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Alexa Vander Ploeg

My name is Alexa Vander Ploeg and I will be going into my sophomore year at Pennsylvania State University as an Animal Science major. For as long as I could remember, I have always aspired to become a veterinarian. Penn State has one of the best undergraduate animal science programs available, making it my dream school. 

In October of 2012, my father James Vander Ploeg almost lost his life after he was hit by a car and plummeted sixty feet over the vehicle. Seeing my father on the brink of death was exceptionally traumatizing, I couldn’t bear to see him so battered and helpless, let alone seeing how my father’s debilitated state affected my family. Three reconstructive surgeries later, he luckily was able to begin a slow, but strong recovery.

My name is Alexa Vander Ploeg and I will be going into my sophomore year at Pennsylvania State University as an Animal Science major. For as long as I could remember, I have always aspired to become a veterinarian. Penn State has one of the best undergraduate animal science programs available, making it my dream school. 

In October of 2012, my father James Vander Ploeg almost lost his life after he was hit by a car and plummeted sixty feet over the vehicle.
Seeing my father on the brink of death was exceptionally traumatizing, I couldn’t bear to see him so battered and helpless, let alone seeing how my father’s debilitated state affected my family. Three reconstructive surgeries later, he luckily was able to begin a slow, but strong recovery.

​Despite his recovery, the effects of the accident are still taking a toll on the family to this day, both emotionally and financially. Stress over my father’s condition combined with the stress of increasing medical bills most definitely dampened the relationship climate at home; however, in a lot of ways, the accident forced us all to become closer to one another. Devastated by the near loss of a parent, I spent weeks by my father’s side doing anything and everything I could to help catalyze his recovery.

During this all-consuming family drama, however, I was still able to maintain impressive grades in all of my classes, participate in the school’s winter track team, and played a major role in the school’s holiday charity program by organizing the school-wide giving of gifts for underprivileged children. As hard as balancing school and familial obligations was, I did not let that deter my focus on my ambitions.

Without the aid granted to me through the D & H Alternative Risk Solutions / First Managed Care Options & KCNJ Scholarship, I would not be able to further my education, as the majority of my family’s resources are used to promote my father’s recovery. I am eternally grateful to have been awarded these scholarships. To know that people outside of my family believe in my education and potential so much so as to provide me with the necessary resources is an incredibly rewarding and validating feeling. The aid that has been given to me only strengthens my ambition and confidence in my ability to succeed in college and beyond. I am honored to be awarded the D & H / FMCO & KCNJ Scholarship to be able to pursue my goal of becoming a vet in one of the best places to do so.

My name is Alexa Vander Ploeg and I will be going into my sophomore year at Pennsylvania State University as an Animal Science major. For as long as I could remember, I have always aspired to become a veterinarian. Penn State has one of the best undergraduate animal science programs available, making it my dream school.

In October of 2012, my father James Vander Ploeg almost lost his life after he was hit by a car and plummeted sixty feet over the vehicle.
Seeing my father on the brink of death was exceptionally traumatizing, I couldn’t bear to see him so battered and helpless, let alone seeing how my father’s debilitated state affected my family. Three reconstructive surgeries later, he luckily was able to begin a slow, but strong recovery.
Despite his recovery, the effects of the accident are still taking a toll on the family to this day, both emotionally and financially. Stress over my father’s condition combined with the stress of increasing medical bills most definitely dampened the relationship climate at home; however, in a lot of ways, the accident forced us all to become closer to one another. Devastated by the near loss of a parent, I spent weeks by my father’s side doing anything and everything I could to help catalyze his recovery.

During this all-consuming family drama, however, I was still able to maintain impressive grades in all of my classes, participate in the school’s winter track team, and played a major role in the school’s holiday charity program by organizing the school-wide giving of gifts for underprivileged children. As hard as balancing school and familial obligations was, I did not let that deter my focus on my ambitions.

Without the aid granted to me through the D & H Alternative Risk Solutions / First Managed Care Options & KCNJ Scholarship, I would not be able to further my education, as the majority of my family’s resources are used to promote my father’s recovery. I am eternally grateful to have been awarded these scholarships. To know that people outside of my family believe in my education and potential so much so as to provide me with the necessary resources is an incredibly rewarding and validating feeling. The aid that has been given to me only strengthens my ambition and confidence in my ability to succeed in college and beyond. I am honored to be awarded the D & H / FMCO & KCNJ Scholarship to be able to pursue my goal of becoming a vet in one of the best places to do so.