My name is Aubrielle Maes and I am a senior at Rock Springs High School. Throughout my time in high school, I have served my school and community through academic, athletic, and service opportunities. I have always been invested and dedicated to my schoolwork, and will graduate having taken five AP classes, and over thirty college credits with a 4.1 GPA. Participating in programs such as the National Honors Society, Tiger Tutoring Program, and Tigers for Literacy have only intensified my appreciation for scholarship and learning. I head started an ACT study group under the mentorship of one of my most influential teachers, and was the president of this program. By graduation, I will also be certified substitute teacher and certified nursing assistant. My faith is very important to me; I am a member of the Fellowship for Christian Athletes, and teach Sunday School at my church regularly. I am a four-year varsity cross country and track runner, with three all conference titles and multiple state placements. I was honored to become the cross-country captain my junior and senior year, and receive the Inspirational Athlete award and JM-NP-BEANO award which honors three former cross-country runners. I hope to embody the example they gave to our team by being, generous, hardworking, and kind in my daily life. I am beyond grateful for these experiences which have shaped who I’ve become, resulting in a meaningful and fulfilling high school experience. Outside of my family and a few close friends, my teachers have been the most constant source of support, strength, and encouragement. From the time I was very young, I had a great appreciation for teachers and the impact they had on their students, guiding them towards their goals and ambitions. My mom teaches elementary school, and has been a lifelong role model to me of how to be empathetic and kind. My third-grade teacher helped me develop my confidence and interest in both poetry and science, which I am still passionate about today. My piano teacher introduced me to joy and beauty of music, which has been one of the greatest blessings of my life, as piano has become an outlet for my creativity, self-expression, and almost a form of therapy. Lastly, many of my high school teachers have given me the advice and support that was necessary to help me take the steps towards following my own dreams through hard work and dedication. To make half the impact on students that these teachers have made on me, drives me to pursue a degree in education after I graduate, teaching either music or biology. I hope to share with students the subjects that have made such a difference in my life. I hope that my job will help people, and support my future family. The lessons I gain from my job will translate to helping raise my family, instilling the importance of education, and the value of service and kindness to my kids. I hope to travel, explore, and learn more about the world in the future. I hope to continue to be ambitious, contribute my talents and gifts to the world, and most importantly, help others. Receiving the generous Tammy Needham Scholarship would be unbelievably helpful in my ability to pursue my further education, and become financially stable throughout college. I intend to use my education to better the educational world, teaching the next generation of students as I grow alongside them. I hope to contribute my passion and ambition to my professional life, as well as my personal life, as I continue to work towards my degree, and career.