2010 Scholarship Winner Cameron French

Cameron French is a 6’5” senior at South Salem High School. He plans to attend Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, which is about 20 miles from Philadelphia, to become a professor, neuroscientist or environmental scientist. Cameron is ranked 1^st in his class of 414 and also participates in school and community activities. He volunteers at Liberty House, a nonprofit responding to child abuse and neglect; he is in the Darfur Relief Club, plays varsity soccer and is the co-founder of the Empowerment Club, a micro-lending club financing third world entrepreneurs. The scholarship committee enjoyed Cameron’s essay. He did an excellent job using his grandfather’s impact on his life to represent the essay theme “What Tall Means to Me”.

Cameron's Essay: Rising Beyond the Expectations

My grandfather lived on the far side of the country, too far for a weekend visit or even a determined summer road trip. The times when I got to see him were few and far in between, meaning that a few, powerful memories were all I had to know him by. Every time I think about him, I recall the story he told me about his ambition to become a pilot. An accomplished, intelligent, and reliable candidate during the waning years of World War II, it would seem that there would be little to stop him. An unexpected obstacle materialized, however: he was too tall to be an air force pilot, the top of his head rising narrowly above the official “safe” height for the plane cockpit. As all good stories end, he eventually achieved his dream, slouching surreptitiously during the medical exam, counteracting the culpable few inches.

The endearing image of my ever-regal grandfather slouching down (for I still have difficulty envisioning him to have ever been anything other than the venerable man I knew) to hoodwink authority is part of the reason I like this story so much. However, I also value this story for the association it allows between my grandfather and me. When people (unimaginatively) ask why I am so tall, I recall this element of commonality that I share with most of my relatives on both sides of the family, regardless of how far away they live.

My height has afforded me unique individuality and an unexpected freedom. This freedom is ostensibly at odds with the spotlight that being tall seems to attract. People tend to remember me better than the average person they walk by, if for nothing else than because I am tall. It is hard to blend into the mass of other students at the back of class if I have neglected my homework, and one of the most frequent refrains I hear is, “Soccer! Why don’t you play basketball?”

Yet, I find that these expectations that accompany my height to be liberating. I take pride in the fact that I play soccer precisely because it is unexpected, that I do it because I want to, not because anyone foisted it upon me. Beyond well-rehearsed benefits of being tall (e.g. reaching the pack of gum on top of the refrigerator without blindly sending the whole basket crashing down), I have learned that people’s expectations don’t need to be limiting. I can be who I am and enjoy the surprise that is registered when my height leads someone to think I can or should be someone else.

Though I will always associate my grandfather with his stature, I love him not because of who his height made him, but who he chose to be. He incorporated his height into who he was, defying expectations, too-tall to for a cockpit or not.

2010 Scholarship Winner Nicole Santucci

Nicole Santucci is a 6’4” senior at Southridge High School in Beaverton. She plans to attend Columbia University in NYC this fall. Nicole not only excelled academically by maintaining a 4.0 GPA all four years of high school while in the International Baccalaureate Diploma program, but she also participated in many school and community activities including varsity basketball, Peer2Peer mentoring, math tutoring 9th-12th grades and the 2010 Humanity March for Uganda. The scholarship committee was impressed with Nicole’s application, which included a photo montage and resume of her accomplishments. Nicole is the Skyliners' choice to compete for the Tall Clubs International Scholarship. She is planning to attend the May 8th house party to receive her award and meet Skyliners members.

Nicole's Essay: What Being Tall Means to Me

While Shakespeare said “Beauty is as beauty does” in Sonnet 132, I have always liked to think that “Tall is as tall does”. Being tall means nothing unless you make something of it. As a basketball player, an active volunteer, and a straight-A student, I believe I have made something from my height and that is what being tall means to me.

In middle school, I was regarded as the tallest girl, and close to the tallest student, in my grade. One of my teachers finally convinced me to play basketball in seventh grade and I began to play the sport that I now love. The lifestyle that sports cultivate extends beyond winning games and being on varsity teams. After spending four years playing on Southridge’s women’s varsity basketball team, I have realized the value of physical activity as it not only promotes a healthy body, but also encourages individuals to challenge themselves and reach their full potential. For three-hours five times a week, the daily grind of practice wears on the body physically and emotionally, dragging you to the brink of collapse. Basketball is never easy and attaining success never comes without sacrifice and determination. Yet, through the daily challenges at practice-the timed sprints, the scrimmages, the countless drills- I have learned to push myself past what I thought was my breaking point. Mental toughness and determination has allowed me to remain committed, dedicated, and passionate about playing basketball. My involvement in three state championship teams as a freshman, sophomore, and senior exemplifies that hard work rewards itself with success. I had the opportunity to play with some of the best girls in the state: girls I developed camaraderie with and who were my second family. The bonds I have developed with my teammates have taught me the importance of teamwork as a source of motivation and support. You learn to push yourself for them because you want to see them succeed just as much as you want yourself to succeed. Without my height, I would have never been involved in basketball and I am certain I would not have learned many valuable lessons as my experiences on the court have greatly contributed to the person I am today.

Since I was a little girl I have been mistaken to be much older than I was. My mom received numerous demeaning looks when she would carry me around in public places because at 18 months old, I stood 36 inches tall. Essentially I was a giant baby. With my height, I learned to be more mature than most girls my age. With this maturity I realized my responsibility to assist others in the community and volunteer my time. At school, I have involved myself with activities such as Peer to Peer, IB Iron Chef, and a “Pennies for Peace” Fundraiser. As a Peer to Peer Board member, I am one of five students in charge of a club which aims to break down the social barriers in high school by pairing peer mentors (such as myself) with students who are in need of a friend. I have learned the importance of healthy, sustainable relationships as well as the important lesson that every person is interesting and worth getting to know. Through IB Iron Chef, an annual event to raise money for our sister school in Uganda where international cuisine is cooked and served by students from Southridge, I have honed my leadership, organizational, and management skills through my position as Chef Manager in which I was in charge of all the cooks. Along with three other students, I helped organize a “Pennies for Peace” Fundraiser raise money for Greg Mortensen and schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, inspired by Mortensen’s book Three Cups of Tea. I am most proud of the “Swish it Pink” basketball game I organized, raising almost $1,000 and awareness for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. I hope to continue my volunteering efforts throughout college and my life.

Finally, my accomplishments as a student have propelled me into the position of being a role model for my teammates and others at my school. As an IB Diploma Student I have demonstrated that any student may balance athletics and academics and do so to a high degree. I have immersed myself into the IB Diploma Program and the school’s hardest coursework, preparing myself for my future studies while simultaneously quenching my desire to learn. Classes such as IB Biology, IB Chemistry, IB Psychology, and IB French have sparked my interest for the areas that I desire to study in college. I am known for my hard work and dedication in the classroom as I must work hard to accomplish my dreams of attending and playing Division I basketball at Columbia University while completing a minor in French and Pre-Medical Requirements. I also aspire to go on to Medical School and use my French and Medical Degrees to aid people in Africa with Doctors without Borders.

I am proud of the way I have used my height to my advantage as an athlete, a community volunteer, and a student. To me, being tall means making the most of your situation and overcoming the obstacles of self-consciousness and standing out because “tall is as tall does”. Through basketball, volunteerism, and academics I have demonstrated that I am more than tall, I am a unique individual as well.