I am the definition of the American Dream. I overcame multiple challenges, while maintaining a 4.0+ GPA in high school and being accepted into North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (40,000 applicants, but only 3000 freshmen students were accepted for Fall 23 entry). Why am I the American Dream? I was born with a congenital birth condition called Hemifacial Microtia. It only occurs in about 1 in 5,000 to 7,000 births per year which is 0.02% to 0.014%. It is a non-hereditary condition that is not testable or identifiable until after birth. There are three main components to the condition: (1) asymmetrical facial and head features; (2) missing or smaller than usual external ears and (3) hearing loss in the ears affected. In my case my facial asymmetry is not immediately noticeable however, my right external ear was just a small bottom lobe and my left external ear was smaller than usual and bent at the top. To date, I have had a total of (11) surgeries that include reconstructive surgeries on both ears. These surgeries included removal of rib cartilage to reconstruct my ears and skin grafts removed from my rear. I also have severe hearing loss in both ears making me “hard of hearing” and requiring hearing aids, which I've worn since birth.
In spite of my situation, I maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school, while taking multiple rigorous courses (AP, dual enrollment, and gifted classes). My parents never prevented me from trying new things and maintaining high expectations of me. I excelled in school, receiving straight A’s during elementary school and high school (including dual enrollment college classes). I was ranked #60 of 738 graduating senior students. In addition, I recently earned a 3.92 GPA ( 4 A’s and 2 A-’s) during my first semester at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
I am majoring in Nursing at North Carolina A&T. With my nursing degree, I plan to pursue a career as a Pediatric Surgical Nurse. I’ve always known I wanted to use my surgical experiences and my love for math/science in a career that would help others. I found the surgical nurse to be the most assuring and comforting person at the hospitals. During each of my surgeries, the surgical nurse was always the last person I remember seeing after being sedated, and the first person I saw when I woke up. This gave me a feeling of security during my surgeries. Through those interactions with those nurses, I decided that I wanted to be able to do the same thing for other children in similar situations. As a pediatric surgical nurse I hope to provide comfort and support to children and families also dealing with differences. My goal is to work at the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, where I had the majority of my surgeries.
I want everyone at the Louise Tumarkin Zazove Foundation to know that I truly appreciate the financial support that the LTZ scholarship provides. The scholarship allows me to focus on my schoolwork rather than the stress of trying to find money to pay for college. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
-Morgan Pickeral
The LTZ Foundation has supported me through my education and every interaction I've ever had with the board members has been positive and helpful. By providing a scholarship to students with hearing loss, they increase opportunities for education of deaf and hard of hearing people. I am incredibly grateful to the LTZ Foundation for supporting my education and I through scholarship,
The LTZ Foundation takes pride in its mission to help provide students with hearing loss a chance to excel in education. Every interaction I had with anyone from the LTZ Foundation was positive and helpful. Not only did I receive funds that helped me through my undergraduate degree, but I also made valuable connections with people I now consider friends. Thank you LTZ for your dedicated service and genuine concern. I am excited to pay your service forward!
I've had a multi-year relationship with LTZ, beginning as a recipient of one of their generous scholarship awards. Receiving this award enabled me to focus on my studies since financial concerns were alleviated, and my undergraduate experience was truly transformative for me, enabling me to compete on an NCAA team, study abroad several times, gain professional work experience before graduation, lead on-campus student groups and movements, and grow into the capable and driven adult that I am. The support from LTZ was more than just financial, since it served as a big confidence boost for me, as well. I am now engaged with the LTZ Foundation as a volunteer and I hope to continue to support this life-changing foundation for years to come.
Attending college can be an expensive endeavor but for marginalized populations who work twice as hard to get far, scholarships such as the LTZ Foundation is about assuring equity, not charity or benevolence, for young people who are Deaf, deaf, or hard of hearing. The selection process is competitive and over the years, I have always been impressed with the recipients’ educational and professional pursuits and their abilities to “pay it forward.”
Of all the nonprofits I support, the Zazove Foundation is at the top. I am deaf myself, and back in my youth I would mightily have appreciated the help the foundation gives to young deaf students.
I am incredibly greatful for the Louise Tamarkin Zazove Foundation for the lifechanging help they have given to me.
As someone who is an immigrant, with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss since childhood and an upbringing in a low socioeconomic status, my prospects of becoming successful were at odds. Those 3 factors are also enough to bring about doubts in a young person's self esteem and capabilities. This scholarship was a HUGE support and encouragement for me in a desperate time of need. It showed that I, too, am able to succeed - despite the odds stacked against me. This scholarship allowed me to realize my dream of becoming a nurse. Over the course of the last 5 years of my career, I have had the opportunity to help heal hundreds, if not thousands of patients across the United States.
I often get kind letters from patients thanking me for taking excellent care of them - and that makes my job so rewarding.
It's still hard for me to believe that there is an actual organization to help those with the exact same issues that I have. I am excited for the current and future recipients as it goes to show that our special features can be our superpower!
I am forever thankful for the tremendous support that this foundation has given me. You are angels from above.
The LTZ Foundation plays a huge role in my college experience. By supporting my endeavors, I am able to focus more on what matters — education. All with alleviated financial burden. Foundations like LTZ are fundamental in increasing representation of underserved communities within professional positions that require post-secondary education and training.
The LTZ Foundation was instrumental in my ability to go to college and solely focus on my studies. A LTZ scholarship allowed me the time I needed to dedicate to my rigorous courses and major, rather than working part time jobs to make ends meet. Thanks to their help, I was able to graduate with a 3.7 GPA and a 4.0 major GPA. Thank you LTZ!