"Thank you for all the wonderful things you have done for me because, trust me, you have changed my life in such a wonderful way that I just don't know how to pay you for all the things you have done."

-- Cinthya P., 2006

Chelscie has sickle cell anemia. Despite numerous health set-backs and hospitalizations she was determined to keep up with her studies, even while hooked up to various machines.

In late 2005 both she and her parents suffered a terrible car accident. Chelscie had only minor injuries, but both her parents became disabled and unable to work.

Chelscie managed to graduate valedictorian and homecoming queen of her senior class at Worthing high school, while serving as primary caretaker of both her parents and younger sister.

With the Beat the Odds scholarship Chelscie enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin with hopes of becoming a physician to help other young women with sickle cell anemia.

Clemente was one of five children in a migrant family struggling on less than $10,000 a year. He had already struggled with this significant hardship when, at age 13, he was diagnosed with Leukemia. He spent weeks undergoing chemotherapy at Texas Children's Hospital.

After a successful bone marrow transplant from his sister, he began the slow road to recovery. Three months passed before he could eat solid food, and when he returned to public school after being home schooled for almost 2 years, he kept getting sick because of his compromised immune system.

He was able to graduate from Eastwood Academy Charter, where he excelled and graduated at the top of his class.

With the Beat the Odds scholarship, Clemente enrolled at the University of Houston Downtown.

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