Richard wins ‘What I want to Be and Why’ Essay Contest

Christopher Richard is this year’s winner of the Rotary Club of Abbeville’s “What I Want to Be and Why” contest.
Since the contest’s inception in 1949, there have been myriad scientific breakthroughs. Richard, a 2022 Abbeville High graduate, wants to be part of furthering advancements that help others, as he has seen those advancements help someone special to him.
“My sister was born with a cleft palate,” Richard said, “which led to her hearing loss.”
She wore traditional hearing aids for years, which Richard said complicated her medical issues.
“Due to the nature of traditional hearing aids,” Richard said, “her middle ear was unable to receive airflow, causing continued ear infections and repetitive surgeries to insert tubes.”
Richard’s sister eventually became eligible for a surgery that would significantly impact her hearing. She received bilateral Cochlear Baha titanium implants situated behind her ear, allowing the implant to snap on and off.
“This was when I learned that sound is heard better through bone conduction rather than air conduction,” Richard said. “My curiosity grew and led me to do further research.”
Richard learned that a group of biomedical engineers and neuroscientists created the implant.
“From that point on,” Richard said, “my heart has been set on biomedical engineering. I want the opportunity to do exactly what those engineers do, change people’s lives.”
Richard will take the next step in his path to helping others later this year when he attends Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. He will study biology with a biomedical concentration.
“Over the course of my undergraduate college education,” Richard explained, “I will get the opportunity to explore many fields of biology, including cellular and molecular biology, anatomy and microbiology.”
Richard also plans to seek a minor degree in electronics engineering technology. After earning his bachelor’s degree, Richard plans to attend graduate school.
“I will continue my education in the medical field,” he said. “I plan to become a biomedical researcher, and grad school will bring me even closer to this opportunity.”
Richard, the 17-year-old son of Nadine and Chris Richard, made the most of his opportunities in high school. Richard served as an officer in both the Beta Club and the AHS student council. In addition, he played on the baseball team and joined the marching band, for which he earned the opportunity to become a drum major.
Outside of school, Richard volunteered at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Abbeville.
“In my spare time,” he said, “I enjoy photography, exploring new things and spending time with my nieces.”
Richard joined the Rotary’s Interact Club three years ago. During Wednesday’s meeting, Rotary Club President Annette Mudd, the district Interact chair, presented Richard with this award for the Rotary District Level “Interactor of the Year.” That award includes a $500 Scholarship to go with his $2,000 scholarship for “What I Want to Be and Why.”
“His parents have to be extremely proud,” Mudd said. “I know that I am.”
Richard is grateful.
“I would like to extend sincerest thanks to the Rotary Club of Abbeville,” Richard said, “for giving me this opportunity to share my journey.”
Richard intends to help as many people as he can while on that journey.
“I believe that my career path will set me up to make a difference in the world,” Richard said. “I have always enjoyed helping others. This pathway will be the stepping stone I need to do so. Biomedical research is extremely important as it is the only way to create new treatments and solutions for a wide variety of diseases and health conditions.
“It will be my task to work not only to improve healthcare systems, but to minimize the cost of services for people around the world.”