Michaella Neal Memorial Scholarship

Michaella Neal was a beloved mother, daughter, sister, teacher, coach, counselor, mentor, and friend who was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri.

Michaella spent her career working in New Orleans and Kansas City schools, where she taught, coached, and counseled at Mercy Academy, De La Salle High School, Loyola University, and Ursuline Academy. Michaella was a staunch advocate for justice and service to others - virtues she worked tirelessly to instill in her students. She led by example, volunteering her time to a variety of causes that furthered those virtues, including supporting mental health and serving people living in poverty.

In 2020, Michaella was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic, pancreatic cancer. She was initially told she had just four to six months to live, but she ended up fighting back against the disease for more than four and a half years. During much of her fight, she continued to work because she fiercely believed in helping her students succeed.

This scholarship aims to honor the life of Michaella Neal so that future generations of students can know and understand the amazing educator and person that she was. 

Any high school senior from a New Orleans-based Catholic high school (Academy of the Sacred Heart, Brother Martin, Cabrini High School, Holy Cross School, Jesuit High School, Mount Carmel Academy, St. Augustine High School, St. Mary's Academy, St. Mary's Dominican High School, or Ursuline Academy) may apply for this scholarship opportunity. Before she passed, Michaella was involved in conceiving this scholarship, and she insisted that the most important qualification should be someone with a heart for service, and an intention to major in a "helping" profession.

To apply, respond to two of the four prompts below in 800-1,200 words total and upload a letter of recommendation. Additionally, make sure to have your GPA (cumulative, not current), ACT and/or SAT score, and what you plan to study filled out on your profile.