him that power. I learned that growth does not come from answers. It comes from standing in the silence and choosing to live anyway. What helped me move on was the love and strength of my moms. They raised me to look forward, not backward, to build my life from choice rather than questions. I stopped searching for the missing piece and started becoming the person I wanted to be. I no longer see his absence as my tragedy. It is his. My story is not about what is missing. It is about what I chose to build in its place. Being raised by two lesbian moms has made me more informed about different families. It has also shown me how far we have come as a society and how far we have digressed. I was 3 when my moms were able to get married legally. At the time I thought it was a party for our family but now at 17 I realize how much more it was. It was the culmination of oppression, fight, stamina, discrimination, abuse for some, and the victory so hard worked for. I have grown to learn that they had to work very hard, spend a lot of money, and face criticism and adversity to create our little family. This has made me who I am and has instilled in me a sense of strength and advocacy for others who may feel marginalized. I look forward to using this strength to further my education as a Physician Assistant and hopefully specialize in mental health so that I can bring peace to others, calm to chaos, and hope for those feeling hopeless. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in either intensive care, mental health, or addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. This hadn't always been my goal. I always thought I wanted to be an engineer. That was of course until my grandfather, Pop, got sick. After nearly dying in a local community hospital we brought him to an amazing hospital in NYC. After watching his care team balance heart and kidney failure for months I realized that I wanted to emulate them. Sadly my Pop passed away after fighting for so long. Not seeing his face, playing pool with him every week, or seeing him almost daily has taken a toll on me. But I have taken this grief and our experience seeing the compassion, kindness shown by his care team to decide I wanted to be that strength, hope, and support for others. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. One lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. I plan to use this scholarship to help fund my college education as I take the next step toward PA school. I have been accepted into a 5 year accelerated Physician Associate/Assistant Program at Alvernia Universtiy where I will continue my studies and play golf. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer work and teaching. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way. Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story and to be considered for this honorable scholarship.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in mental health and addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. One lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. I plan to use this scholarship to help fund my college education as I take the next step toward PA school. I have been accepted into a 5 year accelerated Physician Associate/Assistant Program at Alvernia Universtiy where I will continue my studies and play golf. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer work and teaching. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way. Advocating for mental health comes in a multi-faceted approach for me. For starters in comes in patient advocation. It is my job when I have a patient in crisis to make sure that they are treated with dignity and respect, transported safely and advocated for during my handoff at the hospital. I also have to look out for my partners on the ambulance as I would expect them to do for me. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is real and quite common in healthcare. Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story and to be considered for this honorable scholarship.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in either intensive care, mental health, or addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. One lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. I plan to use this scholarship to help fund my college education as I take the next step toward PA school. I have been accepted into a 5 year accelerated Physician Associate/Assistant Program at Alvernia Universtiy where I will continue my studies and play golf. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer work and teaching. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way. Adversity comes with every journey. One aspect of adversity I had to overcome was becoming the youngest cleared Emergency Medical Technician in my ambulance corps. I had to prove to my more senior experienced providers that I was competent, mature, and very capable of caring for patients without any direct supervision as I ride on my own. This also came into play with my patients especially those that know I am only 17. I have to go above and beyond to explain what I am doing and what my treatment plan will be so that they understand they are in competent hands and I can quickly earn their trust during an emergency. Overcoming this obstacle took confident communication, lots of studying to ensure I was competent, and the belief in myself that I was ready. Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story and to be considered for this honorable scholarship.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in either intensive care, mental health, or addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. Deciding to go into healthcare starting as an EMT has been driven by my education in high school, my EMT classes, my continuing medical education classes, my every day life, and the influence of those around me. Education is a lifelong commitment especially in the healthcare field. I am choosing to become a Physician Associate/Assistant but more importantly I am choosing to become a life long learner. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. One lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. I plan to use this scholarship to help fund my college education as I take the next step toward PA school. I have been accepted into a 5 year accelerated Physician Associate/Assistant Program at Alvernia University where I will continue my studies and play golf. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer work and teaching. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way. Adversity comes with every journey. One aspect of adversity I had to overcome was becoming the youngest cleared Emergency Medical Technician in my ambulance corps. I had to prove to my more senior experienced providers that I was competent, mature, and very capable of caring for patients without any direct supervision as I ride on my own. This also came into play with my patients especially those that know I am only 17. I have to go above and beyond to explain what I am doing and what my treatment plan will be so that they understand they are in competent hands and I can quickly earn their trust during an emergency. Overcoming this obstacle took confident communication, lots of studying to ensure I was competent, and the belief in myself that I was ready. Although this has been challenging I have been able to rely on education to prove to the community and my pre-hospital care colleagues that I am competent and capable for caring for my patients. Leaving the world in a better place is my ultimate goal. Challenges and obstacles will always present themselves but I will also go back to the basics in my education to overcome them. Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story and to be considered for this honorable scholarship. If awarded, I will be honored to use this money to assist in achieving my goals and will be part of my story. Your generosity will not end in a check that is written out but will continue on in how I treat my patients, how I pay it forward in the future, and how I assist others in being able to dream big and rise higher.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in either intensive care, mental health, or addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. One lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. I plan to use this scholarship to help fund my college education as I take the next step toward PA school. I have been accepted into a 5 year accelerated Physician Associate/Assistant Program at Alvernia University where I will continue my studies and play golf. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer work and teaching. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way. Adversity comes with every journey. One aspect of adversity I had to overcome was becoming the youngest cleared Emergency Medical Technician in my ambulance corps. I had to prove to my more senior experienced providers that I was competent, mature, and very capable of caring for patients without any direct supervision as I ride on my own. This also came into play with my patients especially those that know I am only 17. I have to go above and beyond to explain what I am doing and what my treatment plan will be so that they understand they are in competent hands and I can quickly earn their trust during an emergency. Overcoming this obstacle took confident communication, lots of studying to ensure I was competent, and the belief in myself that I was ready. Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story and to be considered for this honorable scholarship.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in either mental health or addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others and continue to work for the public. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. One lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. I plan to use this scholarship to help fund my college education as I take the next step toward PA school. I have been accepted into a 5 year accelerated Physician Associate/Assistant Program at Alvernia University where I will continue my studies and play golf. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer emergency medical services work and teaching. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital or public service setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way. Adversity comes with every journey. One aspect of adversity I had to overcome was becoming the youngest cleared Emergency Medical Technician in my ambulance corps. I had to prove to my more senior experienced providers that I was competent, mature, and very capable of caring for patients without any direct supervision as I ride on my own. This also came into play with my patients especially those that know I am only 17. I have to go above and beyond to explain what I am doing and what my treatment plan will be so that they understand they are in competent hands and I can quickly earn their trust during an emergency. Overcoming this obstacle took confident communication, lots of studying to ensure I was competent, and the belief in myself that I was ready. Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story and to be considered for this honorable scholarship.

A few years ago I decided to take my first ref class for ice hockey. My parents were hesitant seeing the abuse that refs take from coaches, players, and parents. We have been at games were referees were physically assaulted so naturally I understand their trepidation. What I decided is that if I were to do this I would know that I would never stop learning, that I was human and will probably make mistakes, but I would own them and learn from them. My favorite memory was probably refereeing my first high level game for a junior level team and having a player a few years older then me come up to me before the game and tell me kids had no business refereeing this level. At the conclusion of the game, he and some of his teammates came back over to me to shake my hand and tell me I was one of the best refs they've seen in a long time. This wasn't because I knew everything. This was because I had the desire to continue to learn, to be fair, maintain my composure, and show respect to the players and coaches in order to gain their respect. Refereeing hockey has helped me to develop into a stronger leader and learner. I learned that despite the players, coaches, and parents screaming at what they perceived as a bad call or a missed call that I can control the game without ever raising my voice. That quiet authority is a form of leadership that leads to de-escalation and forward movement in the game. Leadership has never been about having a title for me. It has been about showing up when it counts, even when no one is watching. I learned that lesson not in a classroom, but in the back of an ambulance and on the ice alongside veteran Referees. When I first joined the Stony Point Ambulance Corps and became a referee, I was just a kid trying to keep up with people who had been doing this for years. I listened more than I spoke, watched what they did, and asked too many questions. Over time, I realized leadership did not come from knowing everything. It came from being willing to learn, to care, and to make decisions that help others before helping yourself. During controversy on the ice, it became evident that I was the one others looked to for calm in chaos. Outside of the ice rink, I have carried those same values into my school and community. As President of the Best Buddies Club, I focus on inclusion and empathy. Leadership in that space means creating friendships that cross barriers, making sure every student feels seen and valued. Being a leader matters to me because it connects everything I care about: community, teamwork, and purpose. One person’s confidence can inspire another’s courage. One person’s calm can steady an entire team. This holds true with my varsity hockey team and golf team as well. My goal is to keep growing into the kind of leader who makes others believe they can do hard things. Whether that is in an ambulance, an ice rink, or anywhere life takes me, I want to lead through action and integrity. Leadership is not about standing in front. It is about standing beside people when it matters most. My future goals include attending Alvernia University's 5 year accelerated Physician Assistant Program where I will play golf, club hockey and continue refereeing in the area. My goals and success have been influenced by my decision to referee as a kid.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in either intensive care, mental health, or addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. One lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. I am currently a cleared EMT riding hundreds of hours as a volunteer in my ambulance corps on top of leading my youth squad. I also am the Co-President of my high schools Best Buddy Chapter. This is an organization that works to eliminate obstacles and create a more inclusive world for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities. I play varsity hockey where I can be found often volunteering with the younger teams and clinics and also play varsity golf. JFK's quote "Service above Self" is a motto that I have adopted in an effort to make someone's day just a bit better. I also volunteer with my local Police Athletic League where we put on events for youths in our community. I plan to use this scholarship to help fund my college education as I take the next step toward PA school. I have been accepted into a 5 year accelerated Physician Associate/Assistant Program at Alvernia University where I will continue my studies and play golf. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer work and teaching. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way.

Playing golf for me started when I was young and my uncle flew me down to his house in North Carolina. He would enroll my cousin and I in his community golf camp and we would play in the evenings with him and my Aunt. Golf became a favorite sport and passion for me. It has been a place where I can share moments with friends and family. It is a place where I can become deep in thought and strategy to try to align my shots up just right. It has been a place where I can walk 18 holes and enjoy the little moments along the way such as the birds chirping, the water fountains spraying or maybe even a deer run by. These moments have provided me a place of peace and serenity. In my life outside of golf I dedicate a lot of time volunteering for my local ambulance corps as an EMT. I spend countless hours training and responding to people experience a medical emergency and as one can imagine this can certainly be heavy to process at times. I also play hockey which is physically demanding on my body, fast passed, and stressful as well. Golf although stressful in matches has become a place where I can decompress, take my time, and enjoy the game, company, and scenery. So my favorite part golf is the therapy it provides while playing. As a senior in high school this will be my fourth year playing on the varsity team. Although I am not the best golfer I work hard to be a leader and solid player. I will be playing golf in college at Alvernia University where I have been accepted in to a 5-year accelerated physician Assistant/Associate program. My future plans include working in mental health or maybe even substance abuse. I want to make a difference in the lives of the patience I see. I look forward to having golf to serve as a place where I can connect with my teammates, enjoy the beautiful courses we will play on, and decompress from the everyday stressors in my rigorous curriculum, my time on the ambulance, and everyday life. Although I have been blessed to remain relatively healthy in my adolescent years I did have the unfortunate incident where I shattered my pointer finger playing hockey. Although this is not affecting me long term, I do have a slight permanent deformity that I have had to rework my hand positioning to accommodate the injury. It was a little nerve wracking not knowing how it would affect my game, but getting the clubs back in my hand the greens beneath my feet never felt better. I look forward to a great senior season and my college golf career in the future. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this honorable scholarship to be able to continue my quest to make a difference in this world and enjoy a game I so incredibly love.

Option 1: One relationship that comes to mind is that with my own mother. She is the County Emergency Medical Services Coordinator and president of our local volunteer ambulance corps where she has volunteered for over 30 years. She has driven me to always seek to be a leader and have a positive affect and change on the world around me. Leadership has never been about having a title for me. It has been about showing up when it counts, even when no one is watching. I learned that lesson not in a classroom, but in the back of an ambulance. When I first joined the Stony Point Ambulance Corps, I was just a kid trying to keep up with people who had been doing this for years. I listened more than I spoke, carried bags, and asked too many questions. Over time, I realized leadership did not come from knowing everything. It came from being willing to learn, to care, and to make decisions that help others before helping yourself. When I became Youth Squad Captain, that idea became real. I was no longer just a member of a team. I was the one others looked to for calm in chaos. There were nights when a training session did not go as planned or when someone froze during a scenario. In those moments, I learned that leadership meant being patient, guiding instead of commanding, and helping people see what they were capable of. Watching others grow into confident providers reminded me that leadership is really about creating more leaders, something my mom strives for every day. Outside of EMS, I have carried those same values into my school and community. As President of the Best Buddies Club, I focus on inclusion and empathy. Leadership in that space means creating friendships that cross barriers, making sure every student feels seen and valued. At hockey rinks, officiating taught me a different form of leadership. There, it is about fairness, composure, and respect under pressure. A good official can control a game without ever raising their voice. That quiet authority is a form of leadership too. John Quincy Adams once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” That quote defines how I try to lead. Great leadership, to me, is not loud or self-centered. It is built on service, accountability, and consistency. These are the values I have learned to adopt based on watching my mom throughout her career. A true leader listens more than they speak, leads by example, and accepts responsibility when things go wrong. They know that people will forget what you say, but they will remember how you made them feel safe, supported, and capable. Being a leader matters to me because it connects everything I care about: community, teamwork, and purpose. When I teach CPR to younger students or guide a new EMT through their first patient call, I see how leadership multiplies impact. One person’s confidence can inspire another’s courage. One person’s calm can steady an entire team. My goal is to keep growing into the kind of leader who makes others believe they can do hard things. Whether that is in an ambulance, a classroom, or anywhere life takes me, I want to lead through action and integrity. Leadership is not about standing in front. It is about standing beside people when it matters most. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story and to apply for this meaningful scholarship.

I plan to improve the lives of others in healthcare by showing up for patients when they are frightened, overwhelmed, and often unsure of what the future holds, especially those living with lung disease or rare medical conditions. These patients frequently endure long diagnostic journeys, repeated hospital visits, and the emotional weight of feeling misunderstood or overlooked by systems that are not always built for uncommon illnesses. My goal is to be a provider who slows down, listens carefully, and treats people as partners in their care rather than as problems to be solved. Healthcare, to me, is not only about treating organs or symptoms—it is about restoring dignity and trust during some of the most vulnerable moments of a person’s life. Patients with chronic lung disease live with constant uncertainty: breathlessness that can turn simple tasks into exhausting challenges, anxiety about flare-ups, and dependence on oxygen, inhalers, or ventilators that shape daily life. I want to work with these patients not just during crises, but in the long spaces between emergencies—educating them about their condition, reinforcing treatment plans, and helping them recognize early warning signs so they can avoid hospitalizations whenever possible. Empowering patients through knowledge is one of the most powerful tools in medicine, particularly for conditions that do not have easy cures. When people understand what is happening in their bodies, fear loses some of its grip. For individuals with rare diseases, the challenges can be even more isolating. Many spend years searching for a diagnosis, encountering skepticism or misinterpretation along the way, and navigating fragmented care across multiple specialists. I envision myself as someone who helps coordinate that maze—advocating for thorough evaluations, communicating clearly between teams, and making sure no concern is dismissed simply because a condition is uncommon. I want to contribute to multidisciplinary care models where pulmonologists, geneticists, respiratory therapists, nurses, and social workers collaborate seamlessly, giving patients a sense that the system is finally working for them rather than against them. Beyond bedside care, I hope to support research and data-driven medicine, especially in areas involving rare pulmonary disorders where treatment options remain limited. Even incremental advances—a new therapy, a better diagnostic pathway, or a refined rehabilitation protocol—can dramatically alter a patient’s quality of life. I want to participate in clinical studies, quality-improvement projects, and community health initiatives that bring cutting-edge science into everyday practice, particularly for populations who historically lack access to specialized care. Progress in healthcare depends on professionals who are willing to push beyond routine treatment and ask how outcomes can be better tomorrow than they are today. Equally important to me is addressing the emotional and social burdens that accompany chronic illness. Lung disease and rare conditions often disrupt careers, family dynamics, and mental health, creating layers of stress that medicine alone cannot resolve. I plan to work closely with families, caregivers, and support networks, connecting patients to counseling services, rehabilitation programs, and advocacy groups that remind them they are not facing their diagnosis alone. Compassionate communication, honesty about uncertainties, and consistency in follow-up can be just as healing as medications. I want to be known as someone who does not give up when answers are unclear, who treats every patient encounter as an opportunity to learn, and who measures success not only by clinical metrics but by whether people feel heard and supported. By combining strong medical training with advocacy, research, and empathy, I hope to improve the lives of individuals living with lung disease and rare medical conditions—and, in doing so, help create a healthcare system that is more patient-centered, equitable, and compassionate for everyone.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in mental health and addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. One lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. Far too often we are dispatched to calls for patients in mental health crisis. We transport them to the emergency department where they are often met with loud over crowded over stimulating environments. Far too often we are called back for the same patient in days because there aren't enough resources for them in the hospital or community. I want to build upon those resource not only by increasing numbers but by being that provider who truly hears, sees, and understands their patients. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way.

Leadership has never been about having a title for me. It has been about showing up when it counts, even when no one is watching. I learned that lesson not in a classroom, but in the back of an ambulance. When I first joined the Stony Point Ambulance Corps, I was just a kid trying to keep up with people who had been doing this for years. I listened more than I spoke, carried bags, and asked too many questions. Over time, I realized leadership did not come from knowing everything. It came from being willing to learn, to care, and to make decisions that help others before helping yourself. When I became Youth Squad Captain, that idea became real. I was no longer just a member of a team. I was the one others looked to for calm in chaos. There were nights when a training session did not go as planned or when someone froze during a scenario. In those moments, I learned that leadership meant being patient, guiding instead of commanding, and helping people see what they were capable of. Watching others grow into confident providers reminded me that leadership is really about creating more leaders. Outside of EMS, I have carried those same values into my school and community. As President of the Best Buddies Club, I focus on inclusion and empathy. Leadership in that space means creating friendships that cross barriers, making sure every student feels seen and valued. At hockey rinks, officiating taught me a different form of leadership. There, it is about fairness, composure, and respect under pressure. A good official can control a game without ever raising their voice. That quiet authority is a form of leadership too. Being a leader matters to me because it connects everything I care about: community, teamwork, and purpose. When I teach CPR to younger students or guide a new EMT through their first patient call, I see how leadership multiplies impact. One person’s confidence can inspire another’s courage. One person’s calm can steady an entire team. This holds true with my varsity hockey team and golf team as well. My goal is to keep growing into the kind of leader who makes others believe they can do hard things. Whether that is in an ambulance, a classroom, or anywhere life takes me, I want to lead through action and integrity. Leadership is not about standing in front. It is about standing beside people when it matters most.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in either intensive care, mental health, or addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. Once lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. I am also the co president of my high school's best buddies club which is designed to promote inclusion and spread awareness of inclusion for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This club has not only been about creating opportunity to create inclusive spaces for those with disability but has provided me an opportunity to make new friends, learn about how some people live their everyday life a little different, learn more about myself, but more importantly learn how to live a more inclusive life and to break down barriers for others. I plan to use this scholarship to help fund my college education as I take the next step toward PA school. I have been accepted into a 5 year accelerated Physician Associate/Assistant Program at Alvernia University where I will continue my studies and play golf. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer work and teaching. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way. Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story and to be considered for this honorable scholarship.

I want to share my story by sharing a letter I wrote to a teacher who has left an everlasting mark on my life: I am writing this letter to take the opportunity to explain the impact you have had on my life as a student and how that has shaped my life’s aspirations. Your ability to connect with your students and show kindness and professionalism has driven me to want to share those qualities in my future career aspirations. My love of helping people and healthcare have determined my path of becoming a Physician Assistant. My admiration of the impact you have had on me has moved me to share my knowledge that I will have gained by becoming a teacher in my field. The ability to share my knowledge started by watching you teach a class of students who were just coming out of covid lockdown. During our most formative years we were unable to connect with other students, interact with our peers and teachers in person and quite frankly lost the opportunity to develop our interpersonal communication skills. You took a group of very disconnected students and taught us the importance of communication both speaking and listening. You taught us to be understanding of one another’s differences and to embrace what each of us can bring to the table. You had the ability to identify what each of us needed to succeed and to provide us with the tools to do just that. As you know I got involved in my local ambulance corps and at 17 years of age became a NYS Emergency Medical Technician. As much as I love providing care, I knew I wanted to do more and went on to become a CPR, First Aid, Narcan, and Stop the Bleed Instructor. It was because of you that I found an interest in teaching and sharing my love of learning with others. I am now a fully cleared EMT providing patient care and have gone on to become an EMT Instructor Intern where my passion for teaching continues. I am blessed to be able to combine two of my life’s passions, treating patients and teaching, as I move into college and eventually my career. I will be forever grateful for the drive and qualities you have shown me, and I will take them with me as I grow and develop my own career. I will always remember to see the strengths in each of my students and capitalize on their successes. I will provide them with the necessary tools to overcome any hurdles and hope to someday have the impact on them as you have had on me. I will be kind and empathetic knowing that each and every student has a story and will work with them to use their story to help with their own success. I will forever be grateful for the support and kindness you provided to me and look forward to always paying that forward. Thank you for this opportunity to apply for this honorable scholarship and to share my story via this letter.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in either intensive care, mental health, or addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. Once lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. I plan to use this scholarship to help fund my college education as I take the next step toward PA school. I have been accepted into a 5 year accelerated Physician Associate/Assistant Program at Alvernia Universtiy where I will continue my studies and play golf. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer work and teaching. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way. Adversity comes with every journey. One aspect of adversity I had to overcome was becoming the youngest cleared Emergency Medical Technician in my ambulance corps. I had to prove to my more senior experienced providers that I was competent, mature, and very capable of caring for patients without any direct supervision as I ride on my own. This also came into play with my patients especially those that know I am only 17. I have to go above and beyond to explain what I am doing and what my treatment plan will be so that they understand they are in competent hands and I can quickly earn their trust during an emergency. Overcoming this obstacle took confident communication, lots of studying to ensure I was competent, and the belief in myself that I was ready. Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story and to be considered for this honorable scholarship.

I am 17 years old and a senior in high school. I play varsity hockey and varsity golf. I am a nationally certified emergency medical technician who has volunteered over 1400 hours on my local volunteer ambulance corps where I also serve as captain of my youth squad. I am the co president of my schools best buddies club where we work with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to promote inclusion and bring awareness to the world we live in. I believe in following JFK's motto service above self and by doing so I will have left my little part of the world better than how I found it . I have been accepted into a 5 year accelerated physician assistant program where I plan to minor in mental health and drug and alcohol counseling. I will also be playing golf in college. If I could start my own charity I would choose a charity that provides more readily available services to folks suffering from mental health crises. I have see far too often patients who are in crisis who we have no other option but to transport them to an overcrowded emergency department where there aren't enough mental health beds or resources. They then have to sit for hours with minimal appropriate care and then get discharged with no follow up. I have listened to patients cry for help who have suicidal ideations who call their insurance to be told they would have an intake appointment for a referral to a practitioner in 3 weeks. I have also had patients who wait too long to reach out for help because of the stigma often associated with mental health issues. This is unacceptable. I would want to start up a sort of mental health ER where patients who don't have a physiological injury or illness can be seen by appropriate practitioners, treated and referred directly to follow up care and not have to wait months to get an appointment. I would want this organization to have a public education component where we can reach children in schools to discuss mental health at a young age to show them that it is a diagnosable disease and not just someone being "crazy". Although it would be nice to have an all volunteer staff, I know how difficult recruiting and retaining volunteers can be as I see in my own ambulance corps. There are countless hours needed on top of the riding or providing hours for training, compliance, administrative tasks etc. But I would recruit and incorporate volunteers in some capacity. Volunteers could serve as EMT's to respond to and take patients to this facility. I could work to develop a mental health crisis transport team. We may not even need a flashy ambulance with lights and sirens but a discreet transport vehicle designed to deescalate and calm our patients. We could also employ volunteers to work hotlines, fundraise, and work non clinical jobs at the center. So someday when I hit the lotto, this is definitely how I can see myself spending my winnings to benefit my community. Thank you for this opportunity to tell you my dreams and be considered for this most honorable scholarship.

My name is Hunter Stoll, and I am a senior at North Rockland High School planning to continue my education in the medical field. I am currently a nationally certified EMT and a BLS CPR instructor, and I have spent the past few years balancing my academics, community service, and leadership roles to prepare for a future in healthcare. My long-term goal is to become a Physician Assistant specializing in either intensive care, mental health, or addiction support. I chose these paths because they represent the moments where medicine meets humanity, where every decision, word, and action can change someone's life. I have always been drawn to situations that require calm under pressure and empathy in the face of chaos, and I want to dedicate my life to being that steady presence for others. The idea of helping others started for me when I was young. My mom is in Emergency Medical Services, and I grew up listening to her stories about caring for patients during long shifts, sometimes without thanks, but always with pride. One lesson she always taught me is that no matter what the call or who the patient is every single patient is the most important at that time and they deserve every ounce of my respect, knowledge, and empathy. I promised myself I would carry that same sense of compassion into my own career. As I got older, I began volunteering with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps Youth Squad, where I now serve as Youth Squad Captain. Those experiences, responding to emergencies, teaching CPR to my peers, and organizing community events, taught me more about responsibility and teamwork than any textbook ever could. Another inspiration was the care my grandfather received in Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NYC. Sadly my grandfather went into heart and kidney failure and for months I watched a team of healthcare professionals balance his ailments, take care of our family, show empathy and kindness all while working in one of the busiest healthcare systems in the world. This was the point that my decision was solidified and I wanted to go into health care. I plan to use this scholarship to help fund my college education as I take the next step toward PA school. Financial support would allow me to focus on my studies and clinical training while continuing to give back through volunteer work and teaching. I have been accepted into a 3 plus 2 year accelerated Physician Associate (formerly Assistant) program at Alvernia University. I look forward to taking the lessons I learned through those that inspired me and be a provider who treats the whole person and their family. In the future, I see myself working in a hospital setting while remaining active in community outreach, especially programs focused on addiction recovery and mental health awareness. I hope to eventually return to Rockland County to serve the same community that helped raise me. My dream is simple but meaningful. I want to make a difference in people's lives, be a source of comfort in moments of fear, and carry forward the same kindness and dedication that others have shown me along the way.

Thank you for the opportunity to tell you more about myself. My name is Hunter. I am 17 years old and a senior. Since I was young I have had the importance of inclusion and the exclusion of bullying taught and emphasized in my upbringing. In 4th grade I did some research and created a presentation to bring a club to my school called We Dine Together. This club was created by a student who was isolated and bullied in his school and he felt the need to bring people together who would provide opportunity for everyone to have someone to sit with at lunch or hang out with at recess. My school board and administrators approved my proposal and we were off and running. This was the start of my advocacy and more important action to stop bullying. As a result I become a student state representative of the national organization Be Strong. This organization promotes an antibullying climate and brings opportunity for speakers and programs to reduce school bullying. This was all good stuff but I wanted to take it further. I wanted the other students, staff, and faculty in our school to hear directly from the founder of We Dine Together Denis Estimon. I wanted everyone to know his story so they understood the impact he had on my life and how we can affect change by adopting his values and teachings moving forward. I wrote Denis an email asking him to come speak at our school. I reached out to local business to sponsor his travel and was able to schedule a visit. Sadly Covid sidelined his in person visit but we did have a very well received virtual assembly from Denis. I also brought in the program "HATNOTHATE". This is a program where I collected about 400 blue knitted or crocheted hats to distribute to the student body. Seeing so many students embody the message and proudly wear their blue hats was empowering. This reminded those that bullied to be more kind and empathetic and those being bullied that they were safe around those wearing their hat. I continued my journey of creating a more inclusive school community when I went to high school. Although a little bit different but still with the same message. I joined our local chapter of Best Buddies. This is a club that promotes inclusion of intellectually and developmentally delayed students in our school and local community. I have been blessed to accompany some of our buddies to homecoming dances and their senior prom. I have raised money to create opportunities for the club members and for our officers to attend a national conference in Indiana. The concept of inclusion in itself reduces bullying by making someone who was seen as different or incapable now commonly included in everyday happenings. Cyberbullying is ever evolving. I have been fortunate to work with our local Police Athletic League and School resource officers to be able to attend several trainings offered to both students and community members. These trainings bring awareness and tools to people to reduce online bullying, to identify online bullying, and to keep our kids safe. In conclusion, bullying has no place in society. Not for kids or adults. Providing awareness, inclusive opportunities, and standing up for victims is necessary to be an ongoing process to create an environment where everyone feels safe, seen, and heard.

Kindness in Action There is no other way to show kindness than with action. I have chosen at 14 years of age to join my local volunteer ambulance corps. At 16 I began the EMT course and certified and cleared to ride solo at age 17. This in itself was a tremendous feat and accomplishment and I had to sacrafice a lot of time to get here but it was worth every minute of every hour studying and responding and bettering myself as a prehospital care provider. It is exciting to respond to "hot" jobs and have your adrenaline rise through out the call but what is more meaningful and will leave a more lasting impact on my heart and those of my patients is the kindness and empathy I show to each and every patient. On a recent call, I had a patient who was having a mental health emergency. The patient was similar in age and attends the same school as myself. As the patient talked with me on the way to the hospital I felt it necessary to validate their feelings while offering them alternatives to processing those feelings. One of the things they mentioned to me is that they feel isolated and without friends in our very big school. So I told them, guess what now you have one friend. When you see me seek me out to say hi. The next week in school we passed one another in the hallway and across the crowd I hear hey how are you. It was amazing to see this person with a smile on their face, head held high, and confidence in their step. It was my job to treat this patient. Althought not necessarily my job but made a difference was the kindness and empathy. Creating Connection Creating Connection came to the forefront of my high school career when I joined our school Chapter of Best Buddies. Best Buddies International is an organization that creates opportunities to learn about and teach others about the social, physical, and economic isolation of more than 200 million people in the world with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our club forms meaningful relationships, friendships with peers, improves communication, and social opportunities. I was fortunate enough to raise enough money to be able to attend the national conference in Indiana where we heard from world renowned speakers on these topics, Best Buddies International on new and innovative ideas to incorporate into our local chapters, and various people with IDD who are now advocates. As the co president for our school club I have been instrumental in raising money and awareness for inclusion and opportunity. I have been privileged to go to homecoming and prom with some of our buddies as well as spend countless hours hanging out with our buddies creating an inclusive environment for both the buddies and peers. We have hosting Buddies Got Talent and worked hard to carry on the "Stomp out the R Word" campaign. I have learned and will continue to share the concept of inclusion as I move in the my college chapter by continuing to volunteer with this amazing organization. Inclusion should not be a question, it should be the norm. No person should ever feel alone or isolated and I will continue to advocate until that everyone feels seen and heard.

Leadership and science are often seen as separate domains—one focused on people and vision, the other on facts and experimentation. In reality, they are deeply interconnected. Effective leadership is essential for scientific progress, while scientific thinking strengthens leadership by promoting evidence-based decision-making, curiosity, and innovation. Together, leadership and science drive societal advancement, solve complex problems, and shape the future. Science is a collaborative concept. Although individual brilliance matters, major scientific breakthroughs usually result from teamwork and shared purpose. This is where leadership becomes crucial. Scientific leaders set clear goals, inspire teams, and create environments where creativity and critical thinking can flourish. They encourage open discussion, tolerate failure as part of discovery, and ensure ethical standards are upheld. Without strong leadership, scientific efforts can become fragmented, inefficient, or ethically compromised. Leadership in science also involves vision. Scientific leaders must look beyond immediate experiments and consider long-term impacts on society, the environment, and future generations. Leaders in medical science play a vital role in translating research into treatments that improve human health. In these cases, leadership bridges the gap between knowledge and action. Conversely, science significantly enriches leadership. Scientific thinking emphasizes logic, evidence, and adaptability—qualities essential for effective leadership in any field. Leaders who apply scientific principles are more likely to analyze problems objectively, test solutions, and revise strategies based on results. This approach reduces bias, improves decision-making, and fosters innovation. In a rapidly changing world, leaders who think scientifically are better equipped to handle uncertainty and complexity. Ethics form another important link between leadership and science. Scientific advancements, such as artificial intelligence or genetic engineering raise profound moral questions. Responsible leadership is required to ensure that scientific progress benefits humanity rather than causing harm. Ethical leaders in science must balance innovation with caution, prioritizing human values, safety, and equity. In conclusion, leadership and science are mutually reinforcing forces. Leadership provides direction, motivation, and ethical guidance to scientific endeavors, while science offers leaders tools for rational thinking, problem-solving, and innovation. As I continue my studies majoring in Biology and then onto Physician Assistant I will work hard to balance leadership and science. As I do research and study, I will have to find a scientific data that was overseen by good leadership to ensure the data is accurate for starters, ethical, and evidence based in order to affect future knowledge and development.

Golf is often described as a sometimes frustrating game played on beautiful greens with small white balls and quiet concentration. Yet beyond the scorecards and fairways, golf offers powerful life lessons that extend far beyond the course. Through patience, integrity, perseverance, and self-awareness, golf teaches values that shape character and mindset in everyday life. One of the most important lessons golf teaches is patience. Unlike fast-paced sports, golf demands calm focus and emotional control. A single round can last several hours, and progress is often slow and incremental. One bad shot cannot be undone, and frustration only leads to more mistakes. In life, just as in golf, success rarely comes instantly. Goals take time, effort, and the ability to stay composed when things do not go as planned. Golf reminds players that patience is not weakness but a quiet strength. In my community service involvement with my local volunteer ambulance, I have taken these lessons and apply them every single call I go on as an EMT. I bring calm to chaos, have patience when patient is excited, and most importantly control my emotions to illustrate to my patients that I am calm, collected, and confident in my skills and knowledge. I will be attending Alvernia University in Reading PA where I have been accepted into the 3 plus 2 Physician Assistant Accelerated program. Working in healthcare and having these traits as a result of my involvement in golf will make me a better provider. It will make me a trusted provider and an empathetic provider. I will also be playing on the golf team at Alvernia further building on these skills and lessons learned. Golf also emphasizes personal integrity and perseverance. Although I thinkin patience is extremely important, I think these two traits are as well. Golf is one of the few sports where players are expected to call penalties on themselves, even when no one else is watching. This tradition reinforces honesty and accountability. In life, integrity works the same way: doing the right thing when it is inconvenient or unseen defines true character. Golf teaches that reputation is built on trust, and trust begins with personal responsibility. It is imperative to take responsibility for my own actions and to always look to improve. Every golfer, no matter how skilled, hits bad shots and has disappointing rounds. Improvement comes from practice, reflection, and the willingness to return and try again. Life mirrors this reality. Failure is unavoidable, but growth depends on how one responds to it. Golf encourages resilience, teaching that setbacks are temporary and effort over time leads to progress. Being responsible for the health, well being, and sometimes even life of someone requires integrity and perseverance. Sticking with the rigor of this program will test this as well but knowing time and effort will keep me going. In conclusion, golf is far more than a sport. It is a quiet teacher of life lessons that shape character and perspective. Through patience, integrity, perseverance, self-awareness, and respect, golf prepares individuals not just to play better rounds, but to live better lives.

At 14 years of age I made the choice to follow my parents footsteps and join my local volunteer ambulance corps youth squad, Stony Point Ambulance Corps Inc. At 15 years of age I began riding as a trainee/observer. I have been elected captain of my youth squad where I lead training and business meetings for our now 25 plus members. I joined right after covid and spent countless hours rebuilding our youth squad since they had been shut down during covid to avoid excess exposure. At 16 years of age I started EMT course and shortly after turning 17 became certified. I became our agencies youngest a cleared EMT riding as an independant provider. My motivation to get involved was to be part of something bigger than myself. It was to make a difference, bring calm to chaos, and comfort to those in pain when they were having their worst day. My motiviation also came from watching my grandfathers health decline and seeing so many amazing EMS volunteers and nurses provide him and our family with comfort and tremendous care. Some of the challenges I faced were earning the respect and trust of my colleagues who were more seasoned as well as my patient's trust. At only 17 folks don't expect me to posses the skills and knowledge necessary to save their life. I learned that being empathetic, clearly explaining what was going on, explaining how I was going to help, and displaying the confidence in my skills quickly provided a trusting space for me to help each and every patient. I learned that saving the life of someone who might have not survived was exciting and rewarding but so was holding the hand of someone lonely and scared with no one to help them with their minor illness or injury. I learned that bringing hope when folks feel hopeless is far more rewarding than any paycheck. Since getting involved in EMS I have decided to go to school to become a Physician Assistant where at the moment I want to specialize in Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol treatment. These two areas of healthcare that I feel are broken. We spend so much time "turfing" these patients without a definitive treatment plan. I feel that we need more people who will understand that these conditions are diagnosable disease and deserve the same respect, time, compassion and care as any other illness. I want to continue to provide hope and respect. Contributing to my community will never end. Maybe the scenery will look different but the desire to make a difference will not. While in school I will continue to volunteer in my community as an EMT when home on breaks. I will be attending Alvernia University in Reading PA where I was accepted into their 3 plus 2 accelerated Physician Assistant Program. Once settled in my new life as a college student I will be branching out to volunteer in that community as well as an EMT. Thank you for this opportunity to share a piece of my story.