Carlo Burns Memorial Scholarship

Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship. My name is Kaiden McQueen, and although I am from Clay County, I have always attended school in Laurel County because of my parents’ work. Growing up between these two communities has given me a unique understanding of both the challenges and the potential that exist in Eastern Kentucky. I am pursuing a degree in architectural engineering because designing, building, and improving the world around me has always been something I naturally gravitated toward. From a young age, I could spend endless hours building with Legos and Lincoln Logs. I loved experimenting with new structures, taking them apart, and rebuilding them to be stronger, taller, or more creative than before. That curiosity eventually grew into a genuine passion for design. I also loved drawing, and in elementary school my best friend and I created our own comic books. Looking back, those early hobbies weren’t just games — they were the first signs that I was drawn to a field where creativity and problem‑solving come together. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how meaningful architectural engineering could be for the region I call home. Eastern Kentucky faces many challenges, especially when it comes to infrastructure. Some communities still struggle with basic needs like clean water, reliable sanitation, and safe public buildings. These issues affect everything — health, education, economic opportunity, and overall quality of life. I want to be part of the generation that helps change that. With the right training, I could help design water systems that reduce contamination and protect families. I could contribute to sanitation facilities that prevent disease and improve public health. I could help create schools, clinics, and community centers that are safe, long‑lasting, and built to serve future generations. These improvements may seem simple, but they have the power to transform entire communities. To me, architectural engineering is not just a career — it is a way to use technical skills to meet real human needs. These are only a few examples of the impact I hope to make. I know there is much more work to be done, and I want to bring home the knowledge and expertise needed to help Eastern Kentucky grow. Thank you again for considering me for this scholarship. If I am fortunate enough to receive it, I will not take it for granted. My goal is to succeed and to use that success to give back to the place that shaped me.