Parade Junior Marshall MADDOX HAGEMAN
A little about me, Maddox Hageman: I was born and raised in Santa Maria and come from a long line of Santa Marians deeply rooted in our community. In fact, the Souza’s on my grandmother’s side are one of the founding families of Santa Maria! My Portuguese heritage has proudly served the SM Valley for generations through their farming. My great grandfather Mal Hageman on my dad’s side started Valley Glass and Mirror in the 1960’s and my dad to this day carries on the family business, installing glass all over the Central Coast. The love for my community runs deep, and it is truly an honor to be asked to be named Junior Grand Marshall of the Elks Rodeo Parade. My great grandpa Earl Souza (“The Great” as my cousins and I called him) was an Elk for many, many years and roped in the rodeo for years as well. I’m sure he would be honored and proud as well to see this. I’m currently a senior at St. Joseph High School, where I play football and baseball. My senior year though, started out a bit different than most. I was thrown a curveball in life that I never saw coming. I was diagnosed in the very beginning of my senior year, in late August of 2024 with cancer, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Stage 2A. It was a time when every senior is excited and busy with all the “Senior Things”. Football practices had recently started for me, and fall-ball for baseball was just around the corner too. It was going to be a great year. All that quickly changed. I told myself that very first night after my diagnosis, that this cancer was not going to get the best of me. At a time when some have questioned why, or felt sorry for themselves, I instead used it to push me forward. If I can get through this, I can do anything. And more than anything, I wanted to be able to walk down that aisle in my cap and gown with my class, graduate, and pursue my dream of getting a college degree. I won’t let cancer define me, but I WILL let it strengthen me. I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of a trial at Stanford. I went through 9 rounds of chemotherapy, during which I maintained my high GPA and was surround by the love and support of my family, friends and community. That is what got me through this. People I didn’t even know rallied and prayed for me. I truly learned the importance and meaning of community, and that one day I want to give back. My perspective on so much has changed! I’m proud to say that I am now in remission! And I’m even back on the field, playing varsity baseball and doing what I love. You can always find me either surfing, playing golf, poker nights with my buddies and most of all, living life to the fullest and not taking anything or anyone for granted. I also just got accepted to my #1 school, Boise State, where I will continue my next chapter of life after graduation. It has been a privilege to be recognized and asked to be a part of the Elks Rodeo Parade, something that I used to watch when I was younger and something that has been a part of my family for so long. To be able to be a part of my community in this way really means the world. I’m very thankful for this opportunity and look forward to having the honor of representing such a long-standing tradition in Santa Maria.
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