Empower Scholarships

Reading the inspiring stories of the different people who apply for the scholarship is one of the pleasures we get from hosting this scholarship. We receive thousands of applications from all over the state, and learning about their interests, ambitions, and backgrounds has brought us nothing but satisfaction and joy. We read about their life journeys and how their experiences have inspired them to pursue careers in various fields of education. We are excited to see what the future holds for all of our applicants, as they all want to make a difference in the world.

We are excited to announce that after months of reading, rereading, and reviewing hundreds of applications, we have selected Kayla McEwen as the recipient of the Organic Life Start Empower Scholarship!

Kayla is currently studying psychology at California State University, Bakersfield, with hopes of one day becoming a school psychologist. She was raised by a hardworking and dedicated single mother who cared for her despite her father's absence. This inspired and prepared her for where she is now, now a mother of four wonderful children. Being a single mother has never been easy, especially when you have dreams you want to achieve. But she's not one to give up easily.

As challenging as it is to juggle full-time school and being a single, full-time parent to four young children, Kayla manages to juggle both. She takes most of her required classes online via Zoom or entirely online so she can be at home since her two children are not yet in school. She waits until after she puts her kids to bed at 8:30-9:00 PM to start doing homework, then completes all the assignments, tests, and quizzes that are due by midnight, and then starts studying until 3-4 AM. All of this sacrifice goes to giving her children the time they need.

Kayla’s gripping and moving story of the struggles of being a single mother on her own sets her apart. There were times when she didn’t know what to do, and she even felt like a huge failure as a mother. But brave Kayla didn’t stop there, she immediately went back to work full-time. Because she knew that if she wanted to support her children and provide them with stability, she needed to go back to school. Although a part of her wasn’t confident enough to believe that she was smart enough or capable of anything, she fought that part of herself so that the real Kayla would triumph; a loving, courageous, passionate, and dedicated mother and student. Because of this, she was able to graduate from her psychology degree in one year instead of two, while still making the dean’s list. It’s one of the accomplishments she’s most proud of. It was the first time she believed she could graduate and earn a bachelor’s degree. I know many will definitely agree that achieving this will be very difficult with or without children.

When asked if she would have to “give away” this scholarship, who would she give it to? She said, “I would like it to go to another parent who is trying to improve their lives and the lives of their children, because I know from experience that when you are a single parent and you get help, it means a lot to you.” We are happy to give it to someone as deserving as she is.

When we launched this scholarship program, we always kept in mind the value of SHARING:

• We wanted to share the positivity that comes when you recognize people who inspire you to achieve your dreams.
• We wanted to share your strength by becoming your voice and sharing your story of inspiration.
• We wanted to share this with the community and contribute to its development. We see how hard you work for your future, and we know that you will share the same inspiration and strength with the next generation.

Choosing a winner was a tough task. All of the stories we received were wonderful and inspiring, but we had to make a choice. After weeks of deliberation, we are excited to announce the name of the Spring Semester Scholar from Organic Life Start: Jessica Lee .

Jessica is studying neuroscience and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. She has dedicated her life to taking care of her family. She is a determined single mother who does everything she can for her strong, brave, and intelligent 8-year-old daughter.

Her schedule is busy every day, but she is always focused on putting her daughter’s needs first. She adjusts her schedule to be able to drop her off and pick her up on time. She does homework with her third-grader, and she makes sure they can enjoy dinner together. Saturdays! Saturdays are special for the mother-daughter duo: Jessica’s daughter takes ice skating lessons, and Jessica gets to relax by watching her do something she’s always wanted to do but couldn’t do before.

Here are some of Jessica's findings that she wants to share with everyone reading this:

• Don't be shy about moving on from a relationship. Learn to take care of yourself, not just others.
• Strive to be the best person you can be. In Jessica's case, she strives to be the best person for her daughter—the best person in her world.
• Set healthy boundaries in all your relationships.
• You deserve better. You are not alone in your battles. Don't let anyone tell you that you are not good enough, especially for what you dream of.

We also wanted to share Jessica's special message for her daughter:

• Set healthy boundaries.
• It's okay if you take care of your mental health first.
• And Jessica's favorite quote: "Mental health is not your fault, it's your responsibility. And it starts with healthy boundaries."

Jessica is an inspiration. She's a mother. She's a friend. She's a hard worker. She's you and me - you and I - traveling this world for our loved ones and trying to share love at every turn.

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Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us. You are making the world a better place by recognizing and honoring the influential people in your life. We are proud to have received so many sponsorship applications over the past few months. We wish you all the best in all your endeavors!

The story our team has chosen for this fall’s scholarship is very close to our hearts. As parents, we all share a common mission to be the best version of ourselves for our children. In addition to meeting their needs, we strive to inspire children and show them that they too can achieve their dreams, despite circumstances beyond our control.

Dennon, one of the strongest women we've ever met, is attending Western Governors University and pursuing a degree in registered nursing.

On motherhood: Dennon's journey to motherhood wasn't exactly smooth sailing - she endured an unplanned pregnancy without a partner, was forced to move in with her parents, and suffered from postpartum depression. She had to deal with exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and adjust to caring for someone who relied on her completely - all while her body and mind were recovering.

At 3 months old, her baby had bronchitis. When Dannon heard her baby wheezing, her heart broke. But her little one was just happy to be with his mother—he was smiling and giggling, wheezing and struggling to breathe. Dannon thought she had never seen anyone suffer so much, but she could just smile and laugh about it. Her baby struggled for basic survival, but never cried; on the contrary, he had the strength to smile at his mother, and that brought her such comfort.

As adults, we learn to hide many emotions so as not to bother others, but her son hid nothing. In that moment, she realized that her child was so strong and truly kind. He had no preconceptions about how to “behave” in society, and he was just himself. She realized that she wanted to be like her son; happy despite the pain. Then he set a new goal for Dennon – to protect his smile and happiness.

On Nursing: 2020 was a year that changed everyone’s lives. Dannon saw how hard everyone in the medical community was working to make the world a better place. This inspired her on a mission to be part of the solution.

She had firsthand experience of how nurses can make things better. When her son was sick, the nurses who helped him at Children’s Medical Center brought comfort to her little family. They played with her son and made him laugh, even when he was feeling down. They constantly checked on Dannon and kept her updated on everything that was happening. They cared for her son, and after a week it was time for them to leave. The nurses were so happy to see him off because he was laughing and walking. Dannon had never felt so confident that her son would be okay, and to this day she is grateful to those nurses and doctors who helped him.

Dennon really wanted to go into medicine after that, but she knew it would be a tall order for a single mother. She had several issues to address before making a career change.

• The first step was to find an online school that would allow her to complete as much of her education remotely as possible.
• The second is to make sure her son is old enough to go to public school. Now that he’s in kindergarten, Dannon can focus more time on work and school so that when he gets home, she can have time to herself. I found a school, WGU, that allows me to work remotely as much as possible.

Her strong desire to be a part of the medical community motivated her to pursue a nursing degree while simultaneously caring for her family.

After graduating from nursing school, Dennon plans to work at a children's hospital.

• She wants to help children recover from their illnesses.
• She wants to give thanks for the kindness and support she received during this difficult time. She realizes that without the nurses who offered her support, she would have been lost.
• She also wants to pass this on to other parents who are in the same position as her.

Dannon also aspires to be part of an obstetrics and gynecology clinic. She wants to help in this field because creating human life is no easy task.

• She would like to be around other women just as they were around her.
• Sometimes life is scary, and having a baby can be scary, but it doesn't have to be. Her role will be to make mothers feel like they have one less problem with her help.

About life lessons for our readers

Hard doesn’t mean impossible. Dennon thought getting into nursing school as a single mother was impossible. After researching, she discovered that there were so many ways to get help while trying to get back into education as a single mother. She used to worry that she wouldn’t be able to find the time to work and study at the same time. However, WGU helped her realize that she could take as many online courses as she needed and better prepare for clinical practice.

You can't plan everything down to the smallest detail and expect everything to go according to plan. Natural birth + no epidural. Feeding a pet. Those were her goals for herself. And many parents have those goals.

Although she was able to deliver her son naturally, she couldn’t make the other half. She barely produced breast milk, and because there was so little, she didn’t realize it was harming her son. His jaundice wouldn’t go away. She couldn’t fix it by eating and sleeping more (no parent sleeps more!). I barely produced breast milk, and I kept thinking I could fix it, just need to sleep more or eat more. She switched to formula, and he got better.

Dannon realized that plans can seem important, but she also learned that if her son is healthy, everything else falls into place. As parents, we often feel like we know best or want to give our children the best they can have, but sometimes those feelings can get in the way of what’s truly best for them. There is no perfect answer/solution. Every child is different, and all they want is you and your love.

Here is Dennon's message to her son:

• Always remember that difficult is not impossible. If you truly have a dream or passion, go for it and give it your all.
• The best things in life aren't always the easiest. Life can be difficult and scary, but knowing how to deal with such situations is half the battle.
• You have more love and support than you can imagine, and just know that we are all here for you. My biggest goal for you is for you to be able to/achieve your dreams/passions and make them come true.
• I love you with all my heart, and you will always be my greatest achievement.

Dannon's story is yours and mine. She is vulnerable and strong. She is kind and determined. She is full of love despite the hardships. She is an inspiration, and we are honored to share her story with all of you.

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Thank you to all the participants who took the time to share their wonderful stories. With so many people supporting each other, we hope that future generations will be beautiful, bright, and kind. We wish you all the best!

We received thousands of applications this semester, and history has shown us what empowerment is all about – family, support, encouragement, hard work, and resilience. We are proud to announce that our Spring Semester winner is Jake Ruhl.

Jake, like most of us, had a difficult childhood. He had doubts and insecurities, and this affected his self-perception. Two people influenced him and motivated him to strive to change his community.

Jake was lucky enough to have a father who was completely dedicated to providing for his family. He worked extensively in the vending machine industry, and many may not know that the daily work of filling, repairing, and moving vending machines is extremely taxing on the body. His father worked through illnesses and injuries just to provide for his family.

In October 2019, Jake’s father suffered a massive brain aneurysm. On the way to the hospital, on the phone, doctors told me and my family to prepare for him to be different, or, ultimately, the worst. They kept telling Jake that he was “the size of a golf ball.” But his father came back from surgery and asked Jake’s mother to go home and get his guitar so he could send his children a video of him playing it and telling them he was going to be okay. His father is a man who was on the verge of death, being airlifted to the hospital, and his first thought was, “Make sure my kids know I’m okay.”

In Jake's second year of high school, he met his American history teacher, Mr. Pierce, and he was the first teacher who made him enjoy going to class. Mr. Pierce made the lectures interesting, took notes on the board to make sure we were all working at the same pace, and was always available to help during lunch and after school.

Jake's father's work ethic and Mr. Pierce's dedication and hard work as an educator inspired Jake to become a high school English teacher. Jake is committed to empowering students just as he was empowered by two of the most influential figures in his life. He believes that his experiences throughout his school career will help him find students who are just as driven as he is. He wants to make sure that his classroom is a place where students can feel welcome and that it can be a place where ideas can be shared with others through collaborative activities.

We asked Jake to inspire readers with a few words, and here are what he shared:

• Never give up. Everyone has their own path, and while life can be tough, it’s those challenges that will help you learn more about yourself and what it means to be happy for yourself. One of Jake’s favorite quotes is Theodore Roosevelt’s “comparison is the thief of joy.” He believes that people should take this quote to heart.
• Nothing comes easy, and there are no easy wins. But with work ethic and love for family, you can make a difference.

We also wanted to share Jake's special message for his dad:

Thank you for teaching me that you have to work for what you want and that if you put in the effort, you will achieve results. Thank you for being a great role model and showing me how important it is to be there for your family. Many of the qualities that I will take with me into my professional career I have seen in you my entire life, and for that I will be forever grateful.

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Jake’s story shows us that every little action has an impact on the community – from being a caring husband and father, to being an honest worker, to being a teacher who strives to restore self-confidence and give hope for the future of children. Every sincere act contributes to a greater cause – and that is what the Empower Scholarship aims to support.

Jake is a student at Western Governors University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in English Education. He hopes to graduate by the end of this year. Thank you, Jake, for sharing your story. We wish you all the best!

"Our teachers impact our lives, even outside of the classroom. The way they work hard despite challenges shows students that they overcome obstacles."

We are proud to announce the winner of our fall scholarship: Sydney Hardy , a future counselor and therapist, volunteer at a local animal shelter, and animal lover, is pursuing a master's degree in psychology at Northern Michigan University.

Ms. Barb Richardson is a high school English teacher who changed Sydney's life. Her resilience and strength left an indelible mark and made Sydney who she is today - compassionate, kind, and caring.

Ms. Richardson has had a tough life – a difficult childhood, relationship and marriage issues, and ultimately the responsibility of creating a better life for herself and her children. Despite her circumstances, Ms. Richardson worked hard, no matter how difficult it was. She left her turbulent childhood home, studied theater, and discovered a passion for the arts. She honed her skills in languages and literature – and further developed her special gift: inspiring students.

In addition to her daily lessons, she was able to impart invaluable lessons about resilience, empathy, and the power of perseverance. Her ability to connect with her students on a personal level creates a conducive and supportive learning environment, empowering students to reach their full potential.

Sydney credits Ms. Richardson with helping her find her mission: to combine psychology with cat rescue. She aspires to open a therapy center and foster home for cats to help her clients feel at peace and the cats themselves feel loved.

Thank you, Sydney, for sharing your story! We also want to thank everyone who submitted their scholarship applications. With thousands of beautiful and inspiring stories, we hope that our little ones' futures will be kind, strong, and involved.

"Ashley's story shows us how loss can be transformed into compassion, love, and strength."

Our scholarship finalist is Ashley Hamilton . She is studying in the ASN program in nursing at Ivy Tech College in Sellersburg, Indiana. She is 42 years old, has three children, and describes herself as someone who never thought she would go back to school.

Ashley’s son was diagnosed with a rare, terminal brain cancer called diffuse median glioma. There is no cure, and it is an extremely aggressive form of cancer. In the space of ten short months, Ashley watched her healthy, athletic 10-year-old son lose his ability to walk, control his bladder and bowels, and eventually have difficulty breathing. He was a skinny boy, but he had gained almost a hundred pounds due to steroids and immobility.

In the last few weeks of his life, Ashley’s son was bedridden and swollen from head to toe. His nurse came in every day with a positive attitude and a smile. She joked with him and treated him as if he were just another little kid coming in for a checkup, not a child facing terminal cancer. He had to be changed and bathed several times a day, which was extremely uncomfortable for him because of his swollen belly. She took her time to make him as comfortable as possible. She never rushed him or got annoyed by the process.

Ashley said she witnessed the suffering at her local hospital firsthand. As someone who has faced a life-changing illness, she wants to help turn a terrifying moment into a safe and loving experience. While she knew her son's nurse couldn't save his life, she also knew she had at least given him and his family the only thing she could: her love and compassion .

After the death of her son, Ashley's shared experience inspired her to apply to nursing school and contribute to her community. Like her son's nurse, she wants to turn something tragic into something meaningful, beyond loss. To turn loss into love .