War, health, family concerns: St. Paul Optimist Club scholarship winners beat odds ‘to make a better future’

One fled war-torn Ethiopia and arrived in St. Paul at age 20. Another has a degenerative neuromuscular condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. There’s one who hopes to represent Haiti in the 2028 Olympics. Others have dealt with addiction and alcoholism in their families. Most come from low-income or working-class families.

The 16 winners of this year’s Optimist Club of St. Paul Youth Appreciation college awards were recognized for “their success in overcoming significant obstacles in their young lives,” said John Tillotson, a longtime club member and senior vice president at Stifel investment services.

“Many of them have adopted an attitude of not accepting ‘No’ for an answer,” he said. “Their drive, dedication, optimism and hope are all focused on trying to make a better future.”