By Becky Maxedon

Content Sponsored by the Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest

Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest (BBB) believes it’s never too early to start talking about the importance of integrity and ethical decisions.

To recognize ethical youth in the community, BBB offers high school student scholarships. BBB partnered with the Valley of the Sun Camelback Kiwanis Club and Swiss America to award five scholarships to high school students for their winning essays on “The Importance of Character and Ethics” for the 2022 Ethical Torch Essay Scholarship.

Hosted annually, the contest encourages students to write an essay about doing the right thing when they are faced with an ethical dilemma. Lake Havasu High School senior, Jamie Chanadol Hensen was awarded fourth place and $750.

”My goal prior to college is to raise as much money as I can. I found this scholarship essay contest online as a great opportunity for me. The topic is very interesting, and I also had a specific experience that I wanted to share,” Hensen said.

Student Jamie Chanadol Hensen

Hansen, who has lived in Lake Havasu City for the past 16 years, wrote an essay about an experience that resonated with many students.

“The story I described in my essay happened fairly recently at a track meet and I’m glad I had the confidence to share it.”

“Negative gossip behind others doesn’t make you look better; it in fact, makes you look worse than the person you are gossiping about. I’m glad I took the action to do what’s right because your actions reflect who you are much more than words. I appreciated the chance to share this story and to deliver my message to our community. I hope my story will make a beneficial impact on our society,” he said.

Hensen’s future plans include college.

“I am currently planning on attending an engineering university to pursue a major in aerospace engineering. My goal is to ultimately pursue a career I am passionate about,” he said.

The scholarship was presented at BBB’s Torch Awards for Ethics, sponsored by Desert Financial Credit Union, where businesses are honored for going above and beyond to operate with integrity and raise awareness about marketplace trust.

Gary Sneed, Desert Financial Credit Union Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, acknowledged that educational expenses continue to increase for students; so they surprised each of the five winners with an additional $1,000 scholarship.

To learn more about the Ethical Torch Essay Scholarship program, and read Henson’s winning essay, visit torchessay.bbbcommunity.org. Applications for next year’s scholarship will open on Jan. 1, 2023.