I always thought as a child, I'd be making an impact from the field, literally. Soccer, as a student-athlete, taught me discipline, resiliency, the ability to show up, be it with an ankle injury physically on the field or confidence, emotionally off of it. But as a young adult - and following the loss of my close companion who shared my passion for photography - I've come to understand that my purpose exists away from the intersection of field and lens. Instead, I'd make an impact on youth sports by capturing their moments instead of living my own, from behind the lens. Sports embodies moments that define one's life - growth, emotion, connectivity, challenge, resiliency. The more comfortable I became with my camera, the more I familiarized myself with certain athletes through a different lens. It was less about showcasing athletic performance in the field of play or through the lens of a camera, but capturing moments that would define generations. One of the most defining moments in my life occurred when I was hired to take photos of the first majority Black soccer team from an Atlanta Public School that won a Georgia High School Association (GHSA) state championship. Not only was I there to witness history, but I was there to capture it for generations to come - the essence of legacy, representation, community effort. While I had the wonderful opportunity to capture my friend Madeline Cooper making track history, it wasn't just an athletic achievement but a higher accolade steeped in personal history, resilience, and strength. It was the first time I found someone whose athletic prowess had a ripple effect all around my community. If I'm able to capture someone else's legacy like Madeline's and have everyone rally behind it, I can do the same for thousands in their own right. Through photography and videography from behind my lens, I'd support this community and do for them what was done for me: instill confidence, create opportunity, and empower those whose voices must be heard. My continued presence in sports has transformed my purpose to give back to the community through newfound confidence in giving athletes visibility and pride in their journeys. I'll continue to make an impact through sports by creating a platform for NIL management and media focused on any athlete as just an everyday person; their struggles weigh just as much as their achievements, and so do their failures as their successes. I will empower them to tell their stories, cultivate a brand, and achieve newfound opportunities that will change their lives for the better. I'll promote such efforts through authentic representation, honest storytelling, and mentorship within the community both here in Statesboro during my collegiate career and back home in Atlanta, where my love for community, sports, and representation flourished in the first place. I'll give these young athletes the purpose that sports gave me, along with my own platform to transform their legacies. Any career can be used to help and serve others. My commitment to youth sports and community endeavors is to build up the next generation. I might have a different perspective behind the lens of a camera; continuing his legacy would be easier than you'd think.

I always dreamed as a child that I'd be making an impact in the field, literally. Soccer, as a student-athlete, taught me discipline, resilience, and the ability to show up, whether physically on the field with a meniscus injury or emotionally off the field with confidence. But as a young adult - and following the loss of my friend who shared my passion for photography - I've come to understand that my personal purpose exists away from the intersection of field and lens. Instead, I'd make an impact on youth sports by capturing their moments instead of living my own, from behind the lens. Sports embody moments that define one's life - growth, emotion, connectivity, challenge, resiliency. The more comfortable I became with my camera, the more I familiarized myself with certain athletes through a different lens. It was less about showcasing athletic performance in the field of play or through the lens of a camera, but capturing moments that would define generations. One of the most defining moments in my life occurred when I took team portraits of the first majority Black soccer team from an Atlanta Public School that won a Georgia High School Association (GHSA) state championship. Not only was I there to witness history, but I was there to capture it for generations to come - the essence of legacy, representation, and community effort. While I had the wonderful opportunity to capture my friend Madeline Cooper making track history, it wasn't just an athletic achievement but a higher accolade steeped in personal history, resilience, and strength. It was the first time I found someone whose athletic prowess had a ripple effect all around my community. If I'm able to capture someone else's legacy like Madeline's and have everyone rally behind it, I can do the same for thousands in their own right. Through photography and videography from behind my lens, I'd support this community and do for them what was done for me: instill confidence, create opportunity, and empower those whose voices must be heard. My continued presence in sports has transformed my purpose to give back to the community through newfound confidence in giving athletes visibility and pride in their journeys. I'll continue to make an impact through sports by evolving my media business, ImagesbyLeeNicole, for NIL management and media focused on any athlete as just an everyday person; their struggles weigh just as much as their achievements, and so do their failures as their successes. I will empower them to tell their stories, cultivate a brand, and achieve newfound opportunities that will change their lives for the better. I'll promote such efforts through authentic representation, honest storytelling and mentorship within the community both here in Statesboro during my collegiate career and back home in Atlanta, where my love for community, sports, and representation flourished in the first place. I'll give these young athletes the purpose that sports gave me, along with my own platform to transform their legacies. Jimmie "DC" Sullivan championed commitment to youth sports and community endeavors, and building up the next generation. While I might have a different perspective from behind the lens of a camera, continuing his legacy is achievable.

"You're not just growing herbs, you're growing people." That’s what my dad told me as we watered the herb shelf I built from scratch in our front yard. I was thirteen, and what started as a simple quarantine DIY project became a foundation for how I live: growth takes patience, care, and intention. My dad had turned to gardening to heal after losing his grandmother. I didn’t realize it then, but through building that shelf with him, I was also learning how to nurture—with love, with loss, and with vision. At Charles R. Drew Charter School in Atlanta, I’ve carried that same mindset into everything I do, from managing social media for our principal to running Imagesbyleenicole, my photography business, and volunteering with Horizons at Georgia Tech. These experiences taught me practical skills such as visual storytelling, digital media strategy, and time management but they also helped me discover my purpose: creating spaces where others feel seen, valued, and empowered. That purpose was shaped most during moments of challenge. Freshman year, I tore my meniscus playing soccer. For someone whose identity was tied to sports, being injured felt like losing a part of myself. I struggled with self-worth and purpose. But that setback pushed me to discover another side of who I was—one that wasn’t just tied to athletic performance. I began leaning into creative expression, using photography to reconnect with myself and with others. Then, senior year, I experienced a different kind of loss my close friend, who also loved photography, passed away. That grief ran deep. But instead of stepping back, I stepped forward. I picked up my camera in his honor and committed to carrying our shared passion forward. That choice gave me purpose again—using my art not only to process my emotions, but to celebrate others. With Imagesbyleenicole, I’ve captured the stories of my peers and community. One of my proudest moments was photographing our boys’ soccer team as they made history, becoming the first Atlanta Public School to win a state championship. I also captured Ja’Mya Duckworth’s senior night, documenting a joyful, hard-earned moment in her journey as a student-athlete. These weren’t just photo ops; they were moments that reminded me of the beauty in showing up for others, especially when the spotlight isn’t always on them. These experiences, along with the resilience I developed through injury and grief, are exactly what I’ll carry into my future. I plan to study marketing and design so I can launch youth programs that combine creative media, storytelling, and leadership development. I want to teach young people how to use tools like photography and digital platforms to express their truths, build confidence, and advocate for themselves and their communities. Every skill I’ve developed, from organizing shoots and managing content to mentoring peers, has prepared me to create programs rooted in access, representation, and self-expression. This scholarship would allow me to keep nurturing what I’ve started. Like that herb shelf, I’m rooted in care, resilience, and purpose. And what I’m building isn’t just about me, it’s about creating platforms where others can bloom too. In the end, it's not just one achievement, it's all the little things that made me what I am today.

“You're not just growing herbs, you're growing people.” That’s what my dad told me as we watered the herb shelf I built from scratch in our front yard. I was thirteen, and what started as a DIY quarantine project turned into something far more something that made my father and I's connection stronger, who had begun gardening after losing his grandmother, and something that grounded me in the power of nurturing. In many ways, that shelf became a symbol of how I live: intentionally, creatively, and genuinely care for others. I attend Charles R. Drew Charter School in Atlanta, where community is our core. It's where I’ve explored how design, storytelling, and service intersect. Whether I'm managing social media for my principal, running my own photography business, or volunteering with Horizons at Georgia Tech, I'm constantly planting seeds of representation, access, and inspiration. My photography isn’t just about images. It’s about impact. After a close friend who also loved photography was no longer here, I committed to carrying his passion through my actions. Through Imagesbyleenicole, I've highlighted underrepresented voices—in particular, our athletes and athletics at my school. I want people to see themselves as worthy, beautiful, and powerful. That’s the same reason I hope to pursue a degree in marketing and design: to build inclusive campaigns that uplift and humanize. One of the proudest moments in my journey was capturing the Charles R. Drew Charter School boys soccer team throughout their season as they made history by becoming the first Atlanta Public School team to win a soccer state championship. Being part of documenting this milestone was not just about photography; it was about preserving an eternal moment in Black history and celebrating our community's excellence on and off the field. I was honored to capture the story of my friend and teammate, Madeline Cooper, who attends our predominantly Black 2A school. She soared to become the national champion in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2024 USATF Junior Olympics, tying the national record with a time of 13.33 seconds. Through my photography, I celebrated her incredible resilience and excellence, showing the strength and talent coming from our community, East Lake. I also had the privilege of being there for Ja’Mya Duckworth’s senior night, a special moment for our dedicated golfer. Over five months, she improved her score from 112 to 86 and earned a spot on the "AA Girls All-State Team." Creating a video to highlight her journey and celebrate her success with our school community was truly inspiring. After college, I plan to launch creative youth programs that combine arts, storytelling, and leadership development to empower young people in underrepresented communities. These programs will focus on building confidence through creative expression, whether through photography, design, or digital media, and providing mentorship opportunities to help youth discover their own voice and passions. In addition, I want to support and collaborate with nonprofits that focus on equity and access, particularly those addressing educational disparities and social justice. Ultimately, I envision growing my photography business into a platform for advocacy, using visual storytelling to highlight issues that matter and amplify marginalized voices. I’m fueled by a deep belief: growth comes from care, and the world changes when we invest in others. This scholarship would allow me to keep planting, keep creating, and keep growing not just for me, but for every person I hope to impact. Like that herb shelf, I am rooted in love and purpose, and I’m building something that will feed futures beyond my own.