Jessica Schrader Scholarship

Jessica Schrader

This scholarship was established in honor and memory of a Cerro Coso student, Jessica Patricia-Marie Schrader. A resident of Inyokern, California since 1994, Jessica was a police volunteer for the Ridgecrest Police Department, a soccer player at Cerro Coso, and had been football manager at Burroughs High School for five years and received a Letterman's jacket with letters and a plaque in recognition of her service. She was a full-time student at the college working on her degrees in Kinesiology and Liberal Arts. Jessica was diagnosed with Alport's syndrome at the age of 8, a hereditary disorder, and went through complete kidney failure at the age of 14. She received a kidney transplant in May of 2009, while in high school. Unfortunately, Jessica went into double rejection and her body started fighting against her transplant kidney in 2011. In 2013, her doctors decided to remove the kidney that was making her ill. Jessica did not allow her condition to dampen her enthusiasm for life, started taking classes at the college, and even joined the college soccer team, all while on dialysis. She pushed herself to succeed in life and complete her goals. Sadly, Jessica lost her courageous battle against kidney disease on September 19, 2017. This scholarship was established in memory of Jessica's enthusiasm for life and determination to fulfill her dreams despite her illness. She was an inspiration to all who knew her.