Spring 2026 Influencer Scholarship Winners
The Spring 2026 Influencer Scholarship Contest has concluded, and winners have been chosen. Thank you to every high school senior who submitted an entry. The time and thoughtfulness the class of 2026 put into their submissions encouraged donations and saved lives across North, Central and East Texas. Every submission was lifesaving for a local patient; however, there can only be two winners.
The winners of the Spring 2026 Carter BloodCare Influencer Scholarship Contest are Addison VanZandt, from Kilgore High School, and Ninfa Morales Remon, from Decatur High School!
Addison capped off her high school experience by winning this scholarship shortly before graduation, which is telling of things to come. She will study biochemistry at the University of Texas at Tyler, and her experience with the influencer scholarship serves as a springboard for her studies.
“Winning this scholarship means a lot to me because it helps me take another step toward my future education and career goals,” Addison said. “I am very thankful to be chosen, and it encourages me to keep working hard as I prepare for college.”
Preparing for college and career goals isn’t the only reason Addison wanted to compete in this scholarship contest. Blood donation has personally impacted her life, as blood donors saved the life of one of the most important people in her life.
“Blood donation has impacted my life because of my mom’s experience,” Addison said. “Seeing how serious her situation was showed me how important blood donation is and how it can make a lifesaving difference for people and their families.”
The influencer scholarship isn’t the only way she makes a difference. She’s seen the impact of blood donation in a personal way, and she mentioned that she wants to help others in the same way donors helped her mom. That’s why she’s a blood donor herself.
Addison is passionate about helping others in other ways, too, which is partially why the biochemistry program at UT-Tyler appealed to her. After college, she plans to become a physician assistant and work in a medical specialty such as dermatology, allergy or immunology to help others.
She plans to continue donating blood in college and will continue encouraging others to do so – as she did through the influencer scholarship contest. In fact, she’d encourage others to donate specifically with Carter BloodCare.
“My experience donating with Carter BloodCare was positive, and the staff made the process feel comfortable and organized,” Addison said.
For Ninfa Morales Remon, growing up in a small community isn’t just a living situation; it’s a way of life. The recent Decatur High School graduate felt compelled to compete in the influencer scholarship contest because of her firsthand experience with blood drives, and knowing the impact blood donation has for a small community.
“As student council president in a small, rural community, I’ve had the privilege of helping organize three Carter BloodCare blood drives each year,” Ninfa said. “I’ve witnessed how a community can unite for a meaningful cause, while also recognizing how difficult it can be to meet donation goals.”
Ninfa mentioned she hopes to become a donor one day, but she hasn’t been eligible to donate blood yet. After coordinating several blood drives during her high school years, she’s seen donating blood up close and has a good understanding of the process and the benefits of donating with Carter BloodCare.
“Throughout the entire process, the Carter BloodCare staff remain attentive and supportive, ensuring donors are well cared for at every stage,” Ninfa said. “This level of care helps transform something that could feel intimidating into something safe, structured and genuinely meaningful.”
Until she becomes eligible, Ninfa remains focused on continuing to advocate for blood donation. She’s planning on attending Tarleton State University to pursue a degree in biology. Like Addison, helping others is a priority for her, and she’s pursuing a career that will allow her to help others.
“After college, I hope to go into the medical field and become an emergency medicine physician, where I can provide the quick and intensive care that so many people need,” Ninfa said. “I see myself as a caretaker, and I would be honored to have a career that allows me to do that on a professional level.”
With her mind set on the future, the influencer scholarship contest represents the beginning of her pursuit of those goals. The scholarship money will help with her studies, and her submission is a way of getting started on the type of work she’d like to make a career out of.
“This scholarship represents a meaningful jumpstart toward a career dedicated to saving lives and creating a lasting impact on others,” Ninfa said. “Much like the blood donations that support patients in critical moments, this opportunity has the potential to change lives by investing in the futures of young adults pursuing their goals after graduation.”
On behalf of everyone at Carter BloodCare, congratulations to Addison and Ninfa, and thank you to everyone who participated.