The last few days have been a roller coaster ride for a Nepalese student at Davenport Central High School, but today she got great news as she was awarded a $20,000 scholarship. The news couldn't come at a better time.
Senior Ahilya Khadka was born and raised in Nepal. She came to the United States just two years ago. She received the 2015 Dooley Memorial Scholarship. Its awarded to a senior that's in the upper 10 percent of their class and wants to become a doctor. She'll use the money towards her tuition for Harvard.
Many of her family still lives in Nepal. Khadka learned about the earthquake that happened in Nepal on her way to college orientation. While her family is doing okay, days like today help her focus on her dream of becoming a doctor. A dream she realized after volunteering at several hospitals in Nepal.
"The whole idea of meet new people and then help them out and rid them of you now diseases that have been troubling them, the whole idea of it seemed amazing," said Khadka.
She hopes after college she can take her degree back Nepal.
"I definitely want to go back home and help the people out there because I think that is where my talents and my education would be the best use," said Khadka.
Khadka hopes to make a trip back home before she starts Harvard in the fall.