Polk State College has awarded the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship to Rachelle Scarbor, a Radiography student who is turning perseverance into purpose and education into community impact.

Scarbor has a clarity forged by experience and a vow she refuses to abandon. 

“I am a 55‑year‑old student on a transformative journey to fulfill my lifelong ambition and a dying promise to my late mother,” Scarbor said. 

The promise to become the first in her family to earn a degree in the healthcare industry has become the compass for every lecture, lab and clinical shift. 

“The world of medicine has always fascinated me… My passion for continuous learning in the medical field has been an enduring force in my life,” she said. “This drive has led me to pursue a career in radiography, where I can contribute to patient well‑being through cutting‑edge imaging technology and precise diagnostics.” 

Just as important, she centers care on empathy. Scarbor said compassion is at the heart of patient care and strives to make every individual feel valued and understood.

Like many adult learners, Scarbor is candid about the practical pressures that can shadow progress. She is currently unemployed while enrolled full‑time. Transportation is a constant variable in a schedule that spans the classroom and clinic. 

“Receiving this financial aid makes a world of difference by easing my burden and allowing me to focus on my education without constant anxiety over how I will reach my clinical sites,” she said.

But Scarbor’s story also reaches beyond her own milestones. She ties her education to broader work in access and equity, seeing the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement in the evolving landscape of healthcare and the responsibilities that come with it. 

“The Civil Rights Movement played a pivotal role in reshaping U.S. healthcare, particularly in enhancing patient care for marginalized populations, including access to radiographic services,” she said.

Looking ahead, she plans to lend her voice and skills where they can make a measurable difference, intending to one day become a member of the American College of Radiology (ACR) so she can advocate for those less fortunate.

Scarbor frames her progress not as a solitary success but, as a signal to others who are weighing the cost, the time and the risk of trying. 

“My story is one of resilience and hope,” she said. “I hope it inspires others to pursue their aspirations fearlessly.”