Danielle Letendre receives scholarship

Danielle Letendre of Shelton has been named to receive a National MS Society, Connecticut Chapters 2014 Hayleys Hope and Michaelas Miracle MS Memorial Fund Scholarship.

Danielle will enroll in a six-year health science program at Springfield College this fall.

In addition to a roster full of AP courses and a four-year term on Shelton High Schools student council parliamentarian executive board, she was also a four-year member and three-year varsity letterman on both indoor and outdoor track and field.

It was through this passion for sports that Letendre discovered her dream of becoming a physical therapist. After suffering a severe sports injury, which left doctors thinking she would never reach full mobility in her ankle again, Danielle was introduced to the world of physical therapy.

After two months of physical therapy, I achieved the unattainable: my ankle had full rotation and I could sprint, said Letendre. I was so intrigued that I went on to intern at the same facility where I received my treatment. I learned so much from my time there and I cant wait to be on the other end of the recovery process by guiding someone through their challenges to reach their goals.

Danielles greatest inspiration is her mother, Laurie. While as a child it was hard to understand what MS actually was, Letendre grew to understand her mothers daily battle and developed a greater appreciation for her mothers resilience in the face of an incurable illness.

I had no idea what the disease was when my mom told me she had MS, said Danielle, whose mother, Laurie Letendre, has been in the fight against MS for 15 years. Once I did some research, I finally came to understand why she stayed inside while we shoveled snow with our dad all those years. When she thinks no one is looking, I see her freeze from the pain she experiences, yet she doesnt complain. It is times like these, I see what a true super hero she is and if I could be half the person that she is, I will be satisfied with my life.

As a recipient of the Hayleys Hope and Michaelas Miracle MS Memorial Fund Scholarship, Danielle said she is grateful to know that organizations such as the National MS Society are able to recognize the hard work of students who are facing challenges at home.

Danielle was recognized by the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, at its annual Hayleys Hope and Michaelas Miracle MS Memorial Scholarship Reception on June 5. She is one of 18 high school graduates receiving a 2014 scholarship from the Hayleys Hope and Michaelas Miracle MS Memorial Scholarship Fund.

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Danielle Letendre receives scholarship