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Lincoln Rogers

  was a normal, healthy teenager, until his senior year at Franklin County High School (Winchester, TN). That's when the unthinkable happened -- he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Given the opportunity to make a wish through the Phoenix, Arizona-based Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the desires of children with life-threatening medical conditions, 17-year-old Lincoln didn't go with popular options like meeting a celeb or taking an all-expense-paid vacation. He asked for a college education.

"I was a senior, and college was the main thing on my mind," he explains. "I had always known about Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN), and I knew it was the place I needed to be. It was the most important thing that would benefit me for the future."

Lincoln had no indication that his wish would actually come true, though. So when he visited the director of the foundation and took a tour of Lipscomb, he was shocked to find TV crews, the president of the university, and friends and family there for a special presentation of a full, four-year Scholarship. "I was a wreck from crying," admits Lincoln, the first person in the history of the foundation to receive a college education as his wish. Now a junior biology major, Lincoln is reaping the rewards of attending his college of choice.

"I've enjoyed every minute of it," he says. "I can't imagine what else I would have wished; I can't imagine not being [at Lipscomb]. It's a huge part of my life now.

"That sentiment continues to grow stronger, especially after a relapse forced him to miss the spring semester of his freshman year. "I was overwhelmed with all the support I received during my sickness and hospitalization," he shares. His professors urged him to take off as much time as he needed, but Lincoln couldn't stay away from his dream school for long. While undergoing treatment, Lincoln managed to stay active in chorus and student government, while taking an online course to keep up with some of his studies.

"People would say, 'Why don't you just relax?' But I couldn't break away," he explains. "It was great to have something to look forward to, like a light at the end of the tunnel. It was wonderful going back to school."

It helps that Lincoln loves what he's studying. He hopes to become a doctor, a goal that was only reinforced during his battle with cancer. "Every day I went to the hospital, it wasn't fun, but it was interesting," he reveals. "I just want to be on the other side of the bed now!"

Fortunately, Lincoln has been cancer-free since August 2002, but the ramifications of his illness remain. "It definitely changes your whole way of thinking," he says. "God has been working through me to show his power and love. My faith has grown immensely, and I rely more on God's strength now."

For those who struggle, Lincoln prescribes perseverance. "Don't ever give up on your studies, because education will continue to bless you," he assures. And if you're anything like Lincoln, being blessed will make you a blessing to many.


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Robyn Tellefsen is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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