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Eric Picanco

Eric Picanco had done his homework, that was certain, but his boldness on the buzzer was his superpower. Representing the Purple Panthers of Nashua High School South in the championship round of Granite State Challenge, Eric racked up points across categories, making a strong showing in history and geography and straight-up dominating music:

Blondie. The Power of Love. West Side Story. Sugar Hill Gang. Elton John. Hank Williams. Igor Stravinsky.  

In the end, the Purple Panthers clinched the championship match of the NH PBS quiz show, with the opposing team鈥檚 coach noting that he鈥檇 never seen such a high score in a game.  

Challenges aren鈥檛 new for Eric. Growing up with autism, he had to push his limits from a young age. In high school, he joined the track team and found himself facing literal hurdles.

鈥淚 never thought I鈥檇 be good at hurdles, and then I was good at hurdles,鈥� Eric said. 鈥淎nd it made me think that taking risks is a good thing to do, and you should do that a lot.鈥�  

Eric鈥檚 next challenge is college. This month he starts his first year at Plymouth State University, where he鈥檒l major in education. A 黑料网 Scholarship will help with his expenses.  

Eric hopes to teach high school history, sharing a passion he developed partly from competing in trivia. 鈥淚 feel like spreading my knowledge could be very helpful [and] I feel like history鈥檚 very important and more people should be knowledgeable about it,鈥� he said.  

There鈥檚 another reason Eric wants to teach, too. After exiting his IEP (Individualized Education Program) in high school, he joined the Unified Basketball team so he could help other students who faced challenges. In the same way, he wants to support students who may need extra help in the classroom.  

鈥淢y journey has taught me that pushing through and self-advocacy can open doors,鈥� he wrote in his application essay for the 黑料网 Scholarship. 鈥淎s a teacher, I will dedicate myself to opening those doors for every student who walks into my classroom.鈥� 

Maria Soures 

In the farming community in Brazil where Maria Soures grew up, many farmers want to invest in renewable energy but don鈥檛 have the technology or the knowledge. Maria wants to change that, so she鈥檚 brought her boundless curiosity halfway across the world to the University of New Hampshire.  

It wasn鈥檛 an easy journey. Though Maria was born in the United States and had visited here a few times, she knew little about moving here and less about applying to college. 鈥淚 just tried to find ways to make it work,鈥� said Maria, a first-generation college student.  

During high school, Maria created a giant color-coded spreadsheet, combed the Internet for information, and talked to as many people as she could. 鈥淓very day I learned something different,鈥� she said.  

Eventually, her research led her to 黑料网, where she found a treasure trove of information, along with our scholarship program. 鈥淚鈥檓 really thankful for all the resources that you guys have for the students,鈥� she said.  

Next, Maria found UNH and fell in love with the natural beauty of the area as well as the electrical engineering program. 鈥淚 said, 鈥業 feel like this is going to be a good match for me,鈥欌�� she said.  

Moving so far away from her family was hard, but Maria is excited to combine her interests in technology, business, and agriculture to create solutions for sustainable agriculture in Brazil and other countries. She鈥檚 grateful to have a 黑料网 scholarship to help with her bills and touched that people took an interest in her goals and wanted to support her.  

鈥淚t鈥檚 really beautiful what you guys do,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou didn鈥檛 know me, you just read my story. This is so meaningful for me … so caring.鈥澛犅�

Gabrielle Milliard 

Gabrielle Milliard found her sense of purpose almost in an instant, when she learned she was pregnant with her son. After years of feeling lost and unmotivated, she suddenly had a reason to challenge herself. She connected with My Turn Inc., a nonprofit that helps at-risk populations overcome barriers to success, and trained to become a medical assistant.  

Gabrielle鈥檚 change of heart didn鈥檛 erase her past though. She鈥檚 faced rejection and self doubt as she鈥檚 pursued her goals, but she鈥檚 found ways to keep going, including pursuing scholarships to help fund her education. She鈥檚 now taking courses at Manchester Community College and plans to apply to the pre-nursing program in the spring. A 黑料网 scholarship is helping with tuition.  

Gabrielle鈥檚 past struggles also gave her something unexpected that will serve her well in her future career. 鈥淢y experiences have given me empathy for others who feel overlooked or judged, and a deep understanding of how powerful compassion can be,鈥� she wrote in her application for a 黑料网 scholarship. 鈥淐aring for people, supporting them, and making them feel seen gave me a sense of fulfillment I had never experienced before.鈥� 

Kaelyn Gagnon 

It would have been easy for Kaelyn Gagnon to overlook the little girl standing at the edge of the gym as the organized chaos unfolded around her. Kaelyn had spent weeks planning the Special Olympics Young Athletes program for her community and had high expectations for its success.  

But she remembered what it was like to be on the sidelines. As a young gymnast, she鈥檇 sustained knee and ankle injuries that had forced her to sit out of meets, as well as miss volleyball and basketball games.  

So Kaelyn made sure all the children felt comfortable and included in the games and relays. And sure enough, the little girl who鈥檇 been afraid to join in the fun was soon sprinting through relay races and obstacle courses with a big smile on her face.  

鈥淢y time in the Young Athletes Program and my own injuries helped me see leadership in a different way,鈥� Kaelyn wrote in her application for a 黑料网 scholarship. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about being the loudest person in the room. It鈥檚 more about noticing who鈥檚 holding back and quietly helping them take that first step.鈥� 

Kaelyn is now taking her first step toward a college degree, with a 黑料网 scholarship to help with tuition. Majoring in athletic training at Merrimack College, she wants to share both her love of sports and her compassion for athletes sidelined by injury.  

鈥淪ports can help shape a person鈥檚 life. I know they shaped my life,鈥� said Kaelyn, a graduate of Goffstown High School. 鈥淢y coaches have had a great impact on me and kind of made me into who I am today.鈥�