Our volunteer readers are presently rating the essays submitted by our graduating high school seniors and college students seeking Carver scholarships this June.

All of them have a common theme — the improbability of their even considering successful college and careers.

Some of their stories are heartbreaking, others miraculous, and still others joyously exuberant in their ambition to succeed despite the setbacks and disadvantages. All of them are or will soon be first-generation college students.

All of them will also make you shout with joy, just like the world did when Rich Strike on Saturday in the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby went from an 80-1 long shot, who did not even earn his spot in the starting gate in America’s greatest horse race until Friday (!), achieved a three-quarter length victory that had appeared until the final seconds to be impossible.

Carver scholars time and again run a hole through the wind!

“It’s a horse race, and anybody can win,” trainer Eric Reed said. “And the tote board doesn’t mean a thing.”

…Reed said he was notified at 8:45 a.m. Friday – 15 minutes before the scratch deadline – Rich Strike would not get in the race.

“The security guard was told to leave the barn,” Reed said.

Ten minutes later, he got the good news.

“We came here on a prayer,” Reed said. “I told my Dad and told (owner Rick Dawson), the worst thing than can happen to us is to have a call a day or two before the Derby and say you’re going to get in and not be prepared. We trained against all odds. Nobody thought we could get in….”

The moral of this story is to never bet against Carver's youth. They are winners!