Michael Rudometkin Memorial Scholarship

Selflessness is at the heart of everything I do. I believe true fulfillment comes not from personal success, but from the positive impact we make on others. Throughout my life, I have embraced the idea that small acts of kindness can have lasting effects, and this belief has guided my journey personally, academically, and professionally. One of the most significant ways I’ve embodied selflessness is through my work with foster youth and underserved communities. As a former foster youth myself, I understand the unique challenges these young people face. Many are navigating emotional trauma without the support they need. I’ve dedicated time to mentoring foster youth, offering them guidance, emotional support, and a listening ear. By showing these young people that they are not alone, I hope to make a difference in their lives, just as mentors have done for me. In addition to mentoring, I’ve led community service projects that provide resources to families in need. One of my proudest moments was organizing a holiday drive for underprivileged families. With the support of local businesses and community members, we were able to gather food, clothing, and toys for over 100 families. Seeing the joy on children’s faces and the relief in their parents’ eyes reminded me that selflessness is about lifting others up, especially in times of need. Perseverance for my beliefs has also been a guiding force in my life. Currently, I am pursuing a doctorate in occupational therapy, with a focus on integrating mental health care into my practice. This path hasn’t always been easy, but I am driven by my passion for helping others heal from trauma. I am particularly committed to providing trauma-informed care to children and families, ensuring they receive the compassionate support they deserve. Even when faced with challenges, I remind myself of the greater purpose behind my work—creating positive change in the lives of others. One of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences I’ve had was working in a classroom with children exhibiting behavioral issues rooted in trauma. These children struggled with aggression and fear, often testing the patience of everyone around them. However, I remained committed because I believed in their potential to heal. By building trust, offering understanding, and maintaining consistent support, I witnessed incredible transformations in their behavior and emotional well-being. This experience solidified my commitment to being a force for good in mental health care, no matter how difficult the path. In the future, I plan to continue embodying selflessness through my career as a mental health professional. My ultimate goal is to open a community center that provides trauma-informed care and life skills training to foster youth and other vulnerable populations. I want to create a space where individuals can heal, grow, and receive the support they need to build better futures for themselves. Helping others, for me, is not just a moral responsibility, but a calling. In conclusion, selflessness has shaped who I am today, and I am committed to carrying on the legacy of service that Michael Rudometkin embodied. This scholarship will allow me to further my education and pursue my passion for making the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time.

Growing up in Washington, D.C., I learned that true success is about personal achievement, yes, but it’s also about how much you can help others along the way. Living in a community where people face many struggles, from lack of food and resources, I developed a deep sense of responsibility to give back. Even if I don’t have much to share, I can give in other ways. That drive to help has guided me in my service work and shaped my desire to pursue a career in sports medicine, where I can continue to make an impact. One of the most meaningful ways I’ve contributed to my community has been through my leadership in service initiatives. As an Omega Leader in the Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute, I organized food and clothing drives, helped distribute holiday toys to children, and participated in feeding the homeless. These efforts were about more than just giving out items; they were also about offering hope and showing that someone cares. Leading these initiatives taught me that real selflessness requires perseverance. Even when we faced challenges like lack of resources or volunteer shortages, I knew the cause was too important to give up. The fulfillment of seeing the smiles on the faces of those we helped made every challenge worth it. In addition to these service projects, my commitment to helping others extends to my church, where I serve as the head of the media and tech committee. In this role, I manage the technology that supports our community outreach programs, ensuring that information about resources reaches those who need it. Through this work, I have been able to combine my passion for technology with my dedication to service. My experiences in service have shaped my passion for sports medicine. As a former basketball team captain, I’ve always had a love for sports, and I’ve seen firsthand how injuries can impact athletes, both physically and mentally. I want to be a sports medicine therapist not only to help people recover from injuries, but also to support their overall well being. Sports medicine allows me to connect my love for athletics with my desire to help others in a meaningful way. By becoming a therapist, I will not only be aiding physical recovery but also helping athletes regain confidence and return to doing what they love. For me, that’s the perfect combination of service and passion. Beyond organized service efforts, I try to embody selflessness in my everyday actions. Whether I’m mentoring younger students, volunteering in after-school programs, or offering a helping hand to someone in need, I strive to live by the belief that we rise by lifting others. Just as Michael Rudometkin dedicated his life to helping others, I want my future to be about more than just personal success. I want it to be about making a difference in the lives of those around me. Through this scholarship, I hope to continue following my passion for service while pursuing my degree in sports medicine. This career will allow me to make the world a better place, one recovery at a time, by helping people overcome injuries and obstacles and get back to what they love.

Embodying selflessness is a fundamental part of my life, shaped by my unwavering faith, dedication to affordable healthcare for all, advocacy for responsible gun control, and active involvement in my church community. I've always believed, as Michael Rudometkin did, that life is about nurturing relationships, pursuing personal happiness and fulfillment, and extending a helping hand to those on their own life journey. My faith in God has been a guiding light in my journey toward selflessness. Through my active participation in various church events and fundraisers, I've seen firsthand the transformative power of collective compassion. From organizing food drives to volunteering at local shelters, my faith inspires me to serve and support those in need within my community. These experiences, driven by my belief in God, have deepened my understanding of the importance of selflessness and the impact it can have on others. My professional path as a medical laboratory scientist has reinforced my commitment to the idea of affordable healthcare for all. I've witnessed the critical role diagnostics and accessible healthcare play in people's lives. Beyond my work, I have volunteered my time to provide free health screenings and testing in underserved communities. In doing so, I've been able to contribute to improving the health and well-being of individuals who might otherwise have limited access to healthcare. In addition to my professional and community commitments, I am currently pursuing a Master's in Healthcare Administration, which further fuels my passion for ensuring healthcare access for all. My academic journey is a testament to my dedication to making a tangible difference in the healthcare sector, and I believe that effective administration can significantly impact the accessibility and quality of healthcare services. This program has equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary to advocate for affordable healthcare and contribute to the broader healthcare ecosystem. Advocating for responsible gun control in my community is another facet of my commitment to selflessness. I believe that promoting safer gun regulations is an essential part of ensuring the well-being of our society. I've actively engaged in local campaigns and initiatives to foster constructive dialogue and raise awareness about the need for stricter gun control measures. This advocacy has often involved challenging conversations and the perseverance to work toward a safer community. One specific example of embodying selflessness that comes to mind is when I organized a community discussion on responsible gun ownership and safety measures. This event brought together people with differing perspectives on the issue. I facilitated the dialogue, creating a safe space for constructive conversations that led to a better understanding of each other's viewpoints. This experience exemplified my commitment to selflessness by actively working towards a safer community, even in the face of challenging discussions. In conclusion, my unwavering faith, dedication to affordable healthcare for all, advocacy for responsible gun control, and active involvement in my church community have all contributed to the way I embody selflessness in my life. These aspects have driven me to engage in numerous acts of kindness and service, such as organizing community discussions, volunteering for healthcare access, and participating in church events. Just as Michael Rudometkin believed in helping others along their life journey, I aspire to continue his legacy by making the world a better place through selfless actions and unwavering dedication to my beliefs and passions.

Being part of a supportive community that gives back through service opportunities has greatly influenced me and has taught me the importance of making time to serve others. More importantly, committing to service projects and volunteer service has changed my life. Dedicating time each week to support others has helped me focus less on myself and the pressures of academics and more on the needs of others. I have had many opportunities to volunteer in various community service projects through Beta Club, National Honor Society Club, and Gwinnett Church, and have over 300 documented service hours. These include food drives for the North Gwinnett Co-Op, pajama drives for the JAMBOS organization, which serves foster children, book drives for local elementary schools, including two that I organized for a Title I school, packing Operation Christmas Child toy boxes, serving the elderly with various tasks, and making disposable protective gowns for hospital workers during Covid. Most recently, I was selected to intern at Gwinnett Church, where I volunteer several hours weekly to help prepare for upcoming church events and welcome first-time high school students. In addition to this leadership role, I served as a small group co-leader in the middle school ministry at Gwinnett Church. I led and mentored a group of middle school boys, weekly, for 2 years. As a small group leader, I was able to take a group of boys under my wing and help them prepare for high school, while also sharing my experiences with them to help them mature spiritually and as a person. My role was to facilitate discussions on spiritual matters as well as other life relevant issues. I also attended 2 retreats a year with the middle school students to participate in various church related activities, sports and games. While this was meant to benefit them, it also helped me realize the importance of mentoring my peers. I learned how dedicating time to others, in a consistent manner, could help change a life. Volunteering as a small group leader taught me how to lead discussions, but equally important, how to listen as well. In many cases, our small group was the one place where my boys could open up and share about their daily struggles at home and at school. Supporting them through hardships, a loss of a family member, anxiety, depression and peer pressure at school has taught me the importance of being a good listener, showing empathy, and giving encouragement. I created an environment where they could open up and talk about whatever issues were affecting them. It feels great to know that they value, and look up to me as a mentor and friend. I am proud to know that my time spent with them has been an investment in their lives that will hopefully motivate them to be the next generation of leaders and to serve their community. Over the last 4 years, I have made volunteer service a priority in my life and have tried to positively impact my community, especially my peers. Whether by donating resources or sacrificing my time, I feel like I have made a difference in the lives around me and will use what I have learned to continue to help make my surrounding community a better place. It would be an honor to be the recipient of the Michael Rudometkin Memorial Scholarship. Thank you for your consideration. Conner Moniri