Scholarship Winners

2024 Winner

Aleena Palumbo

Bio: My name is Aleena Palumbo and I was born and raised in Folsom, CA. Growing up I was in competitive dance with Ballet and Contemporary, and became professional at the age of eighteen. In 2019, I graduated from Folsom High School and enrolled in college as a Deaf Studies major simultaneously working in Early Intervention for the Deaf at a local school district. In 2023, I graduated from Sacramento State and had enrolled in a Master’s program for Deaf Education when life threw a curveball halting everything, a car accident. My injuries resulted in withdrawing from the program and dance. In my injury evaluation, doctors ordered a brain scan to evaluate the level of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Within 24 hours, a brain surgeon called and informed me that I had an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) growing in my occipital lobe since birth and had an 84% chance of rupturing. When an AVM ruptures, it has a 50% survival rate with loss of abilities. My perspective quickly changed; I went from wanting justice from my injuries to, wow, the car accident actually saved my life. In October of 2024, I underwent Gamma Knife Radiation Surgery to start the process of shrinking the AVM. In the consultation, my oncologist listed all the possible effects such as becoming blind, deaf, or developing brain necrosis. Due to my knowledge of deafness, I was curious as to why this could happen. AVMs are rare with limited research. I decided to make it my mission to find answers. I enrolled at Utah State in Spring of 2025 to complete the prerequisite courses and was accepted for Fall 2025 entry at Sacramento State’s Au.D. Doctor of Audiology program. I was pre-approved for a project focusing on the relationship between AVMs and hearing. Using my story to help bring awareness to AVMs and supporting other warriors will fulfill my life’s journey.

Reaction Statement: The morning of March 12, 2025 I received an email stating I was chosen as the winner of the 2024 Injury Recovery Scholarship from Levin & Nalbandyan Trial Lawyers. The rush of overwhelming joy was instantaneous! As I read the email, I pictured myself walking across the stage at graduation, beating and overcoming my brain Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), and living a full life dedicated to AVM research. It was an emotional moment that fueled more inspiration within me to keep going. Thank you Levin & Nalbandyan Trial Lawyers for giving me the ability to make meeting my educational goals possible. I am more excited than ever to get back on my feet and live life to the fullest!