Barrett, The Honors College
Samantha Stachel Play Big Scholarship
Samantha Stachel Play Big Scholarship
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With our donors’ support, this scholarship will fund the educational expenses for students pursuing higher education who excel in the face of adversity at Barrett, the Honors College. The selected scholarship recipients embody the spirit of Samantha Stachel, who lived her life with vivaciousness, courage, and compassion. Samantha continued to persevere and thrive despite being diagnosed with a malignant bone tumor when she was 7 years old and experiencing five recurrences. Her stellar academic achievement, leadership and service in her community earned her admission to Barrett despite her challenges. Samantha passed away at the age of 18 before she could attend ASU. The Play Big Scholarship supports Barrett students as they continue Samantha’s legacy of inspiring others in their community to play big in their lives as well as help others through their challenges.
Impact of Donor Support
“The Stachel family was moving into a new house and the house they were leaving was empty of all of their belongings. Before locking the door and walking away from the house, Samantha decided that it was important to leave something for the family that would be moving in.
She went room to room, writing stories of her life in that house. I imagined the new family moving in and finding a note in the dining room that might have told the story of Samantha’s family celebrating a holiday, and then finding another note in the kitchen, and another in the family room.
Samantha wanted the new family to know this was not an empty house, but a house that was filled with experiences and memories of her life, laughter and the love of her family. I imagine that in one of the bedrooms that family found a note that would have revealed the author, and they would know that a little girl had lived here that was so amazing that she could never leave behind an empty place.”
— Grace Stombres, Chaparral High School Assistant Vice Principal, 2013
“My training taught me that warriors never give up. Warriors walk out of a situation better than when we walk into battle. By being vulnerable, I found true courage to achieve success and love what I do, even under the most challenging of circumstances. With perseverance, faith and help, warriors survive and go to the next step to thrive.”