2026 Live Your Dream Award Recipient
Danielle Waggoner
Soroptimist of Newport proudly announces Danielle Waggoner as the recipient of the prestigious 2026 Soroptimist Live Your Dreams Award.
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Danielle’s journey reflects determination, compassion, and a deep commitment to serving others through healthcare. After earning her high school diploma through an alternative education program, Danielle discovered her passion for patient care while completing a medical assistant program. That experience inspired her to pursue nursing and a career dedicated to supporting patients and families.
She relocated to northern Idaho to attend North Idaho College where she graduated with honors. Danielle has since built a meaningful nursing career that has taken her into complex and demanding healthcare environments, including serving a community recovering from a devastating Category 5 hurricane. These experiences strengthened her skills in crisis response, interdisciplinary teamwork, and providing compassionate care in challenging circumstances.
As both a healthcare professional and a mother, Danielle is passionate about improving resources for children and families navigating autism and behavioral health challenges. She plans to continue her education to become a Nurse Practitioner, with the long-term goal of establishing a resource center in northern Idaho—ideally in Bonner County—that will provide comprehensive support for autism, behavior management, and adolescent mental health.
Danielle says she carries a small reminder of confidence into her work each day. “My secret superpower is my superhero socks,” she shared. “They peek out from under my scrubs and remind me that I can face whatever the day brings and be the best nurse I can be.”
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Congratulations Danielle!
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Live Your Dream Awards
Soroptimist's Live Your Dream Awards program is a unique education award for women who provide the primary financial support for their families. The Live Your Dream Awards give women the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.
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Every year, Soroptimist distributes more than $2.9 million in education awards to over 2,000 women all over the world.
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Over half of our Live Your Dream Awards recipients are survivors of domestic violence, trafficking or sexual assault. Nearly all of the women and families we serve have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, teen pregnancy, and drug or alcohol addiction. Live Your Dream Awards recipients may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare, tuition and transportation.
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The Live Your Dream Awards offers three levels of cash awards. Eligible applicants can submit their application between August 15 - November 15.
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Ultimately, a Live Your Dream Awards finalist has the potential to receive up to $16,000 to help offset tuition costs, purchase books, get transportation, or find reliable childcare so she can worry less about how to pay her bills and focus on reaching her dreams.