Click to visit Camp I Am Me site2023 Scholarship Recipients!
Congratulations to Alison Moll, Scott Johnson, Amayah Myszak, Elena Sommers, Autumn Hamilton, Megan Kolpacki, Jesseka Boyer and Korryn Bachner our 2023 scholarship winners.
Alison Moll, hailing from Cross Plains, WI, is the 2023 recipient of the Barbara Latenser memorial scholarship. At just two years old, Alison tripped and fell into a dwindling campfire and suffered extensive burns to her left leg, arm, and hand. As hard as it was to be picked on as a young child with burn scars, Alison kept an upbeat and loving attitude. She is an exceptional student, an athlete in soccer, swimming, and an active member of her community. Alison will begin pursuing a degree this coming fall at the University of Wisconsin in kinesiology and pre-occupational therapy after crediting the occupational therapists that collaborated with her during her recovery for providing such loving and attentive care. Alison also plans to work as a certified nurse’s aide to get experience in the healthcare field while she works toward her degree.
The 2023 recipient of the Kelly Skiles memorial scholarships and outlaw kart racer from Melcher-Dallas, Iowa, Scott Johnson suffered a serious burn injury in a fuel fire as a sophomore in high school. As a result, he was suddenly in a medical induced coma after having been working his way onto the varsity football team together with maintaining a 4.0 GPA. He would eventually recover, fighting through the intense pain while remaining grateful that it was not worse and discovering a determination to fight through and heal to fulfill his desire to help others. Despite requiring surgeries for two years following his injuries, he worked himself back onto the racetrack while lettering all four years in football, earning himself class Valedictorian and recognition from the National Honor Society. This fall, Scott will start his sophomore year at Central College in Pella, Iowa studying Finance/Business Management.
Amayah Myszak, 2023 recipient of the Dan Yost memorial scholarship, is a determined young woman enthusiastic about helping children. As a seventh grader she was severely burned at a birthday party when her friend’s father tried to revive the fire using gasoline. It exploded right in front of her, setting her on many months of recovery between Loyola Burn Center in Chicago and Shriner’s Hospital in Boston. It was at Shriner’s where Amayah met Rebecca, a child life specialist assigned to support Amayah while she was there, who was so warm and caring that she helped Amayah to feel like herself again and inspired her to follow in the same career footsteps. Amayah will begin her college career this coming fall at Quincy University in Illinois studying early childhood education and psychology where she will also be on the women’s wrestling team.
Elena Sommers, 2023 recipient of the Jorge Mijares memorial scholarship from Syracuse, Indiana, will be attending Oregon State University for her sophomore year of college. As a four-year-old girl, Elena suffered serious burns to her arms due to a grease fire spill while attempting to help her dad in the kitchen. She has not let the injury hold herself back one bit. Elena earned National Honors Society recognition as a junior and a senior and Academic Hall of Fame as a senior while participating in the student council and working part-time. An avid animal lover, for as long as she can remember Elena has wanted to be a veterinarian. She will be studying Zoology this coming semester to continue that path.
Autumn Hamilton, outstanding student, and recipient of the 2023 Tim Miller memorial scholarship is starting another year of her education at College of DuPage after a long recovery. At a bonfire with friends as a high schooler, someone threw gasoline on the bonfire right in front of her, triggering an explosion that caused severe burn injuries from Autumn’s head down to her knees on 45% of her body. This put her into a 12-week coma and eventually led to spending what would have been her junior year of high school at Shriner’s hospital in Galveston, TX instead. Having gone through so much, Autumn has discovered a strength inside herself that she never knew was there before. During her time as Shriner’s, she supported other young burn survivors as well while making up her schoolwork and recovering from her extensive injuries.
2022 recipient of the Alex Collazo memorial scholarship, Jesseka Boyer is a long-time burn survivor and high school cheerleader and track athlete. At just the age of one, she was left near a fire by a babysitter and curiously wanted to touch it. Her injuries resulted in the need for three emergency surgeries over the span of a month at the Madison, Wisconsin burn center. Growing up, her uncle introduced her to Camp I Am Me for burn survivors where she was deeply impacted by another camper who suffered burns to 70% of her body yet remained outgoing positively minded. Jesseka’s time at Camp I Am Me over the years has helped inspire her to become a nurse, and will be pursuing her bachelor’s degree in nursing starting this coming fall at the University of Iowa.
2023 recipient of the Caper Brown memorial scholarship, Jesseka Boyer is a long-time burn survivor and high school cheerleader and track athlete. At just the age of one, she was left near a fire by a babysitter and curiously wanted to touch it. Her injuries resulted in the need for three emergency surgeries over the span of a month at the Madison, Wisconsin burn center. Growing up, her uncle introduced her to Camp I Am Me for burn survivors where she was deeply impacted by another camper who suffered burns to 70% of her body yet remained outgoing and positively minded. Jesseka’s time at Camp I Am Me over the years has helped inspire her to become a nurse and will be entering her second year pursuing her bachelor’s degree in nursing this coming fall at the University of Iowa.
Korryn Bachner was burned at a bonfire as a high schooler. But she has not let the experience get her down as she and her friends have received much support from the school and the community. Korryn has received love and support from her local Moose Lodge in Lombard, Illinois where she would regularly volunteer her time helping with local kids’ activities both before and after the accident. On top of that, she participated in the RISE program at her high school which provides kids with anonymous support with anything they may be going through in their life. Korryn will continue her collegiate journey as a senior at the University of Dayton, aspiring to be a high school Spanish teacher.