2018
Emma
Emma is from Shawnee, KS and is a graduate of Mill Valley High School. Emma lost her father two short months after his diagnosis of a rare form of liver cancer. Even before her father’s diagnosis, Emma was involved with her high school’s Relay for Life fundraiser benefiting the American Cancer Society. Inspired by her father, she helped to raise over $3,000 from friends and family to support cancer research and the school raised over $75,000 that year. From her experiences, she has learned to truly cherish the people she loves and the time she gets to spend with them. Participating on the dance team was another source of encouragement for her and she hopes to someday teach dance. She is pursuing a degree at Kansas State University in Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education and hopes to someday teach secondary education.
Tanner is from Leavenworth, KS and is a graduate of Leavenworth High School. Tanner’s father was diagnosed with a rare form of advanced nonalcoholic liver cancer and their family found out there was no cure for it and was given 8 months to a year to live. Tanner was inspired by the way his father lived his life “to make others lives better…” In high school Tanner was involved in National Honor Society as the Vice President, was on Student Council, a soccer referee, a regular volunteer, Eagle Scout, and team captain for cross country and track. He is pursuing degrees in Economics and Finance at Baker University and also running track on the school’s team.
Tanner
Luciana is from Pittsburg, KS and is a graduate of Pittsburg High School. Luciana lost her mother to breast cancer in August of 2017 after being diagnosed in December of 2016. Through her experiences, she has learned to “cherish each moment of your life, because you won’t know when the last one will be,” and has come to appreciate family even more. Luciana became a big role model for her 3 siblings and because her father was deployed in 2012, she moved from Wichita to Pittsburg and her aunt became her legal guardian right before her senior year. Lucy served as her mother’s interpreter, friend, daughter and was reliably by her mother’s side until the end. She is pursuing a degree in Nutritional Science (pre-med) at Kansas State University and hopes to become a physician or possibly even an oncologist.
Luciana
