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Hear From Our Scholarship Recipients
Hi, I'm Gage, and this summer I had two incredible opportunities thanks to Reach for Greatness scholarships: a Bold Earth adventure in California and Sea Cadet Recruit Training.
On my Bold Earth trip, I hiked through Yosemite and the Redwood Forest and discovered how much I love being outdoors. The hardest part was rock climbing. I was scared, but I had to trust the rope, the person belaying me, and myself. I learned I was capable of more than I thought.
Sea Cadet Recruit Training was a completely different challenge. It was boot camp, and it was insanely hard. I watched other kids quit, and there were times I wanted to quit too. But I pushed through because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. In the end, I was honored to receive the coin for Best Overall Recruit.
Both experiences taught me to push past my fears and believe in myself. I'm grateful to Reach for Greatness for giving me these opportunities, memories, and confidence I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. Thank you!
Hello, I am Elizabeth. I attended CADCA’s Youth Mid-Year Training in Orlando, where I attended conferences and learned about substance use prevention, statistics, and ways to educate others. I also learned new strategies to raise awareness and help make a difference in my school and community.
Hello, I am David. Thanks to Reach for Greatness, I was able to attend a Sea Cadets Recruit Training camp at the Camp Blanding Joint Training Center this summer. At this camp, my fellow recruits and I had to demonstrate that we were disciplined and prepared to bear the title of Sea Cadet. It was not an easy feat, but it was worth the time and effort in the end. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that RFG provided for me, my fellow shipmates, and other members of the program. RFG has given all of its members meaningful experiences that will support us in our futures.
Hi, I’m Kayden! I received a scholarship from Reach for Greatness to attend Northeastern University’s Pre-College Innovations in Health Professions program. It was an incredible experience that let me explore the exciting possibilities in healthcare and better understand the many career paths available to me.
Throughout the program, I expanded my knowledge, explored new ideas, and learned more about the innovations shaping the future of healthcare. The experience opened my eyes to opportunities I hadn’t fully considered before and helped me see what could be possible for my own future in just a few short years.
I returned home feeling inspired, more confident, and excited about what lies ahead. I’m incredibly grateful to Reach for Greatness for making this experience possible and ensuring I could take advantage of such an amazing opportunity. Thank you for investing in my future and helping me discover what I can achieve!
Hi I’m Hubert. Being part of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps has helped me grow as a person. Through my experiences, I have learned the importance of discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and perseverance. Sea Cadets Rt has pushed me outside my comfort zone and challenged me to become more confident, independent, and determined. It has also taught me how to work with others, respect leadership, and take responsibility for my actions. One of the most important lessons 1 have learned is that personal growth requires dedication and the willingness to overcome challenges. Whether through physical training, leadership opportunities, or working alongside my fellow recruits in RT, I have become more motivated to improve myself. Overall, my Sea Cadets RT experience has helped my character.
I am Lexi and I am incredibly grateful to Reach for Greatness for giving me the opportunity to attend the NC State Materials Discovery Academy. Through this scholarship, I was able to spend a week exploring engineering, working on hands-on projects, and learning alongside other students who shared my interest in STEM. Since my school has limited engineering opportunities, being able to experience what studying engineering could actually look like was especially meaningful to me. The program allowed me to explore my interests on a much deeper level and gave me more confidence in what I want to pursue in the future. I am so thankful that Reach for Greatness made this experience possible and gave me an opportunity I otherwise may not have had.
Hi, I’m Shyla. This July, I had the pleasure of attending the week-long Howard University School of Business Pre-Business program on Howard’s campus in Washington, D.C. I participated in the entrepreneurship section, where I learned alongside accomplished students from diverse backgrounds.
Throughout the program, I gained valuable insight from industry professionals on how to run and maintain a business, as well as the ins and outs of entrepreneurship! In addition, I am proud to say I placed second overall in the pitch competition held during the program against about 30 other students. This is a big accomplishment for me because I showed that I have what it takes to start and run a successful business, and my plans for the future include starting my own law firm!
Thank you so much to Reach for Greatness for sponsoring this incredible trip, and I cannot express my gratitude enough!
Hi! My name is Violet Jangraw, and I am currently a senior at Key West High School. Reach for Greatness gave me the opportunity to attend a two-week Harvard Pre-College program in Boston, where I took a constitutional law course. I loved learning more about the Constitution and understanding the reasoning behind the laws that shape our country. The experience strengthened my interest in law and helped me realize that it is something I truly want to pursue in the future. One of my favorite parts of the program was being surrounded by other students who shared my interest in law. I had never experienced an environment like that before, and learning, discussing ideas, and connecting with people who shared my interest made the experience even more meaningful.
Hi I’m NathalieThis past summer, thanks to Reach for Greatness, I attended a political science program at Georgetown University. I experienced many firsts, including sharing a dorm, attending college-style lectures, navigating public transportation, and exploring Washington, D.C. These experiences helped prepare me for college and gave me greater confidence in my independence. I also discovered a new passion for writing congressional bills through a legislative simulation.
Beyond gaining valuable life skills, I deepened my understanding of economics, political compromise, and government. Professors Mark Croatti and Dr. David Baker taught us how political parties can find common ground despite their differences and how economic policies influence our country. I especially enjoyed learning how effective legislation can improve people's lives.
I am incredibly grateful to Reach for Greatness for allowing me to explore my passion for political science while developing skills that will benefit me in college and beyond. I hope the organization continues to grow and provides other students with equally meaningful opportunities.
Hello, I’m Meredith. Thanks to a scholarship I received from Reach for Greatness, I attended a month-long language immersion program in Malaga, Spain. During my stay in Malaga, I lived with a host family as well as attended EF’s language school Monday through Friday. When at the school, I interacted with people of all nationalities and ethnicities. Being able to attend this immersion program is something I am beyond grateful for. I not only improved my Spanish-speaking skills, but also became more confident, exposed myself to new foods, people, and customs, and experienced another country without anyone I knew. My favorite part of my trip was meeting people from all over the world and being able to befriend them in minutes.
Hey! My name is Fabiola and I will be graduating this year. Thanks to Reach for Greatness, I had the opportunity to go to New York this past summer and attend the New York Film Academy Summer Program. In this program, I got to further explore my passion for filmmaking, resulting in producing two short films and learning how to tell stories using continuity and the way music shapes a scene. I also got to explore more of the “acting” side of the camera where I acted in multiple short films. This program taught me so much and the friends I made along the way are friends I’ll have forever. I thank Reach For Greatness for making my dream come true and will be forever grateful for that experience.
I’m Stone and this summer, a Reach for Greatness scholarship helped me attend the Naval Academy’s Summer Seminar and two Sea Cadet trainings: one at Naval Station Mayport and another aboard the USS Arlington, sailing from Baltimore to New York City. I’ve attended Sea Cadet training every year for six years, and this scholarship eased my family's financial burden. Without that support, it would have been much harder to take advantage of all three opportunities.
At Summer Seminar, I got a firsthand look at life at the Naval Academy and what it takes to become a naval officer. At Mayport, I spent two weeks living on a Navy base, learning how ships operate, and touring a destroyer, an aircraft carrier, and a littoral combat ship.
My final training took place aboard an active-duty Navy ship, where I experienced what it’s like to be underway. Sailing past the Statue of Liberty as we entered New York City was a moment I’ll never forget.
These programs gave me a clearer picture of my future career as a naval officer and memories I’ll carry for years. I’m incredibly grateful to Reach for Greatness for helping make them possible.
Hi, I’m Sydney! I received a full scholarship from Reach for Greatness to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum Law and CSI program in Washington, D.C. It was an incredible experience that let me explore law and criminal investigation in a hands-on, exciting environment.
Throughout the program, I learned new skills, gained a better understanding of potential career paths, and connected with other motivated students who share similar interests and goals. I came home with new knowledge, greater confidence, and unforgettable memories.
I’m so grateful to Reach for Greatness for making this opportunity possible and investing in my future. Thank you for helping students like me explore our passions and pursue our dreams!
Hello, my name is Alyssa, and I attended a CADCA Youth Summit this summer. I attended different conferences that informed me about how to prevent drug use in my community and how to improve and collaborate within my community, joining together to fight the war against drugs. It also taught me skills for reaching our communities and uniting them.