2024-2025 Scholars
Preston “Eleck” – Capitan, NM
Preston is a freshman at New Mexico State University majoring in Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business. He is a sixth-generation rancher and recently competed in the National High School Rodeo Finals in Rock Springs, Wyoming. He will continue competing as a steer wrestler on his university’s team. In high school Eleck was a member of the National Honor Society, student council, and numerous athletic teams all while working part time as a ranch hand and competing in state and national rodeo competitions. He has also been active in raising funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Make a Wish Foundation. Eleck’s long-term plans include returning to the family ranch to raise commercial cattle.
Anna – Raleigh, NC
Anna is a third-year student pursuing a Doctorate at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. She graduated with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2022. Anna is passionate about companion animal (dog and cat) medicine which she believes can benefit the lives of both two- and four-legged members of our communities. She enjoys caring for furry family members and stray animals alike. Anna enjoys volunteering with Trap, Neuter, Vaccine, Return ("TNVR") initiatives to both improve the welfare of feral cats and advance public health efforts. She is also a disability advocate on campus and in the CF community via the CFF's Peer Connect program and events such as BreatheCon. Anna loves hiking and camping with her partner, their standard poodle Hamilton, and their tabby cat Altair.
Michael – Mount Pleasant, SC
Michael is a freshman at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC majoring in biology. He works at the Medical University of South Carolina as a clinical research assistant in the Bioinformatics Lab and ultimately hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in genetics so he can study gene therapy and work as part of a team focused on curing genetic diseases. In 2023 the South Carolina Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (SCCFF) chose Michael as their Teen Advocate. In that role he spoke to congressional leaders about the importance of specific legislative bills and their impact on those living with CF. He was ultimately awarded the SCCFF Advocate Award. Outside of school and work, Michael enjoys time with his friends, stage acting, and writing shows. He has received various awards and accolades for his performances, and in 2024 he was selected as the #1 Teen Playwright in the state of South Carolina for his submitted one-act "What's Left." Michael dreams of improving the lives of others whether it be through finding a cure to an illness and/or brightening up their days through his more creative endeavors.
Madison - Buffalo, NY
Madison is a sophomore in the honors program at D'Youville University in Buffalo, NY. She is pursuing a BSN in nursing and hopes to attend graduate school to become a nurse anesthetist. One of Madison’s main aims is to be a source of comfort and stability for her patients as they face unfamiliar and difficult situations. By applying her own experiences as a patient, she hopes to provide the kind of compassionate care she has received from her care-team in the past. In high school Madison was captain of her school’s competitive dance team, a member of the school chorus, and dance captain for the school musical. She continues to work as a volunteer assistant at a local dance studio. At D’Youville, Madison has worked as a peer tutor while earning a 4.0 GPA and recognition as a member of the Dean's list.
Holt – Midville, GA
John Holton “Holt” is a freshman at the University of Georgia pursuing a double major in animal science and wildlife sciences. Holt grew up on a small family beef cattle farm where he helped with numerous farm chores and maintenance efforts. Since first grade he has been extremely active in his county’s 4-H program - exhibiting goats, dairy cattle, sheep, and horses, and competing in judging teams including dairy judging, poultry judging, land judging, forestry judging, and dairy quiz bowl. In high school Holt was very active in community service through 4-H, his church, and in his high school’s Beta Club, where he served as President in his senior year. For the past year he has also worked at Georgia Department of Natural Resources at Di-Lane assisting with upkeep and wildlife management of an 8,000+ acre Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
Savannah – Apex, NC
Savannah is a freshman at William Peace University. She is majoring in pre-law and wants to attend law school to study health law so she can help others with chronic illnesses. While in high school, Savannah was a member of the National Honor Society and the Big Sister’s Club. She also excelled at volleyball, winning two conference championships and the NCHSAA 4A State Championship. She works as a youth volleyball assistant at her local YMCA and competes as a member of William Peace’s Women’s Volleyball team. Savannah is excited to be starting this new chapter in her life and looks forward to using her educational opportunity to help others in need.
Katherine - Baltimore, MD
Katherine is a 2nd year medical student and researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine where she plans to complete a residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and a fellowship to become a sub-specialist for both pediatric and adult patients. Katherine has particularly valued the patient interactions she’s had during her training and seeks to become a physician who makes her patients feel seen and less alone while she fights for them both in the research lab and in practice.
Katherine graduated from the University of Maryland Clark School of Engineering in 2018 with a B.S in Engineering and a citation in Business focused on technology innovation. Following graduation, she worked internationally as an engineering consultant and passed her Professional Engineering exam. In 2021, Katherine decided to pursue medical school. She completed her post-baccalaureate studies at the University of Maryland while continuing to work full-time as a consultant engineer at Accenture. She also became a prolific medical researcher with several publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, developed prototype medical device designs for drug development trials, and volunteered extensively within her local community as a hospice and Red Cross volunteer.
Rachael - Fort Collins, CO
Rachael graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from Duquesne University in 2017 and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Colorado State University. Her career goals are to work as a financial professional and to start a firm focused on helping families with end-of-life planning. Rachael prioritizes an active lifestyle to maintain her health, and in her spare time she enjoys cycling, running, ice climbing, and hiking. She participates in many fundraisers for cystic fibrosis and volunteers as a victim advocate with Fort Collins Police Services. She looks forward to continuing to support her community as she gains additional skills and education.
Jacob - San Francisco, CA
Jacob Greene is a medical student at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. After graduating from Stanford University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science with Honors, Jacob worked for 1.5 years at Genentech doing drug research and development for neurological disorders. Now in medical school, Jacob is doing Anesthesia research in the lab of Dr. Jonathan Pan at UCSF, is Vice-President of the UCSF Anesthesia Interest Group, and was awarded UCSF's 2024 Outstanding Student Leader of the Year for his work as Co-Coordinator of HealthLink - an extracurricular program that offers 80 Bay Area high school students education and mentorship about different careers in health care. After getting his MD, Jacob hopes to complete anesthesiology residency. Ultimately, Jacob hopes to combine his experiences as a cystic fibrosis patient with his medical training to care for patients, advance medicine through research, and improve access to care through patient-centered health policy.
Morgana – Seattle, WA
Morgana is pursuing her Masters in the Art of Teaching from Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington. She studied traditional Illustration and Fine Art printmaking at the Academy of Art in San Francisco earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2012. Since then she has started her own leather bag company and worked creating commissioned portraits, all while raising her three young children. After being the primary source of education for her kids during the pandemic she found her calling in teaching. Post-graduation she hopes to become a visual arts teacher, using strong equitable teaching strategies to help students develop their own unique voice within visual arts.
Preston “Eleck” – Capitan, NM
Preston is a freshman at New Mexico State University majoring in Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business. He is a sixth-generation rancher and recently competed in the National High School Rodeo Finals in Rock Springs, Wyoming. He will continue competing as a steer wrestler on his university’s team. In high school Eleck was a member of the National Honor Society, student council, and numerous athletic teams all while working part time as a ranch hand and competing in state and national rodeo competitions. He has also been active in raising funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Make a Wish Foundation. Eleck’s long-term plans include returning to the family ranch to raise commercial cattle.
Anna – Raleigh, NC
Anna is a third-year student pursuing a Doctorate at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. She graduated with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2022. Anna is passionate about companion animal (dog and cat) medicine which she believes can benefit the lives of both two- and four-legged members of our communities. She enjoys caring for furry family members and stray animals alike. Anna enjoys volunteering with Trap, Neuter, Vaccine, Return ("TNVR") initiatives to both improve the welfare of feral cats and advance public health efforts. She is also a disability advocate on campus and in the CF community via the CFF's Peer Connect program and events such as BreatheCon. Anna loves hiking and camping with her partner, their standard poodle Hamilton, and their tabby cat Altair.
Michael – Mount Pleasant, SC
Michael is a freshman at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC majoring in biology. He works at the Medical University of South Carolina as a clinical research assistant in the Bioinformatics Lab and ultimately hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in genetics so he can study gene therapy and work as part of a team focused on curing genetic diseases. In 2023 the South Carolina Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (SCCFF) chose Michael as their Teen Advocate. In that role he spoke to congressional leaders about the importance of specific legislative bills and their impact on those living with CF. He was ultimately awarded the SCCFF Advocate Award. Outside of school and work, Michael enjoys time with his friends, stage acting, and writing shows. He has received various awards and accolades for his performances, and in 2024 he was selected as the #1 Teen Playwright in the state of South Carolina for his submitted one-act "What's Left." Michael dreams of improving the lives of others whether it be through finding a cure to an illness and/or brightening up their days through his more creative endeavors.
Madison - Buffalo, NY
Madison is a sophomore in the honors program at D'Youville University in Buffalo, NY. She is pursuing a BSN in nursing and hopes to attend graduate school to become a nurse anesthetist. One of Madison’s main aims is to be a source of comfort and stability for her patients as they face unfamiliar and difficult situations. By applying her own experiences as a patient, she hopes to provide the kind of compassionate care she has received from her care-team in the past. In high school Madison was captain of her school’s competitive dance team, a member of the school chorus, and dance captain for the school musical. She continues to work as a volunteer assistant at a local dance studio. At D’Youville, Madison has worked as a peer tutor while earning a 4.0 GPA and recognition as a member of the Dean's list.
Holt – Midville, GA
John Holton “Holt” is a freshman at the University of Georgia pursuing a double major in animal science and wildlife sciences. Holt grew up on a small family beef cattle farm where he helped with numerous farm chores and maintenance efforts. Since first grade he has been extremely active in his county’s 4-H program - exhibiting goats, dairy cattle, sheep, and horses, and competing in judging teams including dairy judging, poultry judging, land judging, forestry judging, and dairy quiz bowl. In high school Holt was very active in community service through 4-H, his church, and in his high school’s Beta Club, where he served as President in his senior year. For the past year he has also worked at Georgia Department of Natural Resources at Di-Lane assisting with upkeep and wildlife management of an 8,000+ acre Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
Savannah – Apex, NC
Savannah is a freshman at William Peace University. She is majoring in pre-law and wants to attend law school to study health law so she can help others with chronic illnesses. While in high school, Savannah was a member of the National Honor Society and the Big Sister’s Club. She also excelled at volleyball, winning two conference championships and the NCHSAA 4A State Championship. She works as a youth volleyball assistant at her local YMCA and competes as a member of William Peace’s Women’s Volleyball team. Savannah is excited to be starting this new chapter in her life and looks forward to using her educational opportunity to help others in need.
Katherine - Baltimore, MD
Katherine is a 2nd year medical student and researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine where she plans to complete a residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and a fellowship to become a sub-specialist for both pediatric and adult patients. Katherine has particularly valued the patient interactions she’s had during her training and seeks to become a physician who makes her patients feel seen and less alone while she fights for them both in the research lab and in practice.
Katherine graduated from the University of Maryland Clark School of Engineering in 2018 with a B.S in Engineering and a citation in Business focused on technology innovation. Following graduation, she worked internationally as an engineering consultant and passed her Professional Engineering exam. In 2021, Katherine decided to pursue medical school. She completed her post-baccalaureate studies at the University of Maryland while continuing to work full-time as a consultant engineer at Accenture. She also became a prolific medical researcher with several publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, developed prototype medical device designs for drug development trials, and volunteered extensively within her local community as a hospice and Red Cross volunteer.
Rachael - Fort Collins, CO
Rachael graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from Duquesne University in 2017 and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Colorado State University. Her career goals are to work as a financial professional and to start a firm focused on helping families with end-of-life planning. Rachael prioritizes an active lifestyle to maintain her health, and in her spare time she enjoys cycling, running, ice climbing, and hiking. She participates in many fundraisers for cystic fibrosis and volunteers as a victim advocate with Fort Collins Police Services. She looks forward to continuing to support her community as she gains additional skills and education.
Jacob - San Francisco, CA
Jacob Greene is a medical student at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. After graduating from Stanford University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science with Honors, Jacob worked for 1.5 years at Genentech doing drug research and development for neurological disorders. Now in medical school, Jacob is doing Anesthesia research in the lab of Dr. Jonathan Pan at UCSF, is Vice-President of the UCSF Anesthesia Interest Group, and was awarded UCSF's 2024 Outstanding Student Leader of the Year for his work as Co-Coordinator of HealthLink - an extracurricular program that offers 80 Bay Area high school students education and mentorship about different careers in health care. After getting his MD, Jacob hopes to complete anesthesiology residency. Ultimately, Jacob hopes to combine his experiences as a cystic fibrosis patient with his medical training to care for patients, advance medicine through research, and improve access to care through patient-centered health policy.
Morgana – Seattle, WA
Morgana is pursuing her Masters in the Art of Teaching from Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington. She studied traditional Illustration and Fine Art printmaking at the Academy of Art in San Francisco earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2012. Since then she has started her own leather bag company and worked creating commissioned portraits, all while raising her three young children. After being the primary source of education for her kids during the pandemic she found her calling in teaching. Post-graduation she hopes to become a visual arts teacher, using strong equitable teaching strategies to help students develop their own unique voice within visual arts.