Dr. John C. Cate IV STEM Scholarship

From a young age, I have been fascinated by the idea that chances can be measured. What began as a curiosity about probability in math class grew into a deeper interest in how risk shapes real-world decisions, which eventually developed into financial systems and how they affect entire communities. This interest led me to pursue a future in actuarial science, a field that combines mathematics, statistics, risk management, data analysis, and business principles to ensure the safest and most ideal futures for clients. In high school, I strengthened this passion through a rigorous curriculum including AP Statistics, two AP Computer Science classes, and AP Macroeconomics, where I learned how data can be used not just to understand outcomes, but to prepare for them. Beyond the classroom, I’ve taken the initiative to research how actuaries work to guide businesses through financial uncertainty. What has stood out the most to me so far is how poor risk management, which would be prevented by a credible actuary, often leads to layoffs, loss of benefits, and economic strain on families and even extends to entire communities. This realization shaped my goal: to use STEM not only as a career path, but as a way to protect people. As an actuary and possibly in a leadership role such as a Chief Financial Officer, I will use probabilistic models and financial analysis to help organizations make responsible, forward-thinking decisions. By doing so, I want to contribute to lasting stability for my business while ensuring the safety and well-being of the employees and communities that depend on it. Furthermore, I have been considering a way to give back on a more personal level by mentoring students, especially those who may not initially see themselves in STEM. I want to share my story and show that fields like actuarial science are not only interesting and fun, but can also be meaningful in their ability to create real-world impact. Through STEM, I am not just pursuing a profession; I am committing to a future where my decisions can create security, opportunity, and positive change for others.

Sitting on the floor of my seventh grade physics class, my eyes were glued to the screen as it displayed scenes of the Chernobyl disaster. I was captivated by the deserted reactors, the city frozen in time, and the invisible threat of radiation. This was my first time learning about radiation, and it ultimately guided my life’s purpose. Since childhood, I have been greatly captivated by the beauty of scientific discovery. However, my passion to follow it didn’t fully bloom until that day in seventh grade. After learning about radiation for the first time, I learned about Marie Curie, the story of the Radium Girls, and the Manhattan Project. From here, my fascination with radiation only grew, leading to a stack of books dedicated to nuclear science in the corner of my room, a vast collection of uranium glass, and a replica of Curie’s dark black dress that she wore to hide stains from her lab work. It became a non-negotiable to work with radioactive materials. However, I knew I wanted my work to benefit society. During the summer following my freshman year, I met Dr. Tyler Spano, a nuclear security scientist, during a cloud chamber experiment at the Science Accelerating Growth and Engagement summer camp at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. I joined Dr. Spano at the lab as a nuclear non-proliferation intern. During this time, I employed Raman spectroscopy to examine five unknown uranium compounds and mixtures to identify differences in their Raman spectra. I demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy was successful for quick analysis and identification of nuclear materials. This was the first time I saw myself contributing to a field I had fallen in love with, and I am eager to continue to conduct research at a higher level. Since witnessing the destruction of Chernobyl, I saw radiation as a force that could either devastate or benefit communities. The threat of nuclear proliferation remains an ongoing global concern and monitoring of nuclear programs continues to be a challenge as recent events pertaining to Iran have signified. These risks must be combated with rapid responses. I would be beyond honored to carry on Dr. John C. Cate’s legacy as I dedicate my career to nuclear forensics by improving analysis techniques to identify radioactive materials as rapidly as possible. By improving speed and accuracy of material identification, cleanup after incidents can occur more efficiently, protecting communities and expediting environmental recovery.

For a long time, I thought I wanted to help people through whatever career I choose. Now, I understand it is a little bit more complex than that. I want to create a world I am proud to be a part of. I want to live in a world where the default condition compassion, generosity, and empathy. At the moment, I do not know exactly how I will achieve this, but I have been living in compassion, generosity, and empathy my entire. Currently, I am creating this future by actively living it in the present; I hope to influence those around me to do the same. I want to create this future because I hate how we conduct ourselves currently. We make war, we make suffering, and we make a world where empathy can not survive. This suffering and pain is preventable, but we choose to be engulfed by it every day. We choose this by bringing selfishness to power. The people unable to care about others receive the most power in our world, and I hate that. I truly believe people are good and want the best for those around them, and I want our world to reflect that fact. I have loved science and math my entire life, and my career choice reflects this love for STEM. I am going to be an environmental engineer. I have been admitted to the University of Tennessee for environmental engineering, and I can not be happier. A couple years from now, I hope to be engrossed in some environmental research topic communing with people made of love who hold hope for our future in their hearts like me. After dawning my cap and gown to celebrate the end of yet another chapter of my life, I will most likely do it all over again to pursue my masters or possibly even doctorate. I will do this because I want to be a part of the leading edge of discovery. There is so much more for us, and I want to use my life to reach for that more.

The first time my younger brother’s continuous glucose monitor beeped in the middle of the night, it sounded like a tiny alarm clock fighting for attention in the dark. That small sensor on his arm quietly watches over him, measuring his blood sugar and sending alerts when something changes. It is barely bigger than a coin, yet it acts like a silent guardian. Seeing how one carefully designed piece of technology could protect someone I love opened my eyes to the power of engineering. That moment planted a question in my mind that has never left: what other problems could be solved if the right ideas met the right technology? My curiosity about how things work has grown into a passion for STEM. I enjoy exploring the mechanics behind everyday systems and discovering how small adjustments can lead to big improvements. At East High School, I have challenged myself through STEM coursework, aviation studies, and organizations like the Technology Student Association and VEX Robotics. Working on robotics projects often feels like solving a puzzle where every gear, code line, and design choice must fit together. When our team finally solves a problem after hours of testing and redesigning, it feels like watching a machine come to life. Outside the classroom, I have learned that innovation is most meaningful when it serves people. I have volunteered more than 150 hours helping organize weekly food distributions for families in need. Standing beside volunteers as we pack boxes and greet families reminded me that communities function much like machines. Every person plays a role, and when people work together with purpose, the entire system runs stronger and more smoothly. After completing my higher education in mechanical engineering, I hope to design medical technologies that help people manage health challenges and live more independent lives. Devices like my brother’s glucose monitor prove that thoughtful engineering can quietly change someone’s world. I want to be part of the generation of engineers who build those kinds of solutions. To me, engineering is more than equations and machines. It is the art of turning ideas into tools that improve lives. My goal is to use creativity, technical knowledge, and compassion to design innovations that strengthen both healthcare and the communities they serve.