Helaman Cabrera

“The first two things I am going to do right after graduation is to get a job as an Financial Analyst or as an Accountant and my first paycheck I am going to help my parents since they have cared and done so much for me and they really need help. On the side, I will try to run businesses such as Financial consulting, Public accounting, Real Estate, and with these businesses I will employ people where they will be fairly treated and paid. I will also return the favor to students at BYU-Idaho and offer scholarships like this, so they can finish their studies and soon return the favor to even more students in need. I consider myself a very caring and charitable person. I will for sure do more with the blessings I will receive later in life. It brings a feeling of peace and gratitude to know that there are successful people willing to share their blessings with those who are less fortunate. I have a great desire to one day be a successful man and return the favor if possible seven-fold. I truly thank Galen D. Nelson for all the things he accomplished in his life that even when he has passed on other people can still be blessed for his great efforts.”

Eli Wood

"Fast forward to graduation day, diploma in hand, with the desire and greater ability to go out and help those in need. With a college education and a steady career, I will have the means to give more to others. Now and throughout my life, a certain phrase from a popular hymn comes to mind, “Because I have been given much I too must give”. It rings true to me and I want to continue to live my life in harmony with this belief. In my personal scripture study I found the concept of “paying it forward” in Jacob 2:7 which states, “Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.” I want to be the man that youth and young adults can turn to when they need some extra help investing in their endeavors, whether it be a church camp, college, or some other worthy aspiration. I would love to set up a scholarship fund that graduating seniors in my stake could apply for. I know from experience that receiving help can boost the spirit and increase the motivation to work hard. I know that prosperity is a gift from God to bless and minister to his children. This scholarship may be a small pebble in a large pond but the “ripple” effects will forever continue in my life as I pursue my education and help others throughout my life.”

Henrique Tedeschi

“Achieving the goals isn’t something easy to do. And I understand that completely, because I am going through this right now but it is way much better if there’s a shoulder to support and a hand to be pulled by. When I get to achieve my goals, have my own company, make lots of money because I had a great education degree and more time to study more instead of work, because the scholarship provided me this, I then will surely help others to achieve their goals and pay for their housing and tuitions. There are lots of brilliant minds out there who are just in need of a hand to help them achieve their own goals to make the world a better place. I will surely donate for school and help others, because I have been through the same and I know for myself how better it is to have help. I will pay this scholarship forward helping others to have the same help I had so they can be even better than me and the others before them.”

Ian Archibald

“Service has always been a big part of my life. From re-roofing projects all summer long in the elders quorum back home to starting an international charity for American service-members worldwide, I've always looked for ways to lift and serve those I've been associated with. This came from the examples set by community members. Back in high school my family was very poor. In fact, I don't think I've ever known what life is like above the poverty line. That being said, I was afforded many wonderful opportunities due to the generosity of the amazing people in Oakley, Idaho. I couldn't always afford to tag along with my friends to the mountain, so their parents - usually local farmers - would offer me small jobs in exchange for season passes and lessons. The owner of the local ski shop was a good friend of my father and was usually willing to give me pretty steep discounts as well as work experience in exchange for sweeping the shop floor or running errands. Without the kindness of various community members, my love for the mountains would be borderline nonexistant, and I will forever be indebted to them for their generosity. I would love to find a way to pay these favors forward to other impoverished youth. Idaho is a wonderful place with wonderful resources, kept from many kids because they cant afford to get out to them. I honestly believe that this is a really big reason that the youth in Southern Idaho have such a massive issue with drugs use and teen pregnancy. I firmly believe that if these teens had better access to the amazing experiences that their own backyard has to offer them, they wouldnt turn to narcotics and immorality to fill the empty spots in their lives. This is where I hope to come into play. If, in the future, I was able to provide free transport to the mountains (or other outdoor playgrounds here in Southern Idaho), along with affordable (or donated) gear or rentals, I believe that it could serve as a wonderful escape for many of these kids. I'm currently working on paying for my PSIA-AASI certification to become a ski instructor. With this certification, I could offer fre lessons along with whatever gear and transport I could cobble together. Honestly, I'm just incredibly grateful for the life lessons I've learned on the snow. There is a freedom there that is extremely hard to find anywhere else, and I'd love to be able to pass that on to other kids who may be looking for an emotional outlet. Some of the best times of my life happened on the snow, and I'd hate for someone to miss out on similar opportunities just because they couldn't cover the bill.“