SCHOLARSHIPS
SOARING FOR C! CHARACTER SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
This scholarship is given to students that show consistent character in their decision making and interactions with others. Their integrity, their kindness, their words, and daily actions are the reason why they are receiving this award. These students were nominated by educators and directors of the Soaring For C! Foundation. The gift is a $1000 dollar scholarship for each recipient to be used for their continuing education.
2025 AWARD
Marisol Rose Stamp
June 2, 2006 ~ July 31, 2024
Empower
Growth
Soaring For C! fundraising supports annual college scholarships to graduating seniors from York High School and at least one another local high school. These scholarships not only honor Cessna's memory but also support the dreams and aspirations of young students, encouraging them to pursue their passions and make a positive impact on the world.
This scholarship is given to students that show consistent character in their decision making and positive interactions with others. Their integrity, their kindness, their words, standing up for others, and their daily actions are the reason why they are receiving this award.
Marisol was set to graduate in May from Heartland Community School in Henderson. This scholarship, established in memory of Cessna, was meant to support Marisol’s next steps in her journey and she was going to receive the Soaring For C! Character Scholarship Award. Marisol and Cessna shared a unique bond—partners in dance and snacks—and now, they continue their choreography and snacks together in Heaven.
In tribute to Marisol’s passion, spirit, and dreams, we are honored to still give Marisol her scholarship - $1,000 to Dance For Tomorrow – The Marisol Project. This gift will help preserve Marisol’s legacy and fuel the dreams of future dancers, keeping her memory alive and her love for dance, inspiring others for years to come.
2025 AWARDS
Congratulations to the 9 recipients of the 2025 Soaring For C! Character Scholarship Award from York High School and McCool Junction Public School.
Transcript and recipient names below:
Soaring For C! began as a Facebook group dedicated to the memory of Cessna Elyse Brestel, our daughter, a bright and talented sophomore at York High School who tragically ended her life on February 1, 2021 at the age of 15. Her passing left a profound void in the hearts of those who knew her, but it also sparked a movement of kindness and compassion that transcended borders.
Over time, the group evolved into a mass of Random Acts of Kindness, with over 20,000 kindness cards circulating globally in her honor. Each card serves as a reminder of Cessna's spirit and the importance of spreading love and kindness to others.
A year after her passing, Soaring For C! transformed into a non-profit organization. The foundation promotes random acts of kindness and kindness in general, while advocating for mental health, particularly among elementary to college-age students. It places a strong emphasis on suicide awareness and prevention, striving to ensure that no other family has to endure the pain of losing a loved one to suicide.
Additionally, Soaring For C! annually awards college scholarships to graduating seniors from York High School and at least one another local high school. These scholarships not only honor Cessna's memory but also support the dreams and aspirations of young students, encouraging them to pursue their passions and make a positive impact on the world. This scholarship is given to students that show consistent character in their decision making and positive interactions with others. Their integrity, their kindness, their words, standing up for others, and their daily actions are the reason why they are receiving this award.
This year we are fortunate to be able to give 10 scholarships, one special memorial award, 7 to York High School seniors and 2 to McCool Junction Public School seniors. These students were nominated by educators or directors of the Soaring For C! Foundation. The gift is a $1000 dollar scholarship for each recipient to be used for their continuing education. With this year included, we have been able to give 49 scholarships over the last 4 years, totaling $49,000 in Cessna’s memory.
In the length that Soaring For C! has been a non-profit, we have been overwhelmed by the generous support and donations made by our local community, our state community, and all of our friends across the United States and other countries. We are still continuing to evolve in making a difference in the lives of others and will always welcome your ideas and support moving forward.
Before announcing this year's recipients, I would like to share three key thoughts not only with the class of 2025 but with everyone in the audience who has come to support these remarkable young adults:
1. Be kind to others. And don’t forget to be kind to yourself.
2. Be able to forgive others. And be able to forgive yourself
3. Asking for help is not a burden. It is not weakness.
You have people that love you and they will always
wrap their arms around you to help you.
For those who knew her, thank you for being a part of Cessna’s life while she was here on earth and thank you for continuing to let her be a part of your life even now.
We are thankful for all of you.
Cessna, in coinciding with her values, would be in agreement of these recipients from York High School and McCool Junction Public School.
The 2025 Soaring For C! Character Scholarship Award is presented:
York High School
Taylor Peters
Sergio Rodriguez
Lila Suhr
Landon Sterns
Reese Hirschfeld
Keagyn Linden
Melissa Eckhart
McCool Junction Public School
Ava Epp
Bailey Hall
2024 AWARDS
Congratulations to the 12 recipients of the 2024 Soaring For C! Character Scholarship Award from York High School
Transcript and recipient names below:
Soaring For C! started as a Facebook group in memory of our daughter and sister, Cessna Elyse Brestel, who ended her life on February 1, 2021. As months passed by, Soaring For C! took off and became known as a place of Random Acts of Kindness with over 17, 000 kindness cards circulating around the world in her memory.
Soaring For C! was then incorporated into a non-profit organization one year after her death and the foundation promotes random acts of kindness, and kindness in general, and advocates for mental health, primarily for elementary to college age students, and in particular for suicide awareness and prevention. Soaring For C! also provides college scholarship funds on a yearly basis for graduating high school seniors from York High School and at least one other local area high school.
This year we are fortunate to be able to give 12 scholarships, 10 from York High School.
This scholarship is given to students that show consistent character in their decision making and positive interactions with others. Their integrity, their kindness, their words, standing up for others, and their daily actions are the reason why they are receiving this award.
These students were nominated by educators and directors of the Soaring For C! Foundation. The gift is a $1000 dollar scholarship for each recipient to be used for their continuing education. With this year included, we have been able to give 39 scholarships over the last 3 years, totaling $39,000 in Cessna’s memory.
In the length that Soaring For C! has been a non-profit, we have been overwhelmed by the generous support and donations made by our local community, our state community, and all of our friends across the United States and other countries. We are still continuing to evolve in making a difference in the lives of others and will always welcome your ideas and support moving forward.
Before I announce this year’s recipients I have three thoughts to leave not only the class of 2024 with, but also to all of you in the audience that came to support these young adults:
1. Be kind. Be kind to others. And don’t forget to be kind to yourself.
2. Grace. Be able to forgive others. And be able to forgive yourself.
3. Asking for help is not a burden. It is not weakness. It is human. You have people that love you and they will always wrap their arms around you to help you.
Thank you for being a part of Cessna’s life while she was here on earth and thank you for continuing to let her be a part of your life even now. We are thankful for all of you. Cessna, in coinciding with her values, would be in agreement of the recipients of this year’s award.
The recipients of the 2024 Soaring For C! Character Scholarship Award are:
Briona Wiedeman
Morgan Collingham
Kassidy Stuckey
Raima Kreifels
Grace Uhler
Bo Fraser
Marie Friend
Weston Piper
Samantha McDaniel
Ellie Peterson
Cora Hoffschneider
Atley Shepherd
2023 AWARDS
Congratulations to the 23 recipients of the 2023 Soaring For C! Character Scholarship Award from York High School
Transcript and recipient names below:
This year is unique in that this is Cessna’s graduating class…her friends and classmates. We wanted to be able to make as big of an impact as we could…and so it was decided for her class, the Class of 2023, there would be 23 recipients of the Soaring For C! Character Scholarship Award at York High School.
In the length of about 15 months that Soaring For C! has been a non-profit, we have been overwhelmed by the generous support and donations made by our local community, our state community, and all of our friends across the United States and other countries. We are still continuing to evolve in making a difference in the lives of others and will always welcome your ideas and support moving forward.
On February 1 of this year, we held a fundraiser on Cessna’s 2nd Angelversary that was specifically for this scholarship and from that fundraiser we are able to provide for four of these scholarships. The remaining scholarship funding for this year is coming directly from Cessna’s college fund.
Before we reveal the recipients, I would like to leave Cessna’s class with a few short statements:
1. Be kind. Be kind to others and especially to yourself.
2. Grace. Be able to forgive others. Be able to forgive yourself.
3. Thoughts are not facts. Don’t believe everything You think.
Thank you for being a part of Cessna’s life while she was here on earth and thank you for continuing to let her be a part of your life even now. We are thankful for all of you.
Cessna, in coinciding with her values, would be in agreement of the recipients of this year’s award.
The recipients of the 2023 Soaring For C! Character Scholarship Award are:
Jessah Linden
Moriah Eikenhorst
Nevaeh Melby
Shaylee Benson
Malachi Coppinger
Austin Phinney
Lily Nuss
Zach Hurley
Colin Pinneo
Jessie Broughton
Valeria Acosta
Hattie Chavanu
Kelly Erwin
Addison Cotton
Morgan Driewer
Tori Stanton
Anslee Thorne
Gabby Acosta
Cole Schmid
Atleigh Hirschfeld
Kadence Velde
Mayah Colle
Koy Geick
Cessna's plus one scholarship recipient
This year is unique in that this is Cessna’s graduating class…her friends and classmates. We wanted to be able to make as big of an impact as we could…and so it was decided for her class, the Class of 2023, there would be 23 recipients of the Soaring For C! Character Scholarship Award at York High School….and Cessna’s plus one recipient from Central City High School, providing for 24 individual scholarships.
This scholarship is given to students that show consistent character in their decision making and interactions with others. Their integrity, their kindness, their words, and daily actions are the reason why they are receiving this award. These students were nominated by educators and directors of the Soaring For C! Foundation. The gift is a $1000 dollar scholarship for each recipient to be used for their continuing education. Although this student transferred schools, she was still nominated by educators and the SFC! Board.
Cessna, in coinciding with her values, would be in agreement of her plus one recipient of the
2023 Soaring For C! Character Scholarship Award: Haley Throener
2022 AWARDS
Soaring For C! will also be providing college scholarship funds on a yearly basis for graduating high school seniors. This year there are three recipients. Two from York High School and one from Fillmore Central High School.
The Soaring For C! Character Scholarship Award is given to students that show consistent character in their decision making and interactions with others. Their integrity, their kindness, their words, and daily actions are the reason why they are receiving this award.
These students were nominated by educators and/or directors of the Soaring For C! Foundation. The gift is a $1000 dollar scholarship for each recipient to be used for their continuing education.
Cessna, in coinciding with her values, would be in agreement of the recipients of this year’s award.
The recipients of the 2022 Soaring For C! Character Scholarship Award are:
Tristyn Pinney, York High School
Nathaly Argueta, York High School
Teneal Barbur, Fillmore Central High School