remember them? Read more Beat the Odds stories 2006 Beat the Odds® Honorees

Where Are They Now?—Highlights of Past Beat the Odds^® Scholarship Recipients 

1996 Sara Hodgin now lives Portland, Oregon and works as a service representative for the Social Security Administration. “I love it out here! I’m sorry that I won’t be able to make it this year but will make a plan to come out next year.” 

1997 Reuben Moore received his undergraduate degree in enterprise development, will complete his MBA at Hamline in 2012. He plans to pursue his PhD in business soon after. His career includes starting two marketing businesses and currently, he consults for UnitedHealth Group. Reuben has three daughters, ages two, six and 10 and he loves playing chess with friends, volunteering and mentoring. 

1997 Heather Neumiller Yenni graduated from the University of St Thomas in 2001 with a major in social work and a minor in family studies. She’s an admissions social worker at a nursing home and rehab center. Married, Heather and her husband own a home and enjoy fixing it up, gardening and playing with their yellow lab. She still loves playing sports–volleyball and softball, something she used to do to help her escape from reality but now just does it for fun. 

1999 Yer Chang will graduate this May from the Humphrey Institute with a Masters in Public Policy with a concentration in higher education and social policy. She will pursue a career in the public sector, such as in government, nonprofit or foundation work. She is married and has a daughter. 

1999 Lora Miller Zimmerman will be celebrating her ninth wedding anniversary in June. She has a 5-year-old son that “could not bring more joy to our lives”. She continues to work at Silver Lake Animal Hospital, where she’s worked since its inception eight years ago. She loves the career she chose and feels it’s a blessing to be able to go to work everyday and feel as though you are helping in your own way. 

2000 Victoria (Bates) Christian is happily married and a “very proud and extremely busy mother of four wonderful children,” ages five, four, two, and her one-month-old, who was born in the car on the way to the hospital. She has a successful career with Hennepin County as a children’s health care navigator, managing the many health care needs of children involved in the county’s child protection program. Victoria wanted to express her gratitude to Beat the Odds for support she has received over the years. 

2000 Yasmin Haque, a graduate of Hamline University, moved last July to the Dominican Republic to be with her fiancé, and in October, they were married. Having planned the move for a few years, she had time to prepare and study Spanish. Yasmin always wanted to become fluent in another language and live abroad. She is, indeed loving the cultural immersion. She’s also looking for work in the hospitality or resort industry here. 

2001 Ivory Smith, a graduate of Payne University, lives in Atlanta and is a full-time graduate student at Mercer University School of Medicine Marriage & Family Therapy Masters Program. She will receive her degree this May. She hopes to work with the military population, preferably recent returned vets suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. “I don’t have any kids and not married yet! I’m very busy and always tired but grateful. I love Beat the Odds and Children’s Defense Fund. Without you guys I wouldn’t have made it to college.” 

2002 Jeanine Jackson graduated from Minneapolis Community and Technical College with Associate degree and then attended Dunwoody for welding. She currently works in a restaurant, but hopes to return to school and finish her undergraduate degree. 

2003 Brixanne Schafer attended the College of St. Catherine and graduated with a bachelor’s in broadcast journalism and women’s studies. She has a 22-month-old son and currently works as a project administrator with AMEC, a global engineering firm. 

2006 Katie DeSantis graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College last June with a degree in gender studies and sociology/anthropology. She currently is an AmeriCorps member working for the Minnesota Reading Corps as a pre-school literacy tutor, teaching preschoolers rhymes, letter sounds and names, and alliteration. “It is very exciting, and I am excited for what lies ahead.” 

2007 Mohamed Mohamed graduated Cum Laude last December from St. Cloud State University with a major in public administration and international relations and a minor in Political Science. He is applying to law schools and hopes to attend this fall. 

2009 Max Wirt is a sophomore at Augsburg College majoring in biology and plans to become a doctor. He hopes to study abroad and continue working with his dad in carpentry. He wishes this year’s honorees the best of luck. “The generosity of CDF and the Beat the Odds scholarship helped me realize my dream.” 

2010 Brian Zárate is a freshman at the University of Minnesota studying French and linguistics, as well as completing prerequisite coursework for dental school. Brian also works part-time at the University bookstore, volunteers in a local elementary French classroom, serves as a campus tour guide, and takes part campus activities, such as the Salsa Dance and Pre-dental clubs. “Receiving the Beat the Odds scholarship last year has not only helped me to pay for my schooling but it has also encouraged me to follow my dreams. Congratulations to this year’s honorees!”