My name is Hayden Lambkin, I am 18 years old and just graduated from South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC. The James Gabriel Memorial Scholarship would be amazing honor to receive and help relieve some of the financial burden of college and allow me to have a greater focus on my studies. I am interested in studying biology and working to better the planet, starting with local communities. My mom and my sensei have always been a driving force in my life. Perserverance, integrity and doing the right thing have been a motivator in my success. Training for my 3rd degree black belt has not only require extreme personal fitness, but self-discipline to succeed. Focusing on my future is important to me, I have had a few obstacles in life that I have persevered through and learned from. Starting from birth, I was born with one of the most complex congenital heart defects called Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA). TGA is when the aorta and the pulmonary arteries are flipped, making the heart work backwards, this in addition to having a ventricular septal defect (VSD) has required me to have several surgeries resulting in various obstacles. By the time I was two, I had multiple open-heart surgeries and an angioplasty to repair my heart. This caused developmental struggles throughout my life, both in learning and in physicality. Even with such constraints because of my heart defect, my mom would encourage me to always try everything, work hard and do my best. Last summer, when I decided to get certified for SCUBA diving, it was to my surprise that my cardiologist gave me a definitive no. My congenital heart defect has never prevented me from overcoming any physical obstacles, this would be my first that I couldn't overcome with perseverance. The disappointment was real, but wouldn't stop me from moving forward with continued training, both in the pool and at the gym to be the strongest I can be. This summer, I was told that I would need a stent in my pulmonary artery due to stenosis shown from a CT scan, this was certainly going to be a reason that would prevent me from SCUBA diving. This disappointment encouraged me to overcome and accept that I can't do everything that I wish I could do. I taught myself to understand that because of my heart and that I may have restrictions throughout my life, I would need to always push forward. Throughout my life, I have been dealt with many obstacles and challenges. I have had vision therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy as well as extra learning resources to keep me on track. My experiences and roles models have taught me how to overcome any adversity with a strength to never give up. Although I had to deal with various challenges, I never allowed myself to feel it as a disadvantage but as an advantage instead. I have the tools in my toolbox for success, all the adversity and obstacles has made me who I am. Thank you for your consideration for this scholarship.

My name is Hayden Lambkin, I am 18 years old and a senior at South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC. The Jorian Kuran Harris (Shugg) Helping Heart Foundation Scholarship would be amazing to receive and help relieve some of the financial burden of college and allow me to have a greater focus on my studies. I am interested in studying biology and working to better the planet, starting with local communities. Focusing on my future is important to me, I have had a few obstacles in life that I have persevered through and learned from. Starting from birth, I was born with one of the most complex congenital heart defects called Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA). TGA is when the aorta and the pulmonary arteries are flipped, making the heart work backwards, this in addition to having a ventricular septal defect (VSD) has required me to have several surgeries resulting in various obstacles. By the time I was two, I had multiple open heart surgeries and an angioplasty to repair my heart. This caused developmental struggles throughout my life, both in learning and in physicality. Even with such constraints because of my heart defect, I would still try sports like soccer, baseball, lacrosse, hockey, and eventually landed on martial arts. I am currently training for my third degree black belt in martial arts, which I hope to achieve in February 2024. Last summer, when I decided to get certified for SCUBA diving, it was to my surprise that my cardiologist gave me a definitive no. My congenital heart defect has never prevented me from overcoming any physical obstacles, this would be my first that I couldn't overcome with perseverance. The disappointment was real, but wouldn't stop me from moving forward with continued training, both in the pool and at the gym to be the strongest I can be. This summer, I was told that I would need a stent in my pulmonary artery due to stenosis shown from a CT scan, this was certainly going to be a reason that would prevent me from SCUBA diving. This disappointment encouraged me to overcome and accept that I can't do everything that I wish I could do. I taught myself to understand that because of my heart and that I may have restrictions throughout my life, I would need to always push forward. Throughout my life, I have been dealt with many obstacles and challenges. I have had vision therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy as well as extra learning resources to keep me on track. These experiences have taught me how to overcome any adversity with a strength to never give up. Although I had to deal with various challenges, I never allowed myself to feel it as a disadvantage but as an advantage instead. After all, it makes me who I am. Thank you for your consideration for this scholarship. Hayden Lambkin

Science has always been a passion, I hope to do research and continue my journey to learn more about our impact on the planet and how to make to world better for the future. The greatest challenge in life that I have persevered through and learned from, started from birth. I was born with one of the most complex congenital heart defects called Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA). TGA is when the aorta and the pulmonary arteries are flipped, making the heart work backwards, this in addition to having a ventricular septal defect (VSD) has required me to have several surgeries resulting in various obstacles. By the time I was two, I had multiple open heart surgeries and an angioplasty to repair my heart. This caused developmental struggles throughout my life, both in learning and in physicality. Even with such constraints because of my heart defect, I would still try sports like soccer, baseball, lacrosse, hockey, and eventually landed on martial arts. I am currently training for my third degree black belt in martial arts, which I hope to achieve in February 2024. Last summer, when I decided to get certified for SCUBA diving, it was to my surprise that my cardiologist gave me a definitive no. My congenital heart defect has never prevented me from overcoming any physical obstacles, this would be my first that I couldn't overcome with perseverance. The disappointment was real, but wouldn't stop me from moving forward with continued training, both in the pool and at the gym to be the strongest I can be. This summer, I was told that I would need a stent in my pulmonary artery due to stenosis shown from a CT scan, this was certainly going to be a reason that would prevent me from SCUBA diving. This disappointment encouraged me to overcome and accept that I can't do everything that I wish I could do. I taught myself to understand that because of my heart and that I may have restrictions throughout my life, I would need to always push forward. My surgery this summer turned out to be a miraculous discovery. The cardiology team sent my heart pictures to experts around the country for evaluation. They determined that when the pulmonary artery was opened with the stent, it would cause pinching of my vena cavious, a large vein in the neck. The solution to this discovery was to place two stents. The surgeons entered both thighs and my neck in preparation to place the stents. They took pressure measurements and pictures of my heart while I was under anesthesia. It was determined that my second surgery repair, which was completed when I was fourteen months old, had been performed with complete accuracy and that no stents were necessary! I was in complete disbelief, the pressures at my three incision points were perfect. No intervention was necessary. Throughout my life, I have been dealt with many obstacles and challenges. I have had vision therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy as well as extra learning resources to keep me on track. These experiences have taught me how to overcome any adversity with a strength to never give up. Although I had to deal with various challenges, I never allowed myself to feel it as a disadvantage but as an advantage instead. After all, it makes me who I am.