2018-2019 Scholars
Julia - St Claire Shores, MI
Julia is completing her second year in a Master’s program at Michigan State University. She is pursuing a degree in Education Administration. Julia currently works as a special education teacher in Grosse Pointe, MI where she works with kids with a variety of disabilities in a resource room setting. This past October, Julia was nominated as "Teacher of the Week" in her community. Julia has participated in numerous medical trials and has experience serving on panels and advisory boards and speaking at events for pharmaceutical companies and the CF Foundation. Although Julia is currently working full-time and going to school full-time, she also waitresses and tutors on the side. Despite her busy schedule she maintains an exercise routine to support her health. Julia hopes to continue to inspire her students and those in her community with maintaining a positive mindset and working through obstacles.
Emily - Folsom, CA
Emily is a junior at the University of Notre Dame studying Chemical Engineering and Catholic Social Teaching. On campus she is involved in research, design and fabrication of microfluidic devices to examine the effects of drug treatments on fruit flies. She also participates in campus ministry and hall council, acting as her dorm’s service commissioner. She loves reading, painting, and raising awareness of CF and has a newfound appreciation of cooking. She is a proud recipient of the Girl Scouts Gold Award through which she interviewed college students with CF across the country and compiled their advice into a booklet. She is unsure of her future career, though she is considering multiple paths, such as work in the pharmaceutical industry to develop new therapies beneficial to CF patients and serving as a youth minister. She aspires to be a role model for others in all her endeavors.
Joy - Phoenix, AZ
Joy is a sophomore at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University. She is majoring in mechanical engineering and wants to work in robotics when she graduates. While pursuing intensive coursework she spends much of her time in the ASU Bio-inspired Robotics,Technology, and Healthcare Lab doing research to create animal-inspired robots. Besides being a robotics nerd, Joy spends much of her free time volunteering. She is the project lead of the ASU Engineers Without Borders Solar Panel Project, a project she is passionate about since it combines her love for design and helping others. She hopes to be able to continue making the world a better place and wants to use her education to create things that enhance people’s lives.
Elizabeth - Montvale, NJ
Elizabeth is a sophomore at Mount Holyoke College. She is majoring in economics and politics with the goal of pursuing a career in public policy. As a public servant, Elizabeth aspires to focus on health policy and advocate for the needs of the Cystic Fibrosis community. In high school, Elizabeth founded and led a Cystic Fibrosis Club and raised nearly $10,000 for CF research. Outside of politics and school, Elizabeth is an avid lover of the arts and, in particular, dance. She began dancing at the age of three and continues to pursue her interest in dance in college, most recently participating in two performances in Spring 2018. Elizabeth also enjoys traveling and good food and has recently begun the sport of rowing.
Riley - Cape Cod, MA
Riley is a freshman attending Bentley University. He plans on studying actuarial science with a focus on sports data/analytics. After college, he hopes to be involved in a front office roll for a professional sports organization. Throughout high school Riley spent most of his free time involved with numerous sports teams and clubs. He was a 3-year varsity starter and 2 year captain for football. He also played lacrosse and basketball and ran track at various points throughout high school. His dedication to sports and hobbies comes from an attitude that he and his family created while battling CF. The numerous treatments and time commitment throughout the years relating to CF care have allowed him to handle adversity both on and off the field, and he will continue to use this approach as he begins college.
Makenzie - Arlington, TX
Makenzie is a student at Texas Women’s University for Teacher Education with a Minor in Deaf Education. She hopes to obtain her certification for Sign Language Interpreting and work part time as an interpreter while finishing school. Makenzie was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at age 4 ½ and has never let CF define her or hold her back. She has danced since age 2, and her favorite type of dance is tap. In high school she was on the drill team (dance team). Makenzie’s love for the deaf community began in high school when she selected sign language to fulfill her foreign language requirement. Upon graduation from high school she enrolled in Tarrant County College for Sign Language Interpreting. She was one of the 34 students selected out of 65 to start the program with Interpreting 2. She was then selected for Practicum, in which students complete 240 hours each semester interning with agencies, school districts, churches, theaters, and service providers such as nursing homes. Makenzie completed over 500 Practicum hours and earned a great amount of deaf and blind interpreting experience. She graduated with Honors and earned an Associates of Applied Science in Sign Language Interpreting.
Shadrach - Dover, PA
Shad, a four-year class president, graduated from Dover High School with a 4.0 and is attending Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA. He is pursuing an early elementary education degree. As a teacher, Shad plans not only to educate and encourage primary grade students but to show them the importance of volunteering. After establishing a teaching career, Shad is interested in coaching youth sports and achieving an administrative degree. Shad has been a champion for and face of Cystic Fibrosis in his local CF Foundation chapter. He has helped his family raise over $500,000 for the Foundation over the past 14 years and plans to continue his efforts to reach the million dollar mark in the future. Shad played varsity football for four years, played baseball and participated in three track and field events in high school. He was involved in school activities such as Varsity Club, NHS, FFA, and Student Council. Outside of school Shad loves hunting and fishing.
Holly - Thomasville, NC
Holly graduated Summa Cum Laude from high school and is now a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in biology. She hopes to also pursue a Master’s Degree. Holly has always been fascinated with genetics and the intricate workings of the human body and wishes to pursue a career in the medical field. She seeks to work in a capacity that will allow her to return to others the compassionate medical care that she has received throughout her life. She also wants to support others through ongoing community service projects. Holly has completed hundreds of volunteer hours with many different organizations. Her latest endeavor is training to become a Big Sister through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. She has been heavily involved in physical activity and sports the majority of her life including four years on her high school tennis team.
Brian - Los Altos, CA
Brian is a senior at UC Berkeley. He’s studying math, intending to pursue a PhD in the subject after graduation. Over the last two summers, Brian attended Research Experiences in Mathematics at University of Minnesota Twin Cities (2018) and University of Michigan Ann Arbor (2017). The results of the latter can be found at https://arxiv.org/abs/1806.05247. In addition to getting stuck on math problems, Brian plays card games, ultimate frisbee, and is a published logic puzzle creator. Brian has participated in numerous CF research studies.
Waco – Kimper, KY
Waco is a junior at Morehead State University (MSU) in Morehead, Kentucky majoring in biomedical science. Waco plans to either attend pharmacy school upon graduation or earn an MBA with the goal of becoming a pharmacist, or a customer service representative for a pharmaceutical or service company in his native Appalachian region. He is a 6'7" 200 pound 4 sport athlete who concentrated on basketball and baseball while in high school. Waco earned his Eagle Scout award was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while in high school. He is a member of the MSU student council, pre-pharmacy club, and SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration). Waco Is extremely grateful to the Elizabeth Nash Foundation for their financial support of his academic endeavors.
MaryGrace - Denver, CO
MaryGrace graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and French from the University of New Orleans in 2014. She received her Master of Arts in French Studies from New York University in 2016 and is currently pursuing her second Master of Arts in Art History with a concentration in Museum Studies from the University of Denver. In an effort to combine art theory and art practice, MaryGrace analyzes contemporary performance artists through performances of her own. In an attempt to break down boundaries, she makes the invisibility of chronic illness visible and advocates the importance of bringing the (dis)abled community to the forefront of art historical and theoretical conversations. She plans to continue her work via a Doctoral Degree that will allow her to combine art writing and art making.
Julia - St Claire Shores, MI
Julia is completing her second year in a Master’s program at Michigan State University. She is pursuing a degree in Education Administration. Julia currently works as a special education teacher in Grosse Pointe, MI where she works with kids with a variety of disabilities in a resource room setting. This past October, Julia was nominated as "Teacher of the Week" in her community. Julia has participated in numerous medical trials and has experience serving on panels and advisory boards and speaking at events for pharmaceutical companies and the CF Foundation. Although Julia is currently working full-time and going to school full-time, she also waitresses and tutors on the side. Despite her busy schedule she maintains an exercise routine to support her health. Julia hopes to continue to inspire her students and those in her community with maintaining a positive mindset and working through obstacles.
Emily - Folsom, CA
Emily is a junior at the University of Notre Dame studying Chemical Engineering and Catholic Social Teaching. On campus she is involved in research, design and fabrication of microfluidic devices to examine the effects of drug treatments on fruit flies. She also participates in campus ministry and hall council, acting as her dorm’s service commissioner. She loves reading, painting, and raising awareness of CF and has a newfound appreciation of cooking. She is a proud recipient of the Girl Scouts Gold Award through which she interviewed college students with CF across the country and compiled their advice into a booklet. She is unsure of her future career, though she is considering multiple paths, such as work in the pharmaceutical industry to develop new therapies beneficial to CF patients and serving as a youth minister. She aspires to be a role model for others in all her endeavors.
Joy - Phoenix, AZ
Joy is a sophomore at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University. She is majoring in mechanical engineering and wants to work in robotics when she graduates. While pursuing intensive coursework she spends much of her time in the ASU Bio-inspired Robotics,Technology, and Healthcare Lab doing research to create animal-inspired robots. Besides being a robotics nerd, Joy spends much of her free time volunteering. She is the project lead of the ASU Engineers Without Borders Solar Panel Project, a project she is passionate about since it combines her love for design and helping others. She hopes to be able to continue making the world a better place and wants to use her education to create things that enhance people’s lives.
Elizabeth - Montvale, NJ
Elizabeth is a sophomore at Mount Holyoke College. She is majoring in economics and politics with the goal of pursuing a career in public policy. As a public servant, Elizabeth aspires to focus on health policy and advocate for the needs of the Cystic Fibrosis community. In high school, Elizabeth founded and led a Cystic Fibrosis Club and raised nearly $10,000 for CF research. Outside of politics and school, Elizabeth is an avid lover of the arts and, in particular, dance. She began dancing at the age of three and continues to pursue her interest in dance in college, most recently participating in two performances in Spring 2018. Elizabeth also enjoys traveling and good food and has recently begun the sport of rowing.
Riley - Cape Cod, MA
Riley is a freshman attending Bentley University. He plans on studying actuarial science with a focus on sports data/analytics. After college, he hopes to be involved in a front office roll for a professional sports organization. Throughout high school Riley spent most of his free time involved with numerous sports teams and clubs. He was a 3-year varsity starter and 2 year captain for football. He also played lacrosse and basketball and ran track at various points throughout high school. His dedication to sports and hobbies comes from an attitude that he and his family created while battling CF. The numerous treatments and time commitment throughout the years relating to CF care have allowed him to handle adversity both on and off the field, and he will continue to use this approach as he begins college.
Makenzie - Arlington, TX
Makenzie is a student at Texas Women’s University for Teacher Education with a Minor in Deaf Education. She hopes to obtain her certification for Sign Language Interpreting and work part time as an interpreter while finishing school. Makenzie was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at age 4 ½ and has never let CF define her or hold her back. She has danced since age 2, and her favorite type of dance is tap. In high school she was on the drill team (dance team). Makenzie’s love for the deaf community began in high school when she selected sign language to fulfill her foreign language requirement. Upon graduation from high school she enrolled in Tarrant County College for Sign Language Interpreting. She was one of the 34 students selected out of 65 to start the program with Interpreting 2. She was then selected for Practicum, in which students complete 240 hours each semester interning with agencies, school districts, churches, theaters, and service providers such as nursing homes. Makenzie completed over 500 Practicum hours and earned a great amount of deaf and blind interpreting experience. She graduated with Honors and earned an Associates of Applied Science in Sign Language Interpreting.
Shadrach - Dover, PA
Shad, a four-year class president, graduated from Dover High School with a 4.0 and is attending Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA. He is pursuing an early elementary education degree. As a teacher, Shad plans not only to educate and encourage primary grade students but to show them the importance of volunteering. After establishing a teaching career, Shad is interested in coaching youth sports and achieving an administrative degree. Shad has been a champion for and face of Cystic Fibrosis in his local CF Foundation chapter. He has helped his family raise over $500,000 for the Foundation over the past 14 years and plans to continue his efforts to reach the million dollar mark in the future. Shad played varsity football for four years, played baseball and participated in three track and field events in high school. He was involved in school activities such as Varsity Club, NHS, FFA, and Student Council. Outside of school Shad loves hunting and fishing.
Holly - Thomasville, NC
Holly graduated Summa Cum Laude from high school and is now a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in biology. She hopes to also pursue a Master’s Degree. Holly has always been fascinated with genetics and the intricate workings of the human body and wishes to pursue a career in the medical field. She seeks to work in a capacity that will allow her to return to others the compassionate medical care that she has received throughout her life. She also wants to support others through ongoing community service projects. Holly has completed hundreds of volunteer hours with many different organizations. Her latest endeavor is training to become a Big Sister through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. She has been heavily involved in physical activity and sports the majority of her life including four years on her high school tennis team.
Brian - Los Altos, CA
Brian is a senior at UC Berkeley. He’s studying math, intending to pursue a PhD in the subject after graduation. Over the last two summers, Brian attended Research Experiences in Mathematics at University of Minnesota Twin Cities (2018) and University of Michigan Ann Arbor (2017). The results of the latter can be found at https://arxiv.org/abs/1806.05247. In addition to getting stuck on math problems, Brian plays card games, ultimate frisbee, and is a published logic puzzle creator. Brian has participated in numerous CF research studies.
Waco – Kimper, KY
Waco is a junior at Morehead State University (MSU) in Morehead, Kentucky majoring in biomedical science. Waco plans to either attend pharmacy school upon graduation or earn an MBA with the goal of becoming a pharmacist, or a customer service representative for a pharmaceutical or service company in his native Appalachian region. He is a 6'7" 200 pound 4 sport athlete who concentrated on basketball and baseball while in high school. Waco earned his Eagle Scout award was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while in high school. He is a member of the MSU student council, pre-pharmacy club, and SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration). Waco Is extremely grateful to the Elizabeth Nash Foundation for their financial support of his academic endeavors.
MaryGrace - Denver, CO
MaryGrace graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and French from the University of New Orleans in 2014. She received her Master of Arts in French Studies from New York University in 2016 and is currently pursuing her second Master of Arts in Art History with a concentration in Museum Studies from the University of Denver. In an effort to combine art theory and art practice, MaryGrace analyzes contemporary performance artists through performances of her own. In an attempt to break down boundaries, she makes the invisibility of chronic illness visible and advocates the importance of bringing the (dis)abled community to the forefront of art historical and theoretical conversations. She plans to continue her work via a Doctoral Degree that will allow her to combine art writing and art making.