Minorities in STEM Scholarship

Growing up in Burkina Faso, West Africa, I saw firsthand the devastating effects of limited access to technology and education. My mother, a seamstress, raised eight children on less than \$60 a month after my father passed away. In our household, education was never a given—it was a dream that demanded relentless effort and unwavering belief. My earliest encounters with technology came late in life, but they ignited in me a fire not just to learn, but to innovate solutions for those who are systemically left behind. This passion led me to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering & Technology at Madison College in Wisconsin, where I’ve focused on embedded systems, hardware programming, and sustainable innovation. One of the most meaningful experiences during my time here was leading an honors project where I designed a low-cost, offline Raspberry Pi server that delivers educational content to displaced students and remote communities without internet access. This project was inspired by the needs of students in conflict-affected areas of Burkina Faso, and it continues to grow through partnerships with local organizations and educators. In ten years, I envision myself as a global engineer and changemaker. I want to lead initiatives that create affordable, accessible technology—especially in the fields of education, renewable energy, and public health. I want to be building medical, educational devices that not only will be innovative for all people but also will be affordable enough for all backgrounds to have access to them. While doing all this, I want to establish a technical training center in Burkina Faso open to all but preference given to girls and students from low level background. Another of my goals is to build a social enterprise focused on building scalable tech solutions that empower underserved communities. I don’t just want to build devices—I want to build ecosystems of opportunity. Choosing to pursue a two-year degree was a strategic and empowering decision. It gave me the foundation I needed, both academically and personally. I didn’t just learn theory; I applied it through real-world projects, community engagement, and leadership. It gave me the confidence to take bold steps—whether by mentoring girls in STEM, organizing campus recognition events like the Golden Apple Awards, or collaborating on community-focused research. My associate’s degree has been a launchpad, not just toward a career, but toward a mission. Receiving the AE Cares Scholarship would not only lighten my financial burden as I continue my academic journey—it would also affirm the values I live by: equity, impact, and inclusion. I want to represent the change I believe in and show that no matter where you come from, your potential has no limits when met with opportunity.

As long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with technology. As a little kid, I used to take apart my grandma's phone and put it back together, mess with my mother's computer, and play around with my PlayStation 2 to figure out exactly what made them work. This passion never faded. When I learned to code in 7th grade, it was like a switch flipped in my mind. I wasn't just able to use technology; I could create things with it, and from that moment on, I was hooked. Since then, I've been learning all types of things about technology, primarily coding. I've learned to program small pieces of games, think logically to come to solutions, and think differently from before. What I like about technology is the fact that it allows people to develop solutions to real-world issues, and I want to be a part of it. For that, I am studying technology. I want to take something I enjoy and make it a career, something that will also stimulate my mind and make it grow, and something that will allow me to contribute to something with meaning. A decade from now, I see myself as a senior-level software engineer. I see myself in the position of contributing to the creation of something impactful, whether applications, programs, or technology-enabled solutions for the general public. Beyond career development, though, there's a more personal motivation to excel in such a career. I come from a not-so-nice neighborhood in Southeastern Wisconsin. My upbringing has held me back, preventing me from having the same access to resources as others. I want to truly make a difference. If I become successful in my dreams, I want to give my success back to my community. Whether that means creating programs to expose children to coding, helping to fund the deliveries of supplies to schools, or simply being a mentor to someone who is going through the same struggles I have gone through, I want to be a positive force in someone else's life so they know that they too can accomplish it. I think the two-year degree is a great addition to my journey. It will provide the foundation of the technical knowledge I will need to be a software engineer, but it’s also a means of demonstrating to myself and others that I am serious and dedicated to putting in the work. Entering the two-year program means that I can establish a foundation of knowledge, gain some confidence, and move in the direction of obtaining a bachelor’s degree or joining the career world. It’s not necessarily about getting a job—it’s about creating something for myself and others. This scholarship would not only be monetary aid but also a vote of confidence in all that I am striving to accomplish. I am ready to demonstrate that where I am from will not determine where I am going.