Inspire Scholarship

Sponsored by:

WINNER Valentina Arriola

Little Sister in the BBBSM program

Valentina is the second youngest out of five siblings and a senior at Mercy High School. She is a second-generation immigrant and does everything to the best of her abilities. She works twice as hard as a way to represent her family and the people of Mexico. She is also the first in her family to get into college. At school, she participates in eight clubs. In the span of two months, she had jumped more than 30 places in class rank. Her interests revolve around protecting human rights for everyone, showing important matters through art, and learning about new religions and cultures. She loves to show her support for the things she believes in and helps those in need, which she does through one of her clubs, Operation Others, which consists of helping those in need such as homeless and large families in need.

Finalists

Vanessa Cruz

Student, College of St. Mary Vanessa Cruz is a junior psychology major and theology minor at College of Saint Mary in Omaha. Cruz, who is fluent in English and Spanish, is seeking her degree to help all ages “work through their trauma in a language they understand” as a therapist. Cruz has volunteered as part of outreach programs at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in south Omaha, helping Spanish-speaking adults learn how to use computers and help care for children. She worked at a low-income eye clinic and volunteered as an interpreter for patients who were referred to specialists. She also offers free childcare to mothers in an online mothers’ support group.

Eliana (Ellie) Siebe-Walles

Scouts BSA Troop 1885, Eagle Scout Born and raised in Omaha, Eliana Siebe-Walles is currently an undergraduate Regents Scholarship student at the University of NebraskaLincoln. There, they are a part of the Honors Program, a major in German and history, and minor in archeology. In 2020, they achieved the Eagle Scout rank in Scouts BSA, the second female to do so in Nebraska. In their free time, Eliana participates regularly on the UNL’s speech team, as well as their church youth group Motive, and the German Club. Cali Wisdom • Student,

Millard North High School Cali Wisdom is a fearless and confident youth leader involved in numerous activities. She is currently a junior at Millard North High School where she participates in Student Council, Spanish Honor Society and Varsity Golf. Outside of the school, Cali has worked to increase awareness for people with disabilities by raising and donating to Special Olympics of Nebraska.

Rebecca Wright

Scouts BSA Troop 1885, Eagle Scout Rebecca Wright graduated from Millard North High School in 2020 and is now a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is majoring in genetics and genomics, and French with a certificate in data science while also working in an epigenetics lab on campus. After graduating, Rebecca hopes to return to Omaha to enroll in a Ph.D. program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Rebecca was a founding member of one of the first Scouts BSA troops for girls in 2019 and is a member of the national inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts. She has worked at summer camp for five years and is an assistant scoutmaster with her troop.