Local Cancer Survivor Awarded College Scholarship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Weisgerber, Regional Communications Manager
(505) 559-9430
john.weisgerber@cancer.org

Tasha Serna-Gallegos of Albuquerque has been awarded a $2,500 college scholarship by the American Cancer Society.

"The scholarship does two things for me. It allows me to focus less on the financial burden of college and more on my personal goals such as pursuing a career in pharmacy, playing softball, and volunteering for various community organizations,” said Serna-Gallegos. “It also motivates and humbles me knowing that the American Cancer Society supports my cancer-free future."

While most students were enjoying the school year and getting ready for the holidays at Sandia Prep Serna-Gallegos’s world was suddenly turned upside down when the active, athletic freshman was diagnosed in December 2003 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the white blood cells, which continuously multiply and are overproduced in the bone marrow. After being diagnosed she was sent to the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) for the first of numerous week-long stays in the Pediatric Oncology Unit to undergo what would become nearly three and a half years of treatment in the battle for her life.

In the fall of 2004, she returned to school as a sophomore and nine months after being diagnosed and receiving initial treatment, with the support of teammates and family she returned to the sports she loved: volleyball and softball. She helped her team win the New Mexico State Championship in volleyball that Fall and was back on the softball field in the Spring. She went on to spend the remainder of her high school career playing volleyball and softball. By the time Serna-Gallegos was a senior in high school, she was clear of cancer. As a healthy 17-year-old, she had her sights set on college and chose Occidental College in Los Angeles.

Now, nearly six years after her initial diagnosis she is a college sophomore and she continues to play one of the sports she loves at the collegiate level, as starting second baseman for the softball team, all while striving to succeed in the classroom. Because cancer was such a huge part of her life she continues to give back to the American Cancer Society and other related organizations. She has her sights set on attending either pharmaceutical or medical school.

Scholarships were awarded based on financial need, leadership, academic achievement and community service. To be eligible, candidates must have had a cancer diagnosis before age 21 and be a New Mexico resident. Students must also have a GPA of at least 2.5 and been accepted to an accredited school. For more information about this scholarship program, call the American Cancer Society toll-free at 1-800-227-2345.

The purpose of the scholarship program is to help both the patient and family overcome the financial burden of cancer. For many, the financial impact from their cancer diagnosis has put the opportunity for higher education out of reach. With the opportunity for a cancer survivor college scholarship to help cover the increasing cost of tuition and related expenses, pediatric and adolescent cancer survivors are encouraged to fulfill their dreams and realize their full potential.

The American Cancer Society saves lives and creates more birthdays by helping people stay well, helping people get well, by finding cures and by fighting back. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
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