My name is Anthony, and I am currently a graduating senior at Abington Senior High. As a student, I have always prioritized my academics and sought ways to pursue opportunities that propel me toward my goals. However, I am painstakingly aware of the financial challenges that come with affording higher education, so it is an understatement to say that I am grateful for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship as it will contribute to helping me achieve my aspirations. Receiving this scholarship would assist in alleviating some of the financial burden that comes with attending one of the more competitive universities that I have been accepted to attend. As a student-athlete, I have worked tirelessly to balance my academic life with my athletic schedule while also working a part-time job. I plan to continue to maintain the same balance as I have in high school while in college, but receiving financial support from scholarships like the Morgan Levine Dolan Community Service Scholarship will help reduce the number of hours I have to work and allow me to focus more on my studies and extracurricular activities. My post-graduation plan is to obtain a degree in Business Analytics and Information Technology with a minor in sports management. My hope is that this career path will be a pathway for opportunities for future success doing something I am passionate about. During my time in high school, I have not only focused on my academics, but I have worked to develop other skills through my participation in team sports and school clubs. I believe that being well rounded and possessing leadership skills will contribute to the likelihood of my success in the future. In 2022, I completed one hundred hours of community service as a coach at a local youth football organization. Prior to volunteering, I had been looking for a way to put my leadership skills and experience as a high school quarterback to beneficial use in the community. Therefore, when a coaching position opened for our local youth football organization, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to teach kids the sport I love. My fondest memory from this time was from an encounter I had with one of my players after our first scrimmage game. He was sitting in the grass with his head in his hands looking tired and defeated after a tough loss. I told him to pick his head up because this was just our first opportunity to see what we needed to work on. He turned to me and said, “Coach Ant, what do I have to do to play more this season?” I told him that I would send him some extra drills that he could work on at home and agreed to come to practice early to see his progress and give him some specific pointers. For 5 weeks straight, he showed up early to practice with his progress sheet in hand. He was excited to show me how many more reps he was able to do compared to the week before. Seeing how I was able to support and ignite a flame of motivation in my player was just a catalyst for my passion to continue to invest in and serve other youth in my community. I am eagerly looking forward to expanding my social and academic horizons in college. It would be an honor to receive this award, thank you for your consideration.