Spring 2025 Scholarship Winner

Lauren Sobolik

In her essay, Lauren reflects on a cherished childhood memory of packing Christmas presents for children in need. Lauren is particularly passionate about service opportunities that empower young girls. Congratulations, Lauren, for your hard work and commitment to service!

Read Lauren’s essay here:

One of the best memories I have from my childhood is when my sisters, mom, and I would go to our nearby church every year during Christmas Time and we would participate in what’s called Operation Christmas Child. This specific program focused on the children in need during the holiday season who don’t get presents and also don’t have the bare necessities, so we pack up care packages for these kids and include things they need, and of course things they would like. My favorite part about participating in Operation Christmas Child was imagining what I would like if I was this specific child, and picking out the best items that I could imagine for them. I loved seeing everyone participate in a good cause and it made me feel so supportive of my community knowing that even though I was doing something small, it was still making a difference. In the near future, I am so beyond ecstatic to be participating in the organization called Girls on the Run that is put on and supported by my sorority Gamma Phi Beta. I recently rushed and my eye was caught by Gamma Phi Beta’s sisterhood specifically because of their philanthropy being Girls on the Run. With GOTR, we support the community by creating a loving and encouraging environment for young girls to prosper and feel empowered. We help fundraiser to support the cause, and we are also the only sorority on campus that is hands-on with our philo, and so we get the opportunity to meet these girls in real life and support them in a marathon that is the main event of the program! I think this type of service is so important to support and participate in because it genuinely creates such a difference in individual people’s lives, and within the community as well. We live in a world where it’s really hard for girls to feel confident and strong at a young age, and so I want to be able to help as many girls in my community as possible, and I feel as though this is the best way to be able to do that.