Stuart Air Show IDOT Scholarship in Memory of Steve Bednarz

Even before I could articulate what I wanted to do with my life, I knew it involved space. My elementary school teachers and classmates would see me as the boy who always read books much bigger than he could carry — encyclopedias and almanacs adorned with vibrant images of planets, stars, and galactic phenomena. In my after school program, while other children my age were playing sports or chatting, I would sit in the teacher’s lounge and read these books; at the time I could recite countless statistics relating to our universe. In middle school, however, I was disappointed to discover that space was only briefly covered in 8th grade. When that day finally came, my expectations were ruined by surface level, outdated information. Consequently, I lost hope in my school to really challenge me to think. However, my 11th grade physics teacher, Mr. Porch, revived my hope with a rocket science project that went well beyond the AP physics curriculum. He would answer my never ending questions and even ask me questions that challenged me to think from different angles. Another teacher I've had, Mr. Tyrrell, allowed me to explore my interests through a hands-on and independently operated approach; he allowed me to deconstruct and fix a series of broken 3D printers as well as design a number of projects for his other engineering classes. While in college, I hope to be encouraged and challenged as much as I have been by the influential teachers I’ve had with engaging, knowledgeable, and passionate professors. I am dedicated to one day making a contribution, however small it might be, to the advancement of the scientific community through the design of innovative or efficient systems that will, quite literally, help us reach the stars. That’s why I have applied to numerous universities, both in and out of state, with a major in aerospace engineering. My love of mathematicians, physics, and engineering have only intensified as I have been more exposed to it through my courses in AP classes as well as my participation in the engineering academy at my school. I know I will make a difference as an engineer because my goals lie in the development of systems to increase efficiency. I will work to one day be in a position to further reduce waste or fuel consumption in advanced systems or develop more sustainable practices in relation to aerospace engineering as a whole. After college, I plan to work for one of the countless aeronautical industries based in the Treasure or Space Coast and contribute to the thriving aerospace economy in the area. I am truly lucky to grow up so close to a major core of this industry; I live 15 minutes away from an airport and roughly 2 hours away from the Kennedy Space Center (of which I’ve visited more times than I can remember). This scholarship will enable me to consider some of the more expensive universities I have been accepted to such as Carnegie Mellon as I pursue my dream to become the best version of myself I can be for the community I live in - a community I have been heavily involved in serving (with over 700 volunteer hours) through my participation in beach cleanups, community festivals, and community instrumental performances that I have arranged and participated in through my band program, the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony, MartinArts, St. Mary’s Church, and the independent ensembles that I direct.