Evans Construction Scholarship

It was a hot Sunday afternoon when I found myself knelt next to a young athlete, helping him line up his first-ever bocce ball toss. He looked up at me nervously, unsure if he was doing it right. I gave him a smile and a nod, and together we watched the ball roll slowly across the grass. In that quiet moment, I had no idea how much I would grow from that simple act of encouragement. One of the most meaningful experiences of selflessness in my life has been volunteering with the Special Olympics. Each weekend, I coach athletes in bocce ball as they prepare for upcoming competitions. What began as a way to serve my community has become a source of joy, personal growth, and a reminder of the values I strive to live by: kindness, humility, and putting others before myself. The athletes I work with, many of whom live with intellectual and physical disabilities, show up each week with incredible enthusiasm and courage. I quickly realized my role was not just about teaching a game. It was about building trust, offering encouragement, and helping each individual feel valued and supported. Every athlete is different, and I've learned to communicate and coach in ways that meet their unique needs. Although practices take place only once a week, they've become an important part of my routine. Giving up weekend free time during a busy school year filled with classes, football, and work might seem like a sacrifice, but I have never thought of it that way. For me, showing up for others is part of what it means to live with integrity. These sessions remind me that even small acts of kindness and consistency can make a real difference in someone's life. One athlete in particular struggled early on with coordination and focus. I worked with him closely by breaking drills into manageable steps and encouraging him every time he gave his best. Over the weeks, I watched his confidence grow. He became more engaged, interacted more with teammates, and took pride in his efforts. That small transformation showed me how powerful it can be to simply invest time and effort into someone else. This experience has reshaped how I view leadership. As a varsity football captain and a student recognized for academic and athletic achievements, I've learned leadership isn't just about titles or recognition. It's about how you treat people, especially when no one is watching. It's about patience, responsibility, and being someone others can rely on. I carry this mindset into other parts of my life, including mentoring younger athletes, working with kids through our local Parks and Recreation program, and serving as a lifeguard, where staying alert and prioritizing others' safety requires constant focus and care. As I begin my senior year and look ahead to college, I know many things will change, including my surroundings, routine, and the people around me. But the values I've built my life on will stay with me. I believe in being honest, dependable, and compassionate, no matter the setting. Volunteering has shown me that the most lasting impact often comes from quiet efforts: the time we give, the support we offer, and the example we set. The Special Olympics athletes I work with may not have competed yet, but they have already made a lasting impact on me. Their resilience has inspired me, and their trust has reminded me of the responsibility that comes with leadership. Through them, I've learned that true strength comes from lifting others up, and that's the kind of person I aim to be.

Being a lifeguard at Great Wolf Lodge changed how I think about responsibility and selflessness. When I first applied, I thought of it as a regular job where I would earn money and gain experience. I did not expect it to shape the way I see other people or the weight of being trusted with their safety. Over time, I realized that being a lifeguard means constantly putting other people’s needs ahead of your own, even when it is uncomfortable or exhausting. The hardest part of the job is not the physical work. It is the mental focus. For hours at a time, I have to stay alert even when I am tired, bored, or distracted. I cannot zone out, check my phone, or relax like most people at a water park. Kids do not always recognize danger, and parents do not always notice when something is going wrong. Knowing that I am often the person who steps in before a situation becomes life threatening means my attention can never slip. That level of responsibility taught me what selflessness really looks like doing what is necessary instead of what is easy. I have made sacrifices because of this job. I work weekends, nights, and holidays when most people are hanging out with friends or relaxing. There are times I have gone into work tired or stressed from school, but I still had to perform at a high level because safety does not pause for personal problems. I have stepped in many times to help kids who were in situations that could have quickly turned life threatening if no one had acted. Each time reminded me how fast things can escalate and how important it is to stay focused and proactive rather than reactive. What motivates me is not recognition or praise. Most guests never realize how close a situation may have been to becoming dangerous, and that is okay. I have learned that selfless actions do not need attention to matter. What matters is knowing I did my job and prevented something worse from happening. That quiet responsibility has made me more disciplined and dependable both at work and in school. This experience also changed how I view leadership. Leadership is not about being loud or in charge. It is about consistency, awareness, and accountability. As a lifeguard, I had to communicate clearly with my team, follow procedures, and hold myself to high standards even when no one was watching. Those expectations pushed me to mature quickly and take ownership of my actions. As a senior at New Kent High School, I carry these lessons with me. Being a lifeguard taught me that selflessness is often repetitive, unseen, and mentally demanding. It is choosing responsibility over comfort every shift. That mindset has shaped who I am and how I plan to approach my future, reminding me that the greatest impact often comes from being reliable when it matters most.

Selflessness, honesty, and integrity are three pillars that define my life. Working to constantly maintain these three things is a tiring effort, but it has led me to become a better person. I currently serve as the West Point High School’s National Honors Society President, which is something I am very proud of. Not only do I get to be the local president of a nationally recognized club, I get to do something I am passionate about. This organization works to provide service to the community by asking members to choose to help others and prioritize their well-being. As a part of this group, I am required to volunteer for at least eight hours each semester. One of my favorite service opportunities I have been given has been to go to Cumberland Hospital in New Kent County. Each year, around Christmas time, I go to the children's hospital to wrap Christmas gifts. Most of these children come from very underprivileged backgrounds that require any gifts they receive during the holidays to be donated by the staff or the hospital. When we wrap the presents each year, seeing how little these children ask for is truly eye-opening. Some of them only ask for things that many would consider basic necessities, like simple clothes or shoes. While I was there, wrapping gifts, I recognized how blessed I am. I have been given a good family, great opportunities, and I have never wanted for anything. Seeing others so grateful for receiving items that I don’t blink twice at made me reflect on every time I was given something. Was I grateful enough? Did I wish that it was something else, perhaps something I wanted more? Did I let them know I appreciated the fact that they even thought about me? Because of this, I have decided that I need to make a change, to better myself, so that my first response is always gratitude. When I go forward in life, I want to look at things through a more grateful perspective. I want to look at every win, loss, opportunity and lesson and be thankful for the experience. I believe that God puts things in my path to test my faith. Being able to not only pass the test, but to keep moving and learning is a true victory. Choosing to follow God on a straight and narrow path has not always been easy, but I can say that it has been the most rewarding experience in my life.

This past summer, I made a pivotal decision to become a Christian camp counselor. When I saw the hiring advertisement displayed on my Instagram feed, I never would have guessed the amount of love and healing that this experience would bring. To be completely transparent, I felt extremely nervous about applying for this job because I hadn't been to camp in years and I didn't know any of the existing counselors. Even though I could sense the discomfort from a mile away, I knew that there was a reason that I felt this calling. Coming from a small town, I am used to only seeing familiar faces, so meeting new people was more daunting than actually being responsible for the kids. After I went through the application process and got the job, the training weekend quickly rolled around. I was immediately intimidated because all of the other counselors knew each other from prior years, but I sat alone in the corner. At first, I was disheartened that I willingly put myself into this situation. Over time, I realized that no one was judging me as closely as I had thought. Everyone is simply too focused on their own thoughts to notice what I was doing. After having this realization, I worked for four consecutive weeks in the heat of the summer without cell service, clean clothes, and other typical accommodations. Despite my lack of comfort, I have never felt a stronger connection God, appreciation for nature, been more patient, or learned more about myself in any other situation. I had to actively practice doing things that normally made me uncomfortable to encourage inner growth. For example, striking up a conversation with a peer, rather than sitting back and waiting for them to speak first. By letting loose and opening my heart, I met peers and children from many diverse backgrounds and was able to form a bond based on our shared love of camp. Every Sunday during our Worship night, I was brought to tears by the unity throughout the camp. Being able to help young children connect with God, appreciate nature, and make memories that will last their whole life was the highlight of my year. If I hadn't paid attention to God's calling and had turned away the new situation, I would never have experienced this. My time as a camp counselor truly showed me the beauty of an open heart and mind, which I hope to bring to every future endeavor that I pursue.

It was a gorgeous day outside as I stared out over the green competition field. The energy was palpable as members of my high school marching band frantically moved equipment into position before running to their own spots. For my part, I’d just finished helping line up all of the flags for the color guard section before taking my seat on the sideline. I made eye contact with each of my color guard teammates, my gaze briefly sliding over the spot where I would normally be standing on the field. I gave them an encouraging smile before the music began and the performance was in full swing. I participated in color guard for four years. By the time I was a senior, I was a captain determined to have my best year of marching band yet. However, life is unpredictable. Halfway through that marching band season, I started having health issues. During the weeks where my health was at its lowest, I was unable to actively participate in several color guard practices. It would’ve been easy for me to stop coming to practices altogether; however, I knew that I’d made a commitment to my team. Even though I couldn’t actively demonstrate the choreography, I was able to help in new ways. I spent more time watching the rest of my team. Because of this, I was able to give them each personalized help. I offered words of encouragement and positive critiques to help them become better performers. Even though these practices weren’t necessarily “productive” for my own color guard skills, my participation in them let me make my teammates feel more confident and prepared. They showed me there are multiple ways to lead. Eventually, I got my health under control, and, by that time, competition season was just beginning. I was thrilled by the idea of getting back out on the field and competing with all of my teammates. Throughout my illness, I made sure I memorized every beat of the choreography. I knew our show like the back of my hand, but knowledge can’t always replace experience. I hadn’t anticipated the difficulties that would come with integrating myself back into the group. I didn’t have the muscle memory the rest of them had. I realized that if I competed on competition day, there was a strong possibility that I would be the weakest link on the field. I approached my coach and asked if she would be willing to let me sit out for that particular performance. She agreed that it was the best option. As much as I wanted to be out on that field, I was willing to sacrifice my own performance time if it meant that my team had a better chance at success. While it may sound cliche, I believe that my experience is best encapsulated by Mark 12:31, “...love your neighbor as yourself.” This experience taught me that when you are a part of a team, you are a part of something bigger than yourself. Watching all of them succeed was the reward for me. As my health improved and I rejoined my teammates on the field, I used the lessons I’d learned from my experience sitting out to connect with my teammates and improve my own leadership skills. There is a great value in actively helping and encouraging other people just as Jesus told us to. Not only does it benefit the people around us, but it makes us into the people we were called to be. In my case, God shaped me into the leader that was needed for my community.