FOS Sports Industry Professional Scholarship

My career goals are to graduate high school in June 2022 and to attend a four-year college majoring in Sports Management. I hope to develop skills to gain experience in Sports Media, Sports Marketing, and E-sports. Also, I would like to continue being a student-athlete in college competing in cross country and track and field. Upon graduation, I would like to work for a professional sports team or manage my own sports agency. Continuing my education will advance my career goals by allowing me to achieve my dreams to be in the sports industry. As a student with Autism, sports are engaging to me because they helped me to be active, part of a team, and become more social. Since I was a young boy, I have played basketball, soccer, tee-ball, flag football, golf, and ran track, and my dad was a volunteer coach for many of these activities. He has helped me the most with running cross country and track. My dad was a track athlete in high school and college, and he uses his experience to give me tips on how to improve my form. My mom is a triathlete and has run half-marathons, and she helps me with strength, conditioning, and nutrition. Not only have my parents coached me in my sport, but they have given me life lessons as well. My high school coaches have pushed me to excel in cross country and track, and I have seen improvements in my times that allowed me to participate in a regional championship. My classmates, coaches, and teachers have accepted me for who I am, and they would not know I have autism unless I told them. At my school, I have been very fortunate to do well in my academic and athletic career. I was diagnosed at age three and have learned over the years that autism is not a disability, but a unique and different ability. I have participated in cross country and track (indoor and outdoor) since my freshman year of high school. The events I run are the 5k for cross country, and the 800m, 1600m, 3200m, and 4x800m relay for track. I have lettered three times (2018-2019, 2021) and received the Coach’s Award (2019), and the Senior Award (2021). Also, I am a member of a track club that my parents started in 2018, and I competed at the Amateur Athletic Union Regional Qualifier and Junior Olympics Nationals that year. Over the past three summers, I have attended Sports Biz Camps, an organization for high school students that are interested in careers in sports. If selected I would use this opportunity to empower others by sharing my story. I would share my journey and the challenges I had to overcome as a student on the Autism spectrum. I would like to inspire others and encourage them to achieve their dreams and goals even with Autism. I would like to be an example for others to see that with support you can be successful.