The Randall/LaRossa College Scholarship Fund was established in 2009 to honor Peter Randall, MD and Don LaRossa, MD for their work to enhance the quality of life for individuals affected by cleft lip/palate and other craniofacial conditions. The fund was developed by friends and colleagues of Dr. Randall and Dr. LaRossa in appreciation of their mentorship, friendship, and dedication to serving children. Congratulations to the very deserving recipients below!

Natalia Gagliardi

“My name is Natalia Gagliardi and I’m from Milford CT. I am 17 years old and I was born with a cleft lip and palate. Throughout my life I had about 10 surgeries and still have more to come. Being born with this has definitely made an impact on my life. I had to make a lot of sacrifices and experience a lot of pain at a young age with every procedure. It has been a long journey but it has built me into the person I am today. I am so fortunate to have such a great medical team because I know people can struggle with having access to health care. Having such an amazing health care team beside me has really helped me get through every surgery. It has shown me how much I wanted to help someone like they did for me. I’m currently a certified nursing assistant and it has proven to me how strong my passion is for helping others, So I’ve decided that I want to become an operating room nurse and do my absolute best to help have a positive impact on as many people as I can. I am so grateful for receiving this scholarship because it really helps me be able to achieve my dreams without being so stressed with finances. In the fall I will be attending Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale Florida while I will be pursuing nursing and I can’t be more excited!”

Hunter Kirk

“I discovered I wanted to become a special education teacher when I was young. It didn’t take long before I learned that I was different from most of my peers who were the same age. I was born with a birth defect, metopic craniosynostosis-trigonocephaly, that didn’t allow my skull to grow. This condition caused me to have hearing loss, vision impairments, and short-term memory loss. I would have to have surgeries, five major ones to date, to allow space for my brain to grow and develop. I soon found that even though I had to work harder and learn differently, I wasn’t any less of a student than my peers. My successes made me want to help others who experienced the same situations in the classroom succeed too. Receiving the Randall/LaRossa College Scholarship will allow me to stress less about bills associated with my medical condition and college and focus more on my education. In the end this scholarship will allow me to achieve my dreams of helping others achieve theirs.”

Grace Maidlow

“This fall I will be attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to major in Biochemistry, with a goal of

attending medical school. My cleft journey began when I was born with a cleft lip and palate and has included many surgeries, dental procedures, and years  of orthodontic treatments. I was adopted as a baby from China, and as I grew up, my cleft journey sometimes meant enduring uncomfortable procedures or missing school and gymnastics competitions. But it also meant meeting incredible medical professionals whose care and dedication inspired me. Their impact on my life has inspired me to pursue a career in medicine so I can give back and support others the way I was supported. I am truly honored and thankful to have been selected for the ACPA Randall/LaRossa College scholarship. Knowing that others believe in my dreams means so much to me. This scholarship not only allows me to continue my education but also reminds me why I am passionate about becoming a physician– to give hope and care to others, just as I was given throughout my journey.”

Ella Ness

“Hi! My name is Ella Ness, and I will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Fall. I am planning on studying biochemistry and applied mathematics. I have a unilateral cleft lip and palate, which has impacted my speech, teeth, appearance, breathing, and mental health throughout my entire life. I have had several surgeries and years of dental work, but that is just one part of who I am. I am so proud to be part of such an incredibly resilient community. I am so thankful for this scholarship as it will help me pursue my education to hopefully one day become a doctor with a special empathy for the people around me.”