The Rockstein Scholarship Recipient Alicia Hernandez

"I am so thankful to be a recipient of The Rockstein Scholarship. Words cannot express how much scholarship support means to my family and me. When I received news of being selected for this scholarship, I was ecstatic and emotional.

My name is Alicia Hernandez, and I am from Archbold, a small village in northwestern Ohio. In high school I competed in track, cross country and soccer. I also enjoyed various clubs such as National Honors Society, STAMP (Stay Tobacco-Free Athlete Mentor Program) and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. I qualified for the state track competition multiple times, placing in the 4x2 and 4x4. We won state the 4x4 relay my sophomore year, but my true love is soccer. I was blessed to be selected captain of my soccer team during my senior year. One of my favorite things to do is run, and I also enjoy reading. This scholarship means so much to me particularly because I am the second person in my immediate family to attend college. At Ohio State, I plan to pursue a major in biology in hopes of using my degree to apply to medical school. I hope to travel someday and provide medical assistance in third world countries.

Money has always been a looming issue in my family, and the cost of college weighed heavily on my mind. This scholarship is not just money, it is opportunity and hope. Caring and noble scholarship donors are positively changing my life. I greatly appreciate every single person who contributed to The Rockstein Scholarship fund. I hope those reading this letter realize the vast impact scholarship support makes. Scholarship donors helped make it possible for me to attend the best college there is. Scholarships not only impacted my life, but hopefully the lives of the people I will treat someday."