Announcing the 2018 Robert Jordan Scholarship Winners!

Calen Velervron

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After a long process, many votes by the Hall of the Tower and verification of education ect I am pleased to announce the site has selected our two winners for this years scholarship. The scholarship will be sent in the amount of 500.00 a piece. I would like to thank everyone who had a part in this process and more importantly- THANK YOU as the membership of the tower- you make this thing possible.

The Undergraduate Winner
Winner: Aradia Farmer


Her message to the Tower:
Dear Tarvalon.net community,

It is with equal parts surprise and gratitude that I accept the 2018 Robert Jordan Memorial Scholarship. I wrote my essay on the subject of the immense task facing the Pacific Northwest of preparing for an inevitable and massive earthquake, knowing that if I were living in the Wheel of Time world I would certainly be a Brown who specialized in earth science. The Wheel of Time has been a defining force in my life for over a decade, and many of the philosophies that Robert Jordan articulated have influenced my actions and choices as I have navigated often overwhelming world of college. Being a "servant of all" has, obviously, been once of the most potent.

I am currently facing my last year of my undergraduate degree, and receiving this recognition from the fan community is a strong reminder of why I am going to complete this degree no matter how much I sometimes want to give up. This scholarship prize will specifically go into helping me pay for the costs of a field camp that I'll be participating in during the first part of September, the week before Fall term classes start. As I go through this final year of my studies and recall the lessons learned at field camp, I will remember that fans of my favorite fantasy realm saw fit to bestow support on my mission, and that I have the potential to truly become a servant of all. Being in college can be a lonely experience sometimes, but receiving this scholarship is an amazing and timely reminder that I am a part of something bigger than myself, and that there are people cheering me on.

Thanks again to the tarvalon.net community for running this scholarship program, to the fans of the books for keeping the community alive, and always to Robert Jordan and Harriet McDougal for creating such a rich and fabulous fantasy world for me to swim in.

Sincerely,
an aspiring Brown

Her Scholarship essay:
I am currently in school to learn about earthquake hazards and disaster management in the Pacific Northwest. My post-graduation intention is to work on preparations for the inevitable large earthquake that will strike here sometime in the next several decades. My specific goal is to be a bridge between earth science and social policy, interpreting and distilling the research being done into messages that can carry weight for policy makers. Earthquakes are a type of natural hazard that affects everyone in a given geographic region (relatively) equally. Their destruction leaves little unscathed, and recovery can take years. Suitable preparation to withstand prolonged minutes of shaking is politically and economically unappealing, because it is expensive and might not be useful for years or even decades to come. However, preparation can be the difference between a major and minor regional apocalypse, with thousands of lives in the balance. The last time a major earthquake struck the Pacific Northwest in 1700AD, entire Native American villages were destroyed, and oral histories of the event are found up and down the west coast to this day. We have the benefit of knowing that this hazard will strike again in the geologically near future, so we have the opportunity to prepare now. Earthquakes are notoriously difficult to predict or forecast. Subduction zones, such as the one off the west coast of North America, generate quakes far less frequently than strike-slip zones such as the San Andreas fault. This means that many people living in the hazard zone of western Oregon and Washington have no idea the threat they are living with every day, and have not taken personal or administrative steps to mitigate their risk. In addition to scientific research into the exact nature of the fault zone and when it might release again, there also needs to be public education and outreach to spread accurate and fact-based information. This will allow individuals, cities, and industries to take appropriate action to reduce their risk and make recovery easier. By working on this long-term and under-appreciated problem, I have the potential to save the lives and property of countless people I will never meet, from all walks of life, at an unspecified point in the future. I will be a Servant of All because I will not get to pick who I help, and my efforts will affect individuals, businesses, and governments alike. In a time of massive social upheaval and strife, it is easy to forget that the natural world is working on its own rhythm and cares not a bit for our troubles. Somebody has to keep an eye on, and spread information about, this hidden danger lurking under our feet. Participating in the effort to study, understand, and prepare for a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake is how I will be a Servant of All.

The Graduate Winner
Winner: Deji Ologbenla


Message to the Tower:

I feel very honored to have been selected as a recipient of the Robert Jordan Memorial Scholarship. I want to express my gratitude to Robert Jordan for creating and sharing the amazing world of Randland with us all. Via the legacy of his work, we can always remind ourselves that power and leadership should be about service and helping humanity. This scholarship will help supplement the payment of my tuition fees for my second year of medical school at Dalhousie University in Canada. Many thanks to everyone at Tarvalon.Net

Regards,
Deji

Scholarship essay:
I spent the first 21 years of my life growing up in Lagos, the largest city in South-Western Nigeria. While I grew up in an upper middle class family with access to basic necessities and amenities, the reality was that not many were as privileged. Even today, the majority of the population has limited access to food and clean water and quality healthcare is a luxury many cannot afford. Because public hospitals are not well funded, they often lack basic equipment and doctors are frequently on strike due to months of unpaid salaries. The only way to get decent healthcare in Nigeria is via private hospitals which are almost impossible for the average person on the street to afford. Witnessing these experiences alongside a brother with sickle cell anemia helped shape me into who I am today: a passionate and aspiring medical doctor who wants to contribute to the health and welfare of his community and beyond.

After completing my undergraduate studies in Nigeria, I moved to Canada in 2011 to pursue my aspiration of becoming a doctor. I completed a graduate program in Biochemistry in Toronto in 2013, became a permanent resident of Canada in 2015 and subsequently got accepted into medical school at Dalhousie University in the fall of 2017. My first year of medical school at Dalhousie was very intense, but equally as exciting. Getting to learn about medicine and gaining exposure to patient care in the community has helped reinforce my desire to serve by taking care of the sick and vulnerable.

I intend to use my medical degree to become a Servant of All by making sure I go the extra mile to help anyone I come in contact with and ensuring that their physical, mental, emotional and social health needs are taken care of. In addition, I understand the privilege that comes with being a doctor and I intend to use that privileged position to advocate for less privileged members of the society. For example, I have volunteered as a mentor for high school kids from underprivileged communities in the past and I understand the impact a mentor can have towards inspiring a youth to greater heights. My position as a doctor will enable me to organise outreach and mentorship programs on a much larger scale for vulnerable kids in my community. These programs will be geared towards creating a safe space for self-discovery and personal development, providing the kids an opportunity to create a better future.

Furthermore, the fact that I grew up in a substandard healthcare system in Nigeria motivates me to be involved in the field of global health. I strongly believe that as diverse as the world is, every human being has similar basic needs. Quality healthcare is one of such needs that every human deserves irrespective of race, tribe or tongue. I will manifest my passion and desire to be a Servant of All by partnering with organisations like WHO, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, etc., either via donations or by volunteering my time and skills with them. I also plan to take occasional trips back to my roots in Lagos to volunteer and help treat patients there and also educate them on how to lead healthier lifestyles.

Over the years, I believe my capacity for compassion & empathy and willingness to serve and help others has only grown. I am looking forward to having a successful career in medicine where I can meaningfully impact the lives of people in my community and beyond. Engaging in all these endeavours will ensure that I am not only serving those in my immediate community, but I am seizing the opportunity to be true Servant of All by contributing to the lives of many around the globe.
 
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Jarl Lewin

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Congratulations!
 

Syera Faelron

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Congratulations :)
 

Elanda Tonil

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Congrats to both winners! I’m always happy to see our group helping WoT fans with some of their schooling costs. :)
 

Tsubasa Kamui

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Congratulations to both winners!!!!!
 

Ealandrelle Melyma

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Congratulations :)
 
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Congrats! :joy
 

Nandi el'Shahir

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Congrats both of you!
 
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