Arthur and Elana Panos Scholarship

At the age of six, I accepted Christ into my heart. Growing up in a small Baptist church where my dad served as the worship pastor, I experienced the early stages of faith through baptism and participating in church activities. At that time, I understood the significance of my actions, but I hadn’t fully grasped the depth of what it meant to have a personal relationship with Christ. It wasn’t until I moved to Oklahoma in sixth grade and began attending BattleCreek Church that my faith really began to grow. At BattleCreek, I was introduced to a youth group where I experienced a church environment unlike any I had been to before. I began to understand what it meant to have a personal relationship with God. It was through this newfound understanding that I began to feel God’s calling on my life, specifically in worship leadership. Over the years, this calling has only deepened, and I am endlessly grateful. Through my years in high school, I have realized how invested I am in leading others to do great things, especially through worship. Worship is more than just music; it is a means of expressing our love for God and drawing people closer to Him. I have had the privilege of leading worship in various church settings, and I have seen firsthand the power of music to transform hearts and bring people together in fellowship. This is why I have decided to pursue a career in worship leadership, to impact the world by creating an environment where people can encounter God in a personal way. I believe my main purpose in life is to lead others to Christ. God has blessed me with leadership skills, compassion for others, and the ability to connect with people through music. God has called me to use my musical talents and leadership skills to help build His kingdom and spread His message of hope. I have come to appreciate how crucial my relationship with Christ is, not just as a source of strength but as a guide for the future. Through the stressful process of searching for the right college and making plans for the next chapter, I have leaned on my faith, knowing that no matter what school I choose, it will be a part of God’s plan for me. This gives me a sense of peace and the confidence that I will continue to grow spiritually and personally no matter where I go. As I look toward college, I am excited about the opportunities to continue to grow in my faith, develop my leadership abilities, and deepen my understanding of worship ministry. In the future, I envision myself using my role as a worship leader to not only guide people in worship but also to mentor and equip the next generation of leaders. Whether through church ministry, community service, or international missions, I hope to use my influence to help others find their purpose in Christ and inspire them to lead lives that reflect His love and truth. My faith has always been the foundation of who I am, and I am committed to making a lasting difference by sharing the light of God with those around me.

Sight unseen, voice unheard, God is present through it all. Even through my darkest moments, He has been there. Unfortunately, there was a period of time where I forgot about His love. My childhood was marked by my dad’s drug addiction and his chronic insomnia. At the age of nine years old, I learned to parent both myself and my little sister. When the pantry was bare, I biked three miles to the grocery store, using my birthday money to buy bread. When two men broke down our front door to collect drug money my dad owed them, I hid my sister in the closet and stood guard. Finally, he overdosed for the last time, and my heart shattered into a million pieces, unable to be glued back together. I was hurt and blamed God. I asked myself, “How could an all-loving God take my dad from me?” In my grief, I isolated myself. I felt lost and as if I had no one to turn to. My friends did not understand the pain I was experiencing; I needed to be strong for my mom and sister. One night, as I cried into my pillow, I got a notification from my Bible app. It read the verse, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). That was the first time that I felt a semblance of peace and clarity after my dad’s death. My dad, though he struggled with drug dependence, was a strong believer in God. Before his addiction, we would go to church together every Sunday. He held my hand during the weekly homilies and squeezed it during the important parts, making sure that I paid attention. However, those times had long passed. As I struggled to help my dad, I drew farther and farther away from my faith. From that moment on, I began relying on God to guide me through my happiest as well as my most difficult times. I started volunteering at my church again; I led youth groups and handed out donuts after Mass. I became really close to my religion teachers, confiding in them often. My faith returned to me even deeper than before. I began a prayer journal, talking to God before bed every night. I slowly began to heal from my dad’s passing, and I learned how to truly receive and reciprocate God’s love. This decision has extended to my vocational life as well. As I began thinking about my future career, I was extremely unsure of the path I was meant to take. I remembered to include God in my decision and prayed to Him often. I reflected on the talents and gifts that He gave me and realized that I can best help people as a lawyer. I will fight for those who can not fight for themselves. I will act as a mouthpiece for those unheard voices. I know that there will be hardships and difficulties that will present themselves in my future career, yet I am comforted knowing that I have God by my side.

God has been a tremendous guide for me through my life. Epically as I go through the life stages as a young adult. I have been tested countless of times by God & in those times, he has shown me the right path that I should always choose. God has brought me into the right surroundings with amazing Faith-driven friends who feel the same way I feel. He has showered me with the unconditional laughter & happiness that I recieve from being with them. Choir practice & bible study days are always something that I greatly look foward to. They make me want to attend church events & be a servant of God. Growing up as a young Christian, my faith in God never really felt important to me. I read the Bible & prayed but I was also a kid who questioned the unquestionable & that made me feel as if I was a non-believer. My youth group has given me the confidence of speaking out & being vocal when it comes to my questions & opinions about Faith & Christianity. My personal life is now almost always about church. From choir practice, to Sunday school teaching, to announcements to Bible study. My life as a youth is being shaped solely by my faith in God & as a Christian. This constant exposure is what shapes my judgment in life & my actions. As our world is growing with my generation, I know that there will be countless of tests & decisions that I will have to make that may affect my stance on being a Christian. I think about it all the time I sometimes I fear that I will make a grave mistake & get lost in the world of sins but, I know that with my friends, my family & my undenying love for God & the Bible, I will be alright. God never wants to lose a devoted Christian espically his children because he wants us to believe & understand the rights from wrongs at an early age. As I grow older & further peruse my career in the medical field I know that My God will give me the wisdom & clarity to pass any tests that I may need to pass. I know that he will plant me in the right path with the right people & I know that my Faith in him will never diminish as I pursue my career. I know that there may be times when i maynot ve able to be in church but my faith will never die. He has given me much that I never really thought I needed, especially as a young adult and I am forever grateful & blessed in his holy name for what he has done for me.

I was raised Catholic by devout parents. Both of my parents worked hard to keep our family afloat, but the church was one of the most integral parts of our week. Both my parents were immigrants and moved to the United States to give me an opportunity they didn't think I could get in South America. Growing up, I can not remember when God was not present in my life. While I was never forced to pray, it was something that I did naturally. I once had a nun in school tell me that God was to thank me when things were good and ask for help when things were not. I took that to heart and have kept that thought in my head when I pray daily. God has been especially my salvation in the last eight years of my life. I have had 11 brain surgeries and a stroke on the table in my last one. When I thought that I would not recover, I asked God to help me with things that should have been simple. I was prepared to accept a slight recovery. Instead, I got a new life. While my life changed, I lost my job; I had to go on disability; there is not one day that I do not thank God and understand that I have a purpose. Coming back to school so I can get a degree, and help children, is the reason God kept me alive. I pray that I can help so many more unfortunate than I.