2019 Melissa Stoneberger Foundation Scholarship Winners

We would like to congratulate all our winners of the 2019 Melissa Stoneberger Foundation Scholarship. Each winner will receive $5,000 towards their education.

• Sando Hill
• Mary White
• Shelby Gentry
• Livy Kohndrow
• Alejandra Quezada
• Hana Bezabeh
• Kaneisha Perry

Shelby Gentry

It is a great honor to have received this scholarship from the Melissa Stoneberger Foundation! I am currently a sophomore at Oklahoma State University and following a major of biology pre medicine. Although I am getting to attend the university of my dreams it still comes at a high cost. This scholarship has made it more affordable. With knowing how Missy fought her battle and changed the world in her own way made me feel drawn to apply to this scholarship. This scholarship is different from others it has meaning to it and wants to make a difference in individuals and the world that surrounds them. Like Missy and the foundation, I plan to make a difference in the world even if it is in small ways. I am blessed to have received this amazing scholarship and only hope to make the foundation proud. Lastly, I would like to give a huge thank you to the foundation for helping me pursue my dreams of medical research and treatment! As always GO POKES!

Hana Bezabeh

I am extremely honored to be receiving this scholarship from the Melissa Stoneberger Foundation. My family and I truly appreciate this award. This scholarship will allow me to become the first person in my family to go to college and will support me throughout my educational career. I am grateful to be recognized by an organization that not only encourages youth to pursue a higher education but also recognizes the importance of leadership and community service. This scholarship will support me as I attend the University of Washington in the fall. There, I plan on pursuing a degree in healthcare industry. My goal is to major in a field that will allow me to serve children who lack accessible healthcare and education. I will enforce the values of Melissa Stoneberger as I begin my college career by continuing to serve community members through tutoring and volunteering at local events. Once again, I would like to thank the Melissa Stoneberger Foundation for their great amount of generosity and support. ​

Alejandra Quezada

I am very honored and grateful to have received this scholarship from the Melissa Stoneberger Foundation! I am going to begin my higher educational career this year after have taken a gap year in Germany. This scholarship will help be the first in my family to receive a higher education and not have to worry as much of the cost. I am thinking of pursuing a career In medicine. I truly believe that helping others is something very important and if I am able to do that, my goal with be complete. I am hoping to be able to travel and meet people from different countries , learn about their cultures and just connect.  Thank you again for this great opportunity! 

Sando Hill

Winning this award for me has 2 components. being as competitive as I am I wanted to put a lot of thought and heart into the essay I wrote to ensure that I would have the best chance possible in winning that scholarship. From the day I submitted it in, I had doubts, always asking myself did I say enough of the right things. Looking at the way it all played out I am more at ease with the essay I submitted. Although I won I still feel as if there was more that could have been said. Winning it makes me both grateful and thankful. I’m grateful for all the people that played part in this process. It’s overwhelming to think of all the support one person could have. The second component is, with this money that i’ve won my parents won’t have to break their backs just in order for me to continue my education. I’ve won many awards in my life time but this will in fact have the biggest impact on my life and future to come.