Growing up as the child of a military parent has profoundly shaped me in ways I never could have anticipated. It’s been a powerful journey of resilience, inspiration, and profound learning—one that has forever left its mark on who I am. With this deeply felt imprint, I want to honor my father, and through him, all veterans and fallen service members whose sacrifices define our freedom. To truly honor them, I am committed to applying the values I've gained from this experience as I pursue an engineering degree and build a career dedicated to service and impact. With one parent away, family dynamics shift, and suddenly, you find yourself stepping up—taking on more responsibilities, supporting your loved ones, and sometimes even becoming a leader for younger siblings. My mother was a strong woman to support my father while he was away and I was very young, but she would need support too. I could understand from a young age that I had to help pull my weight and make sure the other younger kids didn’t get in the way of my mother too much. This created my resilient work ethic, I modeled it after my father and mother. Beyond that, my father’s service has been a source of profound inspiration. Watching his dedication, strength, and ability to transition back into civilian life has given me a deep respect for him—not just as a soldier but as a person. PTSD and other physical ailments create huge barriers for my father, and many other veterans. My family is incredibly fortunate that he returned home, and I strive to embody the same grace and dignity he carries. I want to be a pillar in my own community, offering strength and stability just as he has. It’s also been an education unlike any other. My father has shared countless lessons and skills he learned in the military, but more than that, his service has given me a personal connection to the history and consequences of war. These stories and experiences aren't just distant facts; they’re real, and they shape the way I see the world. I hope to pass this understanding on to future generations, helping to foster unity, empathy, and respect. Above all, I am deeply grateful for my father’s sacrifices—his commitment to ensuring our safety and future. I carry that with me, and I hope to honor his legacy by continuing to live with the same integrity and purpose.

I am Bailey Weber, my career aspirations are to find a position in the engineering field related to biomedical or nuclear engineering. I’m deeply motivated by the potential these fields have to positively impact lives—from designing more effective treatments and medical devices to researching and developing nuclear energy. To achieve my goal, I am currently working toward an Engineering Physics degree at Pacific University, which aligns with both interests. I’ve also taken proactive steps by attending career development workshops to strengthen my soft skills, consistently seeking out hands-on opportunities in the field, and participating in a summer research program that will deepen my experience. While I have a strong interest in attending graduate school, financial considerations make it essential that I first establish a stable career. Receiving this scholarship would have a significant impact on my academic journey. As someone who relies heavily on financial aid to attend college, every bit of support makes a difference. The values that drive these career goals are ambition, learning, and stewardship. Ambition is the most important because, without it, I would not have made it this far into my engineering education. It is an endless fire in my heart that yearns to become an expert and see how much growth I’ve made along the way. I have strengthened my ambition by committing myself to earning this degree despite mental health and financial challenges. I am always so grateful to have access to higher education. When I understand or learn new concepts, it's like putting together the world's most beautiful puzzle. I will always want to learn something new, so an engineering career will ensure that. I will need to stay educated on new research constantly and solve problems all the time. Finally, stewardship—the way I define this value—is wanting to become a leader who takes responsibility for building healthy and sustainable communities. I value stewardship because I think people who have knowledge and opportunities should be pillars of their communities and work to close gaps. The way I envision myself practicing stewardship is by researching and developing revolutionary medicines or impactful energy systems and making them accessible for everyone in my community. In short, I am committed to building a career that makes a difference, and I am taking intentional steps to get there. This scholarship would not only ease the financial burden of completing my education but also empower me to continue being an active contributor to ambition, learning, and stewardship.