My story begins with my mom. She has been both my mother and father, raising me with love, strength, and sacrifice. Growing up, I saw firsthand the ways she put my needs before her own, working tirelessly, giving up opportunities, and always reminding me that education could be the path to a better life. She never had the chance to finish her education, but she poured everything she could into making sure I had opportunities she didn’t. Her example taught me resilience, kindness, and the importance of giving back, and it continues to inspire the person I strive to be every day. I have always been passionate about the arts. I studied theatre in college and fell in love with the way performance can connect people, build confidence, and tell stories that might otherwise go unheard. Theatre gave me the tools to communicate, to express myself, and to lead with creativity. Over time, I realized that my love for the arts could also be a powerful tool in education. My first experiences working in schools as a paraprofessional and later as a teaching assistant, opened my eyes to how much impact one caring adult can have on a child’s life. Standing in those classrooms, helping students one-on-one, I began to see that teaching was not just a job, but a calling. Today, I am in my first year as a full time 5th grade teacher. It feels like the culmination of years of growth, but also the start of an even bigger journey. Every day, I walk into the classroom determined to make sure my students feel seen, supported, and capable of success. Many of them come from immigrant or bilingual families, just like mine. They remind me of my younger self, navigating two worlds and often feeling caught in between. I want them to know that their voices matter, that their stories deserve to be told, and that education can open doors they might not yet imagine. My passion now lies in creating classrooms where students are not only learning academic skills, but also developing confidence, creativity, and resilience. I use my theatre background to bring energy and imagination into my lessons, making learning an experience rather than just a requirement. Beyond academics, I try to model compassion and perseverance, showing my students that setbacks are part of growth and that their dreams are within reach if they remain determined. Looking forward, my aspiration is to continue teaching while also mentoring new educators. I hope to shape schools that center equity, creativity, and community, where every child feels they belong. My ultimate goal is to be the kind of role model and advocate for my students that my mom has always been for me. This scholarship would help me continue that journey by easing the weight of student debt and allowing me to focus more fully on my work in the classroom. Just as Sloane Stephens honors her grandparents’ legacy through this scholarship, I honor my mother’s legacy every time I step in front of my students. Her sacrifices and love made me who I am today, and I am determined to pay that forward.

My name is Alvaro Castellar, and I am proud to be a first generation college graduate. My parents immigrated to the United States in search of better opportunities, but my mother never had the chance to finish her education. Watching her navigate life without the doors that education could have opened for her instilled in me both a sense of responsibility and determination. I knew that earning my degree would not only change my future, but also honor the sacrifices my family made to get me here. I began my studies as a theatre major, where I discovered the power of creativity, performance, and storytelling. Those experiences taught me how to use my voice, how to connect with others, and how to create meaning in spaces where people often feel unseen. Eventually, I realized that the classroom was the stage where I could make the most impact. I went on to earn my Master’s in Childhood Education and now teach 5th grade at a charter school in New York City. In many ways, teaching is the most important performance I will ever give, not because it is about me, but because it allows me to help my students discover their voices and recognize their worth. As an educator, my future goals are rooted in equity and empowerment. I want to build classrooms where all students feel capable of success, especially those who, like me, come from immigrant families or are navigating bilingualism and cultural differences. I believe that education should never be one size fits all, and I am committed to designing lessons that honor my students’ backgrounds while also challenging them to grow. My theatre background allows me to bring creativity into the classroom, using storytelling, role-play, and performance based learning to spark curiosity and confidence. In the long term, I hope to expand my work beyond the classroom, mentoring new teachers and contributing to larger conversations about how schools can serve communities more effectively. What draws me most to this scholarship is Mireya TJ Manigault’s legacy. Like Mireya, I believe deeply in the potential of underserved communities, and I know how transformative it can be when creativity and strategy are used in service of equity. Her story resonates with me because I also strive to bring innovation and compassion to my work, whether that means adapting a lesson to reach a struggling student or finding ways to connect families more closely to their child’s learning journey. This scholarship would provide me with critical financial relief as I begin my career. I currently carry student loan debt, including an outstanding balance that remains from my time in college. Receiving this support would allow me to focus more fully on my teaching and community engagement, rather than being weighed down by financial stress. It would give me the freedom to continue investing in my professional growth and in the success of the students I serve. For me, teaching is not just a career it is my calling. With the support of this scholarship, I will be able to carry that calling forward with even greater purpose, honoring both my family’s sacrifices and Mireya’s vision for a more equitable and empowered future.