Stiger Technical Scholarship

Education is important to me because it provides stability, purpose, and the opportunity to build something meaningful with my own hands. For me, pursuing an education in STEM through welding is more than earning a certification or a career, it is about gaining knowledge that allows me to create, contribute, and grow. Welding represents the practical application of science, technology, engineering, and math in a way that directly impacts the world around us, and I am motivated by a field where precision, responsibility, and accountability matter every single day. I have never felt as excited or confident about a career path as I do about this one. My interest in welding comes from wanting an education and career where effort and discipline are rewarded and where learning never stops. Welding requires a strong understanding of materials, heat, measurements, angles, and structural integrity. Every weld must be done correctly because even the smallest mistake can affect the safety and strength of an entire structure. This level of responsibility motivates me and reinforces why education matters so deeply to me. I want to be trusted to do things right and to take pride in the quality of my work. Education is especially important to me because I want skills that cannot be taken away and that will allow me to support myself and my family long-term. I did not grow up with many guarantees, so gaining a solid technical education represents security, independence, and a future I can rely on. Welding combines hands-on work with critical thinking, problem solving, and constant attention to detail. These skills reflect the challenges I have learned to navigate throughout my life. I am particularly drawn to the engineering side of welding because it demonstrates how science and math are applied in real world situations. Understanding how different metals respond to heat, how measurements affect alignment, and how technology improves precision makes the work both challenging and rewarding. As tools and techniques continue to evolve, I am excited by the opportunity to continue learning and improving through STEM education, not just understanding how to weld, but why each process works. Through my education at Universal Technical Institute, I hope to build a legacy rooted in skill, reliability, and hard work. I want to contribute to projects such as buildings, bridges, and infrastructure that communities depend on every day. The legacy I hope to leave is one of craftsmanship, responsibility, and pride knowing that the work I do will stand the test of time and that my education allowed me to create a future built on knowledge, dedication, and purpose.

The field of study I am choosing to excel in is Auto Collision Repair. During high school my junior year I had the opportunity to be a part of a trade school called Kent Career Technical Center (KCTC). I made a mistake in choosing Auto Collision Repair instead of Auto Tech and I had no other option but to take the class because the one i wanted originally was already full. Thankfully someone was looking out for me because after the first couple weeks I loved it. It was so great for me i chose to continue it my senior year and have learned so much. It is definitely a sustainable trade to have and to be able to learn the ins and outs of this career has been fulfilling. My passion for this trade came pretty quick into my junior year. Our instructor gave us an assignment to "repair a fender." It had dings and dents and cut marks in it. The end product to the assignment was that I had to present this fender as if it had never been damaged. Though this sounds straightforward I was able to go through the process step by step using tools like a body hammer and a dolly. Next we used products like bondo to fill in the finer abrasions and sanded it smooth. Lastly we laid the three step paint process and buffed it to shine. Once the paint was laid on the fender I was hooked. Being able to work with my hands and see a project from start to finish has been one of the best accomplishments through this training. Looking long-term on my career choice was the other decision i had to make. Is this something I will want to do for the rest of my life? Can i continue to learn new skills in this trade long after graduation? Those two questions for me were the crossroads of where I should go in my life. The answer to both questions are a definite yes. Trades are dying off to accommodate technology. This path that I am choosing will be able to incorporate old school and new tech. No matter where I go I will have this trade under my belt. The longer I pursue it the more knowledge I gain. I am planning on attending Lincoln College of Technology starting in July of 2025 where after I complete the course and graduate I will have my associates degree. From there I can only go up. Thank You for taking the time to consider my application. I know this career will be rewarding for me.

I remember being young and looking up into the sky. I remember loving the thought of flying but never really knowing what exactly I wanted to do with that love. Then, when I was 13 years old, I saw a friend go to the mission field serving in the area of plane mechanics. When I saw him follow his dream, I thought, “That’s what I want to do!” Ever since then, I have been pursuing that goal. In the year of 2023, I had the amazing opportunity to go to Alaska and shadow the same plane mechanic that piqued my interest in mission aviation. It was a really good trip! I had the chance to work alongside my friend and discover the enjoyment I received from this career option as well as what it meant to me doing it in a serving capacity. I’ve always liked the thought of smaller airplanes as well as the idea of working on them. My passion is planes and helping people! My plan is to be able to do both by becoming a missionary pilot/mechanic. My hope is that I can go out of the United States to serve in this way. From what I have seen, planes are very important in the mission field due to the fact that they can get to so many more places than boats or cars. I want to go into this field so I can serve the Lord to the best of my abilities in an area where I can tell it would be a very big help. My first priority in moving forward is getting my AMT license. After that, I would like to get at least a PPL and then possibly a CPL, depending on what's needed the most. I have chosen to get my AMT first so that I can get a job right away to be able to make money to continue my plan to acquire my PPL next. I’m getting ready to go to the School of Missionary Aviation Technology or otherwise known as SMAT. A common question I have come across is, “Where do you see yourself in five or ten years?” My answer to that is, “I see myself in five years off in a different country working on and flying planes, transporting supplies to people that can’t get them very easily.” I know that is kind of a broad answer, that is because there are things I need to figure out as I go along. However, I have a basic structure of what I want to do. Another good reason I see for pursuing this field is, there is so much opportunity! Pilots and mechanics are in high demand pretty much everywhere you go! I hear so much about how there aren’t very many people who want to go to work. That isn’t me! I have found a lot of purpose in why I want to go into aviation. I have a drive to work hard to make that happen. I don’t have much of a history in aviation. It doesn't run in my family. I will be a first generation aviator.

The field of study that I am planning to pursue after I graduate from high school this spring is Cosmetology. I have always loved looking at people's hair, and am always the first one to notice if someone gets a haircut or a different color. I will often scroll on Instagram or Pinterest and look at different styles or colors for inspiration, and I'm so excited to learn on a more experienced level how to do hair. My aunt who is 8 years older than me went to hair school when I was around the age of 11. She graduated from Douglas J. Aveda Institute and worked at a salon for several years before doing hair from her home. Ever since she graduated and started doing my hair or others that I knew I have had a much bigger interest in this industry. I saw everything that you learned in hair school and wanted it for myself. So for about 6 years, I've had the goal to go to cosmetology school and pursue my dreams. Over the past year, I've looked into hair school a lot more closely, even going on several college visits and job shadows. Every time I visited a different school I fell even more in love with the career. A couple of months ago I sent my application to The Salon Professional Academy of Holland and was accepted. After receiving an acceptance letter I was extremely excited, and I can not wait to start my new career next fall. To begin a career in this field means so much to me. After years of looking up to my aunt and counting down the days until I was old enough to pursue my own career, I have finally almost reached my goal. As I am about to begin this new stage in my life I know that I will enjoy every second of it. My goal after I graduate from hair school is to work in a salon until I grow enough clientele and then one day start my own business. Another dream of mine has been to own my own business. When I was younger I remember sitting on my dad's lap and telling him about how much money I was going to have one day when I had my own business. Ever since then he has encouraged me to pursue this goal and has been one of my biggest supporters. This is another reason that beginning a career in the Cosmetology field would mean so much to me. My dad has helped me so much over the years and given me lots of advice, and to be successful in this career and to be able to thank him for some of the success would mean the world to me.