C. Burke Morris Scholarship

Growing up I have always been around dogs. To me they deserve so much more than what people give them. Where I live there are stray dogs everywhere. Just here recently at my high school, a stray dog came running in at lunch just to get peoples attention. I personally feel like helping dogs is one of the best achievements a person could have. So my personal achievement is to have fostered three puppy’s and have been able to re home them. I also trained them so they would appeal easier to more people. This is a great achievement for me because I was personally able to help those dogs live a great life. The strengths and skills that helped me do this are patience and responsibility. I had to get up every three hours in the middle of the night to take them outside to house train them, I had to re do the tricks until they got the hang of it, and I had to keep going even though I didn’t think they would get a home. What taught me those skills is growing up in a house of eight. I am the second oldest of six kids and I have learned to be patient and responsibility from that. I babysit my siblings so I know how toddlers can be and puppies are a lot like toddlers. I also learned to clean up after myself and others while watching my grandma when I was little. I have always been trusted to take care of people so I want to use those skills for animals benefits. My parents have always been a great influence for me and they taught me a lot about dogs. Taking care of animals and people have always been my specialty so if I can apply it to others that would be a real achievement for me. If I had enough money my dream is to buy land and build rescue shelters and dog houses there, so I could help as many dogs as I could and they all had a home. However, that is my goal and I am working towards that. Patience and responsibility will definitely help me overcome the difficulties and hopefully achieve more than I can imagine. Although I only helped three dogs I plan to help more in my lifetime. Doing something important in life is one of the best feelings and knowing you can help instead of being a burden. My family always taught me if you want something you have to work for it and I plan to live by that my whole life.

I was born with Dyslexia. I remember when my speech impediment was so bad that I could barely speak, let alone read. Nevertheless, due to my mother's determination not to let a label define me, I started having tutors for both my reading and my speech impediment. I honestly didn't mind the speech classes; they were easy, just saying words in a room over and over again. The reading classes are where I found myself watching the clock, feeling the weight of every prolonged minute. Even with this hate, I knew I needed to learn how to read. I could feel the gap between my peers and me widening. They continued to grow as I still struggled to spell my own name. I continued going until the end of fifth grade. By that time, I had begun to build my own foundation from which my path into the language arts would blossom. I began to rely on my reading comprehension rather than my raw abilities to get me through most of middle school. My mother had already argued for my accommodations when she found out I had Dyslexia. A tool that previously allowed me to be on even footing with my peers now gave me the tools to write without the limitations of my Dylesxia. I began to excel in all my English classes, becoming one of my best subjects. When I finally got to high school, I decided to push my self agian to surpass limitaions a put on myself again by joining my high school's writing studio. A club where students from the school submit their work to be tutored in person or digitally revised. I began to learn not only how to write my own formal essays but also how to recognise and fix problems in other people's work. This class showed me that even with Dyslexia, I am not only able to be a tutor but also write on my own, no longer relying on accommodations or others to support my writing. I have grown into someone who is a good enough writer to take and pass both AP Lang and lit. I continue to grow because I continue to push myself past goals I previously could have never reached. By staying determined and not letting the weight of it all stop me, I have grown past my dyslexia and did so through hard work. A goal is never something I see as something I can't do. I know all it takes is consistency and a work ethic.

When people find out you’re a “Make A Wish Kid” they usually just assume you got to go on a fun trip or get cool stuff. No one ever asks what happened before the wish. When I was 5 I was diagnosed with a rare lung disease called Bronchial Casting. Being so young I never understood what all the big medical terms meant or the simple fact that I now had to fight for my life. The diseases caused a rubber like substance to grow in my lungs, making breathing close to impossible. I had multiple surgeries to remove the castings but as fast as they took some out more would grow back. This led to years of multiple surgeries and hospitalization for weeks at a time. It’s safe to say my childhood was anything but normal. When I was granted my wish, I didn’t understand that the wish was meant to give me one last big adventure before the disease would take my life. Although as I write this essay and look back at the last 13 years. I beat every odd against me and have been able to accomplish so many things in my life. This disease caused half of one of my lungs to collapse but even through it all, I still continue to live. I’m now 18 years old and will be graduating high school this may. I’ve accomplished so much in my life living with a disease that was meant to stop me from living. I play football and lacrosse for Central Catholic High School and will be attending Hobart Institute of Welding Technology this October. Welding is something I was told may never been a possibility due to it being hard on the lungs. Though I know since I have survived a disease that sadly steals so many lives too soon, I strive to beat the odds once again. Every day when I wake up I am grateful for every breath I take because this disease comes with an uncertainty of when everything will spike back up. I am proud to say I am A Make a Wish Kid and grateful the foundation provided me with an experience I will never forget. I pray every day for the children and families that must experience childhood illness and those who sadly don’t make it to experience their wishes. I thank God every day that He has allowed me to live through this disease and still experience life. If having this disease has taught me anything it’s to never take anything for granted, especially the ability to breathe and wake up every day to enjoy the life I fought so hard to keep. And for pushing through and never letting this disease get in my way of whatever goal I set in front of me that is my biggest personal accomplishment. I have learned that you can do anything you put your mind too. Living everyday like it could be your last is how I live every day. However, that has made me push harder. Hoping that going to school to be a welder is the next thing I will get to mark off my goal list that I have accomplished.

A personal accomplishment I have achieved is becoming a good orator. I have been public speaking for three years, but it took a lot of refining, reading, and practice to achieve this skill. I began speaking and was mediocre at best, my speeches were not encapsulating, nor did they change the mind or lifestyle of the person listening in the audience. It is extremely difficult to listen to a nervous, monotone voice reading something from a piece of paper like a lifeless robot, and that is what I was. I decided to begin my journey of refining my speaking. A more experienced speaker wisely advised me to re-listen to my speeches first with both voice and video, secondly with just voice, and finally with just video. This process helped me to build a good stage presence with both audibly and visually. Working on a multitude of insignificant things, like hand movement, space utilization, crouching or even jumping, and fave expressions helped me clearly captivate the audience’s attention. Audibly I began using pauses in serious moments, getting quieter in intense moments, loud in passionate moments, slow in sad moments, and accelerated in exiting moments. These things helped build my stage presence and speech presentation to enable me to get a point clearly to the listener and captivate the audience exceptionally. Moreover, I learned that when I spoke, I must not turn from point to point too fast or else I would lose the attention of the audience. I learned to give illustrations and tell stories because they draw attention back to the topic and relate the speech with the listeners on a more personal level. I learned and incorporated the truck ideology which uses a truck for an example: whenever one drives a truck and has passengers in the back of the truck, they must not turn too quickly because the people in the back will fall out, but if you turn slowly and steadily, the people in the back of the truck will stay in, this illustration shows the importance of a steadily flowing speech and the crucially behind smooth traditions between points. I also learned to make the speech applicable to the person listening and emphasize the importance of the point of the speech to the audience so that they know to apply the advice and listen intently to learn from the speech. One of the most advancing things I have incorporated into my speech building is the formulation of rising tension; to formulate rising tension, one must build up tension and expense in the listeners heart in order to offer a solution to the problem which would typically be your main point or main idea. If you build tension in the first stages of the speech, then when you resolve the tension the resolution applies to the tension the listener may face personally. All of these things and more have been a part of my journey to being a refined orator. I am not perfect, and I have much more room to grow in comparison to how I have already grown. I still consider this learning and growth to be an accomplishment, and an exceptional one in my own lifetime.

When I was in second grade, I always knew I did not fit in with some of my friends. My fellow classmates talked about having crushes on boys, and I never quite felt that way about what they were saying. I did feel that way about girls. I found out in 2nd grade that I was a not attracted to men, and this followed me all throughout my elementary, middle, and high school experiences. I had many friends who decided we could no longer we could be close due to this. I got called derogatory names, and I always received dirty looks. For one of my school dances, I got called a nasty name due to the fact that I wore a suit instead of a dress. With this obstacle, I found my people. I found people who accepted me for who I am, and I eventually told my parents. I was absolutely terrified, and I never knew how they would react to their child being a lesbian. I told my mom, and she told me she would always love me for who I am. This changed how I viewed this idea I used to hate about myself. Through all of the mean words and dirty looks, my mom telling me she still loved me helped me accept myself even more. I came to accept my sexuality more as time went, and I even have a girlfriend now who helps me understand how it is not a bad thing to be gay. It is out of my control to try and change some thing so natural about me. It was simply the way I was made. I am now the happiest I have ever been, and I feel that this will transfer to my college life because I will find more people who make me feel at home. This personal accomplishment to accept who I am has changed my life completely. I am not able to be active in my school because I can fully accept myself for who I am, and be a part of so many other areas in my school. I am active in my FFA chapter, my FBLA chapter, show choir, band, soccer, and theater, and I thrive in them, placing 2nd in the state individually for FFA food science. I also placed 2nd with my group in our state in show choir, and my soccer team (where I started on defense) allowed us to have the best record for our team since 2016. I have been able to have many personal accomplishment, and my biggest on has to be the fact that I can accept who I am no matter what people think of me.

When my autistic cousin was taunted because of his disability, something resonated with me. I couldn't help but consider the unfairness of it all. Why do people treat him differently simply because of the way he communicates? When I learned about the Caring Cardinals club in my junior year, I knew I had to be a part of it. I wanted to do everything I could to make a difference for students who have a disability and be a force for good in making them feel welcome, included, and valued in a way that my cousin was not. I was committed from the beginning. I was elected as a club officer so that I could help plan activities and coordinate events. I did not want to be a spectator at meetings. It was a clear and firm goal that we shared: creating spaces where all people, regardless of ability, felt connected and valued. One club experience that meant the most to me was the Walking Club activity. We walked around the school grounds each week, paired up with students who were disabled. My partner was Landon, and neither of us had a clue what to say to each other at first. He was shy, and honestly, so was I. But as our walks around the school grounds started, something simple filled the lack of talk between us: bugs. Landon was excited about finding small things and showing me where they were. I did the same. We laughed, crouched over big beetles and butterflies, and had fun finding small things together. It was simple, but true. These walks were the highlight of the week for me, and by the way Landon smiled more and spoke more openly, I knew they were something that was significant for him as well. The hardest aspect was overcoming that initial shyness that my peers and I had. It showed me that putting people at ease was something one was not born with, but something one could work on by being patient, attentive, and open-minded. I tried working on people skills, listening more than I spoke, suggesting activities that matched others’ interests, and creating an environment where no one felt rushed or pressured. Being a leader didn’t mean being the loudest voice; it was the ability to make everybody else's voice heard. I was a more effective planner due to Caring Cardinals. Thinking creatively about activities that would engage everyone helped me see leadership differently. I was not just organizing people, but connecting with them. It also changed the way I think about friendship. Real friendship, I learned, is about meeting people where they are and valuing them for who they are, not expecting them to change to fit in. When I reflect on the impact I made, I consider what my cousin would tell me if he could see it. I like to think he would have been proud of me, and that's something that I smile about. I was taught by Caring Cardinals that sometimes small things make a huge difference and that building a world that's a bit more inclusive begins by making small, authentic connections. These are the sorts of things that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

May 28, 2024 Hello, my name is Quentin C. Keplinger. I graduated Sunday, May 19, and will be attending Concord University in the fall. Over the last few weeks, I have given serious thought to a personal accomplishment and the strengths and skills used to achieve it. I knew from a very early age that I wanted to become a veterinarian. My biggest and greatest personal accomplishment is the job I currently hold. My mom is employed at a local veterinary clinic and would often pick me up after school. I would be out of the way but could still watch all the action taking place around me. As I got older, I started becoming more involved. I volunteered for tasks such as stocking supplies, cleaning kennels, folding laundry, and the list goes on. By constantly helping, and asking questions, I gained basic knowledge and experience of veterinary medicine, which drove me to want to know more. I would go home in the evenings and look things up about cases, reading articles about medicine and how to further help animals, and even began asking for books and tools pertaining to veterinary medicine. I went to work for my sister-in-law, who is a veterinarian owning her own private practice. While working for her, I was able to further my skills and knowledge base, giving me an even deeper love for the profession. Through this experience I gained personal and professional skills. I was approached by the practice manager from the clinic where I spent my adolescent years about coming to work for them as a veterinary assistant. I was torn. I found myself, somewhat reluctantly, deciding to say something to my sister-in-law. A few weeks after she called me in the office, and said “I am going to let you go.” I was completely crushed. She continued to say “I need you to do this. If this is the career you want to pursue, you need to step out of your comfort zone, gain experience with other doctors, and the hard things that go along with it.” In the weeks to come I accepted the offer by the clinic where I grew up. I felt so out of place and awkwardly uncomfortable out of my comfort zone. I tried to do well at the job I had been hired to do, and reminded myself of the importance of learning through new experiences. I found myself praying, asking God to cover and provide me with peace. My strengths are that I’ve learned how to become comfortable with new experiences, and how to adapt to new challenges. How to overcome the small things. How to push through the hard times that we come up against, and the importance of friends to support you during tough times. Personally, the skills I used to get where I am are the ones I learned from this journey. Specifically, these skills are a stronger work ethic, determination, and perseverance. I also feel I have gained many new values to support these skills, such as, how to interact with people on a more personal level, and how to hold myself to a higher and more professional standard. I feel I would not be where I am today if it were not for the things I have outlined in this essay. I now hold so much valuable knowledge and experiences, many life lessons from wonderful co-workers and amazing veterinarians who have inspired me along the way. I would be honored to receive this scholarship. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Kind Regards, Quentin C. Keplinger

Since I was a toddler, I was told I could never stop talking. After finishing my first topic, I always think of something else to say; my grandmother would always tell me I was built from a chatter teeth toy that had been permanently winded. Even though I was always told I talked a lot, my grandfather had a saying, “Communication is key,” and I live by that statement. At a young age, I found that my most significant personal strength is my ability to communicate and present effortlessly. As I have gotten older, I have been given more opportunities to use my abilities. For most, public speaking is a nightmare, but I love it. It always finds me, even when I am not seeking a public speaking experience. Though I do not always seek the experience, I enjoy every moment. I've used this strength in many public speaking events, for example, announcing names for the class of '23 graduation. Having good communication skills has also brought me success in my student government club. A prime example would be that I am the President of Student Government, and I was voted in via the Students of Wayne High School. While I understand that the ability to communicate is my strength, I also enjoy playing as part of a team and being a listener. For example, I am the senior manager of my Biomedical Science CTE in high school. My task is to keep up with the calendar, lead class meetings, and ensure we are stocked with basic classroom essentials. I also use my strengths for an annual hobby of going to mock trials with my student government club. I have very little interest in going into law, but I still love my experience of debating and the intensity of being called to the stand. Another example of my love for the spotlight, lack of stage fright, and leadership would be becoming my school mascot, the Pioneer, for the football and basketball seasons. Our school's media leader approached me with this opportunity during our 2022 football season. I was elected the student section leader since I was very vocal, and everyone in the stands could hear. My strength and ability to communicate are critical because, without them, I wouldn’t have been able to do many of the activities I enjoy since many involve some vocal presentation. That’s why I chose also to pursue a career path that involves conversing with patients and coworkers to solve specific problems with the patients.

Something I have always struggled with is acknowledging weaknesses. Growing up within the confines of the mountainous West Virginia, there was an existent pride that constantly oozed from me. I wore it like a bejeweled crown on my head, for I loved my state. Traveling across states for speech competitions and educational conferences, it was always something I proudly showed off. Whenever someone would make a comment towards me that went against the ideals of my state being one of true elegance and beauty, I would immediately combat with a defensive statement. It wasn’t until I had a deep conversation with someone from across the country that opened my eyes permanently. When immediately resulting in a defensive statement, I often pushed past reasonable logic. A girl from Colorado that I met at a college event sparked a conversation with me about statistical evidence showing West Virginia’s poverty levels. I, once again, immediately came back with a defense, acting as if I was about to swing in a heated tennis game. What I did not know was that the real tactic was not hitting the ball back as hard as possible, but instead, making improvements to the racket itself. She gave me key advice that - to this day - I aspire to utilize. She stated, “It is okay to acknowledge a weakness in you or your area, however, the real danger is when you acknowledge the weaknesses and do nothing to improve them.” Since then, I have attempted to fix a prevalent issue I have seen as a West Virginia resident: the combination of food waste and lack of healthy meals created by low-income families. As a child, in poverty, we relied on food banks, yet, the same un-nutritional meals fell upon me everyday. Looking back, and knowing it was a simple lack of knowledge on how to utilize ingredients, drove me to assist. I volunteered weekly as a food bank, and weekly I saw a consistent trend. The donated food from markets are often unappealing looking or stale, and that led many volunteers to throw the items away, or give it away with no instructions. I dedicated time to developing a non-profit, aimed to show how to utilize commonly disregarded ingredients, such as stale bread. I included recipes in the boxes that correlated with the, sometimes, difficult ingredients. Not only did I include recipes in the boxes, I decided to create and manage a website to promote recipes for those who may not have been able to travel to the food bank! Additionally, I dedicated my weekends in the summer to making a table at our town’s farmers market. I promoted the non-profit and brought examples of foods to encourage people. Together, with the help of my community, we were able to reduce food waste, and increase nutritional meals within our beloved community. This volunteering experience has profoundly shaped my goal of pursuing a higher education. I aspire to be the first in my family to attend college. In order to create a lasting change, I need a solid educational foundation. A college education will equip me with the advanced skills and knowledge to expand my non-profit work and aim to tackle larger systematic issues. I aim to study international relations and continue on to law school which will allow me to develop more effective programs and advocate for policies that support low-income families in West Virginia!

Hello, my name is Mya Jackson. I’m a senior at Martinsburg Highschool in Martinsburg West Virginia. I am their 4-year starting 3rd baseman. I will continue my softball career at Hagerstown Community College. Studying Exercise science. To be the first person in my family to graduate from college. But let me start from the beginning. Iv played softball since I was 4 years old and I’m still playing 13 years later. From the beginning I fell in love with softball. I grew up on baseball due to my older brother playing it year around. I looked up to him and saw him love the sport of baseball and I knew I needed to try it out for myself. So my parents decided to let me try. My dad has been my coach for as long as I can remember. Until about 4 years ago when he had to stop coaching due to his health. My father suffers from a chronic blood clotting disorder that limits him from about everything. Even coaching. This was the hardest for me to understand and knew I had to step up and be the best player and to help my team like he did. Even if he’s not in the dugout with me, I know he’s watching from somewhere. That’s what made me keep fighting to be the best daughter and player I could be. My mother has always been my biggest cheer leader. Being at every single game, until early august of this year. My mother was shockingly diagnosed with colon cancer at the young age of 45. My family was lost within the news. From my mother working everyday being my family’s only source of income, to that being completely shut off was devastating. But I knew I needed to step up not just for her but for my family. So I got a job. To help with the medical bills, for gas to get her to treatments, to even getting our dinner for the night. But I didn’t mind one bit. I knew that I couldn’t help medically so I tried every other way. My mother is my biggest inspiration I strive to be atleast an ounce of her. From fighting everyday, to believing,to trusting her medical team, to loving her family with every ounce of her.Those are the tuffest things i’ve genuinely had to go threw. I now understand to take the small wins day by day. One day I hope to help a family like Winchester hospital did for me.They aren’t just medical specialists. They saved my family and became apart of it. They turned hard moments into learning lessons. Made me understand what’s going on, and how to help. But it genuinely made me love medicine and I can’t wait to help people like they did for me.With your help. Thank you for taking my essay into consideration!