After having a heart transplant at two years of age, Eden Murphy enjoyed a healthy childhood until her body began rejecting her new heart at age 16. After being on the transplant list again for 1½ years she had her second heart transplant on July 18 and is “ready for a fresh start.”
In spite of her health challenges, she aggressively pursued her education, earning a 3.5 GPA, participating in the dance program and dance performances, taking AP classes and working full-time every summer in the Colorado mountains. For all those reasons, she has been awarded a $2,500 David Malcolm Scholarship in the Spring 2025 cycle.
“Eden epitomizes the student that I created this scholarship for,” said San Diego businessman and philanthropist David Malcolm. “She has overcome enormous challenges and been laser-focused on her education and life goals.”
The David Malcolm Scholarship was established in 2021 to support students who have shown resilience in the face of daunting obstacles and have a compelling vision for pursuing higher education and subsequent life goals. Recipients of the $2,500 scholarships have also demonstrated a desire to better their world.
Family has meant everything to Murphy, especially when her youngest brother had the same condition and also needed a heart transplant. Now she is focused on becoming a pediatric cardiologist, “to change the way medicine looks and feels for kids like me.” In that role, she will be both a patient advocate and an example of how to overcome major health problems.
“I’m not just surviving,” she added, “I’m preparing to make a difference.”
The David Malcolm Scholarship is open to high school students, and students accepted to or enrolled in a college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.5.
Please visit the official website to learn more about the David Malcolm Scholarship and its mission to support educational success.
About David Malcolm
David Malcolm is a San Diego-based entrepreneur, real estate expert, and community leader with five decades of experience. He is dedicated to supporting higher education opportunities and local community initiatives. He and his wife, Annie, actively contribute to charitable organizations that help build stronger communities through education and support services.