Korabelle Harkema

Personal Statement:

My name is Korabelle Harkema and I am a senior at Rogers High school. Starting in the fall of 2026, I will be a nursing student at Gonzaga University, and I am a recipient of Gonzaga’s full ride Unity Scholarship, a program focused on social justice and equity within Gonzaga. From an early age, I had a hard time believing in my ability to succeed. It was difficult having the confidence to achieve great things while growing up in a household where success was foreign. In my eyes, applying for the Sacred Heart Teen Board was a huge risk, with an initiative required to make a fundraiser for the hospital, I almost let the opportunity pass by. I thought “How could I — a low-income kid from Hillyard — raise enough money to help these children counting on me?” Having the mindset of failure is easy to have, but hard to overcome. I decided to apply anyway, whether I had a plan or not, I knew I would find support somewhere. Here we are now, with the support of Crystal Via-Perry, Lisa White, and so many more, I am trying to help the families at Sacred Hearts Children’s Hospital. As a participant in the Teen Board, I work with Sacred Heart’s Children's Hospital and the Children's Miracle Network—a non-profit organization that helps promote philanthropy for the Children’s Hospital—as an ambassador, responsible for planning my own fundraising initiative in which all money earned will go directly to the Sacred Heart’s Children Hospital. Im sharing my story in hopes of getting support from my Hillyard community, to raise money for the Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. Family assistance programs, education services, equipment, and patient services provided by the hospital are fully funded by philanthropy. With stuffed animals for patients at $25 and NICU Omni Beds costing $50,000, every donation adds up and being apart of this effort to contribute to my community and lead my own initiative is deeply fulfilling.