First of all, we would like to thank all of the KD Ladies from U.F. who applied for the fall award. We had a diverse group of applicants and a truly exceptional selection of essays. The members of the board really enjoyed reading all of the submissions and hearing about the dream trips and favorite meals of everyone who applied. The final vote was incredibly close this year, and that was because of all the hard work that went into the submissions from our applicants.
With that being said, we are honored to announce Ashley Savigne as the recipient of our Fall 2024 scholarship. Ashley is a senior from Sarasota who is majoring in computer science at the University of Florida. Ashley's essay about her desire to go to Spain (a place that Gina loved) and her soulful description of her grandmother's pork & plantains dish stood out above the rest and really resonated with the GGSF board members. The Gina Guthrie Scholarship Fund is proud to award Ashley $2,500 to help out with her college expenses and we wish her the best in all of her future endeavors. Please take some time to read her essay below so you can get to know a little bit more about her.
To determine the recipient of this award, the applicant had to show financial need, had to write about someplace they would like to travel, and had to describe their favorite meal. Gina loved food and travel above all else (except family), and we wanted to read essays that reflected that and embraced her spirit.
You can also get to know our Cabarrus County winners - Sindhura Chundi, Lemi Henderson, Gabriella Mullis and Blake Anderson as well as our prior Kappa Delta scholarship winners - Freya Garcia, Isabella Falero, Elizabeth Biro, Ansley Jones and Johanna Chiang. Their essays are attached below, so please read them to learn their stories as well.
Ashley Savigne
ASHLEY SAVIGNE - GGSF FALL 2024 RECIPIENT
(Essay Topics: Financial Need / Dream Trip / Favorite Meal)
Financial need
In January of 2023, the sudden loss of my father was a shock to our whole family. Although he had been ill for over a decade, we were hopeful as his condition had been improving. Losing him was not something we had expected at that moment, and it has dramatically changed both my emotional and financial world.
My father was the breadwinner of our family, and his passing left us in a difficult financial position. To help support my family and education, I made the tough decision to take the following semester off from many of my campus activities, including becoming inactive in Kappa Delta, a sorority that has been an important source of support for me. I chose to continue my studies online while returning to my high school job waiting tables at a local pizzeria. This allowed me to take away some of the financial burden of my education.
Although it was difficult being away from my support system at Kappa Delta and the University of Florida, I knew it was the right choice to help alleviate some of the financial pressure my family was facing. Returning to work meant balancing my academic responsibilities with the financial reality we were dealing with. It wasn’t easy, but it taught me the importance of perseverance and doing the right thing even when you really don't want to.
Now, I find myself continuing to balance my education with financial challenges. This scholarship would be a tremendous relief, allowing me to focus fully on my studies and regain the sense of stability that I lost. It would also enable me to honor my father’s memory by putting my focus on my education and future career, something he always encouraged me to do.
Where would you travel to and why?
If I could travel anywhere in the world, my destination would be Spain. There are countless reasons for this, but two stand out the most.
During the Spanish Civil War in Navarra, my grandmother fled to her father’s home country, Cuba. Later, when communism took hold in Cuba, she sought refuge in the United States, where she eventually gained citizenship. Her unique journey, calling three countries home, has created many fascinating stories, but it was her tales of Spain that captivated me the most. Whether she spoke of the warmth and kindness of the people, the family trips to Madrid, Barcelona, or the beaches of the Basque Country, or the rich culture, food, and music, I was hooked.
My family’s deep connection to Spain runs through our language, too. While my grandmother settled in Florida, my other grandparents arrived there with little knowledge of English, making Spanish a vital part of our household. My eldest sibling was fully bilingual around the age of five, but after a period of speech difficulties, my parents began speaking only English at home, a shift that influenced all of us. Despite this, I have always been determined to reconnect with my heritage by learning Spanish. I never wanted language to be a barrier between me and my family, or to miss out on conversations that shaped our shared experiences. Though I’ve made progress and can understand a good deal, mastering the language has been a lifelong journey.
Spain represents a return to my roots—a place where my family’s story began and where my connection to my heritage can continue to grow. Traveling there would not just be a dream come true but a personal journey of discovery and reconnection.
What's your favorite meal you ever ate and why?
Those who know me well know that I’m a foodie. Choosing just one favorite meal feels nearly impossible—how could I possibly narrow it down when frozen yogurt, chicken wings, and acai bowls exist. While these are definitely my go-to cravings, nothing tops pork, rice, and plantains for me.
If you haven’t experienced the joy of arriving home after a grueling three-and-a-half-hour drive from Gainesville to Sarasota, Florida, in the dead of night, only to be greeted by a late plate brought straight from your grandmother’s kitchen, you might not understand. But I promise, there’s no better way to recover from some of life’s exhaustions.
That meal has become my ultimate comfort food for a reason. It’s not just about the perfectly seasoned pork or the caramelized edges of the plantains, though those are undeniably mouthwatering. It’s about the connection to home. Whether it’s the homesickness that hits after finals, the weight of missing my family after a tough week, or the physical and emotional exhaustion of moving out of my apartment (which definitely included far too many flights of stairs and an obnoxiously large “mini” fridge half as tall as I am), this meal has always been my remedy.
So, while I could rave about frozen yogurt, chicken wings, or acai bowls all day long, the truth is, no food will ever compare to that late-night plate of pork, rice, and plantains. It’s a simple meal, yes, but it carries with it the weight of tradition, the warmth of home, and the love of a grandmother whose kitchen was always open and whose heart was always full.
Sindhura Chundi
SINDHURA CHUNDI - GGSF SPRING 2024 RECIPIENT
(Essay Topics: Financial Need / Obstacles They Overcame / Life Goals)
My name is Sindhura Chundi, and I am an incoming freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I have recently graduated from Hickory Ridge High School in Harrisburg, NC! I am a South Indian immigrant who has lived in North Carolina for most of my life. I am/was a member of the National Honor Society, Harrisburg Multicultural Festival, Girls Who Code, and Youth Council, among others. I love to code, spend time with friends, and do anything arts-related (dance, painting, drawing)! My friends and family would describe me as responsible, creative, and determined! I love to try new hobbies, travel, and meet new people!
Reading about Gina’s story filled me with so much joy. As a member and volunteer of many diversity-promoting programs, I can relate to Gina’s enthusiasm for travel because of the beautiful languages and customs around the world! I want to thank you all, as I am so grateful for this opportunity. It is so inspiring to see Gina’s life and passions being celebrated in such an impactful way!
Financial Situation:
My family first came to the U.S.A. in 2008, a year remembered often for The Great Recession. Being an immigrant was hard enough, starting from square one in a new country. Especially in this time of uncertainty, my parents dared to leave everything behind, in the hope of a better future for our family. My father is an extremely hard-working engineer who is the sole earner of our family, while my mother is a homemaker who lovingly has raised my brother and me. My parents worked so hard to give us more opportunities than they had, saying goodbye to their families. Due to immigration issues, we were unsure when we could even visit our family back home. To this day, my father has never been able to visit his home country to avoid potential complications for us. In addition to this, we only recently got a Permanent Residency. Finding a job is even harder on a limited Visa status. There have been times when finding jobs has been very difficult, but seeing my family overcome these issues has taught me so much.
For most of my life, we lived in a two-bedroom apartment in the city. I loved it there, but as we grew older, it was not ideal. After about a decade, we finally were able to buy our dream house, and for the first time, I got my own room! While it was worth it, houses are a huge, long-term financial burden. In addition to this, my brother is already in college, and I am entering my freshman year. I am so excited to be going to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but I recognize that college costs a lot! I am a hard worker and have strived to make sure that I was an A+ high school student all four years. While my parents will be paying for my college, I plan to help through internships and jobs, which will take some time. But for the time being, I would be so grateful for the opportunity to reduce some of the financial burden that comes with being a first-year college student, especially from a single-income household.
What I Overcame:
I immigrated to America with my Indian family when I was a toddler. So far from home, I was raised carefully to assimilate into American society, but always be proud of my roots. Back then, I didn’t realize that my culture wasn’t the norm, because it was my only world. However, when I got to school, I quickly learned that wasn’t the case. Though I had a couple of Indian friends, many of them were born in the country. Additionally, something I had never expected became a spotlight at school- my bindi. A bindi is a small dot worn by South Asian women in between the brows. It is significant culturally, and religiously, and is a timeless symbol of beauty and femininity.
However, the kids at school didn’t understand it, being so young. On top of my "foreign" appearance, there was also a bindi! Friends and classmates alike would often question what I was wearing, and worse, trick me into smearing it! The result? A giant black streak across my forehead for the remainder of the school day. If such a tiny detail garnered so much unwanted attention, I didn’t want to find out what questions other aspects of my culture would raise. While I still loved my cultural attire, dances, and food, those were things I would have to keep separate from my classmates. I grew into being a shy, quiet girl at school, a shocking contrast from my energetic personality at home. I never really wanted any more attention than necessary.
In middle school, I moved to a brand new school in the middle of the school year. My home, however beautiful, was located in a less diverse suburban area, as opposed to the big city I had lived in for almost all my life. Naturally, I was worried that I would have a tough time at my new school. Spoiler alert: I didn’t! Of course, I still heard “ignorant” comments and questions, but I started to consider that maybe it was out of pure curiosity. Questions about my culture simply served as a stepping stone into my roots, a culture that people don’t typically know a lot about. Though feeling overwhelmed is a valid response to these remarks, understanding others' perspectives helped me develop a healthy mindset.
My resilience during this time inspired me to “be the change” that I wanted to see in my community. I founded a Diversity club at my high school, which serves as a safe space for everyone to learn about traditions and people from different regions of the world. Additionally, for the last few years, I’ve played a significant role on the planning committee of the Harrisburg Multicultural Festival, an annual event that encourages members of the community to learn about other cultures through dances, food, and education booths! My passion for classical Indian dance that I kept hidden is now one of my favorite things to do, as a choreographer for my Indian dance
team. I am so proud of who I am today, but I know this journey is never-ending. I hope to continue growing and learning, not only about myself, but other cultures. I am so pleased to have found a supportive environment in Cabarrus County, and I will carry these values with me wherever I go.
Future Plans:
I will never forget the first time my cursor clicked “RUN.” I was an elementary school student attending a computer science summer camp at a local university. The seemingly magical ability to create was at the tips of my fingers, with each line of code I printed out. As I learned more about programming, my curiosity only grew. However, my school did not have many in-person computer science courses. Rather than letting this hinder my interest, I decided to take summer coding camps, and practice on my own! I had so much fun finding a community of brave, intelligent women in a mostly male-dominated field. I was soon motivated to start a coding club for girls at my high school, which was a great success. It is one of my favorite memories from school!
These experiences helped me choose computer science as my college major. I’m captivated by the new heights that technology reaches each day, and as a future computer scientist, I am excited to be a part of the change! In my free time, I have created a few projects with friends and explored new technologies. One of my websites used data mining and interactive visualizations to present information on women’s socioeconomic status, bringing awareness to female issues globally. Though I am still at the start of my career in computer science, my goal is to reflect my values for equality and environmental sustainability through my work. I can see myself working in various positions in the tech field, and I cannot wait to discover the specifics of the industry.
In addition to my professional goals, I hope to develop my personal interests in the future as well. As a volunteer for many years, I have had so much joy seeing the impact of my team’s work in the community. To me, volunteering was never an obligation, but something I truly looked forward to. Furthermore, as the lead teacher and choreographer of my neighborhood dance team, I plan on continuing my teaching. Dance has always been a haven for me, from the graceful exercise to the amazing friends I have made. For the past couple of years, I have been able to offer this service for no charge.
As I have been very involved in local efforts in high school, I hope to lead/organize my own in the future! Inspired by my mentors, I want to become a member of a community that is brave, kind, and a selfless leader for future generations.
Freya Garcia
FREYA GARCIA - GGSF FALL 2023 RECIPIENT
(Essay Topics: Financial Need / Obstacles They Overcame / Life Goals)
I would love to start by saying what an honor it is to have learned so much about the wonderful life Gina Guthrie led and the impact she made to not only her friends and family, but the entire community around her through her passion for cooking and travelling – I am sad I will never get to meet her, but I am so inspired by the life she led and all that she accomplished and hope that one day I can make an impact like she did.
Part 1: My parents taught me the value of a dollar from a very young age, and were transparent with me when things weren’t going well financially. Both of my parents grew up in the Philippines and came from very hardworking, but poor families. Before I was born, they moved over 9,000 miles to the US in 2001, leaving their families, friends, lives, and everything they knew to give me a better life. I realized how lucky I was when visited the Philippines a couple of years ago after my grandmother died, and just how hard both of my parents worked to give us the life we had. Most of my life, we lived in a two-bed townhome where I shared a room with my siblings until 2016, when my dad got a new job, and we finally moved in to our first house. My mom became a stay at home mom so she could raise me, my brother, and sister, and later when we were mostly at school all day, she worked hard and went back to college to become a nurse to help my dad pay for our house and for each of us to go to college. Things were going great – I got in to the University of Florida, my sister was an award-winning national high school artist, and my little brother started playing travel basketball.
On July 9th, 2023, my dad was on the way to my brother’s basketball game, when suddenly, he was confused, stumbled into a restaurant, and someone recognized he was having a stroke, called 911, and rushed him to the ER. He was in a coma for a few days, and it was scary not knowing when he would wake up. He was later transferred to the ICU until his brain stopped bleeding, and he finally woke up. He could barely speak or stay awake, but my family and I were so thankful he was at least conscious. As soon as he could stay awake long enough, he was sent to an intensive rehab facility to help him recover. He now suffers from aphasia, where he has trouble expressing the right words, and paralysis on his right side, where he is unable to move his right side, but is in therapy for hours every day trying to regain movement.
It breaks my heart seeing my dad like this. I go home every weekend to visit and help my family out – I love being home and am so grateful I can, but it is so painful to see my dad like this. If you know my dad, you’d know he’s one of the most active people there is. He used to work out at least two times a week and would always take me and my siblings out to the park to run around or bike or just be outside and moving around. He also used to take part in the Tough Mudder, a crazy 10-mile-long obstacle course/endurance race every year when I was growing up. He was so passionate about taking care of himself and others that he even became a certified personal trainer on the side of working upwards of 80+ hours a week to support my family. Now, my mom spends all hours of the day she is not working by his side, working tirelessly with the nurses and his therapists. As soon as my sister and brother get home from school, they are by his side. Every weekend I am driving in from UF to visit and check in on my family as much as I can. I would love this scholarship because I’d be able to take away at least some of the financial stress my family and I now have without my father’s income and the endless hospital and rehab bills.
Part 2: Something I’ve sadly had to learn to overcome was my dad’s stroke. As I mentioned before, it has been absolutely heartbreaking seeing my dad, an extremely strong, witty, hardworking, passionate, selfless man go through something so life-altering and debilitating. When I got the call that my dad had a stroke, I was in Austin, Texas, for an internship over the summer, and I was 15 hours away from home back in St. Augustine, Florida. I also had to break the news to my mom and siblings over the phone, as the hospital called me first. It was gut-wrenching. I sat in my room and cried. I didn’t know if the last time I saw my dad would have been back in May before I moved, I didn’t know if I was never going to be able to see him again, and I didn’t know if my life would ever be the same. My boyfriend, Sean, ran out of work and came over to be with me as soon as it happened. I spent that day, and the next few days, quiet, sad, crying, angry, but most of all wondering why. I didn’t have very many answers to anything going on, but knew I had to go home as soon as possible, to be with my family, figure out the logistics, and most of all, see my dad.
This has been the biggest hardship I’ve ever experienced, but what got me through it was the incredible support system I had. My boyfriend dropped everything and helped me move all my stuff across the country a month earlier than expected, driving 15 hours to get me to my family as quickly as possible. My best friends, all of who are in Kappa Delta, who were all around Florida and across the country studying abroad over the summer, were constantly calling me and checking up on me, and made sure I was okay. My family - my brother, my sister, and my mom – have all been going through such a painful thing – but they constantly stay so positive, making me smile and laugh – just like my dad does - and without them, I don’t know what I would have done. The only thing you can do in situations like this is pray, be strong, be around those you love, and accept that life changes. It’s all about the people you surround yourself with, and I am so grateful I had so many wonderful people to lean on and keep me thinking positive. Something else that got me through it – food. Reading about Gina’s love for food made me think of my mom and dad who taught me so much about Filipino food and cooked for me every day I was growing up. Especially my dad’s Pansit. Pansit is a traditional Filipino dish that you’ll have during birthdays, holidays, and any time family is around. My dad has been making the most mouth-watering pansit I’ve ever had since before I was born (served at my baby shower). Before he was transferred out of rehab back to our house, I asked him what he wanted for his first meal back – and of course, he wanted Pansit. I was intimidated - I am definitely not nearly as good of a cook as he is, but after sitting down with him and getting his secret recipe, he assured me I could do it. Although it didn’t taste exactly like his, he and my mom still guided me through it as much as he could, and a smile from him was all I needed.
Part 3: Growing up, I always had some sort of creative thing I was working on. For years and years growing up I loved making origami. Something about turning a simple piece of paper into anything – a crane, piano, apple, or anything I wanted to make. In third grade, my teacher saw how much I loved it and even let me teach our class how to make a frog out of a sticky note! In between my love for origami, I drew, I painted, I made clay figurines, I made keychains, and more. In high school, I didn’t have many friends, but I had a small group of friends that convinced me to take yearbook. I quickly learned I loved designing and putting layouts together, everything seemed to click for me, and designing our yearbook quickly became my creative outlet. What was supposed to be an easy “A” class became my passion. Designing for the yearbook enabled me to tell my school’s story and bring it to life. I soon began volunteering all my time to designing everything for all my organizations at school. When I lost my job working in a daycare from COVID in 2020, I needed to keep saving for college – so I started a small business designing custom tailgate shirts, ended up going viral on Instagram and sold over 2,000. When I came to UF, I already knew so many people from designing and making them shirts (one of them is in Kappa Delta with me today and is one of my best friends and roommate!). One of the things that resonated most with me about Gina was how heavily involved she was at UF. So far, I’ve been the Design Editor of the Tower Yearbook, a Graphic Designer for Dance Marathon, Design Assistant for Kappa Delta, and the Director of Graphic Design for UF Panhellenic. Outside of school, I’ve been a design intern at a global design publication, and also interned with a tech company. My first internship was with a real estate firm where I designed the brand identity for their new student housing development across the street from UF. It is so surreal to see my work come to life across the street from where I go to school.
Like Gina, I have a strong desire to travel. I had planned to go to Cannes to study abroad and attend a creative advertising festival, but I had an internship opportunity designing for a tech company that I didn’t want to give up. I hope when I graduate this summer, I’m able to both go visit my family in the Philippines, but also go and explore places I’ve never seen before like Italy, Barcelona, Amsterdam, and of course, the south of France. What I'm most passionate about is not only being creative, but using my creativity to learn more about people. Realizing that I loved to design allowed me to realize that I love to design brand identities. I found so much joy in being able to get to know and immerse myself in so many unique industries – learn what people are passionate about, their values, and what difference they want to make in the world. Each internship and experience I’ve had has given me so much insight into such different industries, cultures, and learn about who those people are and who they want to be. I am actively applying to design and branding agencies to intern at to help me gain that exposure, while also supporting myself and helping my family financially. In the future, I hope to become a Creative Director for a global branding agency or even start my own branding agency, but most of all, I hope to learn about every culture I possibly can and hope I can do that by traveling all around the U.S. and the world.
It is truly an honor to share being in the Beta Pi chapter of Kappa Delta with Gina and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity for this scholarship.
Lemi Henderson
LEMI HENDERSON - GGSF SPRING 2023 RECIPIENT
(Essay Topics: Financial Need / Obstacles They Overcame / Life Goals)
As a young boy, my life was filled with responsibilities from sunrise to sundown. At the age of three, children including myself in a remote village in Herrera, Ethiopia were expected to tend to the family livestock and gather water for the day along with many other chores. There was no running water or electricity in my village and so there were many daily activities that were required to sustain life. With the day beginning early, we would feed the roosters and chickens, walk the cows to find water and gather water for drinking. We would end the day by chasing livestock to place them into their pen for safekeeping overnight. While some days were less difficult, most days were challenging as I would carry two jugs of water while herding livestock home for several miles.
Life was not easy, but that was all I knew, and to me that was a normal life. Everyone that I loved was with me living together in my family's hut. My father passed away when I was very young and life became harder for my family. Soon after my father passed away, a famine came over our community and changed my life forever at the age of four. My birth mom was no longer able to care for me so she made the loving decision to give me a better life. With this brave decision, I was placed in an orphanage to live with other children where I could be fed and cared for daily. I lived in this orphanage for three to four years.
My life changed the day I was adopted from that orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I am forever grateful for the opportunity I was given the day I was adopted. Being an adopted child from a developing nation has been a challenging rollercoaster, from learning the English language to getting accustomed to a new culture. I was in third grade when I arrived in America and English was new to me. When I first arrived I spent long hours after school with my mom talking and reading books to improve my comprehension of English. Thankfully it did not take me very long to be able to fully communicate in my new surroundings.
I have really enjoyed my adoptive family and many opportunities have been given to me. Being the youngest of eight children has required me to balance my time between spending quality time with my family, playing sports on school teams, and doing club activities while maintaining a 4.0 GPA or higher while in high school. My parents sacrificed and adopted four children after having four biological children. I am the youngest and the final one to go to college, financially sending eight children to college is overwhelming and this is why I am seeking as many scholarship opportunities as possible to make it a reality to attend a four-year university.
My goal is to obtain a degree in Engineering from North Carolina State University. I plan to use this degree and my knowledge to help people all around the world. Engineering is used in almost every aspect of our lives whether it be in building machines, structures, or artificial intelligence in computers. The benefits of engineering are felt everywhere. By gaining this scholarship I will be able to pursue a degree in Engineering where I hope to create my own company and use my knowledge to improve the lives of people who are often overlooked by society.
I have been given the opportunity to travel back to Ethiopia on several occasions and I am hopeful this degree and knowledge will help me return to the community I was born into and help in ways that are needed there. My goal is to use Engineering as a source to improve the lives of citizens in and around the Herrera community. I plan to do this by building more water wells to improve access to clean water in the time being and by developing new innovative ways to grow crops for better access to sustainable food sources. Hopefully, one day I could provide water directly into their homes and electricity that is sustainable. In order to achieve these goals, obtaining an Engineering degree is critical to gain knowledge and understanding of how I can make these dreams a reality. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Isabella Falero
ISABELLA FALERO - GGSF FALL 2022 RECIPIENT
(Essay Topics: Financial Need / Dream Trip / Favorite Meal)
I am a Cuban-American woman born and raised in Miami, FL. Getting accepted into the University of Florida was something that my entire family – as well as myself – was incredibly proud of. No one else in my family except for my mother and sister has ever gone to college and graduated with a degree. The fact that I even made it to UF and am thriving is such a blessing. I quickly discovered, however, that going to school is expensive. Costs are coming from everywhere, including the cost of living, sorority dues, books, and other fees. Everything adds up. I am blessed that my parents work hard each day to provide for me and give me the beautiful life I have today, but sometimes I just feel that I should help lessen my parents’ stress of paying for all of my expenses. This is why I believe the $2,500 from the Gina Guthrie Scholarship Fund would be so incredibly appreciated.
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From the moment I heard about the Gina Guthrie Scholarship Fund, there was something unexplainable that drew me to apply. It was this feeling deep down that told me that this scholarship was different. Simply the fact that Gina was a Beta Pi Kappa Delta already gave me this bond in sisterhood to her, but my body was telling me that there was more. After reading Gina’s biography, I had chills. Just like me, a large part of Gina’s life was devoted to the Spanish language, history, and food that it even took her to Spain and Argentina. My Hispanic identity is what makes me, me. The fact that Gina and I shared a love for Spanish culture was a sign that I was where I needed to be. I too have an immense passion for travel. Luckily, I have been able to travel to incredible places throughout the United States, the Caribbean, South America, and Europe, but my most recent trip was one that blew me away.
This past summer, I was humbled to be able to join the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communication’s study abroad program in Spain, specifically Barcelona. I read that Gina traveled to Barcelona in her lifetime and I bet it had the same impression on her as it did on me. If I had one wish, it would be to take my family to experience Barcelona as I did. This past summer allowed me to take a break from the daily stresses of being a 20-year-old college student and truly find myself; Barcelona changed me for the better. I was able to live with my friends, and fully immerse myself in the culture of the Spaniards and I came back a better person because of it. I was in Spain for a month and visited beautiful, breathtaking places such as Montserrat, Girona, Figueres, Madrid, and Sitges. Each new place offered me a new and valuable experience to learn and grow as a global citizen, seeing that connections can be made with anyone, anywhere. The greatest part of it all was that I had a fellow Beta Pi Kappa Delta, Katherine, with me through it all. I had never gotten the chance to get close to Katherine before this trip, but we ended up living together and are now incredibly close friends. I am grateful to Kappa Delta for giving me another person in my life that will be in it forever. The people that I met and the memories that I made while studying abroad are invaluable and I would give anything to do it all over again.
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Coming from a Cuban family, food is something we all know very well and love immensely. I grew up cooking with my Abuelo and Abuela traditional Cuban foods like ropa vieja, frijoles and arroz, and lechon. You can tell my family are foodies simply because our home in Miami has a Snapchat geotag that reads ‘Falero’s Diner’ anytime someone takes a picture! My Kappa Delta sisters know that Falero’s Diner is the spot for some late-night paninis and early morning breakfast buffet. However, if I’m being truly honest, one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten would quite frankly have to be lasagna night at the KD house. I say this not to be cliche or corny or because the food was actually out of this world, but because of the company. I am so happy to say that I found lifelong friends at Kappa Delta. I know I can trust them now or anytime in the future, no matter where our lives take us. That lasagna night was special because all of my best friends were eating together and we stayed laughing on the living room couches for hours afterward. It is wild to think that before KD, I didn’t have those ladies in my life, and now I can’t imagine life without them.
Oh!, and the breakfast in Costa Rica as well as the pasta dishes in Italy, and even my dad’s Peking duck are what dreams are made of. My Instagram popular page is quite literally FILLED with pasta videos and images, and I am definitely not mad about it. Food just makes me so happy as I know it made Gina!
Gabriella Mullis
GABRIELLA MULLIS - GGSF SPRING 2022 RECIPIENT
(Essay Topics: Financial Need / Biggest Challenge / Life Goals)
My name is Gabriella Mullis. I am a senior at Northwest Cabarrus High School in Concord, North Carolina. At Northwest, I play volleyball, and am a member of BETA Club and the National Technical Honor Society. Away from Northwest, I am a Girl Scout, volunteer at my church and Esther's Heart for Transformation Ministry, play club volleyball and work part time. I have earned the Girl Scout bronze and silver awards and have finished working on my gold award. I also enjoy spending time with family and friends outdoors hiking, fishing, watching The Sound of Music and Dirty Dancing over and over, binge watching NCIS, Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy, and listening to hours of Murder & Mystery: Analysis by Dr. Phil anytime we are in the car for at least an hour. I wish I could have met Mrs. Guthrie and tasted her amazing food. Like Mrs. Guthrie, I hope to travel the world and achieve the type of life she was able to enjoy.
I have spent four years growing and learning at Northwest Cabarrus High School for such a time as this. College is expensive. My mom is a single parent. My parents separated for the second time in July 2011 when I was 7 years old. She has done her best to make life as normal as possible. She received very little to no help from my dad even though there was a child support court order in place. She reminds me that every little bit helps and that things always work out as they should. Dad owed about $60,000 in back child support at the time of his death in April 2020. As a college bound student, I am aware of the importance of scholarships. I am excited about the possibility that the Gina Guthrie Scholarship Fund may invest in my future and look forward to calling Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida home for at least the next four years!
The days and weeks after my dad's passing in April 2020 were a blur. His loss has left a hole in my heart that can never be filled. There are tears. There is sadness. There are many unanswered questions. I learned a lot more than I thought I knew about my dad's alcohol abuse after he died. I remember some situations from my childhood. I also learned that my dad's denial about his alcohol abuse led to my parents' separation. I still have questions that may never be answered. I was struggling. I could not believe my dad was gone. I was angry. Why did this happen to my dad? I knew I needed to do something. I decided to make lemonade from the lemons that life had given me. My search for answers to these questions and my curiosity about alcohol abuse led to The Tommy Project, my Girl Scout Gold Award in honor of my dad Tommy. I wanted to know more about alcohol abuse, raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol abuse and its impact on families. And I knew that I wanted to share my story with others to let them know that they are not alone and to inspire them to seek the much-needed help for their loved one.
Many people helped me along the way to ultimately connect with Rachel Berg, Student Assistance Program Specialist with Cabarrus County Schools to make The Tommy Project, my personal story about my dad’s battle with alcoholism a part of the Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco units in middle schools. Health teachers have the option to opt into sharing with their students. The Tommy Project is available on the Student Services Substance Abuse Prevention Resources section on the Cabarrus County Schools website. Teachers can coordinate with school counselors / social worker to support students and provide contact information for resources supporting students/families if someone is looking for help.
I will consider The Tommy Project a success if just one person reaches out to a teacher, staff member, guidance counselor, mental health professional or substance abuse professional seeking help for themselves or a loved one.
https://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/Page/82274
I am excited to be attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida (ERAU FL) in Fall 2022 where I plan to study Homeland Security and Global Conflict Studies. I envision a safer, more secure tomorrow, and see myself in some capacity of security. At this time, I want to be a part of a government agency field based or office-based team or a private company that is working towards making our communities near and far safer and more secure. I look forward to working with others who are likeminded about the safety of our communities, our country, and the world. I plan to take advantage of all available resources and opportunities available to me through Embry Riddle to secure a position within the Homeland Security industry. I also plan to continue growing my knowledge of Homeland Security by exploring continuing education options and earning certifications as needed after graduation.
Elizabeth Biro
ELIZABETH BIRO - GGSF FALL 2021 RECIPIENT
(Essay Topics: Financial Need / Biggest Challenge / Life Goals)
Part 1:
After reading about who Gina Guthrie was as a person and member of her community, I am inspired by how beautiful a woman she was inside and out. Reading about her life in college, to who she was as matriarch of her family, to her love of travel and how her passions inspired a career change truly resonated with me – because of how much Gina reminds me of my own mom. To say my mom is my best friend or role model would be a vast understatement. She is my favorite person in the world and a blueprint for who I want to be as a person. Similar to how this foundation describes Gina, I would describe my mom as “a beacon of light to everyone she meets.” Whenever there is an opportunity to make a person’s life a little easier and lend a helping-hand, my mom is there with no hesitation. Whether for a neighbor, a close friend, or a stranger, she is the first person to extend a hand and make sure someone can breathe a little easier. I can imagine how Gina embodied these characteristics as well.
Similarly to Gina, my mom has not experienced the smoothest journey when it comes to her health. Despite being one of the healthiest people you would ever meet; my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer my senior year of high school. Ann Holzer is an avid runner, a kickboxer, a triathlete who took great care of herself, listened to her body and kept updated with her doctor’s visits which included getting a mammogram every 6 months. The news of her diagnosis was shocking for everyone close to her. My mom found her tumors from a self-examination and went back to the doctors until the mammograms discovered them. As a recently single parent with three children entering college on top of preexisting stress, there were blockades from finding silver linings in my mom’s life, yet she always found one. It would have been easy for my mom be down on herself or her life. However, her light never dimmed. My mom chose to share her story as she now advocates for preventative care and early detection. In doing this, my mom has helped multiple women catch signs of breast cancer early. My mom has now been cancer-free for four years. As of the day I am writing this, she was also accepted into UCF’s nursing program where she aims to be a nurse oncologist. In becoming one, she wants to be the light for others that her nurses were for her during her fight. Ann Holzer is the most gracious person on this planet. The world could throw anything at her and she would naturally find a silver lining. She is grateful for all of life’s blessings and can turn what most people would consider a bad situation into a blessing. I want this scholarship so I can help my mom breathe a little easier and remove some of the stress of having to provide for me. She has been back in college for two years now while working multiple jobs to provide for myself and my two brothers. I would use the money so I am able to take away some of the financial stress she will experience as she finishes nursing school.
Part 2:
As I stated before, searching for silver linings has always been a major part of how my family handles hard times. When I was 14 years old, my parents divorced. It was a difficult process for my entire family. It was shocking for myself and my two brothers because of how well our parents hid their problems for years. It was confusing, heart-breaking, and altered the way I view love, trust, and relationships. This was the first time I saw my parents as actual human beings with their own problems instead of two perfect humans raising me, which caused me to grow-up quickly. Now that I am older, I look back and do not say that in a negative way. I believe my parents’ split has built me into the person I am today: a strong woman who is sure of herself. I was not raised by two unhappy people in a fractured marriage who stayed together for the kids. Instead, I was raised by two people who learned to be happy by themselves and worked together to take care of those who they loved most -- their kids. I developed stronger relationships with each of my parents who taught me lessons that I take with me everywhere I go. My mom taught me independence, how to respect yourself and be respected, that the only impossible journey is the one you never begin and, of course, the power of finding silver linings. My dad taught me my work ethic and is my constant reminder I can accomplish anything I work hard for. My dad showed me how real men feel and show emotion, the value of being a good listener, how to cope with my anxiety and that a good watching of The Sound of Music can fix anything -- but if you don’t have a lot of time just watch the part where Christopher Plummer sings Edelweiss. Both my parents show me each day how they would do anything for me and my brothers, and at the end of the day family is the most important thing.
My family lives in two different homes but I would never say they were divided. Yes, times were hard for my family. Yes, it was an obstacle for each of us. Yes, it felt like the worst thing when it happened. Nonetheless, that does not mean there were not silver linings or that I am not grateful for how it shaped me. This is because I have two happy, loving parents. To answer the question of how I got through it: through the strength of both of my parents, the support of my siblings and the choice to find a silver lining behind every dark cloud.
Part 3:
I have maintained the same goal for my life. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a journalist. There is always a story to be told if you just take a moment and listen. I love meeting people, hearing their stories, and making their voice heard. Stories have the power to make people feel and enact real change.
I am a telecommunication news major at the University of Florida and work at the campus station WUFT News. I have produced and hosted NPR All Things Considered, composed stories for the WUFT First at Five show, am a founding member of a social media news show called The Lede and currently the founding member of my own WUFT show called The Breakdown.
In my time working for the station, I have fallen in love with the small community of Alachua County. I have covered the passing of local activist Patricia Hilliard Nunn, a local post office closing, a stand in by the teacher’s union on UF campus, a plan to build on a conservation area called McCarty Woods, the passing of UF students due to traffic accidents and much more. Journalism is the first draft of history. Local stories can seem small but when you look at larger world issues, they may be boiled down to one incident in a small community.
I believe in the power journalism possesses to inform. I am considered my friends’ go-to source when they have questions on what is going on in the news. I believe there are two sides to every story and my job is to tell a fair and neutral account of these stories. I am an avid learner and am constantly researching or deep diving into even the most obscure topics. I consider myself a jack of all trades, which benefits me in my writing. One day, I may be deep diving into the flaws of vertical integration in the marijuana industry and how it inhibits small businesses and minority businesses. The next day, I could be explaining how the politization of the pandemic is nothing new in history and can be seen in the response to yellow fever. I believe information is the most powerful tool and every person has the right to be fully informed. I pride myself in the unbiased stories I write and that I can be an outlet of information to people so they can make better, more informed decisions and benefit mankind as a whole.
My final goal (and this is me speaking it into existence) is to be on Jeopardy. Like I said, I’m curious and I love to learn.
Blake Anderson
BLAKE ANDERSON - GGSF SPRING 2021 RECIPIENT
(Essay Topics: Financial Need / Biggest Challenge / Life Goals)
Some people question their purpose in life. I am blessed to know that mine is to share my incredible story and give thanks to God by being the best I can be in all that I do. Considering my prognosis before entering this world, it is a miracle that I am able to write this essay, especially with regard to pursuing a bachelor degree and playing baseball at the collegiate level!
When specialists in Philadelphia scheduled the abortion that day 18 years ago, they assumed my parents would trust them, especially after promising no hope of a positive outcome. Thankfully my parents believed that whether my twin brother and I would live our lives severely disabled, or not have lives to live at all, was in God’s hands—not theirs. We were born three months premature and barely weighed two pounds. My family and I endured many hard years—physically, financially and emotionally. I am grateful for those challenges as it has made me who I am, including a hard-working leader in the classroom, on the ball field and in my community. Looking back at my birth, it is a blessing that I can also do many physical things, including baseball. Ever since I was six years old, baseball is the one sport I wanted to play. Now, as a senior at Jay M Robinson high school, I realize how great I have it and how fast life goes when you're having fun. Everything I do in life revolves around my miracle birth. Even drinking a glass of water on my own or eating the last piece of cake is a blessing to me as I look back on what could have been.
Fast forward, and here I am in my last year of high school writing this essay. Without God and the faith of my parents, my story would be much different.
It is such a blessing to be attending Montreat College this fall. My first visit on campus was exciting. That first step I took out of my car, I thought to myself, “this is where I want to be.” It was a peaceful, comforting feeling—a love at first sight! A small Christian school with good morals and values was something I looked for as we researched and toured many colleges--and Montreat fulfilled all of those. Even with it being out of my family’s budget, it was still the place I felt I belonged and made my parents comfortable at the thought of me attending here. My parents would much rather me be at a college that has good values, staff and coaches, supporting me in growing into the best person I can be, than to go to a much less expensive college that doesn’t offer the same.
My mom had health issues that started when she was in college. She was told that she may never be able to carry her own child. She went through numerous surgeries in order to have my brother, Jake. Then she did it all over again and had my brother, Nick. Surprisingly, when Nick was just an infant, they found out she was pregnant again! This time with no intervention at all! My parents initially had college funds saved for my two brothers, but with Luke and my premature birth, ongoing years of health conditions and therapies, they depleted all of the savings they had, including the college funds. My mom also had to stop working to take care of us. Thankfully, we are, for the most part, healthy now and mom has a successful career once again. We got back up on our feet, however, we have budgets to follow now—my brothers and I have to have skin in the game for our own college expenses.
I was awarded a $12,000 scholarship from the Montreat baseball athletic program. I am very grateful for that, however, it only covers about a fourth of my total freshman year cost. The coach was very honest, letting me know that I did not earn that much due to my athleticism and that much of it was granted because of who I am--a humble leader by example, a coachable athlete, and an honest and dependable student. That’s a lot of responsibility to live up to but I am confident that I will continue on the right path and exceed expectations that the coaching staff has for me.
Every chance I can get to earn more for college, I will try hard to secure. The baseball scholarship can change each year so hopefully by working hard, I will earn a little more in my sophomore through senior years. My goal for my first year is to raise scholarship funds to any number more than $12,000. This means I will have to train and study hard my freshman year, which is something I am willing to do if that is one more cent toward paying for college. Training and studying benefits not only my financial situation but my baseball experience, student life and my future career.
I believe setting good examples to other kids is one of the most important things a person can do. One day, I hope to be married and have kids of my own. I know that I will lead them on the right path and teach them good morals and values with Montreat helping me along that path.
Being premature comes with other costs than just the financial. My body did not develop the way a full-term baby would. My back, hips, and muscles are much tighter than the average person so I have to do daily stretches to withstand normal flexibility. Having to do much more than the average person does definitely makes me a mentally stronger person as I have felt that over the years of this adversity. Not being the physically gifted kid on the baseball field gives me more motivation to do as much as I can to be a better ball player.
I am truly blessed to have parents who have taught me well and have shown good examples to me throughout my life. Now that is all I really know to do with others. Mrs. Guthrie was the same way. Ever since Luke and I swam on the CCC team where we first met her, she never forgot us or my parents. We don’t ever remember a time running into her around town where she didn’t make us feel as though we were the most important people in the world—always had a HUGE smile, big hug and acted as though it was a blessing to see us—when it was really the other way around. Showing others and leading by example is something I love to do. Being around kids who may have not been well guided through their younger life is a challenge to me but I don’t shy away. I just try to shine the light of Jesus through being a good example. The best gift I’ve ever received was to witness one of these kids give his life to Christ after accepting invitations from me to attend youth group and retreats. Whether I make it to the MLB, become a successful doctor of exercise science, or be an awesome stay-at-home dad, my goal in life will ALWAYS be to lead by example as I follow God on my own journey.
Ansley Jones
ANSLEY JONES - GGSF FALL 2020 RECIPIENT
(Essay Topics: Financial Need / Dream Trip / Favorite Meal)
During my junior year of high school my parents went through a divorce, and after it was finalized my parents began to live on their own. My mom is a flight attendant who has to work long hours away from home and often struggles to make ends meet. I help by working to pay for my expenditures along with whatever my mom can not afford for the month such as school costs or groceries. By the end of my senior year of high school, I balanced taking several AP classes, volunteering with the special needs students at my school, playing on the varsity golf team, and working three jobs - waiting tables, babysitting, and working for an afterschool program once a week. My plate was more than full, but I managed my time well and learned many valuable skills by doing so.
Now as a student at the University of Florida, I am on track to graduate in May 2022 with a major in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences and double-minor in Sociology and Communication Studies. With this degree, I can become a Child Life Specialist, or continue my education on the Accelerated B.S.N. track to become a nurse. Either way, my goal is to return to Wolfson Children’s Hospital and work on the same floor where I received cancer treatment to help children and families who are facing similar challenges that I have. In addition to my academics and being an active member of Kappa Delta, I am a Campus Ambassador for Gift of Life Marrow Registry and a member of Footprints Buddy and Support Program. As a Campus Ambassador, I coordinate with many clubs and organizations on campus to host bone marrow drives with the hope of finding life-saving matches for people with blood cancer. This past year alone, I personally registered over 600 people to the international bone marrow registry and found a match for a patient battling AML - the same type of Leukemia I had. As a member of Footprints, I look forward to volunteering over three hours each week on the pediatric hematology/oncology/immunosuppressed unit at Shands. By engaging in one-on-one play, I can help these “kids just be kids” during their treatment which I know the value of firsthand.
To continue helping my family with the many expenses of attending college, I work year-round. While I am at school I work roughly 20 hours each week as a server at Bonefish Grill. During the summer when I am home, I work 50+ hours each week by babysitting during the day and waiting tables at a local seafood restaurant in the evening. My work schedule is very busy, but it allows me to cover the costs of my personal expenditures as well as my dues for Kappa Delta. This scholarship would help me lift the financial burden of college and sorority expenses, and any amount of scholarship would be a significant help and greatly appreciated.
As a Kappa Delta, I am constantly surrounded by so many kind-hearted, empowering women who inspire me to reach my full potential. From day one, I have been supported and uplifted, and this has instilled confidence in myself. I have made so many incredible memories and friendships that will last a lifetime, and I look forward to the memories that will be made.
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I have a very adventurous spirit and would love to travel all over the world, but the place at the very top of my travel bucket list is South Africa. I have always been fascinated by African culture, and after years of working hard and saving money, I finally have the opportunity to go. This summer I planned to study abroad for five weeks in South Africa, but because of COVID-19, the program was postponed to ensure everyone’s health and safety. If all goes well, I will be traveling to my dream destination next summer and I could not be any more excited!
The first two weeks take place in Capetown where we will learn about South African culture, history, and personal leadership, and get to explore many unique places that can only be found there - including Boulders Beach, home of the African penguins. The third week shifts its focus to hands-on service and connecting with the community of Sir Lowry’s Pass, a small township located outside of Capetown. There, we will be paired with a local host family to learn about living in this township from a first-hand perspective as we provide an after-school program and engage with the youth through sports, arts and crafts, music, and dance. The fourth week of the program is a 5-day road trip along the Garden Route to explore many areas of this beautiful country. I love pursuing exciting adventures and trying new things, so I am especially excited for this week. Some of the activities on this adventure week include: seeing nature up close on a safari, having class in Tsitsikamma National Park, cage diving with sharks, and jumping off the world’s largest bungee bridge. We will spend the last week in Capetown and focus on how we can apply our personal growth to our lives going forward.
Overall, I would love to visit South Africa so I may better appreciate other backgrounds than my own. Through this immersive learning program, I will not only gain knowledge of African customs and traditions, but I will also be able to share my experiences with others to promote unity among different cultures. Gandhi once said, “Culture is rooted in the hearts and in the soul of its people,” and I want to meet all kinds of people.
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As an avid food lover and an adventurous eater, I have tried many unique cuisines from around the world - including curried goat while on a mission trip in Tobago. However, my favorite meal I’ve ever had was much less out of the ordinary.
Two weeks after my fourteenth birthday I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia,
a very aggressive form of blood cancer, and two months after my sixteenth birthday I relapsed. Altogether, I have spent nearly a year of my life in Wolfson Children’s Hospital, endured copious amounts of chemotherapy, received a bone marrow transplant, and suffered nearly every possible side effect that could have come along with treatment. One side effect in particular was debilitating sores that lined my mouth, esophagus, and stomach. These sores were so painful I was not able to eat for six weeks. During that time, I received nutrition as a liquid through my central line, but the full feeling I experienced was nothing close to eating actual food. As the sores started to heal and the pain was less excruciating, I began to introduce food back into my diet. I had to start very slowly to make sure my body would be able to digest everything properly without overreacting and going into shock. The first item I could have was juice, and then a week later I was allowed to try smoothies and milkshakes. The next week I could eat very
simple foods like applesauce and Jello, and another week after that I could have more solid, but still soft foods like mashed potatoes and pancakes. It took nearly 5 weeks to acclimate my body to solid foods, but by the time my doctors allowed me to eat a full meal I was ecstatic.
The first meal I ate after treatment was from my favorite restaurant Chipotle. I celebrated with my parents and ordered my usual: a burrito bowl with brown rice, black beans, grilled chicken, fajita peppers, mild salsa, sweet corn, extra lettuce, and guacamole on the side. With each bite, I experienced so many flavors and a wonderful sensation that I had missed so much. As we enjoyed our meal, my parents and I reflected on all the challenges I was able to overcome, and what my future plans might look like. I have eaten at Chipotle several times before and after this day, but this particular meal is my favorite because I was finally able to do one of my favorite things - enjoy delicious food with people I love.
Today, I am so blessed to say that I have beat cancer twice and have been in remission for over four years. I’m not glad that I got cancer, but because I did and survived what felt like a never-ending uphill battle, I have grown more as a person, and for that I am thankful. I would like to think I’ve always been an optimistic person, but now I truly do look at everything from a more positive point of view and recognize the importance of living in the moment - even the simple moments like eating a meal with the people I love.
Johanna Chiang
JOHANNA CHIANG - GGSF FALL 2020 RECIPIENT
(Essay Topics: Financial Need / Dream Trip / Favorite Meal)
My name is Johanna Chiang and I an upcoming sophomore at the University of Florida and member of the Kappa Delta Beta Pi Chapter. I know this is the essay portion where I state my financial need, but I have to begin with the fact that I am truly saddened that I will never get to meet the Gina Guthrie. I was never planning on joining on a sorority in fear that my interests, faith, and goals would not line up with other girls, but I gave it a chance and now I love it; from the support system, to the community group, to opportunities for involvement Kappa Delta has given me so much more than I could have ever imagined. Gina’s life was introduced to me through Kappa Delta and I am so thankful even though I did not get the chance to meet her, I was able to read about her life. Gina’s love for travel, food, and involvement resonate deeply with me as those are three crucial aspects of my life. When I read about how she taught English in Japan I was amazed because when I visited Japan I felt a real culture shock so the fact that she chose to teach English in this foreign country was really inspiring. Also, I visit my local market called the Saturday Morning Market here in St. Petersburg almost every week to seek out locally made food usually leading me to buy 3-4 empanadas, at least 2 arepas, and sometimes a Belgium waffle with ice cream if I’m feeling hungry, so I just know I would have loved her stand with ravioli and focaccia bread. I remember older members telling us about looking up to alumni, especially those who share your interests and goals and after reading about Gina I realized she embodied so much of what I want for myself in the future.
I am majoring in nursing and hope to become a travel nurse so I can explore new cultures, try new foods, and meet and help people all over the world. With that said, If I were to be the recipient the scholarship fund, I would use it to help my parents pay for classes and especially textbooks (you don’t realize how expensive those things are until freshman year of college). This scholarship would help my family save money on tuition which would further help me save money because my ultimate goal is to study abroad. Studying abroad has many expenses therefore any saved money would aid me in eventually saving enough to achieve that goal by junior year. I would love to help my parents in anyway with finances because my mom also has had a kidney transplant and severe arthritis which often prevents her from being able to work from the pain or in really bad cases leads to hospitalization. My parents have sacrificed so much for my siblings and I and work so hard to support us in college in every aspect therefore I would love to help them financially as much as possible.
It has been a honor to learn about Gina’s life and impact on world and I thank you for your consideration for this scholarship.
Part 2
The Philippines; a place where cheese on top of ice cream is normal, sweet tasting spaghetti is a fan-favorite, and rice with every meal is must.
The Philippines; a place with the clearest waters, an abundance of islands to visit, and a very deep-rooted culture.
The Philippines; the original home of my parents, the home of many relatives and cousins, and it is the place I long to travel back to.
The reasons why I am willing to endure the gruesome 20 hour flight all over can be summed into three F’s; food, fun, and family. If I have learned anything from Filipino food is that rice can be eaten with literally anything. A typical day of eating in the Philippines consisted of rice and eggs for breakfast, rice and chicken for lunch, rice and fish for dinner, and then sticky rice and mango for dessert. So when I say rice can be eaten with anything, I mean it. My mom and dad have never been the greatest chefs (mom, dad, if you read this I’m sorry) so when we went to the Philippines and their family was constantly preparing food, I felt like royalty. Stuffed to the utter max, I often could do nothing but lie down after meals because of how much I would consume. I was eating Asian-style comfort food every single day and boy do I miss it now. Also, a must have Filipino food is called Lumpia. Lumpia is a fried spring roll; definitely the superior spring roll. Filled with beef and vegetables and dipped in sweet chili sauce the taste is truly immaculate. Every event I ever had in school my parents would bring lumpia and it was a hit every single time without fail. Even just typing this I can feel my mouth watering, longing for the crisp bite and perfect sweet and salty taste. Filipino food sadly is not abundant in Florida and my mom hasn’t quite mastered her culinary skills, so in all honestly, I would to return to the Philippines merely just to eat.
Growing up 10 minutes from the beach in sunny St. Petersburg is what began my love for swimming. I loved snorkeling but the waters were never very clear, and the fish were always scarce. When we traveled to the Philippines the first place we went was to an island called El Nido to snorkel. The crystal blue waters, bright coral reefs, vast greenery, and lack of people, made me feel as if I was on documentary of the Discovery Channel or Travel Network. After a long day of swimming anyone would be starving, but who needs to go out to a restaurant when the locals can cook dinner on the boat? Prepared on banana leaves, they set out whole fishes, assortments of meat, some vegetables, and of course tons of rice. Breath taking scenery, delicious food, and time with my family, there was truly nothing more I could ask for. I found myself in such a content state, thankful for everything I had, and not wanting anything else. My parents told me they would come here as teenagers to hang out with friends; whereas I as a teenager went to movies, my parents lived in one.
I come from a big family. My mom has 2 siblings, but my dad has 6 and no matter which side, every aunt and uncle has kids, giving me a plethora of cousins. My fondest memory is my cousins waking me up at seven in the morning to feed to the chicks on the farm. I am not at all a morning person but for animals, I’ll do just about anything. A good chunk of my cousins are around my age and when I visited we would do everything together. From staying up all night to next day early morning church services in a short amount of time they became my best friends. It’s been a good 4 years since I’ve seen most of them therefore, I would love to go back to see them in real life, catch up, hang out, and above all, just hug them.
I was born in Florida but my parents moved here in 1990 from the Philipines. When I visited I felt closer to them because I was able to learn so much about their childhoods and life before America. My trip to the Philippines was also humbling, as I saw the life that I could’ve had versus the life that my parents made for me. The trip gave me a new appreciation for everything I have and a thankfulness that has not left me to this day. Aside from bringing me closer to my family it brought me closer to my culture which is something that is very important to me. As I grow up and become more independent my culture is something that I want to stick with me, I want it to be something I could teach others about, and this trip expanded my knowledge greatly. I wish to go back someday to eat more, to learn more, and to gain more experiences because to me, experiences are everything and I would love to create new memories if ever given the opportunity to return.
Part 3
For as long as I can remember my dad has peer-pressured me into trying new foods. Although at the time I despised him for making me try crazy foods like fertilized duck eggs, or cow intestines, I now have an overwhelming appreciation for food and seek out interesting new foods wherever we travel.
Before traveling to Japan I hated fish. I hated the smell, the texture, and I especially hated sushi. After Japan, my go to food has become sushi; raw, cooked, sashimi you name it and I will eat it. With that in mind…My oh-so beloved meal that I would love to be able to taste again has to be fresh sushi and seafood from the Japanese fish market we visited during our vacation.
Getting food from markets when we travel has always been an essential aspect of our vacations. I truly feel that some of the best foods come from local businesses, but people often miss out on them because they aren’t as widely advertised as large restaurants. I think it’s the fact that these hidden gems of places use family recipes, local ingredients, and truly care about the quality of what they produce that makes their food so much more delicious.
Upon entering the fish market, the first step was to do a full lap around the whole market. Survey the abundance of options, contemplate, then make your choice. A good two minutes into our walk I broke the rules. I saw what I wanted in all of its glory and had to have it, ignoring the fact I still had half the market to see. Fresh tuna sashimi. You may wonder how I knew it was fresh, and it is because they were cutting the fish right in front of us and serving it. As we sat down and awaited them to cut our pieces my mouth began to water, I poured my soy sauce as slowly as possible to distract myself, hoping that by the time I finished pouring I could dive in. The taste was exquisite; it tasted rich and fresh and felt as though it melted in my mouth. To this day I have not had any sushi t hat even comes close to the quality of that fish. It was shocking that something so simple could be so satisfying. My description does even begin to explain how good this sushi was, but for lack of better culinary terminology; the sushi tasted like how getting a 4.0 gpa for the semester would feel. Overall, I think it was the experience and the immaculate taste that contributed to this being my favorite meal. Exploring unknown areas with my family and then to be rewarded with the most delectable food has consistently been the source of some of my fondest memories. Being able to do what I love (eating food) with the people I love is an experience that I would do over again and again especially if it included that tuna.
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