Our second 2025 Iron Horse Scholar is Maria Struble! 💙🎉 Maria is studying developmental psychology and Spanish studies at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to pursue a career in occupational therapy. Her dad, Christopher, was diagnosed with ALS in 2024. Through her dad’s diagnosis, she has seen firsthand how occupational therapists support people’s functionality. With the challenges that come with ALS, she has been able to assist her father, and this has helped her to gain respect in the industry. Rather than the obstacles discouraging her, she was inspired to further her education in occupational therapy. “I want to become a healthcare provider who listens, adapts, and truly sees each patient’s needs when creating their care plan. My experience with ALS has shown me the immense value of empathy, innovation, and resilience, and instilled a dedication to a healthcare career in helping others. I’m committed to bringing those values to my journey toward becoming an occupational therapist.” (fb)

Help us congratulate our first 2025 Iron Horse Scholarship recipient, Evan Homan. 💙🎉 Evan will attend Indiana University this fall, where he will study finance. His father, Jeff, was diagnosed with ALS in 2017 and passed away in August 2022. Along with being a student, Evan is an elite climbing athlete ranked #10 on the U.S. Men’s National Team and is working hard to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. After receiving his Bachelor’s in finance, he plans to pursue an MBA at Northwestern University to eventually assist people in navigating complex financial situations, as his family did with ALS. “My parents did everything right. They planned. They sacrificed. And still, a disease like ALS broke in like a thief and destroyed everything they’d built," Evan shared. “That’s when I started asking different questions about insurance, investments, and security. That’s what pulled me toward studying finance. I want to help families build structures that hold up under pressure. I want to be the advisor who makes it easier for people to weather life’s hardest seasons. I want to carry my dad’s legacy not just in how I live, but in how I help others live." (fb)