Winner gives her scholarship to student battling cancer

By Ashlee Reyes
Posted 3/17/16

Dakota Grenier, a senior at Bay View Academy, was out to win a scholarship, and when she did she gave it to someone she’s never met.

On Feb. 27 Dakota received a $2,500 scholarship in the …

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Winner gives her scholarship to student battling cancer

Posted

Dakota Grenier, a senior at Bay View Academy, was out to win a scholarship, and when she did she gave it to someone she’s never met.

On Feb. 27 Dakota received a $2,500 scholarship in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Student of the Year competition. But in accepting the award Dakota announced she’d give it to a West Warwick High School student battling leukemia.

Although she never met the student, she grew up playing against many of her teammates and saw that West Warwick High School has been doing a lot of fundraising on social media. She preferred not to disclose the girl’s name.

“She is a student athlete like myself, and if one of my teammates was going through what she is, I would hope someone would help her out,” said Dakota.

When asked how the members of LLS felt, Carla Mulhern, campaign manager for Man & Woman of the Year and the Student of the Year Campaign at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, said people were really touched by her generosity.

“Knowing Dakota personally, she is a remarkable girl and I would not have put this past her.”

Dakota, a future University of Rhode Island student, wanted to raise money to “knock out cancer,” because cancer is a personal matter to her. Her mother is a survivor of Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Dakota explains that not only was her mother’s illness a motivation for her to enter, but she says that it “seemed like everywhere I turned someone knew somebody who was either battling, in remission or whom had lost their battle to cancer.”

The Student of the Year competition was not Dakota’s first stop in her journey to fundraising for cancer. She held a bake sale to benefit the American Cancer Society and volunteered at Camp Dotty, a week-long camp for oncology patients and their siblings, put together by The Tomorrow Fund at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Dakota grew close to one of her campers who inspired her to donate 12 inches of her hair to make wigs for women battling cancer. She said that the kids were “unbelievable.”

“I’ve never seen kids so strong, and despite all of what they’ve been through they kept smiles on their faces. I want to see more kids like that, who are healthy enough to go outside and play and be the kids that they are. Cancer should never play a role in anyone’s life. This campaign is just the beginning of a lifelong mission for me to knock out cancer.”

Dakota is not on this journey alone. She teamed up with Bay View history and social sciences teacher Nicole Buco, Bay View school counselor Drea Harms and Bay View students Jenna Costantino, Haley Lecomte, Mikaela Lee, Annie Madeiros, Alexia Mattos and Sarah Underwood. Also on “#TeamDakota” are two Bishop Hendricken students, Matthew Ricci and Matthew Sweeney, along with hometown friend Sabryna Nobrega.

“I’m so lucky to be surrounded by such great friends all the time. They are upbeat, driven and hardworking and I can count on them for everything. Their families were so supportive, I actually gave Alexia Mattos’ dad the title of ‘#TeamDakota MVP’ because his support was just unbelievable. Also, with Ms. Harms and Mrs. Buco, I couldn’t have picked better campaign managers. I couldn’t have done it without their support, encouragement and reassurance,” said Dakota.

Aided by Bay View’s administration, Dakota and her team put together fundraising events and opportunities, which included a t-shirt sale, dressdown days, a mixer with DJ Jessica from 92 Pro FM, a dodgeball competition and a comedy night. Dakota also mailed a letter to every Bay View family, as well as personal family and friends, in order to gather further support for LLS. The lower and middle schools helped the cause by holding a bake sale for her campaign.

Dakota is Student Council president, Peer minister, a school ambassador, a member of the Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society and the National Honor Society. She is also on Bay View’s rowing team and basketball team. When asked about what is next on her journey to “knock out cancer,” Dakota explained that she’s been given opportunities to speak at workshops and attend other LLS events. She is currently still fundraising, with a goal of $50,000 by June 30. She is about $15,000 away from her goal. If Dakota reaches her goal, she will be given a research grant to partner with any researcher for the blood cancer of her choice. She can also make the grant in honor of whomever she would like. Dakota has signed her National Letter of Intent to row at the University of Rhode Island where she will be studying nursing this fall. She aspires to become a nurse practitioner with a specialty in pediatric oncology.

“Hopefully we find a cure sooner than later, but if not, it’s going to be a lifelong mission and journey for me,” says Dakota.

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  • richardcorrente

    Dear Dakota,

    That is one of the most beautiful gestures I have ever heard about. You are a true leader and someday, maybe you should be Mayor of this city. We need great leaders like you that will govern from a position of "doing what's right". God bless you. I am proud to live in "your city".

    Happy St. Patrick's Day

    Richard Corrente

    Democrat for Mayor

    Thursday, March 17, 2016 Report this