Boxercraft announced today Kate Elizabeth Bowling of Medina, OH, as the winner of the 2019 Boxercraft Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer Scholarship. Bowling will receive $3,000 to put toward her education. The scholarship was created in 2017 to honor the memory of Tod Rastello, former Boxercraft vice president of sales, who passed away in 2016 from pancreatic cancer. The scholarship is open to patients, survivors, and any immediate family member whose life was impacted by a loved one’s battle with the disease.

Each year, a scholarship committee consisting of Boxercraft staff and the Rastello family carefully reviews each application and essay submitted to select a winner. “We felt it would be extra special for Tod’s family to be involved in the selection process,” says Boxercraft CEO Shelley Foland. Since 2017, Boxercraft has awarded $7,000 in scholarships to help students impacted by pancreatic cancer pay for college expenses.

Like most teenagers, Kate Bowling had dreams of going to college to make her way in life. “My priorities had always been fairly simple; go to college, get a degree in criminal justice, and become a crime scene investigator,” says Bowling. Her road to success seemed bright until her life took an unexpected turn. In October of 2016, at the young age of 15, Kate was diagnosed with stage IV of pancreatic cancer, which had spread to her liver. To add to her devastation, she was told that she didn’t have much longer to live. But Bowling was a fighter! Together with her parents, the teen refused to give up hope.

Three years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and a low rate for survival, Bowling, a relentless warrior, is now living her dream. She is a freshman at The University of Akron in Ohio studying forensic psychology—a reality that she fought much of her life to achieve. Bowling has completed 25 chemo treatments, endured several surgeries, and went through 4 rounds of radiation. “I have a few tumors left that doctors believe can be removed with surgery,” she says.

Selecting a winner for the scholarship is never an easy task, but this year’s pool of applicants proved even more challenging for the committee. Candidates facing personal and financial hardships that deserve support was a commonality among all submissions. “It was such a hard decision. All the applicants are worthy,” says Tammy Rastello, the wife of the late Tod Rastello. After much deliberation, the committee selected Kate Bowling as the 2019 scholarship winner.

“We applaud Kate’s accomplishments and her ability to overcome obstacles in pursuit of her dreams. Her story is inspiring and her determination even more so,” says Foland. “We would like to thank all participants for their wonderful essays and extend our best wishes for their bright and promising futures!”

The Boxercraft Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer Scholarship helps students affected by pancreatic cancer pay for their tuition and other college-related expenses. Past applicants not selected for the award are encouraged to reapply each year. The next deadline to apply for the Boxercraft Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer Scholarship is July 2020. To learn more and apply for the scholarship, visit www.boxercraft.com/pancreatic-cancer-scholarship/.

Boxercraft is proud to announce the hire of Sarah Shifflett, joining the company as national key account sales manager. Shifflett will manage all aspects of key account activities for the wholesale market, placing a strong focus on helping Boxercraft achieve its vision of becoming an indispensable partner to its customers. “I have no doubt that Sarah brings the innovative outlook and talent needed to support our progressive efforts,” says Boxercraft CEO Shelley Foland.

Before joining Boxercraft, Shifflett’s most recent role was director of merchandising at Heritage Sportswear, a wholesale supplier of blank apparel. She began her career working in customer service at Virginia T’s and progressed through a series of roles including senior asset buyer, territory sales manager, and purchasing manager. After Heritage Sportswear acquired Virginia T’s, she became the director of merchandising for the company.

Shifflett brings over 20 years of industry experience to Boxercraft. Her background includes expertise in merchandising, strategic planning, inventory management, and in every aspect of the sales process, from acquiring new customers to managing long-lasting client relationships.

“Boxercraft has amazing products and great potential. I’m very excited to be here,” says Shifflett. “I can’t wait to get out and meet our customers and provide high-value service to meet their needs.” Building and maintaining strong customer relationships go a long way in sales, and Shifflet intends to leverage her existing client relationships to hit the ground running in her new role at Boxercraft.

For the third consecutive year, Boxercraft is investing in student success through the Boxercraft Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer Scholarship. Each year since 2017, Boxercraft has awarded $2,000 specifically for students impacted by pancreatic cancer. This year, the scholarship fund was increased to $3,000.

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 56,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year, and the disease takes over 45,000 lives annually. According to the National Cancer Institute, pancreatic cancer is the third deadliest form of cancer in the country, right after lung and colorectal cancers, and it is expected to be the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030.

In 2017, Boxercraft launched its pancreatic cancer scholarship to honor the memory of Tod Rastello, former vice president of sales, who passed away in 2016 after his long battle with the disease. "It’s a true honor to offer this scholarship to keep Tod’s legacy alive and provide support for students whose lives have been affected by pancreatic cancer," says Boxercraft CEO Shelley Foland.

In addition to the scholarship, Boxercraft also sponsors and participates in PurpleStride Atlanta, an awareness walk to raise funds to cure pancreatic cancer. Boxercraft's support expounds on its core value of social responsibility and reinforces the company's commitment to serving its communities.

Scholarship applicants have the opportunity to directly receive $3,000 to go toward their tuition or other college-related expenses. "All too often students face financial hurdles in obtaining a college degree. Boxercraft's scholarship allows us the opportunity to help alleviate some of those barriers and support students on their path to success," says Foland.

Applications for the 2019 Boxercraft Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer Scholarship are being accepted now through July 15. To be eligible for consideration, a student must be a college-bound high school senior or currently enrolled in college, have been impacted by pancreatic cancer, and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0. The scholarship will be awarded based on essay entry and financial need.

To learn more about the Boxercraft Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer Scholarship, visit https://www.boxercraft.com/pancreatic-cancer-scholarship/.