Celebrated Sidney Senior Receives Rural Health Opportunities Program Scholarship

Siona Kshirsagar, daughter of Sachin and Stutika Kshirsagar, is an extraordinary young lady who has earned a 4.0 GPA, while taking honors and dual credit courses, and has completed job shadowing and internships with local medical personnel all throughout her four years at Sidney High School. Some of her most notable achievements include earning the 2020 Cheyenne County Spelling Bee Champion title and the 2022 Chadron Scholastic Champion in Health Sciences. During her senior year, Siona was awarded the Seven Semester Honor Roll Award, School Board Award, Honors Course of Study Award, and Award of Excellence in Statistics at Sidney High School. She was a member of both the National Junior Honor Society chapter all of middle school and National Honor Society all four years in high school. She held the secretary officer role for her National Honor Society chapter her senior year.

Siona is a compassionate person who can relate to all people, making sure that everyone feels valued and needed. She enjoys serving others. In her first year of high school, Siona completed 120+ hours of community service, above and beyond the required 80 hours needed by the National Honor Society. She volunteered in various projects conducted by the school and the community and is involved in a variety of groups and clubs at Sidney High School, including Science Club, National Honor Society, Health Occupations Students of America, Unified Raiders, Journey Through Our Heritage, and Cheyenne County 4-H. She also displayed her immense love for music by taking piano lessons for the past 11 years. She occasionally plays the piano at her church, Sidney Faith Methodist, and also played in the talent show when she attended American Legion Auxiliary Cornhusker Girls' State 2023 as a representative for Sidney. She was elected as State Senator when she participated in the constructive mock government elections for Girls' State.

When she's not studying, Siona loves to draw and spend time with her little sister, Preeti Kshirsagar, and enjoys taking walks with her family and traveling to different places. Siona is going to attend Wayne State College this fall, in the Rural Health Opportunities Program, and plans to become a Physician Assistant. She is looking forward to returning to the community and hopes that she can serve as a Physician Assistant. Siona, may your journey be filled with endless opportunities and good luck in your future endeavors!