Meet Sofia
2026 Scholar
Thyroid Cancer Survivor
Thanks to a generous survivorship program grant from Hyundai Hope On Wheels, twenty-three survivors were welcomed into the 2026 Children’s Cancer Cause College Scholars Program, representing both organizations’ strong investment in survivors and belief in their bright futures.
Each of these students receive a financial scholarship to help with academic expenses, and each Scholar commits to undertaking a volunteer project of their choosing related to childhood cancer advocacy.
After a year of misdiagnosis, 16-year-old Sofia finally discovered the cause of a swollen lymph node: papillary thyroid cancer. The delay in diagnosis allowed the cancer to metastasize extensively to her lymph nodes.
She underwent a nine-hour surgery to remove her thyroid gland and 57 additional lymph nodes in her neck — 27 of which were positive for thyroid cancer.
Now a college student studying social work, Sofia continues to receive regular scans and monitoring of her thyroid levels.
Sofia is passionate about giving back to help other kids impacted by cancer. During high school - and then again at college - she organized donation drives to collect care packages for childhood cancer families.
“My life changed completely, and I learned that survivorship is not just finishing treatment, but learning to live again.”
Sofia’s Advocacy Project
Driven by her own experience with delayed diagnosis, Sofia plans to host a Check The Neck project on campus and with her sorority sisters to help raise awareness about thyroid self-checks and warning signs to watch for.
“I want to be a voice for awareness because earlier diagnosis can lead to earlier, less invasive treatment,” says Sofia. “By sharing my own personal cancer journey, I hope to raise awareness within my campus student community about the early signs of thyroid cancer and spread the importance of early detection and proper screening.”
