Our Bridging the Dream Scholarship helps students build a better future. It also brings employees together to fundraise for the scholarships. From 5Ks to silent auctions, we love helping students go after their dreams.
Congratulations to our 2019 scholarship winners!
These students have big goals—for college, and beyond. They want to make a difference in the world.
Anas is an exceptional student with big dreams, but financially, higher education hasn’t been in the cards for him. Instead of using this as an excuse to quit, Anas is doing everything he can to make college happen.
If there’s an opportunity to get involved, Anas is there. He’s the vice president of DECA, a non-profit career organization, the secretary of the Muslim Student Association, and a member of both the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. He was also named lead volunteer at a hospital, where he dedicates countless hours to gain experience in the medical world.
Anas is on a mission to become a doctor in the developing world and discover new advances in medicine.
Brooklyn has always exceled in the classroom, but instability and hardship at home caused her to rebel at school. In seventh grade, she decided to make a fresh start and channel that energy for good.
Brooklyn spreads kindness to everyone. She’s helped pack and deliver meals to honor police officers and firefighters, participated in the Million Meals Movement, and she’s provided free childcare to neighborhood parents. Brooklyn’s also a hard worker at her job at Goodwill, where she quickly moved up and now helps train new employees.
Brooklyn wants to continue on her positive path by going to college and studying accounting.
Jaivyance will do anything to help others. When a community tragedy left her classmates and teachers broken, she stepped up and showed everyone how to move forward.
The community’s hardship inspired Jaivyance to help serve others. She volunteers at blood drives, creates support hotlines for classrooms, and is getting certified in CPR. She also enjoys helping out at school activities like freshman orientation, the homecoming parade and carnival, and peer tutoring.
Jaivyance has an unwavering resolve to fight back. She leads by helping the people around her.
Jemima’s a true leader who puts others’ needs before her own, even when she’s coping with her own struggles.
Emigrating from Haiti in 2013, she transitioned out of her high school’s ESL program in just two years. Now, she’s fluent in three languages and challenges herself with honors-level courses. All her teachers admire the hard work she puts in every day. She also volunteers with the Special Olympics and tutors fifth grade students, while balancing her role as president of the Bible Club and a member of the National Honor Society.
Jemima dreams of continuing to help others as a pediatrician.
Josh lights up a room with his kindness and leads by lifting up those around him.
When his parents divorced and his home life changed overnight, his positive outlook never faltered. Josh is always the first to volunteer for any event—showing up early, staying late, and making time for every person in the room. Within a month of going to his first Best Buddies event, Josh knew every member. Just a few months after that, he was asked to be the group’s president.
He brings the same energy to the golf course, where he earned a top three varsity spot starting his sophomore year and plays in the New England Professional Golf Association. Next up? Josh will be bringing that positive attitude to a college campus.
For Nicole, life’s a stage. Despite dealing with cystic fibrosis which saps her energy, dancing and acting have taught her resilience. Nicole never quits.
She fell in love with dance at the age of two. Now, she’s dance captain of the school musical and a long-standing member of Imagination Players, a performance group that brings song and dance to community events.
Science is Nicole’s other passion. She competes in Science Olympiad and is the vice president of her school’s Technology Student Association. She’s fascinated by X-ray technology and chemistry and plans to go to college to become a chemical engineer.
Continuation is power—that’s Niyera’s motto. A first-generation African refugee, her determination helps her thrive at home, in the classroom, and in her community.
Niyera is the oldest of five children and has dubbed herself the “family secretary.” She helps with translating, filling out paperwork, and looking after her younger siblings—but the care taking doesn’t stop at home. Niyera found her niche in the medical field volunteering at two local hospitals where she reads to patients, helps families, and passes out snacks in waiting rooms.
Her heart is set on medical school and diving into a career where she can give back to her refugee community.
Shawn’s a go-getter. Navigating the world largely on his own, he’s learned how to be self-sufficient and worked tirelessly to get where he is now.
Shawn participates in a work-based learning program, which helped him score a job at BASF, a large chemical company in a neighboring community. He also takes part in the Dual Enrollment program, taking classes to get a jump start on college and save on costs.
Nothing will stop Shawn. He’s determined to go to college—and he has the drive to make it happen.
Victor connects with everyone around him—in the classroom and on the football field. He has a giving heart and is eager to help.
Victor has to take on more responsibilities than most kids his age. He chooses to drive an hour every day to a school that’ll better set him up to go to college, while helping care for his brothers and shuttling them to and from school and athletics. This never stops him from carving out time to volunteer. Victor’s involved in a program called Y-Give, where he helps kids from underprivileged homes. He also works with a local humane society, helps out with various fundraisers, and assists other Spanish-speaking students at his school who also face a language barrier.
When asked about his goals in college, Victor said, “I want to do something that will help people.”
Check out our fundraising in action
16 students’ lives have already changed
Ardavia’s dedicated to her community and loves to volunteer. She’s a leader who spreads kindness. Her goal is to get a law degree and continue to help people.
A talented painter with a creative mind, Simone turned to art to express herself when home wasn’t a safe place. She wants to make the world a better place and help people who face similar situations.
Jenna shines at school and is an avid reader, winning several awards for her love of books. Her motivation to succeed is inspiring. She wants to go to college and study dental hygiene.
Thanh excels in academics, extracurriculars, and athletics, while juggling multiple jobs to support himself. He works hard every day to achieve his dream of college and working in health sciences.
When Essence lost her sister, she was determined to honor her by becoming the first in the family to go to college. She wants to combine her love of sports and health sciences by helping people as a chiropractor.
Joe’s a natural leader at school. He inspires his peers to stand up for what they believe in and is a voice for those who don’t feel empowered. His mission is to help make a difference in the world.
Doug is driven. He thrives in his community, in academics and as captain of his football team. He isn’t going to let anything stand in his way as he pursues a bachelor’s and master’s degree in finance.
Kate has big dreams. She’s a top student, involved in tennis, marching band, musical theater, film-making, piano, dance, and community service projects.
Damian consistently ranks as top of his class and is president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, Ensemble, and the Gospel Choir. Nothing will stand in his way.
Kylie is a member of student council, president of her local 4-H llama club, and plays the role of captain on her volleyball team. She dreams of becoming a teacher.
Jobany’s an avid volunteer in his community, and president of his high school. Under Jobany’s leadership, his high school has become a significantly more welcoming community.
Peter wants the best education possible, so he can one day support his family financially. He holds a 4.0 while participating in soccer, drumming, tutoring, and volunteer activities.
Bryana believes in helping people—at home, in school, and in her community. She dreams of becoming a nurse.
Quinton uses every extra moment to develop skills that might help him stand out to colleges.
Kendal’s committed to entering the medical field to make a difference in people’s lives.
After a devastating house fire, Kayla drew on her dedication and determination to keep going.
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