Our first recipient has a passion for working with animals and has spent the last few years volunteering with a variety of local wildlife rehabilitators and rescue organizations. She holds a NYS Wildlife Rehabilitation License and feels that each new rescue presents the opportunity to improve the lives of wild animals in distress. These valuable experiences as a volunteer in the community have inspired her senior year studies with New Visions Life Science and Applied Scientific Research Program at Cornell University, where she serves as Treasurer and observes surgeons and veterinary students at work through clinical veterinary rotations.

A teacher described this student as “exemplary” and “known throughout the school community for her academic, athletic, and extracurricular excellence and achievements.” A role model to younger students, she volunteers as a youth track and field coach and a 5th grade classroom math and grammar mentor. She participates in Varsity Track & Field, Varsity Soccer, Tompkins County Pole Vault Club, the Cayuga Lakers Volleyball Club, Downhill Skiing, and Slalom Water Skiing, all while maintaining high academic excellence. She is a member of the National Honor Society, as well as the Secretary of the Trumansburg H.S. Spanish Club, Treasurer and Chapter One Member of Future Farmers of America (FFA) and an employee at Custom Works & Renovations. According to another teacher, this student “is an extraordinary young woman . . . who always takes her learning outside of the four walls of the classroom and applies it to real life. It's just who she is.” This fall, this student plans to study Environmental Science at Nazareth College and hopes to pursue a pre-Veterinary program. Congratulations to Isabel Morse!