Stephanie is the epitome of love. She loves her family and her community. It is shown by her selfless giving and advocacy to change lives. Her life changed twelve years ago when her now 17-year-old daughter, Emily, was injured in a violent wreck. Emily was just five years old when she was hit by a drunk driver and paralyzed from the chest down. Emily now uses a wheelchair with a 2% chance to walk again. Through community fundraisers and awareness events, Stephanie has shared Emily’s story, spearheaded the effort to help her daughter live a normal life, and, touched thousands of lives. Stephanie has a bachelor’s degree from Austin Peay State University and a master’s degree from Cumberland University. She completed the Volunteer Advocacy Project through Vanderbilt University in 2022. Stephanie was appointed to serve as a member of the Tennessee Developmental Disabilities Planning and Policy Council for the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. She also received the 2022 Voice for Victims Award in Middle Tennessee. Stephanie is a member of the ARC, NAQ, and the United Spinal Association. In Stephanie’s free time, she now advocates for people with disabilities and works on making her community more accessible for people with disabilities. Stephanie loves making memories with Emily and Jake, her husband, and enjoys traveling, sleeping, and learning. She is also a die-hard Iowa Hawkeye fan.