5 students earn scholarships for overcoming adversity

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Five seniors from ve Douglas County School District high schools were awarded a $2,000 Missy Martin Scholarship for a total of $10,000.

Now going by the name Missy Berg, the former Castle View student has dedicated her time to give back to the same community that helped her through a tragic accident and to other students who have overcome challenges and have decided to continue their education.

In 2002, Berg was a varsity cheerleader and peer mentor at Douglas County High School when she was hit by a train on the way to school. She su ered a traumatic brain injury and was in a coma for about ve weeks.

She went through nearly two years of hospitalization and extensive rehabilitation to learn how to function normally again.

Berg decided she wanted to give back to other students, so with the help of her father David, they created the nonpro t, Future Hope Foundation, to honor local youth who have worked to overcome adversity.

“ ese people are amazing,” said Berg. “ ey just come and they have all these amazing stories and it is so good to help them go to college and to further their life.”

Among the seniors to receive the scholarship this year was Kendall Covak from Chaparral.

School counselor Holly Treiber had the opportunity to honor Covak and her accomplishments.

Covak was diagnosed in eighth grade with Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, otherwise known as POTS and has seen nu- merous specialists and tried multiple treatments.

Despite her daily medical hardships, Covak has maintained a 3.8 GPA and has continued to give back to the Chaparral community.

Not only did she compete in Chaparral volleyball for three years, Covak served as a peer mentor to others and was an integral part in supporting students after school in uni ed sports.

Covak will continue her education at Colorado State University where she plans to pursue an undergraduate degree and a masters in occupational therapy.

Mountain Vista school counselor Andy Labron became emotional while speaking on behalf of Kamila Skonieczny.

Skonieczny was born to a Polish family in Highlands Ranch, however, when she was 6 years old, her family had to return to Poland.

While in Poland, Skonieczny and her father became close as they found a shared love for karate.

Unfortunately, Skonieczny lost her father unexpectedly in 2016. In 2022, as Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion on Ukraine, Skonieczny and her family had to make a decision.