2025 Children of WunderGlo Scholarship Recipients
The 2025 Children of WunderGlo Scholarship Recipients- View their Thank You Collaboration Film – Coming Soon
In our eighth year of “The Children of WunderGlo Scholarship Program”, our 2025 student applicants inspired us with their focused dedication, resilience and personal goals of bringing good-will to this world. The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation once again made the decision to step outside of our “scope” by awarding a total of Six (6) WunderGlo Scholarships to this year’s outstanding young men and women who graduated high school this year. Our 2025 scholarship recipients are five (5) students who lost their father to colon cancer when they were ages 8-18 and one (1) student who lost her mother when she was 16.
WunderGlo awarded Three (3) $4,000 Scholarships, and Three (3) Recognition Scholarships in the amount of $1,000.00.
We are beyond grateful to the family of Deborah Rachel Goldberg for their financial support to our WunderGlo Scholarship program this year, which increased our 2025 monetary award budget by $6,000 with their generous donation.
The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation is extremely proud to announce that this year’s 2025 WunderGlo Scholarships have been awarded to Six (6) outstanding students from • Black Mountain, North Carolina • Nicholasville, Kentucky • DePere, Wisconsin • Norton, Massachusetts • Murfreesboro, Tennessee • Silver Spring, Maryland.
Our scholarship recipients are four young men and two young women who are attending: • Wheaton College • Morehead State University • The University of Wisconsin – Stout • The University of Massachusetts Amherst • Swarthmore College • Morehouse College
The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation’s Annual Scholarships enhance the lives of young men and women throughout the country. Our hopes are that these remarkable young adults will always remember that The WunderGlo Foundation cares about what they have been through, and we will always remember them. These are “The Children of WunderGlo”.
Patton Johnson – 2025 Recipient of The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation Scholarship – in Memory of Jim Gainey
Patton Johnson is a brilliant, compassionate and focused young man who is attending Wheaton College.
“I believe that everyone should work hard to develop their unique talents to help others. After my father finished his medical training, my parents raised support so they could move overseas and serve in a remote and impoverished area. My earliest memories are of singing and dancing in the local Ugandan church and watching my dad care for malnourished babies at the village hospital. After serving for three years, my father was diagnosed with colon cancer, moving us back to the United States. In between cancer treatments, he helped the community through public health. I think about my dad every day. He spent his life defending those who could not defend themselves whether he was fighting diseases in rural Uganda or standing up for abused children as a child-advocacy doctor. He showed me how to speak up for others and to be gentle. I make it my goal to be kind in the same way. As I look towards the future, I desire to honor my dad by becoming a doctor and caring for others. I hate cancer. I want to save families from experiencing what happened to my family. I cannot wait for the day when cancer is terminated, and where children do not fear losing a parent.
I am immensely thankful for The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation and its efforts to not only combat cancer, but support those, like me, whose lives have been changed by it. Thank you for the many ways that you are defeating cancer through awareness and by supporting those who have been impacted by it. I am incredibly thankful for how you have showed love to my family the past years. I am very grateful and honored to have been awarded the $4,000 scholarship and will work my hardest in college to honor your generosity. I appreciate how you continue to bring hope and life into the world.” – Patton Johnson
Congratulations, Patton! The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation is proud to have chosen you to receive our top scholarship. You are an amazing young man who is intelligent beyond words. There is no doubt that you will accomplish your goal to become a doctor and return overseas to help those most in need as your father did. We know that your dad is incredibly proud of you. We wish you great success at Wheaton College and throughout your bright life ahead. Please view his individual Thank You video here.
Braydon Hager – 2025 Recipient of The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation Scholarship – in Memory of Jim Gainey
Braydon Hager is a mature, responsible and resilient young man who is attending Morehead State University.
“My lifelong passion for sports has inspired me to pursue a secondary education in sports management. I envision creating programs that encourage physical activity, especially among youth, and fostering community around wellness and sportsmanship. In 2021, during my freshmen year, my father was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Amidst this physical and financial challenge, I also faced the emotional difficulty of helping care for my father as his battle with stage-4 cancer grew more difficult. As I began my senior year, I lost my father. It’s hard to describe the pain of wanting him to see my senior year unfold, the instant responsibility I felt as “man of the house” for my younger brother and mother, and the void I feel now that he is gone. He was my biggest supporter and losing him has changed my life forever. I promised my father that I would attend college, play at the collegiate level, and make him proud. This fall, I will attend Morehead State University and have been invited to join their football team as a walk-on freshman player. Fulfilling this promise is about honoring his legacy and I hope to inspire others facing similar challenges to keep pushing forward and never give up on their dreams. We can choose how we react and use our life lessons to help others, even when we cannot control our outcomes.
I am incredibly grateful for The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation – your work offers comfort, resources, and community during difficult times. Thank you for selecting me as a recipient of your $4,000 scholarship. Truly honored and excited, this support means a great deal to me and my family. What makes this even more meaningful is learning about Gloria’s story. The way she turned her fight with cancer into a mission to help others is incredibly inspiring. I admire how she focused on finding a cure, promoting healthy living, and being there for patients and families in a personal and caring way.
I lost my dad to cancer, and it’s been one of the hardest things. But being chosen for this scholarship gives me strength. It reminds me that I’m not alone, and it motivates me to work hard, stay hopeful, and one day help others the way you’ve helped me. Thank you again for this amazing opportunity and for keeping Gloria’s legacy alive in such a powerful way.” – Braydon Hager
Congratulations, Braydon! You are a such an incredible young man whose future is boundless. Everyone at The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation is extremely proud to have selected you to receive our top Scholarship. We wish you every happiness and success at Morehead State University both on and off the football field. You are one Eagle who we are all rooting for. Please watch his individual thank you video here.
Lucas Beck – 2025 Recipient of The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation Scholarship – in Memory of Jim Gainey
Lucas Beck is a kind, determined and hardworking young man who is attending The University of Wisconsin – Stout.
“My dad was an architect before he passed, I was always inspired by his work and wanted to go into a field of work like his. In high school I took as many classes as I could related to engineering. Thanks to my dad and his passion for woodworking and machining, I choose to continue my college education in Manufacturing Engineering. I wish my dad were here to see me now, but I know wherever he is, he’s proud of me.
I am incredibly honored and grateful to be selected as a recipient of The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation $4,000 Scholarship. It is not only a tremendous financial help, but also a powerful source of encouragement as I continue my journey, allowing me to focus more fully on my education and long-term goals. As someone passionate about innovation, problem-solving, and creating solutions that can make a difference in the world, I am excited to one day contribute in meaningful ways. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for believing in me and investing in my future.”
– Lucas Beck
Congratulations, Lucas! You are an outstanding young man! The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation proudly honors your achievements with our top scholarship. We wish you the very best at The University of Wisconsin – Stout and in all that you pursue in your promising life ahead! Please watch his individual thank you video here.
Annah Hickey – 2024 Recipient of The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation “Recognition Award” Scholarship – in Memory of Jim Gainey
Annah Hickey is an intelligent, caring, and accomplished young woman who is attending The University of Massachusetts Amherst.
“Losing my mom to cancer has been the most difficult challenge of my life. I have had to learn how to navigate life without her guidance, warmth, and unwavering support. The grief is something I carry every day, but it has also strengthened my determination to succeed. My mother always encouraged me to follow my passions, and I honor her by continuing to chase my dreams with the same strength and resilience she showed throughout her battle. Her loss has taught me that life is unpredictable, but it has also fueled my desire to make the most of every opportunity.
I’m so excited to continue being involved in this foundation! After losing my mom to cancer, I became determined to learn more, not just about the disease that took her from me, but about the way illness impacts every part of a person’s life. I began to channel that into action by joining the fight for cancer research, helping raise over $35,000 for The Jimmy Fund. As I begin working toward a degree in Journalism at UMass Amherst, I feel motivated to use my voice to raise awareness, advocate for families, and tell stories that matter.
As The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation continues its powerful research and advocacy, I hold on to hope that one day, no child will have to grow up without a parent due to cancer. Thank you for being part of this fight – I’m honored to receive this scholarship. My mother’s legacy lives on in me, and I will continue to honor her by working hard, staying determined, and making a difference in the world. I know she’s proud of me.” – Annah Hickey
Congratulations, Annah! You are truly an amazing young woman who will be successful in all that you pursue. Always know that all of us at The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation are sincerely honored to play this role in your incredible life and we are so very proud of you. Your beloved mother is surely beaming with pride in the passion you hold in your heart. We wish you every joy and success at The University of Massachusetts Amherst and onward. Please watch her individual thank you video here.
Sophie James – 2024 Recipient of The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation “Recognition Award” Scholarship – in Memory of Jim Gainey
Sophie James is an empathetic, spirited and motivated young woman who is attending Swarthmore College.
“In the months following my dad’s passing, I was consumed by a prolonged case of grief brain fog. This unusual symptom of grief engrossed my life, but I was determined to combat this symptom and regain a significant aspect of my pre-grief identity. I channeled my dad’s fighting spirit: his buoyancy throughout long days of chemotherapy treatment and long-term hospital stays; and his motivation to act and to achieve his final ‘bucket-list’ items, like publishing another book of poetry. Driven to honor his unwavering efforts, I remained dedicated to my education and persevered in school. I plan to attend Swarthmore college and study my passion in global studies and political science, which will grant me the resources to work alongside non-profits and succeed as a future policymaker. I hope to provide affordable medical assistance through non-profits and to those in need. I hope to campaign for more government funding to research a cure for this horrific disease.
I thank The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation for granting me the Recognition Award scholarship, which is not only helping fund my education at Swarthmore College, but is also connecting me to a community that is inspired by their experience with cancer to help others. As colorectal cancer rates continue to grow throughout the country, I am proud to be a part of this foundation’s efforts and believe its objectives are even more crucial.” – Sophie James
Congratulations, Sophie! You are an impressive young woman with unyielding strength and determination. We are certain that you make your father so proud. Everyone at The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation knows that you will excel in all that you choose to pursue. We are honored to award you with our scholarship and wish you every success and happiness at Swarthmore College and throughout your beautiful life. Please watch her individual thank you video here.
Stefon Shorts – 2024 Recipient of The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation “Recognition Award” Scholarship – in Memory of Jim Gainey
Stefon Shorts is a creative, generous, and considerate young man who is attending Morehouse College.
“I plan to earn a degree in Media Communications and minor in Business to learn how to create promotional videos to bring awareness to important events or problems that are impacting communities. My passion for connecting the community comes from my experiences when I lost my dad to colon cancer in the summer of my sixth grade school year. That summer, I volunteered as a camp counselor. My dad had just died from colon cancer and my mom was becoming an Assistant Principal and spent many hours a work now that she was the only one working in our family. I wanted to have a purpose – so I chose to support the camp that had supported me when I was little. Reflecting on my 770 hours of community service completed, I know that my dad – who worked to help people as a Teacher, Counselor and Peace Corps volunteer would also be honored. I realize that I am motivated because of passion.
The fact that The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation is willing to provide me support for college gives me a feeling of hope since someone in society cares about a problem that is happening in my family. As I am grateful for the financial scholarship support to help fund my educational journey, I am also appreciative for you bringing awareness to colon cancer and supporting students that have had a parent fall victim to colon cancer. I love that this foundation is willing to show that they care about the people that have been affected by colon cancer. I wish nothing but the best for you as The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation is going to affect so many lives in the future.”– Stefon Shorts
Congratulations, Stefon! You are such a special young man who is destined to make an impact in this world. Everyone at The Gloria Borges WunderGlo Foundation is extremely proud to have chosen you to receive one of our scholarships. We wish you every success at Morehouse College -and throughout your remarkable life to come – you deserve it all! Please watch his individual thank you video here.
We Congratulate all our 2025 Children of WunderGlo Scholarship Recipients!!!
