Kennedy Hayle

I am writing to express my appreciation for awarding me with the Kids Chance of Rhode Island scholarship. Growing up it was always clear that my dad was dedicated to working hard every day. This sense of security became even more important when my father suffered a serious injury at work. It was a scary day for our family, especially when I heard he had suffered an electrical shock, as I typically associate “electrocution” with a fatal injury. I was so grateful that my dad was extremely lucky that he was not more seriously injured in a physical capacity.

Having taken OSHA training as part of my bio-medical pathway at school, my dad spoke to me about OSHA and the protections it offered, and for the first time, I truly understood what those regulations meant. I could connect what I learned in the classroom to my father’s real-life experience. It made me appreciate the importance of workplace safety and the role unions, and other workplaces, play in ensuring that workers are protected.

While my parents had some money saved for college, it wasn’t enough to cover the full tuition for 4 years. I have relied on applying for scholarships to help reduce that cost, and this scholarship significantly helps with the cost of my tuition and student loans that I may incur as I proceed with my college education. Thank you again for this opportunity.