Meet the 2022 Scholars

Get to know the hopes, dreams, and talents of this year's winners.

Alyssa B.

Undergraduate Recipient

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

When I was born, the bar had been set low for a high-quality life. I was expected to live no more than thirty, and my parents were told that there wasn’t much they could do about it. Twenty-One years later, I smile as I look back on all that I have accomplished in life thus far, and continue to smile for all the good things yet to come. As I get older, I raise my expectations for myself every day. I see so much potential in not only myself, but also other people affected with Cystic Fibrosis. A chronic disease that I once felt controlled me, is now a part of me that I have learned to embrace, love, and conquer. As I am continuing my secondary education and transitioning my way into adulthood, I have been not only paving a path for my future, but also have been creating a list of what I would like to do for the Cystic Fibrosis Community. As I continue to grow into the young lady I am today, I feel that it is very important to look back, acknowledge and most importantly, thank the people that supported me and stood by my side and did not leave me alone when trouble struck. To appreciate and give gratitude to the people who did not let me feel sorry for myself, but push me to work harder and be the best person I could possibly be. I want to give back to the community that was so very generous to me in hopes to also motivate people whom once needed the extra confidence like myself. I want to give patients with Cystic Fibrosis the confidence to believe that they can achieve anything that they put their minds to. I want them to be a top-choice job candidate and want them to achieve their dream profession. I want to start an insurance business where I can create financial plans for patients with CF and other chronic illnesses, to ensure them incredible insurance to reduce financial stress and make our life-saving medicine affordable. I have a dream that people with Cystic Fibrosis will find their significant other that makes them feel loved and that they will one day, have the opportunity to spread that to their own children. I have hope that we will continue to exceed expectations and that we will live and fulfill such a wonderful quality of life that people before us were not quite able to live. I have such high hopes for myself and for the Cystic Fibrosis community. I know that more medical advancements are undergoing and that we are learning more about CF every day. I know that the CF community has a very bright future that will just keep getting brighter. Cystic Fibrosis is not an indefinite road block, but just a small bump that we can overcome and turn into one of our greatest strengths and accomplishments.

Alyssa B.'s Artwork

Alyssa B.'s Achievements

  • Sigma Alpha Professional Sorority, Executive Board, 2021-2022
  • Block and Bridle Club, Member, 2019-2022
  • 4-H Club President, 2018-2020
  • FFA Vice-President, 2019
  • National Honors Society, 2018-2020
  • Waushara County Youth Livestock Representative, 2019-2020
  • Retail Sales Associate, Manager, 2021-2022
  • Basketball, Team Captain, 2019
  • Softball, Team Captain, First Team All Conference, State Qualifier, 2019
  • Child Special Needs Mentor/Volunteer, 2019