When I was 14 years old I went through a condition called Decidual Cast. A Decidual Cast is when your uterine lining sheds in one large piece as compared to drips or drops like a normal menstrual period (“What Is a Decidual Cast?”). This is a rare and painful condition but it usually does not cause any long-term complications. My period had been continuous over the course of seven months, this then made my doctor prescribe me birth control to decrease my blood flow but the problem was that my period never stopped for me to start taking the medication. Therefore, she gave me a shot that would stop the menstrual cycle so I could start taking the medication. This shot was also a birth control in a sense. This is what caused me to pass a big blood clot months prior because of the “overload” from both birth control medications. It was a very painful and humbling experience for me and I had to get an ultrasound to make sure everything was “alright” and that there was no damage after the incident. Once me and my mother entered the room the lady that would perform the ultrasound on me was asking me questions before she gave me the ultrasound. She was very rude and kept persisting that I was “not” a virgin even though I told her I was. Me and my mother got very offended when I told her more than three times that that wasn’t the case. My mother was even standing up for me saying that we already answered the question and that that was the truth. Then me and my mother left without getting the ultrasound done because of her rude manner of asking me several times about my virginity. This situation gave me the inspiration and the drive to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer so that I can help women and little girls like me at the time to feel comfortable in situations like that and to feel comfortable so nobody has to go through what I had to go through. Nobody should be looked and talked down upon in these awkward and difficult situations for the patient. Even if they think they are in the “right” it doesn’t give them the privilege to be rude to a patient. This is what gave me the determination to continue my passion for becoming a sonographer. My sister got married in November this year and I could not even fathom if she would have passed before me. She is also a teacher and I know that she always wants the best for her students. I would like to take this opportunity to give my condolences to the Eber family. I am sorry that she wasn’t able to make the impact that she wanted to and but this scholarship will help keep her memory alive by allowing teenagers like me to be able to continue their education and to make a difference from their life-changing event as a child. If I was awarded this scholarship I would make certain that to make Sara proud by my determination to help children. “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:22. Thank you. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

Hello, my name is Kadence Hudgens and I am a senior at Stanton County Jr./Sr. High School. I am a straight-A student and I have been taking college classes since my junior year at Seward County Community College. I have received the Presidential Award from Seward for obtaining straight-A’s in both semesters. I have just finished taking College Algebra and Anatomy and Physiology Part 2 which I finished with 101% and 99%. Taking these classes has helped me take one more step closer to getting my Associate of Science degree in May 2025 as well as my high school diploma. I plan on attending either Washburn University or Fort Hays State University. Both in which have excellent programs for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. I plan on finishing my bachelor's in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and specializing in obstetrics. I am a twin and we are both wanting to go to college. My mother is a stay-at-home mother, which at first she did for us when she divorced our father but now she cannot work because she has a severe case of scoliosis which prevents her from working. She had surgery recently at KU Medical Center to help the pain but she will still need surgery in the future to continue with her treatment. Therefore, the financial responsibility relies upon him to support two individuals to attend college. He is trying to make it possible but I told him I would do my part and to apply to as many scholarships as I would need to be able to put myself through college. My father, David Hudgens, was stationed at Ft. Bragg North Carolina with the 82nd Airborne 3rd Battalion A Company Parachute Infantry Regiment. He then went to be a police officer, firefighter, EMT, construction worker, and then now because of his injuries from serving in the military, he works at True Value so he doesn’t have to lift heavy objects from construction. Even though he is injured he never stops helping people. He is always helping his elderly mother by mowing her yard, changing her light bulb, and making sure she has a ride to her doctor appointments. He doesn’t just stop his kindness there, he also is a part of the Veterans Association here in our hometown. Recently he poured the cement to put down the gravestone for his fellow veteran friend in the cemetery. Like my father, I want to make a difference in the world and help my nation. This is why I want to become an obstetric sonographer, so I can help pregnant women with their pregnancies and make sure to catch any abnormalities so both the child and the mother can go through delivery without any complications. The technology improvement for sonography is improving day after day and it is continuing to help identify heart disease, stroke, abnormalities in the abdomen or reproductive system, gallstones, liver damage, kidney dysfunction, and many more abnormalities (Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography). By becoming a sonographer I can catch many diseases before they become critical and irreversible for future generations. “It is up to us to live up to the legacy that was left for us, and to leave a legacy that is worthy of our children and future generations” -Christine Gregoire. Thank you. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

Hello, my name is Kadence Hudgens and I am a senior at Stanton County Jr./Sr. High School. I am a straight-A student and I have been taking college classes starting my junior year at Seward County Community College. I have received the Presidential Award from Seward for obtaining straight-A’s in both semesters. I have just finished taking College Algebra and Anatomy and Physiology Part 2 which I finished with 101% and 99%. Taking these classes has helped me take one more step closer to getting my Associate of Science degree in May 2025 as well as my high school diploma. I plan on attending either Washburn University or Fort Hays State University. Both in which have excellent programs for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. I plan on finishing my bachelor's in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and specializing in obstetrics. I am a twin and we are both wanting to go to college. My mother is a stay-at-home mother, which at first she did for us when she divorced our father but now she cannot work because she has a severe case of scoliosis which prevents her from working. She had surgery recently at KU Medical Center to help the pain but she will still need surgery in the future to continue with her treatment. Therefore, the financial responsibility relies upon him to support two individuals to attend college. He is trying to make it possible but I told him I would do my part and to apply to as many scholarships as I would need to be able to put myself through college. My father, David Hudgens, was stationed at Ft. Bragg North Carolina with the 82nd Airborne 3rd Battalion A Company Parachute Infantry Regiment. He served for his family and friends. He was very brave. I know that Kalia was very brave and courageous to be able to consider going to ROTC basic training and then join the military. Just hearing about Kalia’s achievements and the actions that she took when she was alive made me realize that she was a very selfless person and she cared about making her family proud. This scholarship will help me continue my education and make my parents proud of my accomplishments by achieving what they enabled me to do. I thank my family for everything they made possible for me. Family is everything in a world of hate and uncertainty. I would like to take this time to say thank you to LaDonna Mitchell for making this scholarship possible not just for me but for other students who need financial support to continue their education. I would also like to give my condolences to Kalia’s family and I would like to say that she is in a better place but I know that in your eyes that there is no better and safer place than in your arms. Thank you. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

When I was in eighth grade I decided the career I wanted to pursue. I wanted to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. My parents divorced when I was six years old and money was “stretched” when it came to our financial situation. My mother was a stay-at-home mom so our income was solely on my father. This made our financial situation very unstable. This is what caused me from a young age to decide on a career path. In grade school, I wanted to become a nurse but as I grew older I heard about sonography. It seemed like a dream for me because, from a young age, I dreamed of becoming financially stable. I didn’t want to rely on one person for my income. I worked on getting my career path ready and by the beginning of my junior year, I began taking college classes. I obtained a Presidential Award for obtaining high grades both semesters from Seward County Community College and I will be able to graduate in May with an Associate of Science at the same time I will be graduating from high school. I got into two colleges with the best sonography courses in Kansas which is Fort Hays State University and Washburn University. I still haven’t committed on a college because I am waiting to see what scholarships will help me the most with my financial situation. I love to help people and I believe this career choice will help me achieve that goal of mine. While I wanted to pick a good career choice because of my family's financial difficulties, it also helped me grow and push myself to do what my mother wasn't able to do. When my mother was my age she didn’t get the opportunity to go to college. Her parent believed that if you wanted something, you had to pay for it yourself. While her brothers got a new car she had to get a job to be able to afford a used car and to pay for her gas, insurance, and maintenance. My mother had to continue working right after high school because she still had to pay her bills for her car and to be able to afford her clothes and necessities as well. I am grateful for my mother because even though she didn’t get these opportunities when she was my age she still made them possible for me. I would like to take this time to thank the Bazelton family. I am sorry for your loss and I am sorry that the world took away your beloved son. I would say that he is in a better place but I know that in your eyes, there is no better and safer place than in your arms. Thank you. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

My name is Kadence Hudgens and I am a senior at Stanton County High School. I have been involved in cheerleading since 7th grade and I was captain my senior year. I have helped with our community service each year with my school in March. We help churches, elementary schools, and elderly homes. I am also currently the FBLA president for the 2024-2025 school year. We held a breakfast bar for the Veterans in our beloved community on Veterans Day and offered them a Veterans concert provided by the elementary students. I have been taking college classes with Seward County Community College and won the Presidential Award for obtaining high grades in both semesters. I am planning on finishing my college classes with Seward in May and I will graduate with an Associate of Science in May the same time I will graduate from High School. I have already applied to Fort Hays State University and Washburn University and have been accepted for Fall 2025. I haven’t decided which college to attend yet because I am waiting on scholarships and to see what college would be best suited for my financial situation. At college, I plan to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and specialize in either Obstetrics or Cardiology. After I graduate, I plan to work at KU Medical Center or Saint Jude. I would like to work at either of these wonderful hospitals because I want to help make a difference for children or pregnant women when ever they are worried or concerned about their health. It would be an honor to help individuals who are in need of my assistance and I would do anything in my power to help them feel comfortable in their time of need. If I was able to start a charity I would direct it towards raising money for single parents. My parents divorced when I was six years old and I saw my mother struggle financially from a young age. I know how hard it can be on a single parent let alone a child. Volunteers would perform tasks on holidays to make it easier for the parents and children. During Thanksgiving, volunteers will help prepare Thanksgiving meals for single parents and their children so they will be able to eat. As for Christmas, volunteers can get people to donate clothes, toys, and necessities for children so they can have gifts for Christmas and they can prepare a Christmas dinner like they did for Thanksgiving. I would like to take this time and thank the Hill family for making this scholarship possible for students like me who need financial help to attend college. I hope that I can become half of the person Aserina was and that I can accomplish as much as she did with the determination that she obtained. Thank you. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

I knew my field of study since I was in the 8th grade when I had to experience a horrendous experience in the hospitality industry. When I was 14 years old I went through a condition similar to Adenomyosis. Adenomyosis occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrial tissue) grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. The displaced tissue continues to act normally — thickening, breaking down, and bleeding — during each menstrual cycle. An enlarged uterus and painful, heavy periods can result (Mayo Clinic, “Adenomyosis - Symptoms and Causes”). For me, my doctor prescribed me birth control to decrease my blood flow but the problem was that my period never stopped for me to start taking the medication. Therefore, she gave me a shot that would stop the menstrual cycle and I would start taking the medication. This is what caused me to pass a big blood clot months prior. It was a very painful and humbling experience for me and I had to get an ultrasound to make sure everything was “all right”. The lady who would perform the ultrasound on me was asking me questions before she gave me the ultrasound. She was very rude and kept persisting that I was “not” a virgin even though I told her I was. Me and my mother got very offended when I told her more than three times that that wasn’t the case. Then me and my mother left without getting the ultrasound done. This situation gave me the inspiration and the drive to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer so that I can help women and little girls like me at the time to feel comfortable in situations like that and to feel comfortable so nobody has to go through what I had to go through. I will use this experience that I faced when I was younger to have the drive and ambition to help others feel comfortable and cared for in their time of need. I plan on attending Fort Hays State University or Washburn University and get a Bacholers degree in sonography. I then plan on going to either KU Medical or Saint Jude to help children with cancer. I would like the families of children with cancer or rare diseases to know that we care. I care. And I want to help them feel loved and comfortable in this scary and unsettling time. I would also like to thank the Nguyen family for give students like me the opportunity for this award and say that I am truly sorry for your loss and that Maxwell Tuan Nguyen is in a better place but I know that in your eyes, there is no better and safer place than in your arms. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

When I was born, I was deaf in my left ear. The doctors told my parents that I had no mechanism for the resources to hear, which is also called sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss is a problem in the inner ear, auditory nerve, or higher auditory centers in the brainstem and temporal lobe (Dobie and Susan Van Hemel). Treatments for my hearing loss were limited. After all, I wasn’t eligible for the cochlear implant because I was born without the mechanism that would help the device function. When I was in middle school I was having difficulties hearing my teachers. Me and my mother went to an audiologist who worked in Denver at Children’s Mercy which was the biggest hospital for little kids at the time and she told me that I could try to use hearing aids. Because I didn’t have any mechanism, the hearing aid in my left ear was almost like a “walkie-talkie”. Whenever someone would talk to my left ear it would just play in my right ear. For me, this was very uncomfortable and made people talking sound very “robotic”. Being disabled with my hearing made me view the world as people being very short-tempered towards other people with disabilities. For instance, my sister was talking to me the other day and we were at a basketball game. The referee was blowing the whistle and the kids were dribbling their basketballs which made it very hard for me to hear people talking to me, even if they were right next to me. My sister was trying to tell me something and I had to have her repeat it three times for me to hear it which resulted in her getting frustrated and not repeating the statement. I understand her frustration but at the same time, it isn’t fair for me. It was like she was mad at me for not being able to hear her. I have encountered this problem many times during my eighteen years of life and will continue to face it until my last breath. Another problem is when I tell someone I am deaf in my left ear they react in one of the two ways. One they don’t believe me and I am serious when I say that they think that I am lying because my ear looks normal on the outside or two they treat me like I am just deaf in both ears and they be-little me by treating me like I am broken. I plan to use this experience to help others with disabilities to know that just because they have a disability doesn’t mean that they are anything less than someone who is not. I plan to treat everyone with the same respect I give to others, no matter what they look like or how many times you have to repeat a sentence. For example, my father served in the Army and had obtained permanent hearing loss. While my siblings get frustrated having to repeat things, I do not. I remember how hard it is for me and I will repeat things until he hears it or I will text it to him. I will tap his shoulder if someone is talking to him if he does not hear it because that is what people will do for me. I care to do these things because that is what I would want done for me. I want to make a positive impact with this scholarship and to show that your disability doesn’t define you, your actions do. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

When I was around ten years old my mother had to have surgery on her uterus to get rid of her spreading cancer. We were lucky enough to have caught it early that she did not have to go through chemo, but in the surgery, they had to take “everything”. Sadly she is unable to have children because of the cancer removal. A couple of years before me and my twin sister were born my mother was having difficulties getting pregnant. She was ten weeks along when she lost her baby. After that, she knew that if she wanted to try again she needed some medical assistance. When she got pregnant with me my sister she had to take special medicine to give her enough nutrients and had to take monthly injections to make sure she didn’t lose us when she got up to the later trimesters. Me and my sisters have a high chance of getting uterine cancer as well so we have to get checked every few months when we hit our 20s. It is a very scary process because my one goal in life is to have children but I know it might be a struggle for me to do so in the later trimesters. When my mother told me this when I was little I didn’t quite understand, but reminiscing on this while I am eighteen I can’t help but feel the sorrow and the despondent feeling when she lost my baby brother. It is always hard on a mother when losing a child. I would never wish that on any woman or man for that type of grief. It is a constant worry for me but I know that I am lucky because my mother is still here with me today. Receiving this scholarship will help me become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, which is taking ultrasound of the body. The scholarship will help me obtain my degree so I can specialize in pediatrics and OB-GYN so I can help children in Saint Jude or women with their pregnancies and children who are scared and need an ultrasound so I can give them the reassurance of comfort and care that I received when I had to get an ultrasound when I was little. I hope that with the new and upcoming technologies for Ultrasound, we will be able to see abnormalities in the body so we can catch colon, uterine, and brain cancer before it does any further damage. I am hoping I can achieve greatness and new pro-founding research with my medical interest and I hope I can help Cancer patients with my emotional care when I service them when they need an ultrasound. I appreciate your time to read this and I would like to thank Tammy Michales for funding this scholarship and for this opportunity and to say that I am truly sorry and that your ALS warrior is in a better place but I know that in a your eyes, there is no better and safer place than in your arms. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

My father, David Hudgens, was stationed at Ft. Bragg North Carolina with the 82nd Airborne 3rd Battalion A Company Parachute Infantry Regiment. During his enlistment he was deployed to the tip of Egypt and Israel conducting a peacekeepers mission called MFO (Multi-National Forces and Observers. The borders were in constant turmoil between Egypt and Israel due to religious beliefs, land-border disputes and military weapons technology. 11 different countries assisted along multiple locations. The second deployment was during Desert Shield and Desert Storm which was a war between Iraq and Kuwait. During Desert Shield military forces entered Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to show force against Iraq and also to protect Kuwait resources. After all peace missions had failed Desert Storm was started. The US military and other allies conducted a combat mission against Iraq. After the cease-fire was ordered my dad went back to Ft. Bragg until his enlistment was over. During his enlistment he gained the rank of E5 Sergeant and completed Airborne School and Ranger School with several combat awards. According to the “U.S. Army” their values consist of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. From a young age my father “imprinted” these values into my life. I am always respectful towards others and serve people before myself. This is why I chose to go into the medical field for my career choice. He taught me everything to make it through, not just school, but life. He told me that sometimes you have to do things that you don’t want to do, but it has to get done. These are wise and important things that my father has taught me. I still use them to this day, whether it be for a college assignment that I am dreading or a difficult situation. Military values can teach you everything, from putting others' needs before your own, to doing things you don’t want to do but are necessary to complete. To make it through life I believe that everyone needs to apply and respect these values because it will shape you into a person worth respecting with a well-lived goal. In everything I complete and attempt, I do it with my best effort and to complete it with confidence. I am a perfectionist like my father and because of that, I am now scheduled to graduate with an Associate of Science when I graduate high school. If it weren’t for my father's integrity and his love for me, I wouldn’t have accomplished what I would have today. I would also like to take this time to thank the Godwin family, for making this scholarship possible for the children of veterans to be able to have this wonderful opportunity so we can continue our education. My father also loves to talk about his time during his service. Most morning on the weekends we will sit on the dinning table and eat breakfast while he talks about his adventures. While listening to these stories I can't even fathom the difficulties and how scared soldiers must have been while their time in the Army. With that said I would like to thank my father. Not just my father, but all fathers like James, and mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, friends, and spouses are all who made it possible for not just me, but for everyone to have a future and live in a free and safe country we all live in today. Thank you.

My parent divorced when I was six years old. My mother was a stay-at-home mom so she could take care of me and my siblings and care for our needs. The only problem with that is whenever my mother needed money for necessities for us such as clothes or school supplies it was a constant struggle. I prayed to God starting from a young age that I would never rely on a man or another individual for income. Starting in the 8th grade, I knew what I was going to do for a career. I wanted to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. The day that decided my future career I prayed to God to show me the way and to help me become successful in my academic journey.  Starting of my junior year in high school I had the opportunity to take college classes. I decided to take Anatomy and Physiology Part 1, College Psychology, College US History, Composition 1 and 2, Medical Terminology, and Microbiology. I took these classes throughout the year and I was awarded the Presidential Award from Seward County Community College. Beginning of my senior year I decided to take more college classes to “knock” out the pre-requisite courses I needed to become a sonographer. I am currently taking and I am about to be finished with the courses, Anatomy and Physiology Part 2 and College Algebra.  I had a scheduled talk with my counselor, and she told me I am close to earning an associate's degree. I was so happy and I couldn’t believe it. I thanked God for allowing me to graduate with a high school diploma and a college degree. I am now scheduled to take the remaining classes I need to graduate with an Associate of Science in May 2025.  I am also accepted into my two dream colleges Fort Hays State University and Washburn University. I have my faith to thank for this determination that God has given me and I will continue to thank God and Jesus every day of my life. I know that in the future my faith will continue to grow and assist me when I am worried about clinical hours or when I am starting the next chapter of my career. God has always been watching over me and has given me good and bad situations so I will grow and know how to grow as a Christian. I would like to thank the family of Arthur and Elana Panos for this opportunity and I would like to say that I can relate to them, in a sense, that I had nothing from a child to go to “build” it up for my future family and my future children so they will never have to worry about money and their financial situations.

When I was around ten years old my mother had to have surgery on her uterus to get rid of her spreading cancer. We were lucky enough to have caught it early that she did not have to go through chemo, but in the surgery, they had to take “everything”. Sadly she is unable to have children because of the cancer removal. A couple of years before me and my twin sister were born my mother was having difficulties getting pregnant. She was ten weeks along when she lost her baby. After that, she knew that if she wanted to try again she needed some medical assistance. When she got pregnant with me my sister she had to take special medicine to give her enough nutrients and had to take monthly injections to make sure she didn’t lose us when she got up to the later trimesters. Me and my sisters have a high chance of getting uterine cancer as well so we have to get checked every few months when we hit our 20s. It is a very scary process because my one goal in life is to have children but I know it might be a struggle for me to do so in the later trimesters. When my mother told me this when I was little I didn’t quite understand, but reminiscing on this while I am eighteen I can’t help but feel the sorrow and the despondent feeling when she lost my baby brother. It is always hard on a mother when losing a child. I would never wish that on any woman or man for that type of grief. It is a constant worry for me but I know that I am lucky because my mother is still here with me today. Receiving this scholarship will help me become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, which is taking ultrasound of the body. The scholarship will help me obtain my degree so I can specialize in pediatrics and OB-GYN so I can help children in Saint Jude or women with their pregnancies and children who are scared and need an ultrasound so I can give them the reassurance of comfort and care that I received when I had to get an ultrasound when I was little. I hope that with the new and upcoming technologies for Ultrasound, we will be able to see abnormalities in the body so we can catch, colon, uterine, and brain cancer before it does any further damage. I appreciate your time to read this and I would like to thank Ryan R. Lusso’s family for this opportunity and say that I am truly sorry I would say that he is in a better place but I know that in a your eyes, there is no better and safer place than in your arms. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

When I was six years old my mother and father got divorced. My father moved to another town and, my mother, and my siblings moved to my grandmother's house. My father paid for child support for me and my twin sister but it still wasn’t enough at times. I am very grateful for being able to have a roof over my head as a child and for my grandmother taking us in. Being raised by just my mother for the majority of my life made me realize that when I get married I never want to have to rely on a man. I never want to have to rely on another person's paycheck and have to ask to purchase something that I need such as clothes or food. My mother was fortunate enough to be able to get a food bank card so we could afford groceries, but still buying groceries for four people became very difficult and expensive. It was really hard when my mother had to ask my father for money for school things such as notebooks, pencils, or even clothes for the upcoming year. He would always question her on why she needed the money and it made her very sad. It is what made me and my twin realize that we want to be able to provide for ourselves in the future and never rely on anyone. This is what caused me to set a goal. I plan on becoming a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and I already saved money by joining the Saints Anywhere program with Seward County Community College which marks down each class to $50 by the time I graduate high school I will graduate with an Associates Degree in Science. This will then cut down two years of schooling from getting my bachelor's degree in obstetric sonography. After I obtain my bachelor's degree from either Fort Hays State University or Washburn University, I intend to become a traveling sonographer and travel around the states and start saving money for my future. Including my future children and for a down payment for a house and a reliable and nice car. Doing this job will help me help single mothers know when I take their ultrasound for their baby, that they are not alone and that I know that they are scared about how they will provide for their child but to always know that their child can and will make it through the tough and difficult times, all you have to do is give them a little faith. I have had to work very hard for my education and I wouldn’t change anything because it made me who I am today and I hope I can receive this scholarship because it will help me pay for my education and help make a difference for me and my family. Thank you for reading my letter. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

I would like to start this by saying that I am truly sorry for the family of Kyla Jo Burridge and I would say that she is in a better place but I know that in a parent's eyes, there is no better and safer place than in your arms. My family hasn’t had any experience with brain cancer but we have had our fair share of colon cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and uterine cancer. When I was around ten years old my mother had to have surgery on her uterus to get rid of her spreading cancer. We were lucky enough to have caught it early that she did not have to go through chem, but in the surgery, they had to take “everything”. Sadly she is unable to have children because of the cancer. Me and my sisters have a high chance of getting uterine cancer as well so we have to get checked every few months when we hit our 20s. My grandmother also suffered from breast cancer for years. She had to have surgery twice to remove the cancer and is still watching out for the cancer’s return to this day. My grandmother’s sister died last year due to the abnormal and fast-spreading colon cancer that she developed. She tried chemotherapy for months but they were unable to operate because of how much the cancer had spread. She knew she didn’t have enough time to be here with her family, but she wanted to make it to her granddaughter’s first birth to her grandson. Thankfully, she made it to the birth and got to hold her first grandchild from her granddaughter. Sadly, she passed away a couple of weeks later. My great-grandfather also developed lung cancer in his later years of life a couple of years after my great-grandmother died at an early age due to a fast-spreading colon cancer. Even though my family hasn’t experienced brain cancer, we have dealt with all of the sorts. Both sides of my family from my father and especially my mother’s side of the family have the genetic material to have any of these types of cancer. It is a constant worry for me but I know that I am lucky because my mother is still here with me today. Receiving this scholarship will help me become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, which is taking ultrasound of the body. The scholarship will help me obtain my degree so I can specialize in pediatrics and OB-GYN so I can help children in Saint Jude or women with their pregnancies and children who are scared and need an ultrasound so I can give them the reassurance of comfort and care that I received when I had to get an ultrasound when I was little. I hope that with the new and upcoming technologies for Ultrasound, we will be able to see abnormalities in the body so we can catch, colon, uterine, and brain cancer before it does any damage. I appreciate your time for reading this and that Kyla’s memory will forever be remembered and her memory will always be remembered by the people that she touched with her heart. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

I knew my field of study since I was in the 8th grade when I had to experience a horrendous experience in the hospitality industry. When I was 14 years old I went through a condition similar to Adenomyosis. Adenomyosis occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrial tissue) grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. The displaced tissue continues to act normally — thickening, breaking down, and bleeding — during each menstrual cycle. An enlarged uterus and painful, heavy periods can result (Mayo Clinic, “Adenomyosis - Symptoms and Causes”). For me, my doctor prescribed me birth control to decrease my blood flow but the problem was that my period never stopped for me to start taking the medication. Therefore, she gave me a shot that would stop the menstrual cycle and I would start taking the medication. This is what caused me to pass a big blood clot months prior. It was a very painful and humbling experience for me and I had to get an ultrasound to make sure everything was “all right”. The lady who would perform the ultrasound on me was asking me questions before she gave me the ultrasound. She was very rude and kept persisting that I was “not” a virgin even though I told her I was. Me and my mother got very offended when I told her more than three times that that wasn’t the case. Then me and my mother left without getting the ultrasound done. This situation gave me the inspiration and the drive to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer so that I can help women and little girls like me at the time to feel comfortable in situations like that and to feel comfortable so nobody has to go through what I had to go through. I will use this experience that I faced when I was younger to have the drive and ambition to help others feel comfortable and cared for in their time of need. I would also like to thank the Cochener family for give students like me the opportunity for this award and I hope that I could achieve half of what John Young was able to achieve in his life time. So with that said, together let’s make medical care great again.

When I was six years old my mother and father got divorced. My father moved to another town and, my mother, and my siblings moved to my grandmother's house. My father paid for child support for me and my twin sister but it still wasn’t enough at times. I am very grateful for being able to have a roof over my head as a child and for my grandmother taking us in. Being raised by just my mother for the majority of my life made me realize that when I get married I never want to have to rely on a man. I never want to have to rely on another person's paycheck and have to ask to purchase something that I need such as clothes or food. My mother was fortunate enough to be able to get a food bank card so we could afford groceries, but still buying groceries for four people became very difficult and expensive. It was really hard when my mother had to ask my father for money for school things such as notebooks, pencils, or even clothes for the upcoming year. He would always question her on why she needed the money and it made her very sad. It is what made me and my twin realize that we want to be able to provide for ourselves in the future and never rely on anyone. This is what caused me to set a goal. I plan on becoming a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and I already saved money by joining the Saints Anywhere program with Seward County Community College which marks down each class to $50 by the time I graduate high school I will graduate with an Associates Degree in Science. This will then cut down two years of schooling from getting my bachelor's degree in obstetric sonography. After I obtain my bachelor's degree from either Fort Hays State University or Washburn University, I intend to become a traveling sonographer and travel around the states and start saving money for my future. Including my future children and for a down payment for a house and a reliable and nice car. Doing this job will help me help single mothers know when I take their ultrasound for their baby, that they are not alone and that I know that they are scared about how they will provide for their child but to always know that their child can and will make it through the tough and difficult times, all you have to do is give them a little faith. I have had to work very hard for my education and I wouldn’t change anything because it made me who I am today and I hope I can receive this scholarship because it will help me pay for my education and help make a difference for me and my family. Thank you for reading my letter. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

When I was six years old my mother and father got divorced. My father moved to another town and, my mother, and my siblings moved to my grandmother's house. My father paid for child support for me and my twin sister but it still wasn’t enough at times. I am very grateful for being able to have a roof over my head as a child and for my grandmother taking us in. Being raised by just my mother for the majority of my life made me realize that when I get married I never want to have to rely on a man. I never want to have to rely on another person's paycheck and have to ask to purchase something that I need such as clothes or food. My mother was fortunate enough to be able to get a food bank card so we could afford groceries, but still buying groceries for four people became very difficult and expensive. It was really hard when my mother had to ask my father for money for school things such as notebooks, pencils, or even clothes for the upcoming year. He would always question her on why she needed the money and it made her very sad. It is what made me and my twin realize that we want to be able to provide for ourselves in the future and never rely on anyone. This is what caused me to set a goal. I plan on becoming a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and I already saved money by joining the Saints Anywhere program with Seward County Community College which marks down each class to $50 by the time I graduate high school I will graduate with an Associates Degree in Science. This will then cut down two years of schooling from getting my bachelor's degree in obstetric sonography. After I obtain my bachelor's degree from either Fort Hays State University or Washburn University, I intend to become a traveling sonographer and travel around the states and start saving money for my future. Including my future children and for a down payment for a house and a reliable and nice car. Doing this job will help me help single mothers know when I take their ultrasound for their baby, that they are not alone and that I know that they are scared about how they will provide for their child but to always know that their child can and will make it through the tough and difficult times, all you have to do is give them a little faith. I have had to work very hard for my education and I wouldn’t change anything because it made me who I am today and I hope I can become like John J Costonis and be able to have his some work ethic. I believe that the Costonis family is very proud of John and his accomplishments and I hope that I could be half of the person he was with his work ethic and I hope that I could achieve as much as he did in his life time. Thank you for reading my letter. Sincerely, Kadence Hudgens

I have been a fan of "Wicked" since I was in elementary school. My music teacher had us sing "For Good" and "Popular" for our Spring recital and I fell in love with the lyrics. I was always a fan of "The Wizard Of Oz" when I was a child so when I heard of the movie I knew I was going to love it. The actors for Glinda and Elphaba were perfect and their voices matched perfectly with their character's emotions and characteristics. Stephen Schwartz, the composer and lyricist for "Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicked Witch of The West" was extraordinary. It was very well thought out and planned and made the potential possible for the dramatic adaption. The story about Glinda's and Elphaba's story upon and after Dorothy's arrival was wonderful and showed us how they were very good friends and how their world used to be. The costumes and props were also amazing and very detailed on the set of "Wicked" All I saw was the trailer and I was already impressed with the backgrounds and the character's outfits and hairstyles. With all this said about this said about the filming production and the casting I hope you consider having me be "one of the fans" because I do see this film as one of the top cinematic films of all time. Thank you for reading this essay.

When I was six years old my mother and father got divorced. My father moved to another town and, my mother, and my siblings moved to my grandmother's house. My father paid for child support for me and my twin sister but it still wasn’t enough at times. I am very grateful for being able to have a roof over my head as a child and for my grandmother taking us in. Being raised by just my mother for the majority of my life made me realize that when I get married I never want to have to rely on a man. I never want to have to rely on another person's paycheck and have to ask to purchase something that I need such as clothes or food. My mother was fortunate enough to be able to get a food bank card so we could afford groceries, but still buying groceries for four people became very difficult and expensive. It was really hard when my mother had to ask my father for money for school things such as notebooks, pencils, or even clothes for the upcoming year. He would always question her on why she needed the money and it made her very sad. It is what made me and my twin realize that we want to be able to provide for ourselves in the future and never rely on anyone. This is what caused me to set a goal. I plan on becoming a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and I already saved money by joining the Saints Anywhere program with Seward County Community College which marks down each class to $50 by the time I graduate high school I will graduate with an Associates Degree in Science. This will then cut down two years of schooling from getting my bachelor's degree in obstetric sonography. After I obtain my bachelor's degree from either Fort Hays State University or Washburn University, I intend to become a traveling sonographer and travel around the states and start saving money for my future. Including my future children and for a down payment for a house and a reliable and nice car. Doing this job will help me help single mothers know when I take their ultrasound for their baby, that they are not alone and that I know that they are scared about how they will provide for their child but to always know that their child can and will make it through the tough and difficult times, all you have to do is give them a little faith.  Thank you for reading my letter.

I have been a fan of Sabrina Carpenter since she was an extra character in "Austin and Ally",  and "Moon Week and Mentors". She was a shy character and she got her courage and drive to sing and it was amazing! When I watched that episode of "Austin and Ally" it gave me the courage and ambition to try out for cheerleading. I was a very shy, timid girl and in my 6th grade year, I had the opportunity to try out for cheer. I didn't know if I could do it because I never talked to anyone and was never "preppy" but it was always a dream of mine since I was little and watched the high school cheerleading cheer and look so cool. After that episode seeing Sabrina face her fears and try for her dreams gave me the goal to try out. The next day was tryouts and I remember practicing and being really nervous. I practiced and "locked" down the motions, the only problem I had was saying the chant. I practiced and practiced for the next few days and on the day of the tryouts I remembered Sabrina and her audition so I decided to be loud and take a chance. The next day they posted the list for the girls who made the team and I was one of the girls! I have Sabrina to thank for that goal in my life. Since then I have been watching Sabrina in "Girl Meet's World" and her first album "Eyes Wide Open". I listen to her songs daily including "Espresso", "Please, Please, Please", "Feather", "Thumbs" and "Read Your Mind". These are my all-time favorite songs and I relate to them so much. Her songs are always on my playlist for when I am about to cheer as a senior and captain of the cheer team. If it wasn't for Sabrina's role in "Austin and Ally" and her ambitious drive to become one of the hit artists, then I would have never become the person I am today. Thank you for your time.

My goal is to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. To reach this goal I need plan to attend to Fort Hays State University or Washburn University. Both of these universities have wonderful programs. But first I planned last year to take college classes with Seward County Community College and with their Saints Anywhere program where each college class is $50 dollars. I decided to take advantage of this and took eight classes the whole year which included Composition 1, Composition 2, Microbiology, Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology Part 1, Public Speech, College US History, and Medical Terminology. This totaled up to $400 but $500 if you add the lab kits and the book I had to purchase. For this year I am taking College Algebra and Anatomy and Physiology Part 2 and the next semester I plan on taking the rest of the classes I need to complete an Associates of Science degree so when I go to either Fort Hays or Washburn, which I already applied to and got in, I can go directly into the program without having to do the credentials. The classes totaled to $100. I applied to Washburn as a back up school, but I plan on attending Fort Hays which will be $13,096 after financial aid which I plan on applying to on December 1st when it is free. Then I will only have to go to school for two years instead of four because I already finished my credentials and then I am applying to all of the scholarship I can and have already received a scholarship from Fort Hays for each semester for $1,600 and another scholarship for room and board for $1,500. If I still need to pay off my college I plan on enlisting in the military and to join the Air Force to get my college covered by them while I work for them for a couple years to pay it off that way. Once I graduate with a Bachelors degree and obtain a job at a hospital for a obstetric Sonographer, I plan to travel the states as a travel Sonographer and to begin saving money. I plan to save money for my future house payment, future wedding, retirement, future children, and for my future children's college savings. Once I finish travel around for a few years I plan on deciding to set down some roots at a state Iove and a hospital who needs me. This has been my plan since I was in 8th grade in middle school and I hope you found it inspiring and well thought out as I. Thank you for your time.

When I was 14 years old I went through a condition similar to Adenomyosis. Adenomyosis occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrial tissue) grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. The displaced tissue continues to act normally — thickening, breaking down and bleeding — during each menstrual cycle. An enlarged uterus and painful, heavy periods can result (Mayo Clinic, “Adenomyosis - Symptoms and Causes”). For me my doctor prescribed me birth control to decrease my blood flow but the problem was that my period never stopped for me to start taking the medication. Therefore, she gave me a shot that would stop the menstrual cycle and I would start taking the medication. This is what caused me to pass a big blood clot months prior. It was a very painful and humbling experience for me and I had to get a ultrasound to make sure everything was “alright”. The lady that would preforming the ultrasound on me was asking me questions before she gave me the ultrasound. She was very rude and kept persisting that I was “not” a virgin even though I told her I was. Me and my mother got very offended when I told her more than three times that that wasn’t the case. Then me and my mother left without getting the ultrasound done. This situation gave me the inspiration and the drive to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer so that I can help women and little girls like me at the time to feel comfort in situations like that and to feel comfortable so nobody has to go through what I had to go through. My mother has always been by my side and I want to show her that I can even though that something happened to when when I was little that was unexpected it will not define me but instead it will help me help others. I want to show my mother that I will show her that the medical care can be good again if we fill it with the right people to help people in need feel comfortable. Therefore, it is important for me to get this scholarship because my mother is divorced and she needs money to help send my to college. This scholarship will help me go forward in this journey and to help reach my goals. So with that said, let’s make the medical care great again.

Coming from a low-income household has led me to persevere through challenges by my mother teaching me that it could always be "worse" than what we have and to always be thankful for your opportunities. I want to make my life experiences matter by becoming a Diagnostic Medical Sonograher and helping pregnant women feel comfortable with their pregnancy and if they are single and going through this "scary" time of need to let them know that they are not alone and your kids will still do good without another parental figure because I am a example of that and I made it possible for myself.