The Board of Directors and Scholarship Committee of The Jack H. Marston II Melanoma Research Fund proudly introduce Glenbard West Senior, VICTORIA NOLAND, as the 2008 “Game-On” Scholarship Recipient. The scholarship was presented May 20, 2008 at the Seniors Honors Convocation, by Jack and Jennifer Marston.

Victoria will attend the University of Illinois in the Fall and plans to major in International Studies and Spanish.  Her extra-curricular and community activities include: Students for Students (Vice President), Senior Mentor, Target Success, National Honors Society, Tennis (Captain), Basketball, Softball, National Honor Society, DARE Role Model (speaker/leader for 5th grade students), Clowns against drugs.

Other Awards and Honor:  Gold Bar, President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, Livingston Award (The Livingston award is given to 10 students from each Glenbard high school each year.  It honors students who have demonstrated real concern for others and have promoted positive, caring relationships among social groups regardless of race, sex, religion, ethnicity, economic level, physical ability, or academic prowess.  Examples of behavior that would merit a Human Relations Award include exhibiting courage in defending the rights of others; befriending others regardless of socio-economic, racial, religious, ethnic or academic background; showing consistent kindness and courtesy to staff members and other students; performing sustained volunteer work within the school or community; and exhibiting a cooperative spirit consistently with students and staff members in classrooms and co-curricular activities.)

Excerpt from Victoria Noland’s Essay:

M. Kathleen Casey once said, “Pain is inevitable.  Suffering is optional.”  From this very inspirational expression, I understand that one cannot avoid an adverse fate, yet they can choose how this burden ultimately affects their actions and overall character.  I have learned to make the best out of every situation.  If things look as if they are not working out in my favor, I have been able to stay calm and focused and look for a way to make a positive result from every situation.
 
Through my involvement in sports, I have learned to handle adversity.  I am a very good athlete, but I am not the all-star athlete in any one of the three sports that I play in high school.  I am not the person to quit the sport just because I may not be getting the most playing time and this attitude has carried forward into how I handle situations in my life …

2008 Victoria Noland