Ashley Calogero Awarded 2025 Berger and Green Heart Disease Scholarship for Resilience and Service

Berger and Green has announced Ashley H. Calogero as the recipient of the 2025 Heart Disease Scholarship, recognizing her resilience in facing congenital heart disease and her dedication to serving others through a career in national security. The $1,000 scholarship, awarded annually to a student living with heart disease, honors individuals who demonstrate strength and perseverance despite significant health challenges.

Born with a rare congenital heart defect, Calogero underwent life-saving surgery hours after birth, defying medical expectations that predicted multiple procedures with uncertain outcomes. Growing up with visible scars, she initially struggled with feelings of being "born broken" but eventually embraced them as symbols of strength, influenced by her Japanese grandmother's advice: "nana korobi ya oki"—fall down seven times, get up eight. This philosophy has guided her through numerous setbacks, including the medical disqualification from her dream of attending the Air Force Academy due to her heart surgery history.

Despite this disappointment, Calogero redirected her ambitions toward Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she is pursuing a degree in Global Security and Intelligence Studies. The program, detailed at https://www.erau.edu, prepares students to identify and prevent national and international threats. Alongside her academics, Calogero has demonstrated leadership through varsity tennis, Student Council, Interact Club, and the National Honor Society, where she tutored peers.

Her essay for the scholarship, reflecting on overcoming early life challenges, encapsulated the award's mission: "If I faced such a major challenge in the first hours of my life, I can do anything." Calogero aims to commission as an Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Air Force and eventually transition to a federal agency, continuing her family's legacy of military service—her mother served 24 years as an Air Force physician.

The Berger and Green Heart Disease Scholarship, more information available at https://www.bergerandgreen.com, supports students like Calogero who turn personal adversity into motivation for achievement and service. Her story underscores the importance of resilience in overcoming medical barriers and contributing to national security, highlighting how individuals with heart disease can pursue demanding careers with determination and support.