Student Wins $16,850 in Scholarships for Medical Career

Kate Assad thought she'd be lucky to win one scholarship. Instead, the Freedom High School senior walked away with two awards totaling nearly $17,000 to pursue her dream of becoming a physician assistant.

On May 18, Assad learned she'd received both the Roland J. Wotring Scholarship for $11,850 and the VRX Foundation Scholarship for $5,000. The awards will help fund her enrollment in King's College's five-year physician assistant program.

The VRX Foundation ceremony brought the Shah family to Freedom High School to personally present Assad with her award. Rich, Kay, and Shay Shah founded the nonprofit after experiencing financial hardship, racism, and adversity firsthand.

Rather than letting those challenges define them, the Shahs turned to their passion for music. Rich built a successful side DJ business under the name dj VegasRich, and every dollar of profit goes straight into funding scholarships for students like Assad.

In just five years, the VRX Foundation has awarded $103,000 through 24 scholarships. This year alone, they granted $40,000 to eight seniors across Pennsylvania and New Jersey schools, choosing from 77 application essays.

Assad attended the presentation with her father Abe and brother John. She described the moment as "genuinely overwhelming with joy and gratitude."

The Ripple Effect

Rich Shah didn't stop at writing a check. He handed Assad a copy of "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki and made a personal promise that stuck with everyone in the room.

As the owner of Capital Edge Insurance and Financial Services, Shah pledged to be just a phone call away whenever Assad needs financial advice. It's mentorship that could prove just as valuable as the scholarship itself.

The Shah family's connection to the community runs deep. Two of their children completed all 12 years of schooling in the Bethlehem Area School District, the same district serving Freedom High School.

For a family that faced adversity and turned it into opportunity for others, supporting local students isn't charity. It's paying forward the belief that everyone deserves a fair shot at their dreams, regardless of their financial starting point.

Assad is heading to King's College with not just financial support, but a network of people invested in her success as a future healthcare provider.