Rev. Frank W. Steward Memorial Scholarship

Music has always been more than sound to me; it is a source of joy, expression, and connection. I started playing in the band in the 6th grade. I am an honors student driven by creativity, service, and a desire to make a meaningful impact through education. My goal is to become a middle school music teacher, where I can foster a love for music while helping students discover confidence, discipline, and joy through creative expression. I believe music education has the power to reach students academically and emotionally, especially during the formative middle school years. My hope is to teach in a rural area. Through my career, I plan to make a positive impact by creating inclusive, engaging music programs that encourage students from all backgrounds to participate and thrive. Music classrooms should be spaces where students feel seen, valued, and inspired. By emphasizing creativity and collaboration, I hope to help students build skills that extend beyond music, including perseverance, teamwork, and self-expression. I want my students to experience the same joy in creating music that has shaped my own academic and personal journey. While pursuing my college education, I anticipate challenges such as balancing academic responsibilities with personal commitments and navigating the financial demands of higher education. As a future educator, I understand the importance of time management, adaptability, and perseverance. I plan to overcome these obstacles by maintaining a structured schedule, seeking academic support when needed, and staying connected to mentors who can guide and encourage me throughout my studies. I have the amazing support from my family. Any challenge I may have, I know that they will keep me focused and encouraged. In addition to music education, I am passionate about environmental stewardship. I actively contribute to keeping my community clean by picking up litter in my neighborhood each week. This practice reflects my belief that positive change begins with individual responsibility and consistent action. I strive to carry this mindset into all areas of my life and future career. Another passion of mine is creating jewelry and art. The name of my business is 'Majestic Masterpieces by Natalie'. As an entrepreneur, I design and sell handmade, resin pieces and showcase my work at community events and expos. This experience has strengthened my creativity, discipline, and communication skills while allowing me to connect with others through art. Together, my passions for music, sustainability, and creativity shape my vision of success; one rooted in education, service, and lasting impact.

My name is Grayson Roberts. I am a senior in high school and plan to attend Big Bend Technical College when I graduate. I will be attending the welding technology course which is a two year program, I will also be attending during the summer to try and get out earlier and hit the road. All four years of my high school career I have been in the welding program. During my first two years I didn't take it too seriously because I didn't know all the avenues it would provide for me later in life. Coming into my junior year I told my instructor that I wanted to earn all three AWS certifications including Stick, MIG, and flux core. As I am a senior about to graduate I have done just that. I plan to make a positive impact in the world by bringing my hard work ethic and just my willingness to work. I have always wanted to work with my hands and I love doing it non stop. Some obstacles I might face at school are being stuck on different positions. I will overcome these obstacles by just pushing myself harder and counting to practice and perfect my craft. Nothing is impossible in my eyes, it's only impossible if you let it be in your mind. I believe that if you put the effort and time into something that you will be rewarded. During the past two years I have really gained a passion for welding and just working in general. this past year I even started my own business which was mainly mowing grass but I picked up big jobs on the weekend including, bushoogging, Land clearing, and even construction jobs. The main goal I had for my business was to bring affordable prices to my customers. I always made sure to make my work perfect and affordable for my customers. People will charger ridiculous amounts of money to do things in todays world and my goal was to help my less fortunate customers. I believe welding will be a great fit for me because whenever I'm behind that hood, all the noise around me goes away. It's almost like a peace comes over my body. After a few years of welding on the road, I'd like to come back and try to expand my business to help others in the world out more. This scholarship would help me do so by helping my way through college, thank you.

Throughout my life, I’ve been driven by a deep passion for communication, leadership, and helping others. From winning the Tropicana Speech Award in 4th grade to leading meetings and teaching public speaking, I’ve always sought opportunities to empower others through effective communication. This passion has also sparked my interest in broadcasting and journalism, where I see the potential to influence and inspire a broader audience. My goal is to pursue a career that blends my love for public speaking with my desire to make a positive impact on my community, whether through leadership roles, volunteering, or using media to raise awareness about important issues. In addition to my passion for communication, I am also pursuing a career in criminal justice to help those who cannot fight for themselves. I’ve always felt a strong calling to serve and protect the vulnerable, and I believe that a career in criminal justice will allow me to advocate for those who are marginalized or overlooked. Whether it's through law enforcement, advocacy, or legal work, I am committed to ensuring that everyone has a voice and receives the justice they deserve. Alongside these career goals, I am deeply committed to giving back to my community through volunteering and promoting social literacy. I believe that by helping others develop communication skills, I can play a role in shaping future leaders and empowering individuals to make a difference. Through my volunteering experiences, I’ve seen firsthand how small efforts can lead to positive changes, and I’m excited to continue this work as I move forward in my education and career. However, I anticipate one significant challenge during my college education: balancing the many responsibilities I’ve been blessed with. Juggling leadership roles, academic commitments, and community involvement will require careful time management and organization. I plan to overcome these challenges by creating a structured schedule and prioritizing my time effectively. I will also dedicate time to my mental health, recognizing that to continue pouring into others as I’ve been called to do, I must first take care of myself. By staying focused on my long-term goals and seeking support when needed, I’m confident that I can manage my responsibilities while making a meaningful impact in both my community and my future career. I am extremely passionate about broadcasting and journalism field as I currently own my own photography/videography business and I get to work in such a closely related occupation and I truly am passionate about it.

As I start my journey of becoming a nurse anesthetist specializing in plastic surgery, I am driven by a passion for art and a commitment to caring for others. This combination of interests has shaped my career aspirations and drive me to make a positive impact on the world. My love for art started in middle school. since then I have been captivated by the t power of art and the message it sends. Whether through painting, sculpture, or photography. This passion for creativity has manifested a deep appreciation for aesthetics and an importance of self-expression. My desire to care for others has been a guiding force in my life. Growing up in a family that emphasized the value of compassion and empathy, I have always felt a calling to serve those in need whether that’s animals or people. Participating in volunteer work has shown me the importance of making a positive difference in other people’s lives.As I reflect on my career aspirations, I see the field of plastic surgery as the perfect field to combing my passion for art and caring for others. Plastic surgery offers a unique opportunity to combine technical skill with artistic vision, helping patients not only enhance their physical appearance but also regain confidence and reclaim their sense of self. As a nurse anesthetist in this field, I will play an important role in ensuring the safety and comfort of patients during surgery, while also providing support and reassurance throughout their journey. However, I am aware that the path to achieving my goals will be very difficult. Pursuing a career in healthcare requires dedication, and a willingness to overcome challenges. During my college education experience, I expect to face obstacles like difficult course work, residency, and balancing personal obligations with academic responsibilities. To overcome these challenges, I am committed to staying organized, managing my time effectively, and finding support when needed. I will prioritize self-care to maintain my physical and mental well-being, knowing that taking care of myself is essential to providing the best care for others. I believe that my passion for art and creativity will provide as a source of inspiration throughout my journey. By approaching each obstacle as an opportunity for growth and learning, I will remain committed to my goals. In conclusion, Regardless of the obstacles that may come up during my college education experience, I am confident that with determination and a focus I will overcome any challenges that come my way. With my blend of creativity, compassion, and clinical skill, I am excited to pursue this journey and contribute to the well-being and transformation of patients around the world.

Engineering has the power to significantly impact our society, so it is my goal and aspiration to use this skill set for positive change. My career goal is simple - leverage my passion for engineering to make a lasting difference in the world. This drives me as an individual, pushing me forward into college and furthering my education with aspirations of becoming one of the leading engineers today who creates better experiences and more efficient solutions for all generations living in this world. Although the journey to obtaining an engineering degree may pose challenges, its rewards far outweigh the difficulties. The rigorous academic workload is one of the main obstacles I anticipate during my college education experience. Engineering programs demand a deep understanding of complex mathematical and scientific principles, requiring dedication, focus, and hard work. To overcome this challenge, I will rely on my strong foundation in math and science and my experience with discipline from playing soccer at a competitive level. Time management and effective study strategies will be essential in successfully navigating the academic demands of college. I plan to set aside dedicated study hours, seek assistance from professors or tutors when needed, and collaborate with classmates to enhance my understanding of course material. Another potential obstacle could be balancing my academic pursuits with my desire to continue playing soccer at the college level. Joining the school team is an aspiration close to my heart, as soccer has been an integral part of my life, shaping my character and work ethic. I will prioritize my responsibilities and create a well-structured schedule to balance academics and athletics. Time management is essential for achieving my goals in college, on the field, and further down the line. With careful time, resources, and energy planning, I can ensure that academics and athletics are balanced effectively. This rewarding combination will enable success in all areas - academically, athletically & professionally - leading ultimately to reaching whichever goal I choose with confidence! I plan to continuously push myself throughout this journey and maintain a growth mindset. I understand the importance of overcoming challenges to create positive change. Consequently, no matter the difficulty or adversity faced, I remain committed to taking on new learning opportunities and seek guidance from mentors and peers alike to stay focused on my goals. Additionally, embracing diversity is essential for creating an inclusive environment that can lead to innovative solutions that benefit everyone involved - something that has been integral throughout my academic career studying engineering while playing professional soccer simultaneously. In this way, I plan to use these experiences as a role model and advocate for equal representation within both arenas. In conclusion, my education plans and career goals are centered around positively impacting the world. I have set my sights on a rewarding and fulfilling future, one I know will come to fruition with dedication and hard work. I am ready to take up new challenges that come along with this field while honing my current abilities even further. I aim to become a leader who effectively communicates complex ideas through innovative solutions. However, it is worth every minute of effort - ultimately aiming toward crafting innovative engineering solutions or inspiring others through the beauty of football.

I've always known that I wanted to pursue a career in the healthcare field, I've always been drawn to how healthcare professionals provide care, and treatment, and are devoted to saving lives. Only recently is when I officially decided I was going to attend college for a nursing degree. By choosing Nursing as my future major I believe that I am choosing a rewarding profession that can help me to combine my love for healthcare with my desire to help others. Healthcare professionals are always working to impact the world, and becoming a nurse will help me do just that, upon becoming a nurse I plan to use my knowledge to help others by educating families on healthy choices, By choosing the Nursing field I can make sure to work to improve patient care and the outcomes no matter the nursing field that I choose. With choosing a nursing major there will be several obstacles that I will have to overcome. One of the major obstacles in college will include learning how to balance the stress of academic and personal responsibilities while maintaining that motivation to learn in college. To work towards overcoming this obstacle I plan to utilize all of my resources, which means seeking help and support from my professors and any tutoring available to me. Another big obstacle I will face will include financial challenges, whether it be tuition, textbooks, or housing. I have already started working towards this obstacle working hard to achieve the grades that will help me to receive and scholarships towards college. Some of the passions that I enjoy are reading and volunteering. When I discovered that I love reading I also learned that it helps with my overall mental health, reading helps relieve some of my stress and it helps me to widen my perspective on how I understand and see the world. Reading can also help to learn about how different cultures work and gain new perspectives. Reading can ultimately be a good source of comfort and inspiration. One of the places that I love to volunteer at is called Feeding Children Everywhere, which is an organization that works to provide nutritious meals to children and families who may not have access to healthy food options. I enjoy volunteering there in my spare time because it helps me to continue to give back to my community and hopefully make someone's day.