Luis Escobar III Foundation Scholarship

Before my parents got engaged, my dad asked my mom to promise that they would name a future son after him. I’m that son and that promise kept, Johnny Mack Jones, Jr., but you can call me Mack. When I was fourteen years old, my Pops, my mom’s dad passed away, and our family moved from Tallahassee, Florida, to Collinsville, Mississippi, to help out my Mima. You see, even though I wasn't named after him, I inherited much of my personality and life’s passions from my Pops, and I felt a strong sense of responsibility to fill in for him. Like my Pops, I love the outdoors and I love to construct things. Since I can remember, I wanted to save every scrap of wood or metal and use any old nail or screw I could find to make creations that I had designed. In Tallahassee, I built a fort for my three siblings and me, and I erected a loft bunk bed so I would have more space in my bedroom. When we moved into the house where my Pops had lived, the construction resources and tools he had saved were abundant. I wanted to build all kinds of new inventions, and my love for engineering was solidified. My Pops was a civil engineer and by his own account had a great career. Like him, I want to pursue a degree in civil engineering with an emphasis on land and community development. Also like my Pops, I want to pursue my relationship with the Lord daily, and live a life of integrity. I want others know that I am a Christian by the way I show the love of Christ each day. I have been blessed to be plugged into amazing churches throughout my life, but I was able to truly grow my faith at our church Evangel Temple in Collinsville. I volunteered as an actor for “The Choice,” a dramatic presentation about the importance of becoming a Christian. We practiced for months. Over two weeks during morning and evening performances, we presented the play to seven high schools and the general public in the greater Meridian, Mississippi, area. The experience of seeing the impact of the drama on so many high schoolers affected me more than any other life event. Now, I am confident in sharing my faith with others and inviting anyone to church in our new hometown, Panama City Beach. When I attend college next year, my priority is finding a church home away from home. I want to make a difference on campus by becoming involved in outreach. I also hope to find or start a group Bible study where I can establish a core group of friends who will keep me accountable in my daily Christian walk. Today, I am dedicated to starting my day in prayer, and I am determined to study, work hard, and manage my time in order to succeed; I intend to follow the same plan during my college years. I am thankful for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship. Receiving this award would give me the opportunity to follow in my Pops’s footsteps, allowing me to complete internships for valuable work experience while focusing on earning a degree in civil engineering. I could concentrate on studying without worrying about finances.

My name is Allie Street, I'm from Merritt Island, Florida, and I'm an incoming Freshman at UNF pursuing a Mechanical Engineering degree. I was a four-year varsity athlete in both Track and Cross country. I faced a lot of personal, health, and familial struggles throughout high school, and if it hadn't been for my relationship with God, I don't believe I would be the person I am today. God has made me confident and trusting, two words I wouldn't have described myself as 5 years ago. I chose a Mechanical Engineering degree because of my Autotech class I accidentally signed up for in my freshman year of high school. I fell in love with cars and their intricacies. I believe that the field is lacking what I alone can provide. I follow Christ wholeheartedly daily, and I plan on using his morals and strength throughout to improve the entire industry. I hope to continue to radiate God's love through my words, and hopefully, this will influence everyone I work with, making the automotive business a better place to work and interact with. I am going to join a new church that is closer to my school in the fall, due to the long distance, I will be away from home. Although this can be scary, I trust that God will lead me to success. I hope to be involved with the worship team, specifically in the music aspect. This year, my goal was to read the bible in its entirety, and I would like to continue this throughout the changes in my life. I have learned that the only peace I can find is through the lord, and I plan on continuing this. By receiving this scholarship, I would be able to focus more in-depth on my studies and my relationship with Christ. With the rising prices for education in today's economy, this scholarship will alleviate a lot of financial stress. A renewed focus on my studies will be more than appreciated, especially because of my heavy course load. Being able to lead a Christ-centered life is my true goal, and with the help of this scholarship, this can be achieved along with hard work and dedication to my studies. I am finding my college education so with a lot of prayer and many scholarship applications, I hope to successfully gain my degree and make some major changes in the world and how Christ-centered women are perceived.

Hello, my name is Bauer Smehyl. I am currently a senior at Sebring High School and I maintain a 4.5 GPA. Ever since I was a child, I have always loved going outside and building things whether it was a fort in the woods, a medieval shield, spears, etc. The idea of creating something from nothing is fascinating to me. As I began to contemplate what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, I knew Engineering was for me, specifically Civil Engineering with a focus in Construction. I know that through the work that I do, I can show Christ's love for everyone. For the past seven years, my church has been involved in a summer camp called Lake Wales Stay at Home Work Camp, sponsored by the non-profit organization Lake Wales Care Center. During this camp, we split up into different groups and go to work sites where we are repairing homes for disadvantaged homeowners who cannot afford the regular labor costs. These jobs include repairing roofs, repainting houses, and moving furniture. Going through these camps has helped me realize the impact the my pathway could have on peoples lives. As I progress through the engineering field I want to eventually create my own business that focuses on providing service for those who are in need of assistance. Through these opportunities, I hope to share the love of Christ with all customers. I have been a believer in Christ ever since I was 5 years old where I accepted his love at a Good News Club. I have always been involved in the church. I have been a part of the Bible Fellowship Church Youth Band for 7-8 years now playing the Bass Guitar. I am also involved in being an Assistant Leader on Wednesday nights for our 6th grade boys small group. My family and I have also participated in 3 of the church missions trips to Mexico, where we work with an organization named Be2Live. In my personal life, I always want to ensure that my relationship with Christ comes before everything else. Every day I make sure to read my Bible devotional written by various authors. A huge part in maintaining my walk with Christ is finding a group of friends who share the same investment as I do. I have an amazing circle of friends, and we support each other in our different walks with Christ. It's amazing how the right group of people really can draw you closer to the Lord. We hold Bible studies and different worship nights together. As I move into the college level, I want to find a great church. I also want to keep in touch with my old friend circle as well as making a new one, that way we can still walk each other through the tough times as we lean on Christ. Receiving this scholarship would be a huge relief, as it alleviates a majority of the financial burden that comes with rates of college. I could focus on the Civil Engineering pathway and prepare to live the life that Christ has in store for me. I would be able to put my head down and grind, being the best version of myself that I can, not having to look up to check how much is in my wallet. Regardless of the outcome, I know the Lord has a plan for my life, and though at times it is hard to trust that plan, he always has the best in store for us.