“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
Living in Sync is excited to announce our 2021 recipients of the Light a Candle Award, each earning a $500 academic scholarship given in recognition of those who have overcome adversity and exemplifies a giving spirit towards others.
Rather than being shut down in the challenges of life, these people embrace hope and a determination to make the world a better place. They embody the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
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| Heidi Mayorga 2021 Graduate of Roosevelt |
At age 11, she started working at the family restaurant and in her teenage years, switched to online school so she could be more available to work. She eventually dropped out of school for a time as they fought for survival as a family. However, Heidi began to realize that everything her mom was fighting for - was for her - and here she was throwing it away.
Heidi courageously reached out to the school for help with resuming her education. She found it in a couple of faithful teachers ready to guide her and Heidi began attending the Flex Academy. One of her teachers, commended her efforts, sharing, “I have been so impressed with Heidi's work ethic and her determination to complete work so she can graduate from high school. She has not missed a day and she also works on her studies during lunch and attends "night" school in the afternoons.”
Coming alongside her family in crisis, revealed the natural servant-leader Heidi is. She continues to help them and is determined to keep a positive mindset. She also has served as a squad captain for her competitive dance team.
Upon receiving her hard-won high school diploma, Heidi has enrolled in DMACC this fall. She is exploring her career options right now and hasn’t declared a major. While she knows she’ll always be there for family and helping in the restaurant occasionally, she is very excited to pursue a path and future of her own.
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| Idriss Abdullahi 2021 Graduate of Roosevelt |
Idriss Abdullahi had every reason to curse the darkness. Born into a refugee camp after his family fled war-torn Somalia, Idriss entered the United States along with his 16 siblings as a small child. Here, he balanced his new culture with stories of a land and way of life that were familiar, through his parents, yet foreign at the same time. While he never saw firsthand the violence in Somalia, he experienced a different flavor of violence in his neighborhood in the form of gang warfare. Many childhood friends were lost to a field of battle painfully similar in ways to the land his parents escaped many years before. Idriss had every reason to accept the violence would follow him wherever he tread. Yet he persisted.
Rejecting the influences that sought to lure him along those paths, Idriss instead fixed his eyes on that which inspires. With the encouragement of his mother to take advantage of opportunities afforded in America and motivated by the example of some college-bound older siblings, Idriss dove headlong into academics, specifically science.
Idriss became deeply involved in Science Bound (http://www.sciencebound.iastate.edu/), Iowa State University's program designed to empower Iowa students of color to pursue degrees and careers in ASTEM (Agriculture, Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. He not only grew in both knowledge and love of science, but also developed leadership skills that enabled him to create programs in his neighborhood to work with low-income kids who might not have otherwise fathomed that a successful future was possible. One wonders how many of those kids might someday name him as the inspiration for their pursuit of higher education and the positive example that kept them from joining a gang.
In addition to his investment in his neighborhood, Idriss has also logged volunteer hours at Oakridge Daycare Center, Central Library, and his local mosque. Teacher Nicole Crawford added “Idriss has a great attitude and is such a dedicated student, family and community member.”
This fall, Idriss will attend University of Iowa and pursue his interest in science and research with hopes for a future in Agricultural Engineering. Idriss had every reason to succumb to the darkness around him, yet chose instead to be a light in that darkness. For that, we salute his efforts and are pleased to name him among the recipients of this year's Light-A-Candle Scholarship.
Alex Moats
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| Alex Moats 2021 Graduate of SE Polk |
Through the support of those close to her and her faith in God, she has worked hard to continue on a path of positivity and light. She maintained a 4.1 GPA and continued to work 2 jobs, one of which she is a manager at.
A close friend shares, “Even in her season of immense grief and challenge, Alex has remained focused on loving others and spreading joy and friendship to people around her. She truly is a light amidst a large darkness in her life.” Alex has participated in many mission trips over the past several years. She loves to help those in need and is especially grateful for the irreplaceable experiences she has had through these opportunities. “I have such a big love for others and hope to start a non- profit in my future. I hope to make an impact on the world and be an inspiration to those around me, just like the people before had done for me.”
Alex will be studying journalism and mass communications this fall at Iowa State University. She hopes to use journalism as a way to reach those in need. She wants her writing to reflect who she is and what she cares about. Alex enjoys working with children and could see this as a part of her dream in starting a non-profit to give back to her community.
