Sammy Meckley Memorial Scholarship

On August 2, 2007, a homeless woman gave birth to a baby girl who later became Zuri Lancaster after being adopted. The main reason I have been successful is because of my adoption. Not so much the actual process itself, but rather the person who adopted me. When I was born, my adoptive mother got an emergency phone call that I needed a home, but she hesitated as she had never raised a newborn before. Her friends and family rallied around her and gave her everything she needed to raise me. The philosophy of “people helping people” is the entire reason I am where I am today and was instilled into me before I was old enough to realize it. My mother’s dedication to her church and community inspired my desire to help others. From a young age, I assisted my mother in preparing bagged meals and feeding the homeless, which instilled in me a deep sense of compassion. All people need is a little help in hard times to turn their life around, so it did not feel like a chore or cost me anything to make these bags. During the school year, I actively participate in community projects including the annual food, sock, and toiletry drives that support those in need. I participated in our school’s UNICEF club where I participated in a book drive that would send books to students at a school in Mombasa, Kenya. For several years, I volunteered as a backstage crew member, and was promoted to lead Backstage Crew my senior year, at our semi-annual ‘Coffee House’ talent exhibition. I helped the talents into their correct location. I was available whenever someone needed help, like when someone’s guitar string broke on stage, I helped them quickly exchange it in a timely manner so they could perform. I also stayed after school numerous times to assist with social events and activities for students, teachers, and their families. Last year, I had the opportunity to volunteer as an administrative assistant for the EmpowHER Women’s Business Retreat. While there I supported staff and participants by organizing supplies and coordinating activities. During the summer, I volunteered at a STEM camp where I led a youth-centered microscope lab. I led the group on a nature walk to collect water samples from a nearby body of water and taught them how to use microscopes. By using the water as a sample, we put water drops on a slide and observed all the microscopic bacteria swimming around. From there I led a guided discussion about the dangers of unseen microorganisms and amoebas and how water isn’t clean just because it looks ‘clear’. By the end of the lab, the kids were now familiar with how to operate a microscope and the dangers of swimming in natural bodies of water. I thoroughly believe that by helping others we better ourselves as individuals. It’s easy to write someone off or deny their circumstances because we’ve never been in their situation, but it's important to put yourself in other people's shoes. I find it beneficial to turn the situation around on myself and think ‘if this was me, I would want someone to lend a hand and help me out.’ Embracing, even more so, the idea of ‘people helping people’ has helped me expand my mind and become more empathetic. I believe that in order to make this world a better place for all, we must band together and open our hearts to more empathy and realize that we cannot do everything on our own.

Throughout high school, I have been heavily involved in both my school and town community. In school, I strive to achieve the Honor Roll each semester. After school, depending on the season I participate as Captain of the football Cheerleading team, as well as a teammate on Unified Bocce Ball. I am also involved in clubs and organizations serving as President of the National Honor Society, President of the Ecology Club and Executive President of SGA. In my free time, I coach youth cheerleading, volunteer at the food bank, etc. I have accumulated over 400 hours of service learning in my 4 years of high school. I'm passionate about my extracurriculars for a multitude of reasons, but mainly for the difference it makes in others' lives. Volunteering at the local food bank handing out food brings me a great sense of gratitude for all I have. I am passionate about helping those in need, providing them with necessities hoping to get themselves into a better, less trying situation. Also, When coaching youth cheerleading, I am inspiring the next generation of athletes to be the best they can be in the sport. Whilst working hard and enjoying it. I have the privilege of watching children not only love the sport, but also grow and excel in various skills. I love making a difference in young athletes' lives! In addition, being involved in Unified Sports has taught me so much, especially about equality and equity in not only sports, but in society as well. Many people are unaware of the inequalities those with disabilities face every day, wanting to join in, but not being able to. I have listened to my teammates on unified sports, and the feeling of being able to experience inclusivity on a team means everything to them. Feeling like I have helped them get to this point drives me. My passion is driven by striving for inclusivity and success for those with a disability. I will always fight for those who are unable to stick up for themselves, as it is our civic duty to do so. Without volunteers like me, students, who are my peers, with physical or intellectual disability would not be able to experience sports, and being on a team the way myself, and many other people have. The activities I am involved in make a difference to individuals, which positively impacts my community. I am thankful that I have been able to be so involved and help those around me. I'm most passionate about making a difference to individuals and making their lives better!

I am passionate about extra-curricular activities because I know that by participating in activities, I also make a difference in the community and impact other kids. I earned community service hours as a camp counselor and I knew by being a part of the summer camp team that I was doing a good deed. I assisted with helping the younger children ages 4 to 10 understand how to play the games at the camp. I knew I represented myself as a role model at the summer camp for the kids. They looked up to me and I believe I made difference by teaching them the camp rules and game details. Most importantly, learning from another teen, such as myself while in summer camp, made a difference in the kids lives for their summer. While, summer camp was on activity I participated in as a student, I also played in sports both soccer and track. I love activities where I am active and can make an instant difference by making an impact together with a team. As a soccer player I was able to work on discipline by committing to the practices and excercise dedication by practicing daily. Every other day I would wake up at 5:30am to train at home before going to school. These were skills I was able to carry over into my track team experience. I am new to Track, however, I love being a part of a team where we are all working towards the same cause. This experience as a extracurricular activity was interesting for me. As I grew both physically and mentally. In my opinion this is what being on a school team and participating in extracurricular activities should feel like. One should have fun while learning. The relationships you build with the other participants is valuable also. I loved the leaders and sponsors I worked with as they helped me to grow also by teaching me ways to work on situations having to do with execution in soccer and improving techniques in track. In camp, the leaders were nice to the kids and appeared fun to them. Here, I was able to mirror them and treat kids with kindness and patience as well. I believe these are all extracurricular activities that are beneficial to the community, as summer camp has an impact on kids and is a memorable event for children. While, athletic activities allow for families to come together for competitions and enables the team players to engage positively while the individuals learn valuable skills such as those I learned which are dedication and discipline. These are very important skills for any human being to experience and learn for lifelong benefits.