2023-24 LLL Impact Report - Flipbook - Seite 11
2023-24
IRON HORSE
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
GABRIELLE
PRIETO
BRENDAN
SCHMITT
Gabrielle will attend
Oregon State
University in the fall to
study marine science
and oceanography, her
dream since she was
a child. Gabi’s mom,
Jennifer, passed away in February of 2023 after
a four-and-a-half-year battle with ALS. Gabi was
14 years old when her mom was diagnosed and
not long after, they decided to change the
Brendan will attend
Southern Illinois
University to study
business in Fall 2023.
“A busy bee, buzzing
from one spot to the
next but always
making time to stop by her favorite 昀氀owers:
her grandchildren. I will always carry that image
of my grandma Schmitt in my heart.” Brendan’s
grandmother, Joyce, continued to attend his
soccer games after she had to use a wheelchair
for mobility. She lost her battle with ALS in
October 2018.
“Humility is a quality I observed in my
grandma many years ago that I wanted to
carry on, not only in her spirit but because it
helps open my eyes to all those around me.”
Brendan described his grandmother as someone
“IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT I
LEARNED WHAT COURAGE MEANT.”
—GABI PRIETO
meaning of ALS to “always laughing and smiling.”
Her letter of recommendation noted that Gabi
inherited her mom’s smile, which lights up a room.
Gabi is inspired by the courage Lou Gehrig
showed as he had to tell the world he was no
longer able to play baseball because of ALS and
she saw that same trait in her mother. “Through
tear-stained eyes, my mother asked me to sit
down. I watched her muster up all the courage
she had as she told me she was dying. It was
at that moment I learned what courage meant.
It doesn’t mean you aren’t scared to death,
because my mom certainly was. It means your
faith must become bigger than your fear. I
imagine Lou was 昀椀lled with mixed emotions
the day he gave that famous speech. Fear and
disappointment being two of them. Yet he
expressed deep gratitude for the life he had been
given. He was courage in the 昀氀esh that day.”
“THIS IS FOR YOU, GRANDMA.”
—BRENDAN SCHMITT
who put everyone 昀椀rst and did not expect
anything in return. “My grandma’s memory
encourages me not to be afraid of hard work to
achieve my goals. This is for you, grandma.”
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