Warrensburg, MO – May 9, 2025 – West-Central Independent Living Solutions (WILS) is proud to announce Malena McNeeley, a graduating senior from Smithton High School, as the 2025 recipient of the WILS Empowerment Scholarship. The $500 scholarship supports high school seniors with disabilities from Benton, Henry, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, and Saline counties in their pursuit of continued education.
Malena plans to attend State Fair Community College, where she will study International Business. Diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia, she has demonstrated exceptional perseverance and determination throughout her academic journey. Her story embodies the spirit of empowerment WILS strives to recognize.
“I am deeply honored to be the recipient of this scholarship,” said Malena. “Receiving this is truly humbling and I am honored to have been chosen. This scholarship not only helps support my goal of attending college, but it validates my efforts over the years to continue to maintain high academic achievement and community involvement. Thank you for this opportunity.”
Malena enjoys cooking and baking, calling it a creative outlet that allows her to challenge herself while treating her family. She also has a passion for speaking Spanish, as it helps her connect with people she might not otherwise engage with.
“I am driven by my desire to work in the corporate world and have an enjoyable career,” Malena shared. “I want to be able to make an impact on others and encourage those that struggle with a disability to never settle for anything less than achieving your goals.”
Her academic success has been made possible through accommodations such as speech-to-text tools, Grammarly for editing, extended test time, and having tests read aloud. One of her greatest achievements has been overcoming the anxiety associated with her disability and the fear of not being “good enough.”
WILS Executive Director Deb Hobson noted, “Malena’s commitment to her education and her positive outlook in the face of challenges are exactly the qualities we seek to celebrate through the WILS Empowerment Scholarship. We are proud to support her continued success.”
The WILS Empowerment Scholarship is open annually to high school seniors with disabilities in WILS’ six-county service area. Students self-identifying as having a disability as defined by the ADA are eligible, and no formal documentation is required.
For more information about WILS services or future scholarship opportunities, visit w-ils.org/youth.
About WILS:
West-Central Independent Living Solutions (WILS) is a nonprofit organization committed to empowering people with disabilities to live independently. WILS serves Benton, Henry, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, and Saline counties in Missouri, providing advocacy, peer support, skills training, transition services, and more.