Photo by Addison Clark
Receiving a full tuition scholarship is a goal for many students, but for senior Addison Clark, it is no longer a goal, but a reality.
After several months of preparation, applications, and waiting, Clark learned that she would be awarded a scholarship through the Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP), which covers her full college tuition and guarantees her a spot in dental hygiene school.
“After talking to Mr. Bittfield about my future plans and how discouraging the cost of university could be, he explained to me what KHOP was,” Clark said.
The application process was competitive and demanding.
“The KHOP only accepts two or three people into dental hygiene school, with many people doing the initial application. They accepted six people into the finalist process, so just making it that far already felt like such an accomplishment,” Clark said.
When she finally received the news, the emotions were overwhelming.
“I was so excited,” Clark said. “The entire day, I was refreshing my email over and over again, waiting for it. It was an anxious feeling and then relief after I saw the acceptance letter.”
Clark believes her passion and real life experiences helped her stand out to the scholarship committee.
“I currently work for the pediatric dental specialists as a sterilization technician, and I truly love what I do,” Clark said. “The UNMC representative was really impressed that I already had that experience, and it made me feel proud knowing that my hard work was being recognized.”
The scholarship not only offers financial support but also comes with responsibilities.
“While in KHOP your freshman year, you are expected to report to their learning community. Through this they go to different job settings as well as regular meetings, which I’m actually really excited about because it will help me grow and prepare for my career,” Clark said.
However, besides responsibility, there are also opportunities. Clark continues to work hard and represent those opportunities positively.
“The scholarship isn’t just about money. It also opens up so many different opportunities,” Clark said. “I think it will help with building my resume, which will give me an upper hand in applying for job opportunities.”
She hopes the scholarship will help support her long term career goals with reduced stress and increased focus. Her advice to other students is straightforward.
“You need to really show how passionate you are about your career choice,” Clark said. “Everyone applying will have a good GPA or ACT, but not everyone will be able to show their passion for healthcare, which is what KHOP wants to see.”
