“Scholarships allow students the special opportunity to focus on studies and future goals and not worry so much about the piling amounts of debt. For those of us with families, this aspect is especially important,” said John Castillo, a first-year medical student at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. During his deployment to the Middle East in 2016, John decided to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). His hope was to return to his roots, enroll at Marshall University and pursue his medical degree. After a series of applications and interviews during an extremely competitive year, John was one of the 2.5 percent who applied and was accepted into Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Class of 2022. Growing up in Huntington, West Virginia, John considers Marshall home. It’s where his wife, Lakin, a Lincoln County native, calls her alma mater. His parents and siblings are alumni, as well as multiple aunts, uncles and cousins. “Coming home to Marshall was the perfect opportunity to bring our family home and receive a world-class medical education,” explained John. “It’s just an amazing blessing how it all worked out in my circuitous route to Marshall.” John and Lakin, have a one-year-old son, Mateo. Upon their return to Huntington, they bought a house, which has brought them joy getting to know their neighbors and feeling that they are part of a community. Lakin works as a GIS Specialist for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. John is thankful for his wife and her career because they have not had to take out as many loans. “If she and I are in the same room, I’ll never be the hardest worker,” he said. “I have lived in large cities from California to Florida and nowhere have we felt this level of community and personal care. Often, people say, ‘everyone knows everyone in Huntington’ with a negative light, but I only see this as a positive. When you need a hand, there is always someone willing to help,” John explained. John credits Ms. Amy Smith and Ms. Cindy Warren in the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine (JCESOM) for welcoming everyone to make them feel at home, and not just because they remembered his uncle and JCESOM alumnus who graduated nearly 15 years ago. “You do not get that knowledge without being involved in the lives of students and their families,” he said. “I get the impression the entire cadre of faculty have the students’ success at the top of their priorities. The small classes give a communal, team- like atmosphere. From the top down, I’ve gotten the sense that everyone shares the same focus of making sure we succeed.” While John is undecided which area of medicine he would like to practice and is keeping an open mind, he is excited to learn the core foundations and begin interacting with patients and medical professionals in his third and fourth years. Quickly becoming involved to gain experience in different areas, John has participated in the Marshall Medical Outreach (MMO), a student-led initiative that operates a mobile health clinic to serve the community and reach the homeless or those near the risk of homelessness. He also was recently named the class president for the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Class of 2022. In addition to participating in these activities, he is currently applying for a position with the West Virginia Air National Guard. John believes the support alumni and gracious donors provide allow students like him to participate in areas of outreach and gain knowledge that cannot be learned in a classroom. It allows them to study harder and worry less about the expense associated with becoming a physician. “The decision to pay it forward is a selfless act to ensure the next generation is prepared to succeed and impact our community. Particular to the medical school, one of the main goals is to train doctors to serve in West Virginia. Making donations is not only an investment in an individual, it is an investment in the continued prosperity of the communities we call home,” John explained. “It is very likely the students who donors support will one day be their doctor, the engineer who designs the bridges they drive over or one of their children’s school teachers.” John’s favorite season is fall because of the splendor that covers West Virginia. Some of his favorite childhood memories include cheering on the Herd or exploring the trails and streams, usually fly fishing across the state with his family. “Fall is like the spring of the collegiate world- it is a time for new beginnings. New students are moving in, other students are returning from summer break, you get to see your friends you haven’t seen in a while, start new classes and most importantly, cheer on the Thundering Herd,” he said. In the future, John hopes that Marshall’s role in the Tri-State continues to expand, particularly in STEM and medicine-related curriculum. “Marshall is a cornerstone to the Tri-State community, which many call home. Giving back ensures the university’s role continues to grow for generations to come. Scholarships and gifts like the medical equipment we receive via alumni donations serve to pay it forward to the next generation of students. It is greatly appreciated.” Receiving a World-Class Medical Education