2022 Light a Candle Award

Angela Wittrock 
2022 Graduate of SE Polk Highschool

“I enjoy showing the world that if you want something, you can in fact achieve it no matter what obstacles stand in your way.”

The determination and positive mindset of Angela Wittrock has shown others that living with a visual impairment has brought life challenges each and every day, but she has never let that get in the way of trying to accomplish her hopes and dreams.  

Angela’s diagnosis of cataracts began with removal surgeries early in life, first, as a 6-month-old and then again at the age of 4.  She has lived her life with blurred vision as well as nystagmus.  Her vision loss has brought many challenges at school.  She states that easy tasks such as copying notes from the white board or reading from a textbook were never easy.  For a young child, advocating for yourself is a skill that has to be learned.  In the beginning, Angela struggled with telling her teachers at school what accommodations she might need in order to make her most successful.  She feared standing out due to the fact that she might need to have different materials or do things differently than the others.  However, she feels over the years advocating for herself became easier as she realized it was in fact to okay to do things differently than her peers at times. 

Angela’s “go getter” personality did not allow her visual impairment to keep her from her hobbies and goals.  She was active in track and cross country.  She also obtained her CNA which had its challenges as well, but was very rewarding in the end.

A school counselor of Angela’s states she is simply amazing.  “Angela spent the majority of her school career in Des Moines, but as a senior, she transferred to Southeast Polk High School.  Transferring at that time can be difficult, but she navigated the transition beautifully.  She has been successful in her classes, connected with the Best Buddies program, and ran track.  She also completed a program at Broadlawns to earn her CNA.  She has never let her vision concerns be a crutch. “ 

“Angela is not only an inspiration to other young people but to me as well”, states a former teacher.  “She does not let anything stand in her way and is determined to succeed.  Even with her full schedule she still found time to give back to the community by volunteering at her church, school and community center.”

Angela hopes the greatest impact she can have is demonstrating to the world that an impairment or disability should never stop a person from facing challenges head on.  Angela plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa this fall.  She has a love for working with children.  She plans to major in Elementary Education with a possible minor in Special Education.

Jarrett Vitiritto
2022 Grandview University Freshman

Watching a loved one battle cancer can knock the wind out of you.  Watching four loved ones diagnosed over several years can knock it out so hard you’re not sure the breath will ever return.  So begins the story of Jarrett Vitiritto who lost his grandfather to lung cancer when he was too young to understand it.  His education on cancer continued as he watched a grandmother defeat thyroid cancer and a cousin beat bone cancer.  Seeing the struggle and knowing, painfully, that the outcome is not always what you hope for is the sort of education one would rather never receive first hand, especially at a young age.  

When Jarrett’s mother was diagnosed during his senior year of high school, it probably would have been easier if he didn’t know how hard the journey could be; easier if he didn’t know how it could end.  But he did know those things.  His cancer education had been too complete to allow him to pretend it wasn’t a big deal or assume it would all work out. 

This is not the story of Jarrett’s mother’s cancer journey, however.  This is the story of a seventeen year old high school senior, and only child, whose world was rocked by a darkness he tragically knew all too well.  Whether he ever acknowledged it or not, he faced a choice.  Let that darkness overtake him, or stare it down in defiance and in support of his mother and be a light in the midst of that darkness.

Jarrett logged over 160 hours of volunteer service time in completion of his school’s Silver Cord program.  He was the only male in his class to complete the program.  The list of organizations to which he contributed his time, effort, and talents in service of others was at least twenty deep.  He also knew and remembered the date of every landmark surgery or treatment along the path of his mother’s recovery, engaging with her at every turn.  Jarret probably never even knew he had the option to do none of that.  No one would have blamed him for letting the gravity it all stop his volunteer efforts.  No one would have thought less of him for letting his mother’s recovery proceed without the attention he gave it.

Family friend Julie Jennings noted: “Jarrett thinks of others way before he thinks of himself and he is always the first to raise his hand if asked and even before being asked to help.” 

It is because of Jarrett’s decision to be a light in the darkness that we are pleased to award the Light A Candle Scholarship to him as he furthers his education at Grandview University where he is pursuing a degree in Finance.  It is no doubt he will continue to be a light in his school and wherever his career takes him.

Jarrett’s mother is in remission and is clearly incredibly proud of the son that stood by her.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

Living in Sync is excited to announce our 2022 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."