Meet the 2022 Scholars

"2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the AbbVie CF Scholarship. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to continuing to recognize more students pursing their educational goals. Please share your future ambitions in the Cystic Fibrosis community, professionally and personally."

When I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis in 2004, the median age of survival was in the mid-thirties. That number has increased in recent years, but I’ve come to realize that these numbers don’t matter. Through advocacy and education, the future of Cystic Fibrosis is unlimited. This is a future I want to remain involved in for the rest of my life. Earlier this year, I was nominated as the 2022 Great Strides Ambassador for Oregon and Southwest Washington. I have been involved with Great Strides for 19 years, having done my first walk when I was just six months old. In the role of Ambassador, I have been given the opportunity to share my story with more people. Every person living with CF has their own journey, and I hope to use my story to acknowledge how lucky I have been with my health, but also to teach the importance of fundraising and research towards medication for the entire CF community. I picture myself being a lifelong Cystic Fibrosis advocate. I’ve known I wanted to raise awareness since I was in elementary school when I did a presentation on the effects of hypertonic saline on the lungs in front of a room full of fifth-graders. This was my first introduction to sharing this personal side of myself, and since then, I have only become more passionate about educating the public about the many realities of living with a genetic disease. As a CF Teen Advocate, I learned how to share my story when lobbying for Congressional change, and I realized the importance of continuing this work moving forward. As I transition into college, I plan to continue this work. In many ways, CF has been a gift. It has given me a platform to advocate and educate the public. I have been able to share my story and hope to continue to do so to ensure a bright future for all people living with Cystic Fibrosis. My story may be different from others, but CF creates a common thread that ties together the multitude of stories into one powerful voice. I hope to continue to amplify this voice we share for the rest of my life.