Our 2019 McKenna Rae Johnson Memorial Scholarship winner is Emily Hansen of Kearney. Emily attends Kearney High School. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln this fall. Emily was nominated by her friend Ashton Masek who is a pretty inspiring young lady herself. The nomination was also endorsed by Chris Johnson, the publications advisor at KHS. Emily, you are a true Rae of Hope and we are honored to award you this $2500 scholarship.
Here is the letter that Ashton wrote in her nomination letter:
Emily Hansen is the type of person that you consider yourself lucky to know. My first interaction with Emily left me feeling noticeably more optimistic and, after getting to know her for the past few years, it is clear that she simply has that effect on everyone she meets.
Soon after we first met, Emily invited me and a dozen other girls to join a bible study group that she had created in hopes to establish a tight-knit, diverse community of girls at Kearney High. Our bible study group is comprised of girls from every grade and has created incredible friendships centered around support and genuine intentions. It was evident from the beginning that Emily had a deep-rooted passion for creating meaningful relationships. That, combined with her kind-hearted demeanor, has positively influenced the lives of so many people. Last summer, Emily created the REAL Retreat, which was open to high school girls from Kearney and surrounding communities. The retreat hosted a handful of speakers, musicians, and the attendees left with a renewed sense of perspective and empathy. This summer will bring another retreat which has already doubled in registrations.
Emily served on a mission trip to inner-city Chicago where she met many elementary-aged children who have lived a life so incredibly opposite to her own in central Nebraska. The mission trip planted a seed that led Emily to realize her love for influencing the lives of children and, eventually, her decision to pursue a career in Elementary Education. She has spent the entirety of her senior year as a teacher’s aide at Central Elementary in Kearney.
As I reflect on how Emily has changed my life because of our friendship, I realize that Emily is changing the lives of so many people around her. Emily treats and talks about her students as if they were her younger siblings. Dedicated is an understatement as to how she approaches every aspect of her life. Emily is without a doubt the most genuine person I have ever met and I cannot wait to see how the next chapter of her life unfolds.