Meet Andrew Vogel: Medical Studies Major and 2024 Leadership Scholarship Winner

New Windsor, Maryland

1. Why medical studies?

My dad was a volunteer firefighter and EMT. So, I always grew up in the firehouse watching him run out the door and go to save people he never knew. That inspired me to become a firefighter and EMT, first with the juniors and then joining the actual department at 16. 

There was a call that my training limited what I could do. When I saw that DeSales had this PA program, I knew this is what I want to do.

2. Tell us about your essay, in which you talk about humility and the selfless service of being a first responder. 

As a first responder, it is incredibly humbling for me to be able to serve others in their darkest moments. Every day, I strive to live by John 15:13, which states, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” This passage is a humbling reflection of what it means to be a first responder. Choosing to serve others by putting their lives and safety above my own.

3. As a first-year student, how was the Orientation experience? 

I thought it was a great experience. The peer mentors definitely helped me get comfortable and adjusted on campus. That mentorship didn’t end at Orientation. They’re still there for me to reach out and ask questions. 

4. Advice for future Leadership Scholarship applicants? 

The most important is to be honest and to be true to who you are. They’re looking for genuine people who will come here to DeSales and who will make a difference. You don’t need to pretend to be someone you’re not. 

5. Fun fact about yourself?

I lived in Germany for two years. When I was younger, my dad went on tour. My favorite part was the Ramstein Air Base, seeing all the cargo planes coming in and out. 

The Leadership Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship offered to six students who have shown outstanding leadership in their high school careers and who plan to continue to develop those skills at DeSales. The deadline to submit your application, essay, and resume is Sunday, December 1, 2024.