A 2021 graduating senior at Cairo-Durham High School in Greene County, New York, Kadie intends to attend Suny Oneonta this fall and pursue her degree in the medical field. As she stated so well in her winning essay, Kadie envisions becoming a practitioner who not only sees the physical needs of her patients but also shows sincere personal care out of human kindness. 

We created the “Design Your Success” scholarship to give back a little of the success we have experienced at Signs.com. High school seniors around the nation were eligible to submit a creative essay of 1,200 to 1,500 words, describing how they intend to design their own success throughout their lives. With only a simple and open-ended prompt, we received many essays — Kadie’s response rose to the top!

Kadie thoughtfully described her future plans by reflecting on her experience and accomplishments so far and projecting a road map to success from what she has learned. She described how a knee injury that required surgery and rehabilitation helped leverage her resolve to reciprocate the care she was shown by the physician who “treated her as a person and a friend”. Kadie has already shown great spirit and a strong work ethic by volunteering much of her free time as a surgical services volunteer at a local hospital. 

“We’re very happy to be able to share some of our success here at Signs.com by supporting and contributing to the growth of students across the country through our Design Your Success scholarship,” says Nelson James, co-founder of Signs.com. “It is so wonderful to read about the challenges these students have overcome and the goals they are working so hard to achieve. Kadie conveyed her plans and goals with a high level of maturity and understanding. We are excited to help her along her journey.”

5th Annual Signs.com ‘Design Your Success’ Scholarship Awarded to Kadie Galewaler

A 2020 graduating senior at Red Land High School in York County, Pennsylvania, Peyton intends to attend Mansfield University of Pennsylvania this fall and pursue her bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. In the future, she says, she will seek to put her education and talents to work “serving those communities that have limited or no access to healthcare services.”

Our “Design Your Success” scholarship gives applicants the opportunity to submit a creative essay of 1,200 to 1,500 words, describing how they intend to design their own success throughout their lives. The intentionally broad prompt challenges them to create personalized goals and plans that will enable them to achieve their own definition of success.

Peyton’s winning essay pays homage to the film version of The Wizard of Oz, structuring it around the movie’s various characters – the Tin Man, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and, of course, Dorothy. She concludes her essay by writing: “I do not need to find a wizard at the end of my yellow brick road. Dorothy’s story ends with her realizing everything she needed she already had. Each of my chapters have led me to the same conclusion – that everything I need is within me. I won’t be wearing ruby red slippers for my journey, but I am confident I will rock it out in my scrubs.”

“We’re delighted to be able to share some of our success here at Signs.com by supporting and contributing to the growth of students across the country through our annual scholarship,” says Nelson James, co-founder of Signs.com. “We were extremely impressed with Peyton’s winning essay, which describes in a very creative way the challenges she’s faced and has overcome, as well as her future ambitions and objectives. As Peyton works toward the goals she has set for herself and shared with us, we trust this scholarship will come in handy in covering some of the costs of her college education.”

During her time at Red Land, Peyton has been a member of the National Honor Society and will graduate with honors. She played for two years on the school’s field hockey team (and two years in middle school), and on the lacrosse team as well (she’s played the latter sport since she was 7 years old).

Outside of Red Land’s walls, Peyton volunteered with the local historical society, helped with numerous Christmas workshops for children, and was chosen from more than 100 candidates to serve as a volunteer in the local hospital’s summer program last year.

Applications for the 2021 “Design Your Success” scholarship from Signs.com will be available this fall to students preparing to graduate in the class of 2021 as well as those who will be college/university freshman beginning in the fall of 2021. For more information on the “Design Your Success” scholarship, visit our scholarship page.

4th Annual Signs.com ‘Design Your Success’ Scholarship Awarded to Peyton Carr

The “Design Your Success” scholarship is intended to give the applicants the ability to creatively submit a 1,200-1,500 word essay on how they plan to design their own success throughout their lives. The intentionally broad prompt allows applicants the freedom and challenge of creating personalized goals and plans to achieve their own definition of success. Katie has an inspiring background in service, in her local community, and her church. Katie has plans to attend the University of Wisconsin to become a news and sports broadcaster and share her talent for public speaking to a broader audience.

“One of the best byproducts of Signs.com’s success has been the ability to support and contribute to the growth of students nationwide through this scholarship,” says Nelson James, Co-founder of Signs.com. “Katie was one of many applicants, at a young age, that showed impressive maturity and an understanding on the necessity of goal setting and perseverance. We hope that this scholarship will help cover some of the costs of her college education as she works towards these goals.”

Applications for the 2020 scholarship will open up this Fall to students preparing to graduate in the class of 2020 as well as those who will be college/university freshman beginning in the Fall of 2020. More information on the “Design Your Success” scholarship can be found on our scholarship page.

About Signs.com

Signs.com is the online signage leader for businesses of varying sizes and consumer-based prints and products. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Signs.com’s award-winning customer service, one-day production, free design services, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee has helped the company achieve national and international recognition for its seamless, customer-oriented signage experience. Along with its efforts to facilitate the growth of education through the “Design Your Success” scholarship, Signs.com pursues philanthropy in several ways including working closely with and donating to nonprofit organizations and providing free prints to terminally ill children and those facing extended stay in hospitals nationwide.

3rd Annual Signs.com “Design Your Success” Scholarship Awarded

The “Design Your Success” scholarship is intended to push the creative boundaries of applicants by requiring them to submit a 1,200-1,500 word essay on how they plan to design their own success throughout their lives. The interpretive, broad prompt allowed applicants the freedom and challenge of creating personalized goals and plans to achieve their own definition of success. Rebecca’s essay showcased her desire to step outside the boundaries of cultural expectations to pave her own path of success. This, coupled with her detailed goal setting caught our attention! We’re excited to see how her goal-focused, positive attitude contributes to her success at the University of Pittsburgh and wherever life takes her.

“It’s a privilege to support and contribute to the growth of students nationwide through this scholarship,” says Nelson James, Co-founder of Signs.com. “Rebecca was one of many applicants that showed impressive maturity and an understanding of the necessity of goal setting and perseverance. We hope that this scholarship will motivate her to push herself as she transitions to college and toward her future goals.

Applications for the 2019 scholarship will open up this Fall to students preparing to graduate in the class of 2019 as well as those who will be college/university freshman beginning in the Fall of 2019. More information on the “Design Your Success” scholarship can be found on our scholarship page.

About Signs.com

Signs.com is the industry leader in custom signage for businesses of varying size and consumer-based prints and products. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Signs.com’s award-winning customer service, one-day production, free design services, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee has helped the company achieve national and international recognition for its simple, customer-oriented signage experience.

Along with its efforts to perpetuate the growth of education through the “Design Your Success” scholarship, Signs.com employs its philanthropic efforts by working closely with and donating to nonprofit organizations, and providing free prints to terminally ill children and those facing extended stays in hospitals nationwide.  

2nd Annual “Design Your Success” Scholarship Awarded