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Leadership 2020

Meet the 2020 Leadership Scholarship Winner

Michael J. McGowan Leadership Scholarship Award Congratulations! Aidan O'Connor 2020 Scholarship Award Winner! Aidan is a rising senior at Yale University studying ethics, politics, and economics.

Aidan O’Connor

NOAH is delighted to announce that Aidan O’Connor of Cary, Illinois, is the 2020 recipient of the Michael J McGowan Leadership Scholarship Award. Aidan is a rising senior at Yale University studying ethics, politics, and economics. 

Aidan’s longstanding commitment to the albinism community grew from a young child signing and stamping letters asking family and friends to support his family’s local NOAH bowl-a-thon, to serving as a role model and leader within the community. What began as informal connections with parents and youth, blossomed into leading sessions at national conferences, and facilitating the teen and young adult social distancing with friends programs.  

In a recommendation letter, Aidan was described as having “consistently utilized his strong leadership skills and creativity to strengthen the many different communities he has been involved with over his lifetime.” At Yale, outside of his academic pursuits, Aidan has combined his passion for the performing arts with meaningful leadership roles with his a cappella groups. “Aidan exemplifies the best of what leadership can be,” explained a fellow group member, “confident and sensitive, strong, and flexible.”

When discussing the role NOAH has played in his life, Aidan explained, “The power of NOAH as a community uniting people with albinism has motivated me to give back and aspire to formidable leadership goals.”

Honorable Mention

Michael J McGowan Leadership Scholarship Award Congratulations Honorable Mention Applicant Sophie Ostrove

Sophie Ostrove

Join us in congratulating honorable mention McGowan Leadership Scholarship Award applicant Sophie Ostrove. This fall, Sophie will attend New York University Tisch School of the Arts as a Film and Television major. Check out Sophie’s short film, Lost and Found, which won a special jury prize at the 2020 Emerging Filmmakers Competition at the Montclair Film Festival. https://youtu.be/lsOz5ftau3g

The Michael J. McGowan Leadership Scholarship is awarded annually to empower young people with albinism and celebrate their dedication and outstanding leadership qualities.