Make-A-Wish Foundation Grants Student’s Wish for Paid Tuition

If you had one wish, what would it be?

Collin College student Noah Denton wanted to further his education. The Make-A-Wish Foundation recently granted his wish with a $5,000 scholarship that will allow Denton to graduate debt free.

“I didn't want to use my wish on something that was just kind of novel, not that there's anything wrong with that,” he said. “This just felt like the best option.”

Denton was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in his fibula when he was 15 years old. It is a rare type of cancer that forms in the bones or the soft tissue around the bones.

“Most people don’t tend to think they have cancer when they do,” he said. “I noticed there was something wrong but waited two years before getting it checked out. I didn't think it was anything that severe.”

Denton began treatment in February 2021. The 11-month period was a “weird” time — he had just reunited with his classmates after taking classes online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but then he had to isolate again because of his condition.

“I wasn't allowed to have any visitors at all because my immune system was weak and then with COVID it was too big of a risk, so I really didn't see people for a year,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Denton’s fibula was successfully removed. He received the medical status “no evidence of disease” on his 16th birthday, and he will be officially declared cancer free by 2026.

“If you ever notice anything is wrong, get it checked out,” he said. “The waiting only makes it get worse. You never really feel like you have cancer.”

Denton went on to graduate from Frisco Lone Star High School in May 2024. He enrolled at Collin College shortly afterward to pursue an Associate of Applied Science in Commercial Music. While Denton was in the middle of the summer session, Collin’s Student Financial Services office received a call.

“The Make-a-Wish Foundation let me know that they had a scholarship for Noah for his education,” said Jamie Brinkley, assistant director of Student Financial Services. “I'm proud to be a part of a college where someone would take such a special gift like this and want to come to our school. What an incredibly mature young man to say, ‘I can probably use my wish to go somewhere fun, but I want to further my education.’ That is just amazing to me.”

Denton will get to pay it forward. Inspired by his wish, Collin College will extend it by covering a semester’s worth of tuition for a classmate of Denton’s choosing. 

Denton said enrolling at Collin College felt like a win-win: he can receive a good education close to home, now at no cost.

“I came to Collin because I wanted to stay somewhere local,” he said. “A lot of people have said good things about Collin, and it's not as expensive as other schools. I’m excited that I don’t have to worry about funding and can just focus on taking my classes.”