Congratulations to the recipient of the 2026 Ndoutoume Family Engineering Scholarship for Friendship Ark staff, Lacey Young!

Thank you to the Ndoutoume Family and America Best Appliances for making this opportunity possible. Applicants must be employees of Friendship Ark and enrolled in an accredited postsecondary education program; they do not need to be engineering students.

We are grateful for Lacey and the care and support she provides to our core members as a Direct Support Professional. We asked Lacey to share a little bit about herself and what receiving this scholarship means to her.

Lacey is currently pursuing her degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences as a full-time online student at Oregon State University while also working full-time at Friendship Ark. Since beginning her program in Fall 2024, she has earned a place on the honor roll every semester. After graduation, Lacey hopes to work in wildlife behavior and behavioral ecology, focusing on how animals interact with their environments and how those interactions can help shape conservation efforts.

In sharing what this scholarship means to her, Lacey explained that the support will help ease the financial pressure of continuing her education while working and allow her to stay focused on her academic progress and future career. She shared that her work at Friendship Ark has also played an important role in her journey, teaching her patience, empathy, and the importance of being fully present with the people she supports.

Congratulations, Lacey! We are proud to have you as part of the Friendship Ark team and excited to see where your education and future career take you!