WOHL FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

2020: Ryan Melendez

2020 Wohl Scholar Ryan Melendez was diagnosed with A.L.L. during his senior year of high school and battled the disease for more than three years. During his time in treatment, Ryan set up a mini putting green in his hospital room in order to stay positive and practice the sport he loves most- golf. Ryan also used that time to work towards getting his pilot's license. Although he had to drop many of his AP classes during his senior year, he was able to complete his high school degree through independent study and additional summer classes, maintaining a 4.0 GPA before transferring to the University of Southern California. 

Ryan started Warrior Horses for Warrior Kids, raising $320,000 for pediatric cancer research, an achievement for which he was named the youngest San Diego Leukemia Lymphoma Society's Man of the Year in 2017. He is currently a senior at USC and plans to continue on to law school to become a sports agent.

2018 & 2019: Ashley Nelson

To say that 2018 & 2019 Wohl Scholar Ashley Nelson has survived a lot would be an understatement. Not only has Ashley survived two different types of Leukemia herself, but she lost her first child to Leukemia as well. 

Now, Ashley is in her final year at Cal State University Dominguez Hills, studying microbiology. As a young girl she was always interested in science, and now hopes to do research on antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially in order to help those who are immuno-compromised. We sincerely hope to one day see her achieve her dream of working for the Centers for Disease Control. 

2017: Molly Sigel

We are excited to announce Molly Sigel as this year’s Skip Wohl Memorial Scholar! Six weeks after graduating from college in 2015, and ten days before she was supposed to leave for graduate school in Israel, Molly was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer. Surgeons removed a 20 cm tumor, and chemo ensued just two weeks later; Molly’s plans were in turmoil. But when a social worker visited her, Molly discovered new purpose. She applied to UCLA’s MSW program and got in! Molly is now in her second year and will soon be a medical social worker, giving back to the community that has given her so much.

2016: Evan Bal

Evan was playing soccer and attending school at Cal State San Marcos, and enjoying life. As a first-generation college student this was a big deal. Just a few months later, Evan found out he had Osteosarcoma in his femur -- the most unimaginable place for a soccer player -- and had to drop out and give up his dream of ever playing again. After enduring a year of difficult treatment, Evan is now cancer free and working as his team manager. He is also part of our mentoring program and is being mentored by CFC board member, Dan Hughes (pictured, left). 

2016: Taylor Hay

Taylor is on track to graduate with her AA-T in Psychology this fall, and will go on to earn her BA in Psychology and JD in Entertainment Law. She is also an actress who just got off the set of a major motion picture, and starred in a film that was just nominated for Best Ensemble Cast. In the midst of all this, Taylor devotes herself to growing her charity event, Star for a Night! Taylor is also cancer free and focused on staying that way because she has no time for interruptions that would slow her down!

2015: Jake Olson

Jake let's nothing stop him: retinoblastoma took his right eye at 10 months old and he lost sight in his left eye when he was 12 years old. That year, Jake began telling his story to crowds of people across the country, letting people know, "You have a choice with cancer: you can let it change who you are, or you can go out and attack life." Jake became a scratch golfer and was introduced to the entire USC football team by Pete Carroll. When it came time to go to college, Jake chose to attend USC to study business, and walked onto the football team as a long snapper. In 2017, he snapped for the first time in a live game for a PAT that split the uprights! He has also established the Jake Olson Vision Award that is given to exceptional USC students each year.