“I was honored to be selected as one of the recipients of The Jaime Guttenberg Helping Hands Scholarship in 2021. Out of all the scholarships I applied to last year, this was the most important one to me. The tragedy that occurred on February 14, 2018, has always stuck with me as I was a freshman in a high school just 20 minutes away. After the tragedy, I read and watched every news story. I became invested in helping and inspired by the individuals of Parkland, including the Guttenberg family, who took their grief and turned it into action.
Although I did not know Jaime, her story inspired me. Her passion for helping others really resonated with me. The biggest coincidence was that both of us wanted to work with individuals with special needs. With the money I earned from the scholarship, I was able to apply it toward my housing and tuition fees at the University of Florida, where I am majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders with the hopes of becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist. I am so excited to begin a career where I can help others, especially individuals with special needs.
When I won the scholarship, I was in the middle of reading “Find the Helpers,” by Fred Guttenberg. I have since finished the book and wanted to thank the Orange Ribbons for Jaime Foundation for being my “helpers” as I began college. Your ability to believe in me and assist me means more to me than you will ever know. Thank you for everything.”
Sincerely,
Arielle Kraus
–
University of Florida Class of 2025
Cooper City High School Class of 2021