D.J.'s Hero Award Winner Spotlight - Adriann Cotton
Over the next month we will be honoring each of this year’s 15 D.J.’s Hero Award winners. The D.J.’s Hero Scholarships are underwritten by David and Peggy Sokol in loving memory of their son, D.J., who lost his battle with cancer in 1999 at age 18. The awards recognize Nebraska high school seniors who exemplify perseverance and selflessness and who are servant-leaders in their communities. A total of 157 D.J.’s Hero Scholarships have been awarded to Nebraska students over the past 22 years.
Adriann Cotton – Central High School, Omaha
“As the youngest of four children in my family, I will begin a new tradition by being the first to attend college.”
As a child, Adriann Cotton, of Omaha, supported and advocated for a close family member who suffers from mental illness – an experience that sparked Adriann’s interest in clinical psychology. “I want to shed light on mental illness and how it affects families and communities,” she says. “Mental illness is too often overlooked, and as a result, people suffer in silence without receiving adequate help.”
Adriann has already begun to develop the skills that will pave the way to her success as a clinical psychologist. She mentors younger students weekly at The Hope Center for Kids in Omaha, and she also completed the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) coursework, which turned out to be instrumental in helping her care for her father after he was diagnosed with cancer.
When she wasn’t studying, caretaking or mentoring, Adriann volunteered as a docent at the Joslyn Art Museum, served as president of the Future Business Leaders of America and participated in numerous school clubs and activities, including Black Student Leadership, the National Honor Society, Partnership for Kids, Creighton University’s Classic Upward Bound Program and the Delta GEMS Program.
Adriann plans to major in psychology at UNL in the fall. “I’m glad to be an example for my nieces and nephews, to show them that going to college is possible,” she says.