Chelsey moved to Folsom during the 7th grade and attended Folsom Middle School, where she received the Community Service award, and maintained a 4.0 GPA. In 2004, Chelsey graduated from Folsom High School as Valedictorian of her class with well over a 4.0 GPA.

During high school, Chelsey was active in Folsom Teen Counsel serving as secretary her sophomore year (2001-2002) and president her junior and senior years (2002-2004). She was also actively involved in student government at FHS, serving as Public Relations Correspondent her junior year and Senior Class Secretary her senior year. Chelsey also participated in Mock Trial, CSF (California Scholarship Federation), was an officer in Key Club, taught Sunday school at Harbor Church , and worked at Basketball Town as the party coordinator.

In The summer between her junior and senior years of high school, she received a scholarship from Kikkomen that allowed her to travel to Japan as the recipient of the Kikkomen scholarship, and immerse herself in the culture as a student. Upon graduation, Chelsey received several academic scholarships including local scholarships from Rotary Ann and Kikkomen.

She was accepted to several universities and after visiting them all, made the decision to attend UCLA and major in Political Science where she is currently on track to graduate with honors.

In February of this year, her junior year in college, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and began a six-month chemotherapy treatment plan (AVBD) at UCLA Med Center . Sadly, however, after four months of treatment, a biopsy revealed that the cancer was not being eradicated and the treatment was halted.  Beginning Monday, July 30, Chelsey began receiving salvage chemotherapy (ESHAP) followed by a stem cell/bone marrow transplant. This is a very intense form of chemotherapy that is administered over 4 consecutive days (8+ hours each day). She will then have 2-3 weeks for her body to recover before receiving her next treatment. After her 2nd or 3rd treatment (yet to be determined), Chelsey will be hospitalized (in isolation) for approximately a month. She will receive 5 days of chemotherapy in the hospital, followed by a stem cell/bone marrow transplant. She will remain in the hospital for a few weeks as her body begins to make its own healthy bone marrow. The hope is that by Christmas, Chelsey will be cancer free!