Ashley Goetz Rhetoric Scholarship
Overview: The Ashley Goetz Rhetoric Scholarship of $5,000 is awarded to 1-2, qualified undergraduate students in Junior or Senior status with a major/minor in rhetoric, or a major/minor in another field with a strong, proven focus on rhetoric.
Background and Purpose: Ashley Goetz (Chapman University, ‘12) self-designed a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Composition with a specialization in Intercultural Rhetoric, valuing education and public service above all else. Interested in studying how culture, language, and society interact in a transnational world, Ashley sought to use her education and experience to institute positive change – to create connections, increase dialogue and agency, and promote mutual understanding. Through courses in religious studies and rhetoric, she studied how patterns in public discourse and texts shape communities, social relations, practices, identities, and knowledge. Always exhibiting self-awareness and sincerity, Ashley demonstrated continued resilience. Born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) – a terminal genetic disease that mainly affects the lungs, she never defined herself solely by the health challenges she faced, often wanting to share her experiences for the betterment of others.
“CF is something I have; it does not define me. Nonetheless, so much of who I am is from the trials and tribulations I face...I have been shaped and molded through my experiences battling this disease. Strength, humility, appreciation, awareness, compassion, and complete honesty would not be instilled within my soul if I existed without this label...this CF tag the doctors branded me with has aided me in finding my true purpose in life. I know what it is like to suffer and my goal in life is to alleviate that from as many people I can...I figure all the affliction is worth it if I can impact at least one being’s perspective on life’s journey.”
Ashley was a fighter every single day – a deep thinker and brave doer who gave love freely, laughed easily, and spoke boldly and truly. A living legacy of Ashley and an embodiment of her commitment to education and public service, the Ashley Goetz Foundation is looking to identify and financially support 1-2 undergraduate student(s) in Junior or Senior status with a major or minor in rhetoric, or a (self-designed) major/minor in another field with a strong, proven focus on rhetoric. Applicants from a variety of backgrounds and career paths who demonstrate strong academic standing, financial need, commitment to service, and a deep passion and creative spark that will serve them as trailblazers in their field are encouraged to apply.
Understanding that varied perspectives generate better ideas when solving complex, multi-faceted problems, the Ashley Goetz Foundation is committed to ensuring that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are at the core of every scholarship decision.
