August 28, 2025 • 33 mins
This week on At Home With Roby, we welcome Cienna Casillas, the newest Bridge Foundation scholarship recipient. Hear how she found her calling in forensic pathology and the path she’s charting at High Point University—alongside insights from Ross Kirwan, volunteer leader of The Bridge Foundation.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to a Home with Roby. I'm Patrick Kasak from
Roby Commercial and Services along with Trent Houston from the
Roby Family of Companies with the hosts. Man, you got
a little pep in your voice to PEPPI man, I'm excited.
I'm excited. Kylie's back. Kylie is back. We very much,
very much need her.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I don't know how excited that makes me in the
sense that she's an accountability partner skirt.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Those these days. Yeah, we we need all the help
we can get with with and she what she does
is so valuable. So glad that she's back. We've got
Ross Kwan Kirwayne in the studio. I always want to
say your name incorrectly. I apologize from the Bridge Foundation,
amongst many other things. He's our guest today.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Cool. I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I just met him. He's got to sit here and
on his hands. Yeah, and then we're going to talk
to to Sienna the current winner twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Keldyn still in the studio. How you doing, buddy? He
is always great. Oh, I have the mic. This is
the big daddy, Mike is It is obviously the top
of the tower.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
It's a daddy long lift. You can see me on here.
This is the one.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
It's it doesn't fall down, it doesn't move around, it
doesn't squeak. It is on point. Thank you, Kelvin.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Kelvin, I understand the predicament that you're in right now
without a mike, being a talk show guy and you
have no way to talk. This is pretty bad. Huh.
You know it's like pantom Mama. Now you know how
I feel hanging out with Trent all the time?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Oh man, That's how I felt on that uh episode
U and do done and do?
Speaker 1 (01:42):
It was like that call that you talked about on
part two.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Uh that let me see how your lips move, patter,
There they go, they're moving. Now it's silent Ron Hasten style.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Now you can mute people that I don't know if
we had mute on our phone's back then you just
kind of heard whatever came out. It's a call button,
especially with you had a next heil and I bet
you guys, did you bet we had an exty? Definitely? Yeah,
we had about eighty.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Next tails and then uh, I was on one of
my rants there in like six o seven about cutting costs,
and I said, we can get cell phones, you know,
for ten dollars a month for our eighty guys and
and the next tails. They thought they had a monopoly.
They did have the money, definitely, that's a fact. And
(02:29):
I think they got a little a little brazen in
their monopolization. And we were paying like eighty dollars a
phone and uh and and the first time at breakfast
when I broached that subject that that we could cut
about one six to one seventh of our costs. Look,
they thought I was an alien. We can't live without
(02:51):
next tails. We're contractors.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
I'm like, oh lord, dude, those things were so bad.
You could be doing whatever, you know, Let's say you're
doing your business and all of a sudden, right in
right in.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
The middle of your meeting, it's crazy beating.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
I mean that was bad. When it was in the
middle of church, that was the worst. Could you hold
up there, pastor for one second? John needs a piece
of four inche foam core second. I'll be right back though.
Really great, that's about what it was like. Though you
had zero and didn't think cameo. What was that button
called where you could silent people? They just hit that
(03:30):
when they tried to call you, and they knew you
silenced them.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I don't know, man, you thought it. You remember a
lot about these next tails.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Man, that was like a status symbol back in the construction,
reading about it.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
So the Sprint went, it was Sprint next tail towards
the end, and now I guess Sprint went to Verizon.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Do you remember seeing the very first flip?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
I think Alice, I heart Radio. Yeah, I mean, the
big joke was we were talking about Dad on those
last two shows. The big joke was he would never
get a non flip phone.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
He had to have that protection.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I mean, because now you can just accident only hit
a button and then you're on You're on call.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Oh lord, is that you say? The Ruby family of companies?
And iHeart Radio company?
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Check it.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
I just don't know.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Uh, I just don't know why Reagan has to find
my iPhone on my iPhone.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
They didn't find an XL. I'll be honest with you.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
She hadn't had to find my iPhone when I had
it in my pocket in a while.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
That's good, Thank you, babe.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
She was obviously a success, successful accountability partner.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
That's why you have me hold your phone sometimes. Go
there to the office. You gotta stay at the office.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Please.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
I will call you from this thing they call a
burner phone in a couple hours. Never had one of them, Buddy,
had watch way too many crime shows. That's like the
way you gotta have a burn phone, I think if
you're in syndicated.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Okay, okay, So Saturday night we watch Happy Gilmour two.
I thought it was hilarious. I really think I thought
it was funny. I finished watching it last night, but
I fell asleep on the couch and and Piper was
babysitting next door, and she came back in us about
eleven fifty and dot front door open, and I jumped up,
(05:25):
you know, like like I'm ready to attack. And then
yesterday I said, uh, I said, man, he came in.
I for you know, different place, different time. I forgot
you were babysitting. I didn't know what you were doing
coming in the house eleven forty five, and I thought
she went out to jump and have a car. She's like,
(05:45):
you're crazy. She's like, you were about to attack me.
And Reagan said, Reagan watches twenty four to seven. If
she's watching TV, it's a crime show. And she said,
I'll watch all these crime shows, and I would never
assume that if a door opens, criminals coming in to
get me. She's like, but every time some door opens,
you jump out of bed like fiber goes he's the
(06:09):
man of the house.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
Mom.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
I'm like, that ain't right.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
She was watching this one crime show one night and
I had dozed off. It was like, you know, eleven
o'clock on a word night, and on the show it
was like.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Boom boom boom boom boom boom, the police were here,
open up, and I chilled out of bed fan into
the bedroom door. She's like, oh my gosh, are you guilty.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
You're not the only one. So we One time there
was a root like a sound like a like a
sound like glass breaking, and I hauled up at bed,
called NYE want one. I'll go with dar ran down
the stairs. I'm like, you know, all flexed up, no
shirt on, like like I'm somebody. And it was Scarlett
had put a spoon up on, like the like you know,
like to set the soap dish that when you're showering,
(06:57):
and somehow that little jogger had wiggled its sweet loose
a big metal spoon and went boom into the bathtub.
But I mean I was ready to go down there.
Jody was like, you just woke everybody up over at Spoon.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Well, you know about the man I told you I
met at the airport at seventy nine years old.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
You know what he told me?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
He said, Man, somebody trying to stiff you out of
your money for no reason. He said, you gotta get
him to say that you did the job right, you
did it on time. And I'm sitting here listening. I'm
having coffee with him at the airport. I'm listening telling him, Okay,
what's you know? Do I record this message? And am
I going to give it to the lawyer? He said,
you know what you do?
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Then?
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Oh, I don't know this is appropriate. It's very appropriate.
He said.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Get in her house somehow and sit beside their bed
and cut the lamp on the night bedside table on
about one point thirty and wake them up. I said, dang,
thing's a little bit different back when Maryland's a little
different than North Carolina.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
We told my ross and I told about how knights
we are. They throw a crab at you, pinch at
your name. He didn't say he heard remember anything.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Just said, hey, I did everything right.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
We're gonna talk about this. He said, you'll get paid.
We're shot. What if Jim has a gun under his
pillar and.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Didn't really think about that where his wife laying messide
him has a gun.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
I don't know, man on that bold. All right, introduce
our guests. Patrick Ye, We've got Ross, who is our
volunteer leader for the Bridge Foundation. Bridge Foundation is a
scholarship that is awarded to someone in Mecklenburg County. Could
be public, we're private, and it's a twenty thousand dollars
scholarship trink five dollars a year. You know, we've had
several of the winners on the show. It's kind of
(08:38):
a tradition. Last year we had at Wardo. And we're
going to meet Sienna today and Russe will come on
as we go out and let him talk a little
bit about the bridge and himself, and then we will
introduce Sienna and uh, you got to hear her story.
And you're on the board, I was, I'm no longer
on the board. I also I'm a volunteer. I knew
(08:59):
you're gonna get kicked off that. I mean, listen, dude,
if there's anybody from university. It was like you're on
a scholarship board. Something has gone really wrong because I
don't think it would ever be something that they would
think would occur. We're good, make your time. That's good Ross.
We'll check Ross out when we come back. Thanks for
(09:21):
listening to That Home with Roby. And don't forget Roby
Services is your one stop source for all your electrical heating, cooling,
plumbing and handyman needs. Keep it easy and get it
all done by one. Roby servicesnow dot com. That's Roby
Services now dot com. Welcome back That Home with Roby.
I'm Patrick pac Isaac from Roby Commercial and Services, along
when Trent Haston from the Roby family of companies. If
(09:42):
you miss the last segment, come check us out. We're
having a couple of laughs. Uh, we're not laughing. We
having fun.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Man, I was laughing.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Oh we got Ross. Ross is in the house now,
Kelvin's getting our photo. Everybody looking. Everybody, man, this is
a lot going on. I'm all just talking Calvin's picture.
You just came back to to you know, had to
go outside and get a glass of water or something.
Come back. I just got power. We're in the game.
We're in the game. Read Uh, well, so Trent. We've
got the Bridge Foundation or annual show to promote, uh
(10:13):
the scholarship winner, which which every year we were just
blown away. Always tell you for me like it gives
me faith in the next generation of humanity that we've
got some really smart, talented young folks. And and Ross's
our is our volunteer leader of the Bridge Foundation here
in Charlotte. He's a strapping young man. It's one of it.
Just does Atlanteans keep it going young.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
I like her and I got it going on.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
And so a funny story. I think the last time
I played, I've told you about us playing. I'm not
gonna leave names. We're gonna leave names out of it.
Ross and I'm playing golf with a former Duke basketball
player and he works with Carnegie Carnegie Wealth Management. Okay,
and their colors are very similar to you nc's colors,
and uh, this person needed to borrow a tea and
(10:58):
I didn't. The last time I played was with Ross,
and I happened to have that team my pocket. I
flipped it to uh, this former superstar basketball player and
while I was in the air, I'm like, I cannot
believe I just did that and he caught it, and
I thought I was gonna lose my life. It was
a good funny story and the guy really took it great,
it was it was really men't thought it was funny
(11:20):
and thought I did it on purpose, and like, I'm
really not that calculated. So that's Ross.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Well, the good news is you're still here.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
So yeah, I don't know. I think about that often
about myself. No, about myself.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
I'm with you.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Well, Ross, tell us a little bit about yourself, man,
Like I be so sort of the you know, where
are you from?
Speaker 4 (11:38):
What you do?
Speaker 1 (11:38):
And then sure tee up the beach.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Well, first, I want to say thank you so much
for having us on being able to represent the Bridge Foundation.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
It's such a cool organization.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
And when I think about the next generation, you go
do these interviews with students for scholarships in Luckamberg County.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
They are smart.
Speaker 6 (11:54):
I mean, future generations are going to put this country
in this world in a good trajectory.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
But a little bit about myself.
Speaker 6 (12:01):
Atlanta native MoU Charlotte in twenty fourteen got linked up
with the Bridge Foundation.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
Probably, I don't know.
Speaker 6 (12:07):
Twenty eighteen, nineteen time period and just fell in love
with going into the schools. I mean, when's the last
time you walked into a high school. It was like
fifteen or twenty years before I walked back into a
high school, and all those memories kind of flush back
in and you get to sit down these awesome students
and hear their stories and just represent the Bridge Foundation
today is a really cool thing.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
And that's really how you and I got met. Hook
you got us. We were an interview team and you
were asking about Andy Presley, who is my connection to
the Bridge? I forget who? How did you get brought in?
Speaker 4 (12:36):
It was Sandy MacArthur.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Sandy McCarthy. Sandy's wonderful. We lived any Silver Ridge together
right out of school. Not together, but you know he
lived there down the road. Great guy. So yeah, so
tell us about the scholarship.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
Sure, So first we do an annual event where we
actually have three finalists come give their presentation, share their
life story, where they're going to school, and really why
they desire to be the one that recipient of the scholarship.
And then in that room after those three contestants give
their presentation, there's many times a contentious debate, right is
(13:10):
it needs based, is it merit based? You know, does
someone in the crowd really desire someone to get the scholarship.
So it's a really fun environment and it's a group
of about fifty of us in the Charlotte area and
these are all folks. A lot of times they're kind
of Charlotte Warner Raise or business leaders or entrepreneurs in
the area just looking to give back. And so each
year we give a scholarship to a graduating Mecklenburg senior,
(13:34):
like you said earlier, private or public high school graduating senior,
and we get to become a part of their story
for the next four years. I mean, these people are
going they're solving big time issues in our society.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
There. We were talking to Santa today. She has an amazing.
Speaker 6 (13:50):
Story at a great school, and we just get to
be a small part of that. And the really neat
thing is we get to stay in touch and they
bring us their stories years later and after they graduate.
Many times they get connected with other Bridge Foundation members
for our sole job opportunities, which is awesome.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Well, and there is a networking component to the Bridge
and we're obviously looking to try to grow and expand
it as we can the bigger, we can make the
bridge more money, we can give away you got it.
But there's also a networking aspect of it with these
fifty professionals that get together. It's more than just once
a year. We try to do a couple of things
every year, and so there's an aspect for that as well.
And obviously the hope is these you young folks that
(14:29):
win the scholarship, get out of school and come be
a part of the bridge.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
You got it?
Speaker 6 (14:33):
Yeah, yeah, So we'll do three to four events throughout
the year. We have that one main event where we
actually announce who the recipient is. But we need your help.
We need folks that are maybe interested in plugging into
serving the community. We need help interviewing students in high schools.
We need help actually helping facilitate events and helping sponsor events.
And it's a great way as a young professional or
(14:53):
an entrepreneur or someone in the Charlotte business community to
come meet other folks that just want to give back.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Are the events to raise money.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
A great question.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
So we have a membership model, So if you become
a member, you have an annual due and that all.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Goes towards scholarships.
Speaker 6 (15:12):
What we try and do is really get folks with
in the group to maybe have their business sponsor and event,
you know, maybe their sponsor in the food or the
drink portion.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
We have a lot of great folks that maybe.
Speaker 6 (15:23):
You own restaurants here in town, so we're able to
get space given to us maybe sometimes for free or
reduce rate. And so really the ultimate goals have all
the funds go directly towards the scholarships. And I'm not
sure if you all are aware of the cost of college,
is it going down or up?
Speaker 3 (15:39):
I think it's.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Bud break even. I'm is going through the roof well documented.
Speaker 6 (15:47):
It's my goal as coming in as a new volunteer
leader of this organization is to increase the cost of
the actual sponsorship amount with the cost of college.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
I think it's only fair. But right now, it's a.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
Commitment to a student for four years, and we just
want to know what's going on in their lives that
those four years after they are awarded that scholarship going
into their freshmen so.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
They get amount of money towards their college tuition. You
got costs every year for each four years, that's right, Okay, Yeah,
can I know how much five thousand wow per year.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
That is a blessing. Wow.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
And the Bridge Foundation runs with no hired guns, no
paid employees, nope, all volunteers. Every dollar go unless you're
trying to rent a space or buy some something to
sell to make more return. Everything stays at home for
these kids.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
You got it.
Speaker 6 (16:42):
And we've had one success free of folks graduating since
the start of inception of twenty two thousand and three,
so we've not had one student actually not get all
the way to graduation. Really, so think about that. That's cool,
and that's pretty cool. That's really some close calls. There's
some folks that stepped in. And so if you feel
inclined to follow students throughout their journey in college and
(17:05):
open to stuff in and help out if possibly they
have a bad semester or bad quarter or something going
on at home, that's what this group is all about,
stepping in making sure folks get to that graduation day.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
So, I mean, you've been twenty two years since inception,
so minus four years, I mean eighteen nineteen students have
all graduated.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
You got it.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
Yeah, that is.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Pretty is legit. We're lucky to have one with us
today and Sienna is out there somewhere. Sienna, can you
hear us?
Speaker 5 (17:34):
Yes, sir, I can all.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Right, Well, Ross, want you t up c after you
had a conversation with her or today?
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Sure?
Speaker 6 (17:40):
So we had so many great candidates this year. She
was one of four folks that actually four students that
was able to give her presentation and seeing I'll let
you know, the room fell in love with your story,
your presentation. We were just so thrilled to be able
to come alongside you and provide this scholarship over the
(18:00):
next four years. I don't want to steal your thunner.
I'd love to hear a little bit your backstory where
you went to high school, because I think it's a
new high school now represented that we're able to give
this scholarship too, that we've not had a student from
in the past.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Maybe share where you're going to college.
Speaker 6 (18:16):
And what you desire to study, and that's what really
caught our attention. It was a much different path that
we heard a lot of what you desire to study.
But Sana, thank you so much for being on and
also congratulations is the natural being this this year's being
the Bridge Foundation.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
We're super proud of you.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
Thank you, guys. I'm incredibly grateful to the Bridge Foundation.
It's such an amazing organization and I hope people can
really go ahead and really look into it because it's
just an amazing program.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (18:48):
So, is it okay to talk about a little bit
about me now or did you guys want to tell Please?
Speaker 4 (18:53):
Absolutely, you're you're the main event here.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
Thank you. So. I graduated from Lake Norman Charter High
School located right here in Huntersville, North Carolina, and it's
an amazing program. It's college prep based, so really it
is a hardcore high school, but it has amazing programs.
And one of the programs I was able to go
(19:17):
ahead and take advantage of that recently opened was our
dual enrollment program that recently opened my junior year where
we could actually take major courses instead of taking them
at our high school. And because of that program, I
was able to graduate in May actually with my associate's degree.
And the college I'm going to right now is High
(19:38):
Point University, and they were able to take fifty five
of those credits. So although I'm coming in as a freshman,
I've got enough credits to be a sophomore, and as
of December of twenty twenty five, I'm actually going to
be considered a junior. So my expected graduation date is
going to be December of twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Wow, tell you what we picked them right?
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Right?
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Yeah, I mean they're like graduation right, we'ven just tell you.
I can't speak for Ross, but I don't think Trent
nor I ever came in with nearly that many types
of credits.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Maybe I had the conversation with my daughter and the
car yesterday, I had zero credits.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
Many earmarks.
Speaker 6 (20:15):
Some these these funds for graduate school here pretty pretty
darn soon.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
That's right, we'll tell us, tell us what your plans are.
Speaker 5 (20:21):
Yeah, Well, the reason why I did the associates program
was because I want to be a forentic pathologist for
the United States Armed Forces. And forensic pathology is we
basically do autopsy, so we find out how someone died
in the circumstances surrounding their death. However, the minimum amount
of years it takes to actually become a certified forensic
(20:42):
pathologist is thirteen years, so the Associate's degree was trying
to help go ahead and clock that number down a bit.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Wow.
Speaker 6 (20:51):
Well, that was a perfect timing for for Trent's comments
about crime television.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Yeah, I knew, I knew.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
I knew that we're gonna be hearing.
Speaker 6 (20:59):
Us on these crime podcasts are pretty soon solving crimes.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Right, He's got that ESPN trick his csp and Trump.
So how did you, I mean, go back a little bit.
I mean, because this is something you've had your eye
on for quite a while, Maybe talk about what got
you so fascinated with this unique and really really cool field.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
Well, originally I wanted to be what every kid wanted
to be. I either wanted to be a doctor a detective,
or a doctor detective or lawyer. And in seventh grade,
I actually my mother and I we found this program
called Teen Court, and it's an alternative justice program that
works with real juveniles who have been arrested for a
real crime. And through that organization, I would go ahead
(21:44):
and travel down to Charlotte's very own court house twice
a month, and I would volunteer and actually either prosecute
the juvenile or go ahead and be their defense attorney.
And so the jury, unlike criminal court, in Team Court,
were allowed to ask the juvenile questions about their and
it's all student and peer led and volunteer base, and
(22:04):
the judge that oversees this fall in court is an
actual judge or a lawyer in the state North Carolina.
And we've even had some attorneys come in from some
pretty high up places. And as much as I loved
the program and had learned so much from it, I
realized right then and there I could not be a lawyer.
So I went back to my other two and I
was like, well, what about detective. My mom used to
(22:25):
be a police officer for California. But even with that
police officer, I was like, you have to first become
a police officer, go to the academy, get years of experience,
and you might never get promoted. So then I was like, okay,
well what about doctor. However, I am terrified of accidentally
hurting someone, so freshman year or late eighth grade, I
(22:46):
was like, okay, new plan. What else can I do?
So I started researching, and that's actually how I found
forensic pathology. As a forensic pathologist, I still get to
be a detective because I get to find out how
someone died along with the circumstances surrounding their death. Us
I'm still a doctor because I have to go to
med school and get my medical degree, and I'm still
in a courtroom, but instead of a lawyer, I'm there
(23:07):
as a key witness testifying my findings in court. So
forensic pathology overall was a win for me.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Wowow, wow, you know I wanted to do widgets or nails. Yeah,
I mean didn't that. I just love that you're so
You're so confident in your answer and focus and the
way you present it. You can tell that you've been
You've been really thinking about this for a long time.
(23:36):
So I mean, what what made you choose? Tell us
about the United States? The Armed Forces, the Armed Forces
of your connection there.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
So I already knew that I wanted to work in
the military as a forensic pathologist because my field, in
particular is has always been very shorthanded because not a
lot of people want to do the job but also
don't want to go through the time it takes to
actually go ahead and be certified in it. So in
the United States Armed Forces, I was actually able to
(24:06):
talk to one recently and she told me that in
the entire Armed Forces, there's probably about seven pathologists in
the department, and that is a very small number if
you think about how many soldiers we have in our
own military. And so they actually work with departments like NASA, FBI, CIA,
and Department of Defense doing second autopsies. So, for example,
(24:30):
if the FBI has their own friends and pathologists, and
if that person says, hey, I think this is what happened,
but I'm not entirely sure. I want a second opinion,
they would call someone from the Armed forces to go
ahead and verify that person's findings. So we're very short staffed,
but we always get to travel as well. But it's
a very I like to think it is a very
important role because we can go ahead and give that
(24:53):
release to families by letting them know what happened to
their kids or their spouses or whoever they're related to,
and also finding safer ways for our men and women
in the military to go ahead and come home quicker.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
That's amazing. Thank you for sharing, Sana.
Speaker 6 (25:06):
Can you keep chat a little bit or share what
your path is going to look like after your studies
At at high point, you know, where where would you
anticipate that that going you?
Speaker 4 (25:17):
Where would you live, where would you work?
Speaker 6 (25:20):
Kind of what role would you be kind of beyond
actual being at high point.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
So I actually my goal medical school to get into
is USU School Medicine. It's a military based medical school
out in Maryland, and you can go ahead and apply
with the military background or as a civilian. But the
greatest thing about this medical school is that it's completely
funded for the students. So all four years of my
medical school, all four years and my residency will be
(25:48):
paid for. And through this I get to learn military
strategies and also military training and also get that medical experience.
And because this is the medical school that I really
wish to go into, because I feel it fits my
path best, I recently joined the National Guard as well.
Hopefully I'll be able to go in as like a
(26:10):
combat medic or as a CBRN, which is a chemical, biological,
nuclear or radiologist specialist. So because of this, actually this October,
I'll be starting training for National Guard, and then when
I graduate in December of twenty twenty seven, I'll go
ahead and also be applying for medical schools. So as
(26:32):
of October August of twenty twenty eight, I'll be heading
to medical school, whether that's at USU hopefully, or if
that's at a different medical school. Then I'll do eight
years eight more years of education, and then I'll have
to do another fellowship with a pathologist, and then I'll
have to take my board a certification. So I really
won't be done training until I'm about twenty eight years old,
(26:53):
in which I can go ahead and then apply to
be a friend of pathologist for the United States Art Forces,
in which I'll probably be based in one of their
main military bases, probably in d C, Texas, or there
is one more, but I can't remember off the top
of my head, but they'll probably locate me one of
those places at first.
Speaker 6 (27:13):
Wow, we are so super proud. And she's gonna be
the protector of her home. You know, I think ye
down the road, as Trent has shared, he is of
his home.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
My story wasn't didn't get you, big spoon, I'm going
to come in your house and break a glass.
Speaker 6 (27:32):
Just get a German shepherd to be good, Go down
there and get them sna.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
Can you share what you like to do for fun?
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (27:39):
I mean five minutes a free time?
Speaker 5 (27:41):
Yeah right, yes, With what free time I do get,
I really love to go to the movies, whether that's
with my dad or just with me and some of
my friends. Some other things too is that on weekends,
I also really like to go to the free markets.
They always have some pretty cool things. And whenever I
by myself or if it's quiet, I like to read
(28:02):
books all the time, anywhere, anytime.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Right, very cool, got it going on? God bless America.
I mean, yeah, if you're if.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
You're proud of your next generation right there.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Of military leaders?
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Really yeah, absolutely, thank you Sienna, and congratulations. This is
wonderful and thank you, thank you guys for what you
do leading the Bridge Foundation which allows us to happen
twenty two years now.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
It's great, what a legacy I know in Trent. Now
we have to switch gears a little bit and stay
on the stay on the youth of America here obviously
more importantly checked this out for a second Sienna Western
North Carolina with with Make a Wish and our annual
Pitching for Wishes corn Hole tournament. Yep, we uh.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
This is our eighteenth year and ten shows leading up
to our tournament, which I think is November to second
this year, No November to first, the day after Halloween,
we have our eighteenth annual Freedom Part. But the ten
shows leading up, we tell a Wish story about a
Wish kid. That's right, and Patrick is so good and
(29:13):
so eloquent at telling the story in passing the song.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
I am not thank you for saying that though, But
as you've always said, I usually don't read these ahead
of time because you kind of know the parts that
are going to kind of get at the heartstrings. So
I just kind of wing it. It's tough to read
to some very difficult stories. But as you know, Trent,
that most the kids that we talk about with Make
a Wish are are survivors ultimately, yes, which is wonderful.
(29:39):
Let me talk about our sponsors. First, we've got two
gold sponsors Byron Builders and ITC Millworks, and then platinum
sponsors are Dead Eye Renovations, Barefoot and Company. They've been
doing this forever, plus renewal by Anderson Home Technology Solutions
in United Healthcare. So I mean talk about I mean,
how what's see the oldest tenured sponsor all eighteen years.
(30:04):
We've got to have a few.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
I mean Queen City Lumber, I know those guys. I
think dry Pro Basement Systems.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Oah, yeah, yeah, they've been around then.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
I know Overhead Doors early on and Randy Burris man,
I mean Bearfoot has been doing a long time. I
don't know if it's been all eighteen but they thank
God for you guys, and to deal with Make a
Wish of Central and western North Carolina. But Make a
Wish as an international organization, is every child that has
a life threatening illness should have the opportunity to have
(30:41):
this one special wish granted because it brings hope, and
it brings healing and help to them and their family
that's been going through trauma and turmoil. And there is
scientific evidence that there are medical benefits to being granted
a wish.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
He said that, Oh, well, put and we'll watch this.
I'm about to bring this full circle. See how I
get ready? This is Annabella's playground. Anabea, a four year
old from high Point, North Carolina, did not that's kind
of interesting and it guy's at the world works. It's
full of imagination and curiosity. She loves spending time with
her family, especially playing with her sister and reading books
(31:22):
together that hears more music brings soundtrack. Music brings her
so much happiness, with the Frozen soundtrack in her absolute favorite.
Despite living with congenital heart disease. Anabella embraces every moment
with a bright smile and a playful spirit. One of
Anabia's favorite activities going to the park with her mom,
where she can swing, slide, and explore. Her laughter fills
(31:42):
the area if she races down the slides or soars
high on the swings. Because her love for the playground,
Anaba's wish is to have her very own play set
at home, complete with swings, a slide, and a tree house.
It's her dream to create endless adventure right in her backyard,
a space where she can play freely with her sister
and make lasting memory. Having a play set at home
would mean so much to Aneby and her family. It
(32:04):
would give her a safe and accessible place to enjoy
the outdoors, listen to music, and let her imagination run wild.
For a little girl who faces medical challenges every day,
this placeset provide joy, freedom, and countless moments of laughter
shared with her loved ones.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Wow, go an a B so you can to be,
to meet and to have and NB wants that play set.
She needs that playset. I think it's going to bring
hope in her life, and that's what it's about.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
YEP. Yeah, man, go make a wish to central North Carolina.
Go N and B. We're excited.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
We get to do this for the next nine episodes,
and then the day after Halloween we have our I
think it's our seventeenth annual pitching for wishes. One year
during COVID we did a walt for wishes because we
couldn't gather people, but we still raise money, still had
our sponsors, everybody was still committed.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
So thank y'all. God, bless you, Ross, thank you for
being here.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Us.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Congratulations on your on your scholarship. Great wonderful manus.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Yes, be proud. That's strong. I can tell you have confidence.
That is what you need absolutely for real.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
All right, tell us tell us what to do, Trent.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
I mean, you go do the golden rules what you do, uh,
and you treat others the way you want to be treated.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
And I tell this every day I say this.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
You treat them the way you want to be treated
when things aren't going well uh for you, or when
they're not being the nicest, even not only when it's convenient,
but carry a smile around on your face because you
never know who you're gonna infect and affect with a
smile when you interact with them. Thanks for listening to
at Home with Ruby
Welcome to a Home with Roby. I'm Patrick Kasak from
Roby Commercial and Services along with Trent Houston from the
Roby Family of Companies with the hosts. Man, you got
a little pep in your voice to PEPPI man, I'm excited.
I'm excited. Kylie's back. Kylie is back. We very much,
very much need her.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I don't know how excited that makes me in the
sense that she's an accountability partner skirt.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Those these days. Yeah, we we need all the help
we can get with with and she what she does
is so valuable. So glad that she's back. We've got
Ross Kwan Kirwayne in the studio. I always want to
say your name incorrectly. I apologize from the Bridge Foundation,
amongst many other things. He's our guest today.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Cool. I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I just met him. He's got to sit here and
on his hands. Yeah, and then we're going to talk
to to Sienna the current winner twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Keldyn still in the studio. How you doing, buddy? He
is always great. Oh, I have the mic. This is
the big daddy, Mike is It is obviously the top
of the tower.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
It's a daddy long lift. You can see me on here.
This is the one.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
It's it doesn't fall down, it doesn't move around, it
doesn't squeak. It is on point. Thank you, Kelvin.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Kelvin, I understand the predicament that you're in right now
without a mike, being a talk show guy and you
have no way to talk. This is pretty bad. Huh.
You know it's like pantom Mama. Now you know how
I feel hanging out with Trent all the time?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Oh man, That's how I felt on that uh episode
U and do done and do?
Speaker 1 (01:42):
It was like that call that you talked about on
part two.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Uh that let me see how your lips move, patter,
There they go, they're moving. Now it's silent Ron Hasten style.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Now you can mute people that I don't know if
we had mute on our phone's back then you just
kind of heard whatever came out. It's a call button,
especially with you had a next heil and I bet
you guys, did you bet we had an exty? Definitely? Yeah,
we had about eighty.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Next tails and then uh, I was on one of
my rants there in like six o seven about cutting costs,
and I said, we can get cell phones, you know,
for ten dollars a month for our eighty guys and
and the next tails. They thought they had a monopoly.
They did have the money, definitely, that's a fact. And
(02:29):
I think they got a little a little brazen in
their monopolization. And we were paying like eighty dollars a
phone and uh and and the first time at breakfast
when I broached that subject that that we could cut
about one six to one seventh of our costs. Look,
they thought I was an alien. We can't live without
(02:51):
next tails. We're contractors.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
I'm like, oh lord, dude, those things were so bad.
You could be doing whatever, you know, Let's say you're
doing your business and all of a sudden, right in
right in.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
The middle of your meeting, it's crazy beating.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
I mean that was bad. When it was in the
middle of church, that was the worst. Could you hold
up there, pastor for one second? John needs a piece
of four inche foam core second. I'll be right back though.
Really great, that's about what it was like. Though you
had zero and didn't think cameo. What was that button
called where you could silent people? They just hit that
(03:30):
when they tried to call you, and they knew you
silenced them.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I don't know, man, you thought it. You remember a
lot about these next tails.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Man, that was like a status symbol back in the construction,
reading about it.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
So the Sprint went, it was Sprint next tail towards
the end, and now I guess Sprint went to Verizon.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Do you remember seeing the very first flip?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
I think Alice, I heart Radio. Yeah, I mean, the
big joke was we were talking about Dad on those
last two shows. The big joke was he would never
get a non flip phone.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
He had to have that protection.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I mean, because now you can just accident only hit
a button and then you're on You're on call.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Oh lord, is that you say? The Ruby family of companies?
And iHeart Radio company?
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Check it.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
I just don't know.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Uh, I just don't know why Reagan has to find
my iPhone on my iPhone.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
They didn't find an XL. I'll be honest with you.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
She hadn't had to find my iPhone when I had
it in my pocket in a while.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
That's good, Thank you, babe.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
She was obviously a success, successful accountability partner.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
That's why you have me hold your phone sometimes. Go
there to the office. You gotta stay at the office.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Please.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
I will call you from this thing they call a
burner phone in a couple hours. Never had one of them, Buddy,
had watch way too many crime shows. That's like the
way you gotta have a burn phone, I think if
you're in syndicated.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Okay, okay, So Saturday night we watch Happy Gilmour two.
I thought it was hilarious. I really think I thought
it was funny. I finished watching it last night, but
I fell asleep on the couch and and Piper was
babysitting next door, and she came back in us about
eleven fifty and dot front door open, and I jumped up,
(05:25):
you know, like like I'm ready to attack. And then
yesterday I said, uh, I said, man, he came in.
I for you know, different place, different time. I forgot
you were babysitting. I didn't know what you were doing
coming in the house eleven forty five, and I thought
she went out to jump and have a car. She's like,
(05:45):
you're crazy. She's like, you were about to attack me.
And Reagan said, Reagan watches twenty four to seven. If
she's watching TV, it's a crime show. And she said,
I'll watch all these crime shows, and I would never
assume that if a door opens, criminals coming in to
get me. She's like, but every time some door opens,
you jump out of bed like fiber goes he's the
(06:09):
man of the house.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
Mom.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
I'm like, that ain't right.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
She was watching this one crime show one night and
I had dozed off. It was like, you know, eleven
o'clock on a word night, and on the show it
was like.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Boom boom boom boom boom boom, the police were here,
open up, and I chilled out of bed fan into
the bedroom door. She's like, oh my gosh, are you guilty.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
You're not the only one. So we One time there
was a root like a sound like a like a
sound like glass breaking, and I hauled up at bed,
called NYE want one. I'll go with dar ran down
the stairs. I'm like, you know, all flexed up, no
shirt on, like like I'm somebody. And it was Scarlett
had put a spoon up on, like the like you know,
like to set the soap dish that when you're showering,
(06:57):
and somehow that little jogger had wiggled its sweet loose
a big metal spoon and went boom into the bathtub.
But I mean I was ready to go down there.
Jody was like, you just woke everybody up over at Spoon.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Well, you know about the man I told you I
met at the airport at seventy nine years old.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
You know what he told me?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
He said, Man, somebody trying to stiff you out of
your money for no reason. He said, you gotta get
him to say that you did the job right, you
did it on time. And I'm sitting here listening. I'm
having coffee with him at the airport. I'm listening telling him, Okay,
what's you know? Do I record this message? And am
I going to give it to the lawyer? He said,
you know what you do?
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Then?
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Oh, I don't know this is appropriate. It's very appropriate.
He said.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Get in her house somehow and sit beside their bed
and cut the lamp on the night bedside table on
about one point thirty and wake them up. I said, dang,
thing's a little bit different back when Maryland's a little
different than North Carolina.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
We told my ross and I told about how knights
we are. They throw a crab at you, pinch at
your name. He didn't say he heard remember anything.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Just said, hey, I did everything right.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
We're gonna talk about this. He said, you'll get paid.
We're shot. What if Jim has a gun under his
pillar and.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Didn't really think about that where his wife laying messide
him has a gun.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
I don't know, man on that bold. All right, introduce
our guests. Patrick Ye, We've got Ross, who is our
volunteer leader for the Bridge Foundation. Bridge Foundation is a
scholarship that is awarded to someone in Mecklenburg County. Could
be public, we're private, and it's a twenty thousand dollars
scholarship trink five dollars a year. You know, we've had
several of the winners on the show. It's kind of
(08:38):
a tradition. Last year we had at Wardo. And we're
going to meet Sienna today and Russe will come on
as we go out and let him talk a little
bit about the bridge and himself, and then we will
introduce Sienna and uh, you got to hear her story.
And you're on the board, I was, I'm no longer
on the board. I also I'm a volunteer. I knew
(08:59):
you're gonna get kicked off that. I mean, listen, dude,
if there's anybody from university. It was like you're on
a scholarship board. Something has gone really wrong because I
don't think it would ever be something that they would
think would occur. We're good, make your time. That's good Ross.
We'll check Ross out when we come back. Thanks for
(09:21):
listening to That Home with Roby. And don't forget Roby
Services is your one stop source for all your electrical heating, cooling,
plumbing and handyman needs. Keep it easy and get it
all done by one. Roby servicesnow dot com. That's Roby
Services now dot com. Welcome back That Home with Roby.
I'm Patrick pac Isaac from Roby Commercial and Services, along
when Trent Haston from the Roby family of companies. If
(09:42):
you miss the last segment, come check us out. We're
having a couple of laughs. Uh, we're not laughing. We
having fun.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Man, I was laughing.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Oh we got Ross. Ross is in the house now,
Kelvin's getting our photo. Everybody looking. Everybody, man, this is
a lot going on. I'm all just talking Calvin's picture.
You just came back to to you know, had to
go outside and get a glass of water or something.
Come back. I just got power. We're in the game.
We're in the game. Read Uh, well, so Trent. We've
got the Bridge Foundation or annual show to promote, uh
(10:13):
the scholarship winner, which which every year we were just
blown away. Always tell you for me like it gives
me faith in the next generation of humanity that we've
got some really smart, talented young folks. And and Ross's
our is our volunteer leader of the Bridge Foundation here
in Charlotte. He's a strapping young man. It's one of it.
Just does Atlanteans keep it going young.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
I like her and I got it going on.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
And so a funny story. I think the last time
I played, I've told you about us playing. I'm not
gonna leave names. We're gonna leave names out of it.
Ross and I'm playing golf with a former Duke basketball
player and he works with Carnegie Carnegie Wealth Management. Okay,
and their colors are very similar to you nc's colors,
and uh, this person needed to borrow a tea and
(10:58):
I didn't. The last time I played was with Ross,
and I happened to have that team my pocket. I
flipped it to uh, this former superstar basketball player and
while I was in the air, I'm like, I cannot
believe I just did that and he caught it, and
I thought I was gonna lose my life. It was
a good funny story and the guy really took it great,
it was it was really men't thought it was funny
(11:20):
and thought I did it on purpose, and like, I'm
really not that calculated. So that's Ross.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Well, the good news is you're still here.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
So yeah, I don't know. I think about that often
about myself. No, about myself.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
I'm with you.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Well, Ross, tell us a little bit about yourself, man,
Like I be so sort of the you know, where
are you from?
Speaker 4 (11:38):
What you do?
Speaker 1 (11:38):
And then sure tee up the beach.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Well, first, I want to say thank you so much
for having us on being able to represent the Bridge Foundation.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
It's such a cool organization.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
And when I think about the next generation, you go
do these interviews with students for scholarships in Luckamberg County.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
They are smart.
Speaker 6 (11:54):
I mean, future generations are going to put this country
in this world in a good trajectory.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
But a little bit about myself.
Speaker 6 (12:01):
Atlanta native MoU Charlotte in twenty fourteen got linked up
with the Bridge Foundation.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
Probably, I don't know.
Speaker 6 (12:07):
Twenty eighteen, nineteen time period and just fell in love
with going into the schools. I mean, when's the last
time you walked into a high school. It was like
fifteen or twenty years before I walked back into a
high school, and all those memories kind of flush back
in and you get to sit down these awesome students
and hear their stories and just represent the Bridge Foundation
today is a really cool thing.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
And that's really how you and I got met. Hook
you got us. We were an interview team and you
were asking about Andy Presley, who is my connection to
the Bridge? I forget who? How did you get brought in?
Speaker 4 (12:36):
It was Sandy MacArthur.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Sandy McCarthy. Sandy's wonderful. We lived any Silver Ridge together
right out of school. Not together, but you know he
lived there down the road. Great guy. So yeah, so
tell us about the scholarship.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
Sure, So first we do an annual event where we
actually have three finalists come give their presentation, share their
life story, where they're going to school, and really why
they desire to be the one that recipient of the scholarship.
And then in that room after those three contestants give
their presentation, there's many times a contentious debate, right is
(13:10):
it needs based, is it merit based? You know, does
someone in the crowd really desire someone to get the scholarship.
So it's a really fun environment and it's a group
of about fifty of us in the Charlotte area and
these are all folks. A lot of times they're kind
of Charlotte Warner Raise or business leaders or entrepreneurs in
the area just looking to give back. And so each
year we give a scholarship to a graduating Mecklenburg senior,
(13:34):
like you said earlier, private or public high school graduating senior,
and we get to become a part of their story
for the next four years. I mean, these people are
going they're solving big time issues in our society.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
There. We were talking to Santa today. She has an amazing.
Speaker 6 (13:50):
Story at a great school, and we just get to
be a small part of that. And the really neat
thing is we get to stay in touch and they
bring us their stories years later and after they graduate.
Many times they get connected with other Bridge Foundation members
for our sole job opportunities, which is awesome.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Well, and there is a networking component to the Bridge
and we're obviously looking to try to grow and expand
it as we can the bigger, we can make the
bridge more money, we can give away you got it.
But there's also a networking aspect of it with these
fifty professionals that get together. It's more than just once
a year. We try to do a couple of things
every year, and so there's an aspect for that as well.
And obviously the hope is these you young folks that
(14:29):
win the scholarship, get out of school and come be
a part of the bridge.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
You got it?
Speaker 6 (14:33):
Yeah, yeah, So we'll do three to four events throughout
the year. We have that one main event where we
actually announce who the recipient is. But we need your help.
We need folks that are maybe interested in plugging into
serving the community. We need help interviewing students in high schools.
We need help actually helping facilitate events and helping sponsor events.
And it's a great way as a young professional or
(14:53):
an entrepreneur or someone in the Charlotte business community to
come meet other folks that just want to give back.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Are the events to raise money.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
A great question.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
So we have a membership model, So if you become
a member, you have an annual due and that all.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Goes towards scholarships.
Speaker 6 (15:12):
What we try and do is really get folks with
in the group to maybe have their business sponsor and event,
you know, maybe their sponsor in the food or the
drink portion.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
We have a lot of great folks that maybe.
Speaker 6 (15:23):
You own restaurants here in town, so we're able to
get space given to us maybe sometimes for free or
reduce rate. And so really the ultimate goals have all
the funds go directly towards the scholarships. And I'm not
sure if you all are aware of the cost of college,
is it going down or up?
Speaker 3 (15:39):
I think it's.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Bud break even. I'm is going through the roof well documented.
Speaker 6 (15:47):
It's my goal as coming in as a new volunteer
leader of this organization is to increase the cost of
the actual sponsorship amount with the cost of college.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
I think it's only fair. But right now, it's a.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
Commitment to a student for four years, and we just
want to know what's going on in their lives that
those four years after they are awarded that scholarship going
into their freshmen so.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
They get amount of money towards their college tuition. You
got costs every year for each four years, that's right, Okay, Yeah,
can I know how much five thousand wow per year.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
That is a blessing. Wow.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
And the Bridge Foundation runs with no hired guns, no
paid employees, nope, all volunteers. Every dollar go unless you're
trying to rent a space or buy some something to
sell to make more return. Everything stays at home for
these kids.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
You got it.
Speaker 6 (16:42):
And we've had one success free of folks graduating since
the start of inception of twenty two thousand and three,
so we've not had one student actually not get all
the way to graduation. Really, so think about that. That's cool,
and that's pretty cool. That's really some close calls. There's
some folks that stepped in. And so if you feel
inclined to follow students throughout their journey in college and
(17:05):
open to stuff in and help out if possibly they
have a bad semester or bad quarter or something going
on at home, that's what this group is all about,
stepping in making sure folks get to that graduation day.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
So, I mean, you've been twenty two years since inception,
so minus four years, I mean eighteen nineteen students have
all graduated.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
You got it.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
Yeah, that is.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Pretty is legit. We're lucky to have one with us
today and Sienna is out there somewhere. Sienna, can you
hear us?
Speaker 5 (17:34):
Yes, sir, I can all.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Right, Well, Ross, want you t up c after you
had a conversation with her or today?
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Sure?
Speaker 6 (17:40):
So we had so many great candidates this year. She
was one of four folks that actually four students that
was able to give her presentation and seeing I'll let
you know, the room fell in love with your story,
your presentation. We were just so thrilled to be able
to come alongside you and provide this scholarship over the
(18:00):
next four years. I don't want to steal your thunner.
I'd love to hear a little bit your backstory where
you went to high school, because I think it's a
new high school now represented that we're able to give
this scholarship too, that we've not had a student from
in the past.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Maybe share where you're going to college.
Speaker 6 (18:16):
And what you desire to study, and that's what really
caught our attention. It was a much different path that
we heard a lot of what you desire to study.
But Sana, thank you so much for being on and
also congratulations is the natural being this this year's being
the Bridge Foundation.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
We're super proud of you.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
Thank you, guys. I'm incredibly grateful to the Bridge Foundation.
It's such an amazing organization and I hope people can
really go ahead and really look into it because it's
just an amazing program.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (18:48):
So, is it okay to talk about a little bit
about me now or did you guys want to tell Please?
Speaker 4 (18:53):
Absolutely, you're you're the main event here.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
Thank you. So. I graduated from Lake Norman Charter High
School located right here in Huntersville, North Carolina, and it's
an amazing program. It's college prep based, so really it
is a hardcore high school, but it has amazing programs.
And one of the programs I was able to go
(19:17):
ahead and take advantage of that recently opened was our
dual enrollment program that recently opened my junior year where
we could actually take major courses instead of taking them
at our high school. And because of that program, I
was able to graduate in May actually with my associate's degree.
And the college I'm going to right now is High
(19:38):
Point University, and they were able to take fifty five
of those credits. So although I'm coming in as a freshman,
I've got enough credits to be a sophomore, and as
of December of twenty twenty five, I'm actually going to
be considered a junior. So my expected graduation date is
going to be December of twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Wow, tell you what we picked them right?
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Right?
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Yeah, I mean they're like graduation right, we'ven just tell you.
I can't speak for Ross, but I don't think Trent
nor I ever came in with nearly that many types
of credits.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Maybe I had the conversation with my daughter and the
car yesterday, I had zero credits.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
Many earmarks.
Speaker 6 (20:15):
Some these these funds for graduate school here pretty pretty
darn soon.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
That's right, we'll tell us, tell us what your plans are.
Speaker 5 (20:21):
Yeah, Well, the reason why I did the associates program
was because I want to be a forentic pathologist for
the United States Armed Forces. And forensic pathology is we
basically do autopsy, so we find out how someone died
in the circumstances surrounding their death. However, the minimum amount
of years it takes to actually become a certified forensic
(20:42):
pathologist is thirteen years, so the Associate's degree was trying
to help go ahead and clock that number down a bit.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Wow.
Speaker 6 (20:51):
Well, that was a perfect timing for for Trent's comments
about crime television.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Yeah, I knew, I knew.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
I knew that we're gonna be hearing.
Speaker 6 (20:59):
Us on these crime podcasts are pretty soon solving crimes.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Right, He's got that ESPN trick his csp and Trump.
So how did you, I mean, go back a little bit.
I mean, because this is something you've had your eye
on for quite a while, Maybe talk about what got
you so fascinated with this unique and really really cool field.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
Well, originally I wanted to be what every kid wanted
to be. I either wanted to be a doctor a detective,
or a doctor detective or lawyer. And in seventh grade,
I actually my mother and I we found this program
called Teen Court, and it's an alternative justice program that
works with real juveniles who have been arrested for a
real crime. And through that organization, I would go ahead
(21:44):
and travel down to Charlotte's very own court house twice
a month, and I would volunteer and actually either prosecute
the juvenile or go ahead and be their defense attorney.
And so the jury, unlike criminal court, in Team Court,
were allowed to ask the juvenile questions about their and
it's all student and peer led and volunteer base, and
(22:04):
the judge that oversees this fall in court is an
actual judge or a lawyer in the state North Carolina.
And we've even had some attorneys come in from some
pretty high up places. And as much as I loved
the program and had learned so much from it, I
realized right then and there I could not be a lawyer.
So I went back to my other two and I
was like, well, what about detective. My mom used to
(22:25):
be a police officer for California. But even with that
police officer, I was like, you have to first become
a police officer, go to the academy, get years of experience,
and you might never get promoted. So then I was like, okay,
well what about doctor. However, I am terrified of accidentally
hurting someone, so freshman year or late eighth grade, I
(22:46):
was like, okay, new plan. What else can I do?
So I started researching, and that's actually how I found
forensic pathology. As a forensic pathologist, I still get to
be a detective because I get to find out how
someone died along with the circumstances surrounding their death. Us
I'm still a doctor because I have to go to
med school and get my medical degree, and I'm still
in a courtroom, but instead of a lawyer, I'm there
(23:07):
as a key witness testifying my findings in court. So
forensic pathology overall was a win for me.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Wowow, wow, you know I wanted to do widgets or nails. Yeah,
I mean didn't that. I just love that you're so
You're so confident in your answer and focus and the
way you present it. You can tell that you've been
You've been really thinking about this for a long time.
(23:36):
So I mean, what what made you choose? Tell us
about the United States? The Armed Forces, the Armed Forces
of your connection there.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
So I already knew that I wanted to work in
the military as a forensic pathologist because my field, in
particular is has always been very shorthanded because not a
lot of people want to do the job but also
don't want to go through the time it takes to
actually go ahead and be certified in it. So in
the United States Armed Forces, I was actually able to
(24:06):
talk to one recently and she told me that in
the entire Armed Forces, there's probably about seven pathologists in
the department, and that is a very small number if
you think about how many soldiers we have in our
own military. And so they actually work with departments like NASA, FBI, CIA,
and Department of Defense doing second autopsies. So, for example,
(24:30):
if the FBI has their own friends and pathologists, and
if that person says, hey, I think this is what happened,
but I'm not entirely sure. I want a second opinion,
they would call someone from the Armed forces to go
ahead and verify that person's findings. So we're very short staffed,
but we always get to travel as well. But it's
a very I like to think it is a very
important role because we can go ahead and give that
(24:53):
release to families by letting them know what happened to
their kids or their spouses or whoever they're related to,
and also finding safer ways for our men and women
in the military to go ahead and come home quicker.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
That's amazing. Thank you for sharing, Sana.
Speaker 6 (25:06):
Can you keep chat a little bit or share what
your path is going to look like after your studies
At at high point, you know, where where would you
anticipate that that going you?
Speaker 4 (25:17):
Where would you live, where would you work?
Speaker 6 (25:20):
Kind of what role would you be kind of beyond
actual being at high point.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
So I actually my goal medical school to get into
is USU School Medicine. It's a military based medical school
out in Maryland, and you can go ahead and apply
with the military background or as a civilian. But the
greatest thing about this medical school is that it's completely
funded for the students. So all four years of my
medical school, all four years and my residency will be
(25:48):
paid for. And through this I get to learn military
strategies and also military training and also get that medical experience.
And because this is the medical school that I really
wish to go into, because I feel it fits my
path best, I recently joined the National Guard as well.
Hopefully I'll be able to go in as like a
(26:10):
combat medic or as a CBRN, which is a chemical, biological,
nuclear or radiologist specialist. So because of this, actually this October,
I'll be starting training for National Guard, and then when
I graduate in December of twenty twenty seven, I'll go
ahead and also be applying for medical schools. So as
(26:32):
of October August of twenty twenty eight, I'll be heading
to medical school, whether that's at USU hopefully, or if
that's at a different medical school. Then I'll do eight
years eight more years of education, and then I'll have
to do another fellowship with a pathologist, and then I'll
have to take my board a certification. So I really
won't be done training until I'm about twenty eight years old,
(26:53):
in which I can go ahead and then apply to
be a friend of pathologist for the United States Art Forces,
in which I'll probably be based in one of their
main military bases, probably in d C, Texas, or there
is one more, but I can't remember off the top
of my head, but they'll probably locate me one of
those places at first.
Speaker 6 (27:13):
Wow, we are so super proud. And she's gonna be
the protector of her home. You know, I think ye
down the road, as Trent has shared, he is of
his home.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
My story wasn't didn't get you, big spoon, I'm going
to come in your house and break a glass.
Speaker 6 (27:32):
Just get a German shepherd to be good, Go down
there and get them sna.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
Can you share what you like to do for fun?
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (27:39):
I mean five minutes a free time?
Speaker 5 (27:41):
Yeah right, yes, With what free time I do get,
I really love to go to the movies, whether that's
with my dad or just with me and some of
my friends. Some other things too is that on weekends,
I also really like to go to the free markets.
They always have some pretty cool things. And whenever I
by myself or if it's quiet, I like to read
(28:02):
books all the time, anywhere, anytime.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Right, very cool, got it going on? God bless America.
I mean, yeah, if you're if.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
You're proud of your next generation right there.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Of military leaders?
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Really yeah, absolutely, thank you Sienna, and congratulations. This is
wonderful and thank you, thank you guys for what you
do leading the Bridge Foundation which allows us to happen
twenty two years now.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
It's great, what a legacy I know in Trent. Now
we have to switch gears a little bit and stay
on the stay on the youth of America here obviously
more importantly checked this out for a second Sienna Western
North Carolina with with Make a Wish and our annual
Pitching for Wishes corn Hole tournament. Yep, we uh.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
This is our eighteenth year and ten shows leading up
to our tournament, which I think is November to second
this year, No November to first, the day after Halloween,
we have our eighteenth annual Freedom Part. But the ten
shows leading up, we tell a Wish story about a
Wish kid. That's right, and Patrick is so good and
(29:13):
so eloquent at telling the story in passing the song.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
I am not thank you for saying that though, But
as you've always said, I usually don't read these ahead
of time because you kind of know the parts that
are going to kind of get at the heartstrings. So
I just kind of wing it. It's tough to read
to some very difficult stories. But as you know, Trent,
that most the kids that we talk about with Make
a Wish are are survivors ultimately, yes, which is wonderful.
(29:39):
Let me talk about our sponsors. First, we've got two
gold sponsors Byron Builders and ITC Millworks, and then platinum
sponsors are Dead Eye Renovations, Barefoot and Company. They've been
doing this forever, plus renewal by Anderson Home Technology Solutions
in United Healthcare. So I mean talk about I mean,
how what's see the oldest tenured sponsor all eighteen years.
(30:04):
We've got to have a few.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
I mean Queen City Lumber, I know those guys. I
think dry Pro Basement Systems.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Oah, yeah, yeah, they've been around then.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
I know Overhead Doors early on and Randy Burris man,
I mean Bearfoot has been doing a long time. I
don't know if it's been all eighteen but they thank
God for you guys, and to deal with Make a
Wish of Central and western North Carolina. But Make a
Wish as an international organization, is every child that has
a life threatening illness should have the opportunity to have
(30:41):
this one special wish granted because it brings hope, and
it brings healing and help to them and their family
that's been going through trauma and turmoil. And there is
scientific evidence that there are medical benefits to being granted
a wish.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
He said that, Oh, well, put and we'll watch this.
I'm about to bring this full circle. See how I
get ready? This is Annabella's playground. Anabea, a four year
old from high Point, North Carolina, did not that's kind
of interesting and it guy's at the world works. It's
full of imagination and curiosity. She loves spending time with
her family, especially playing with her sister and reading books
(31:22):
together that hears more music brings soundtrack. Music brings her
so much happiness, with the Frozen soundtrack in her absolute favorite.
Despite living with congenital heart disease. Anabella embraces every moment
with a bright smile and a playful spirit. One of
Anabia's favorite activities going to the park with her mom,
where she can swing, slide, and explore. Her laughter fills
(31:42):
the area if she races down the slides or soars
high on the swings. Because her love for the playground,
Anaba's wish is to have her very own play set
at home, complete with swings, a slide, and a tree house.
It's her dream to create endless adventure right in her backyard,
a space where she can play freely with her sister
and make lasting memory. Having a play set at home
would mean so much to Aneby and her family. It
(32:04):
would give her a safe and accessible place to enjoy
the outdoors, listen to music, and let her imagination run wild.
For a little girl who faces medical challenges every day,
this placeset provide joy, freedom, and countless moments of laughter
shared with her loved ones.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Wow, go an a B so you can to be,
to meet and to have and NB wants that play set.
She needs that playset. I think it's going to bring
hope in her life, and that's what it's about.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
YEP. Yeah, man, go make a wish to central North Carolina.
Go N and B. We're excited.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
We get to do this for the next nine episodes,
and then the day after Halloween we have our I
think it's our seventeenth annual pitching for wishes. One year
during COVID we did a walt for wishes because we
couldn't gather people, but we still raise money, still had
our sponsors, everybody was still committed.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
So thank y'all. God, bless you, Ross, thank you for
being here.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Us.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Congratulations on your on your scholarship. Great wonderful manus.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Yes, be proud. That's strong. I can tell you have confidence.
That is what you need absolutely for real.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
All right, tell us tell us what to do, Trent.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
I mean, you go do the golden rules what you do, uh,
and you treat others the way you want to be treated.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
And I tell this every day I say this.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
You treat them the way you want to be treated
when things aren't going well uh for you, or when
they're not being the nicest, even not only when it's convenient,
but carry a smile around on your face because you
never know who you're gonna infect and affect with a
smile when you interact with them. Thanks for listening to
at Home with Ruby
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.