Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life
Scholarship Awards to Honor Scholar Athletes Who Show Courage in the Face of Adversity
Aaron and mom, Teri with Mark Herzlich, former NFL Linebacker and Super Bowl Champion and Cancer Survivor (Ewing's Sarcoma) discuss his passion for the love of the game.
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Aaron celebrated with Robin Roberts, award-winning television/sports broadcaster, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee and Breast Cancer Survivor, Cancer Survivor Day in Southport, CT.
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Jake Olsen, the first blind college football player for USC and retinoblastoma Cancer Survivor shares his story with Aaron.
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"Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire."
Every athlete has to overcome some type of adversity. It can make you or it can break you. For these athletes, they overcame obstacles left and right, going to show that nothing can get in the way of true perseverance in a goal-oriented person. For some, their heroism was highlighted by their passion for others and their sport. For others, they beat all obstacles to continue doing what they love and to be victorious. These amazing human beings go to show that everything that you want is on the other side of fear.
An inspiring scholar athlete is presented with the Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life Scholarship in partnership with The David & Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Fund. The applicants must fit the award criteria, which may include overcoming the stress, anxiety and mental trauma associated with personal hardships, life circumstances, and injury.
"We're grateful to the DDWSF for helping us to recognize student-athletes throughout the United States who, despite setbacks, have overcome these challenges to continue to perform their best as both scholars and athletes. This scholarship award also allows us create a platform to share the personal stories of courage of scholar-athletes at high schools, colleges and universities throughout the country. We hope the stories of the personal challenges these remarkable young men and women can inspire other young people to show courage in the face of adversity in their own lives," noted Jonathan and Aaron Gaberman.
Profiles in Courage: McKenize Coan, Scholar Athlete
McKenzie Coan was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease) and was told she would never walk or even speak. But McKenzie swam her way to tremendous success by becoming a three-time Paralympic gold medalist. In the 2016 Rio Paralympics, she won gold medals in the 50m, 400m, and 100m freestyle and captured a silver medal in the 4 x 100m relay. McKenize is a scholar athlete at Loyola University Maryland and plans to attend law school in pursuit of a career in advocacy for persons with disabilities. Inspiring others who might struggle with a debilitating illness is what drives McKenzie's life as a champion. “There’s literally nothing stopping you – the only limitations that exist are the ones that you allow to exist,” McKenzie says. Turning obstacles into successes is what McKenzie does best and so can YOU!
Every athlete has to overcome some type of adversity. It can make you or it can break you. For these athletes, they overcame obstacles left and right, going to show that nothing can get in the way of true perseverance in a goal-oriented person. For some, their heroism was highlighted by their passion for others and their sport. For others, they beat all obstacles to continue doing what they love and to be victorious. These amazing human beings go to show that everything that you want is on the other side of fear.
An inspiring scholar athlete is presented with the Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life Scholarship in partnership with The David & Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Fund. The applicants must fit the award criteria, which may include overcoming the stress, anxiety and mental trauma associated with personal hardships, life circumstances, and injury.
"We're grateful to the DDWSF for helping us to recognize student-athletes throughout the United States who, despite setbacks, have overcome these challenges to continue to perform their best as both scholars and athletes. This scholarship award also allows us create a platform to share the personal stories of courage of scholar-athletes at high schools, colleges and universities throughout the country. We hope the stories of the personal challenges these remarkable young men and women can inspire other young people to show courage in the face of adversity in their own lives," noted Jonathan and Aaron Gaberman.
Profiles in Courage: McKenize Coan, Scholar Athlete
McKenzie Coan was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease) and was told she would never walk or even speak. But McKenzie swam her way to tremendous success by becoming a three-time Paralympic gold medalist. In the 2016 Rio Paralympics, she won gold medals in the 50m, 400m, and 100m freestyle and captured a silver medal in the 4 x 100m relay. McKenize is a scholar athlete at Loyola University Maryland and plans to attend law school in pursuit of a career in advocacy for persons with disabilities. Inspiring others who might struggle with a debilitating illness is what drives McKenzie's life as a champion. “There’s literally nothing stopping you – the only limitations that exist are the ones that you allow to exist,” McKenzie says. Turning obstacles into successes is what McKenzie does best and so can YOU!
2024
Toby Chang
Princeton University
Toby Chang graduated from BASIS Prescott in May 2024 and is now attending Princeton University. Early on in his life, he was exposed to the partisanship and division that has overrun our media, shaping his values on unity and civil discourse. As a teenager, Chang knows how easy it is for young people to feel voiceless and powerless to take action against the issues that impact them. He believes that equipping them with the opportunities and skills to be civically engaged.
Toby Chang
Princeton University
Toby Chang graduated from BASIS Prescott in May 2024 and is now attending Princeton University. Early on in his life, he was exposed to the partisanship and division that has overrun our media, shaping his values on unity and civil discourse. As a teenager, Chang knows how easy it is for young people to feel voiceless and powerless to take action against the issues that impact them. He believes that equipping them with the opportunities and skills to be civically engaged.
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2023
Devon Woodfine California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Mechanical Engineering Class of 2025 “My mission is to change the global landscape for the betterment of all humanity through technology.” Devon Woodfine has a lot to balance: work, school and caregiving for his mother who is battling chronic illness. He's working, providing care and commuting to school at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona on public transportation up to six hours a day, five days a week. Devon is the recent recipient of the NSBE/Honeywell Integrated Pipeline Program (IPP) scholar award. Devon says, "Recognized for my potential by NSBE and Honeywell IPP, it helps me move forward against roadblocks to achieve my dreams." |
2022
MiMi Harris, Alabama State University
Mimi played at Mountain Pointe (Ariz.) High School … 6A all-academic team honorable mention with a 3.7 GPA … National Honor Society member … awarded numerous academic achievement scholarships … Won the “Character Matters” award in 2019 … Named 2022 Better Business Bureau Ethical Athlete award.
Mimi is majoring in interdisciplinary studies and health sciences with a minor in psychology at Alabama State University.
Mother, Nicole Harris was a standout volleyball player for Howard University where she was inducted into the MEAC and Howard Hall of Fame. Uncle, Andre Harris played professional football for the San Francisco 49ers, the Toronto Argonauts, and other CFL teams. Aunt, Nichelle Burton played professional volleyball in Italy in 1995 and was a member of the U.S. Goodwill Games, a two-time NCAA champion, three-time all-American, and a Long Beach State Hall of Famer in volleyball.
Alabama teen athlete's honesty costs team win, earns scholarship.
Star volleyball player Mimi Harris joins 'America's Newsroom' after earning an ethics scholarship for calling out a referee's bad call that benefited her team. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6308011405112
MiMi Harris, Alabama State University
Mimi played at Mountain Pointe (Ariz.) High School … 6A all-academic team honorable mention with a 3.7 GPA … National Honor Society member … awarded numerous academic achievement scholarships … Won the “Character Matters” award in 2019 … Named 2022 Better Business Bureau Ethical Athlete award.
Mimi is majoring in interdisciplinary studies and health sciences with a minor in psychology at Alabama State University.
Mother, Nicole Harris was a standout volleyball player for Howard University where she was inducted into the MEAC and Howard Hall of Fame. Uncle, Andre Harris played professional football for the San Francisco 49ers, the Toronto Argonauts, and other CFL teams. Aunt, Nichelle Burton played professional volleyball in Italy in 1995 and was a member of the U.S. Goodwill Games, a two-time NCAA champion, three-time all-American, and a Long Beach State Hall of Famer in volleyball.
Alabama teen athlete's honesty costs team win, earns scholarship.
Star volleyball player Mimi Harris joins 'America's Newsroom' after earning an ethics scholarship for calling out a referee's bad call that benefited her team. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6308011405112