2019

Mikayla E. Lawless is from Groveland, MA and will be pursuing a degree in Nursing at Endicott College. She has Ehlers Danlos Hypermobile which requires her to use a wheelchair when she is experiencing shoulder or hip pain. "Living with Ehlers Danlos Hypermobile has been the easier part of my life. The long sleepless nights when my shoulder  just wasn't in the socket right, the braces that covered my entire body as I went to school. It is more of how the outside world viewed me when my disability began to show the greatly impacted my life." 

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Alexandrya A. Robinson is from Caldwell, ID and will be pursuing a degree in Microbiology at the University of Hawaii. She has Ehlers Danlos, PTSD, Chronic Pain, Depression, Occipital Neuralgia and other disorders. At the age of seven she was involved in an auto accident that paralyzed her from the waist down. "My doctor that told me I was never going to be able to do what I wanted in life was wrong. He was baffled when I took my first step after the car accident and I fully intend to continue to baffle anyone's expectations - even my own."

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Luke D. Luckey is from Ann Harbor, MI and will be pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Michigan. He lived his first 9 years of his life in an orphanage in China where treatment for Hemophilia was inadequate. "Getting around in the orphanage was hard, because I had no crutches or wheelchair. I mainly used my left leg to get from one place to another. The pain that I endured transformed me into a strong and passionate person who is capable of doing anything."

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Evan P. Bean is from Trumbell, CT and will be pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Evan was diagnosed with gastroparesis (low gastric motility) a chronic disorder that causes severe abdominal cramping and pain, chest discomfort and difficulty breathing. "My gastroparesis exhibits itself in severe, random abdominal pain that is incapacitating. nausea, and vomiting. It usually comes in waves, every month or so knocking me out for a few days. It is not fun."

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Lexi E. Cotrell is from Oxford, NC and will be pursuing a degree in Biology at North Carolina State University. When she was 2 years old she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) a progressive life-threatening disease that causes lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. "For this reason, minimizing contact with germs and doing airway clearance is important for me to protect my lungs and keep them healthy for as long as I can."

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Brayden R. Reeves is from Burleson, TX and will be pursuing a degree in Information Technology at McMurry University. Brayden received his Autism diagnosis at the age of 4. "I have always struggled with social skills. And for me, that means people understanding me and at the same time, me understanding them. I know this world does not revolve around me but if others could have compassion, acceptance, and patience for those that need extra time communicating, society would be a better place."

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Samantha D. Williams is from Concord, NC and will be pursuing a degree in International Studies at Meredith College. At 6 months old she had a stroke and has Hemiplegia Cerebral Palsy. "As a disabled person, I have been bullied or overlooked in a group or class because people don't know how to deal with me. It is due to this that I have decided to major in International Studies and the healthcare field."

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Rachel R. Ritchey is from York, PA and will be pursuing a degree in Communications at Millersville University. At the age of 5 she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and recently, binge eating, anxiety, and depression. "My conditions do not define me, but rather the steps I take to live out my life the way I envision it with them. I find myself in dark places sometimes, but I know they are only temporary because I will get better."