Being a student-athlete has shaped a huge part of who I am today. Through sports, specifically basketball and volleyball, I’ve learned discipline, leadership, resilience, and how to keep going even when things get difficult. I believe those qualities are what make me a “You Got It Girl.” I am someone who works hard, stays determined, and tries to encourage the people around me no matter what challenges come my way. Athletics has been a part of my life for years, and it has taught me so much beyond just competing. Being involved in sports has helped me build confidence, learn teamwork, and understand the importance of commitment. Practices, games, workouts, and balancing school responsibilities are not always easy, but those experiences have pushed me to become stronger mentally and emotionally. I’m proud of the accomplishments I’ve earned throughout my athletic career, but honestly, the biggest reward has been the person I’ve become because of it. I am proud to say that I am a member of the 1000 point club. I was also this year's Christmas Tournament All Tournament MVP, 2x Player of the Week, All District, FAC All Conference, WNC All Star Team, NCBCA 3rd Team All District, Burke County Top Scorer. My junior year of high school, I was Offensive Player of the Year, Lead Scorer, Most three-pointers, All District, All Tournament. This past year, we made a major move from Tennessee to North Carolina during my senior year of high school, creating both emotional and financial stress. One of our biggest challenges is that our house back home still has not sold, which forces my parents to financially balance both our old house and the apartment we currently live in. Managing two house payments has placed a major financial burden on my family. For me, I've had to learn a new system, a new coach, new teammates (who have played together for years). I was able to take on a leadership role and gain the respect of my teammates and we were able to go on to sub-state in basketball. One person I look up to the most is my mom. She has always been someone who works hard and puts others before herself, even during difficult times. She constantly encourages me to believe in myself and reminds me that hard work and kindness matter. What inspires me most about her is her strength. She has recently been diagnosed with cancer, and yet no matter what life throws at her, she keeps going and continues supporting the people around her. Watching her has taught me the importance of perseverance, compassion, and staying positive even when things are hard. As I prepare for college, I plan to continue competing as a student-athlete and pushing myself both academically and athletically. Being a student-athlete means more to me than just playing a sport. It means representing your team, school, and community with pride while always working to improve yourself on and off the field. Whether I compete on scholarship, walk on, or contribute in another way, I know I will give everything I have and work hard for every opportunity. This scholarship would make a huge difference in helping me continue my journey. College comes with a lot of expenses, especially as an athlete, including tuition, books, training, travel, equipment, and other everyday costs. Receiving this scholarship would help ease some of that financial stress so I can focus more on succeeding in school and athletics. Having this scholarship would help me to not ask my parents for help. I also believe kindness and generosity are just as important as success. I try to support my teammates, encourage friends and classmates, and help others whenever I can. I’ve learned that even small acts of kindness can make a difference in someone’s day. I want to continue being someone who leads by example, works hard, and positively impacts the people around me. Thank you for considering my application and for supporting young women who are working hard to build a future for themselves through athletics, education, and leadership.

My family and I have faced significant financial difficulties while I have pursued my educational goals. This past year, we made a major move to a different state during my senior year of high school, creating both emotional and financial stress. We moved from Tennessee to North Carolina, leaving behind the place I had lived my entire life and left behind family and friends that were and still are dear to me. One of our biggest challenges is that our house back home still has not sold, which forces my parents to financially balance both our old house and the apartment we currently live in, along with typical house expenses such as electricity and water. Managing two house payments has placed a major financial burden on my family. In addition to these struggles, my mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Along with the emotional impact on our family, it has also added medical expenses and uncertainty to our lives. My parents are keeping a positive outlook, but I know that they are worried about how this will affect them financially. My mom will have to have a mastectomy and will likely need to take off work, for how long is uncertain. My mom is a teacher, and when we moved, she had to take a $30,000 pay cut to continue working in education. My father works as an electrician, but his work is inconsistent because the number of available jobs constantly changes. Because of this, our household income can vary greatly from month to month. Despite these hardships, I continue balancing school, athletics, work, and responsibilities at home because I am determined to create a better future through my education. But college is expensive and I don't want to put a hardship on my parents to pay for this. Receiving this scholarship would help relieve some of the financial pressure on my family and allow me to focus more on my college education and continuing to play the sport I love, instead of worrying about tuition and expenses. I'm unsure of how I will be able to do college, play basketball, and work. I would like to be able to have enough in scholarships, and grants to be able to NOT ask my parents to help support me during this time. This scholarship would provide both financial support and hope during one of the most difficult times in my life.

My career goal in sports information is to work in sports broadcasting and media relations for a college or professional sports organization. I have been involved in sports since I was 7 years old. I am especially interested in the storytelling side of athletics — sharing athletes’ achievements, creating content that connects fans to their favorite athletes. In college, I plan to study communications, journalism, sports management, to prepare me for a career in sports information. I will also be playing basketball in college. I believe some of the most important skills for success in sports information are communication, organization, creativity, adaptability, and strong attention to detail. Sports information professionals often work in fast-paced environments where deadlines matter, so being dependable and able to stay calm under pressure is important. Technology and social media also play a huge role in sports communications today, so I want to continue improving my writing and digital media skills. I plan to build these skills by participating in campus organizations, seeking internships, volunteering with athletic programs, and continuing to learn from professionals already working in the field. One female figure who has significantly inspired me throughout my educational journey is Holly Rowe. As a woman working in the world of sports broadcasting, she has broken barriers in an industry that has traditionally been dominated by men. Her perseverance throughout her career has shown me the importance of hard work and believing in yourself, even when challenges arise. She has worked tirelessly to build her career and gain respect in sports media, showing that success comes from persistence and confidence. She has covered some of the biggest events in sports media while becoming a respected voice in broadcasting. Her accomplishments motivate me more and more everyday because they prove to me that no goal is impossible when someone is willing to work hard for it. Another reason I admire Holly Rowe is her resilience. Even while facing serious health conditions, including cancer, she continued to pursue her career with strength. Instead of letting difficulties get in her way, she used her experiences to inspire others. That mindset has had such an influence on my lifestyle, especially during difficult times in my own life. Seeing my mom battle cancer just reminds me how strong she is as well and the importance of the strength of women in the world. Watching someone continue to push forward despite adversity reminds me that challenges do not define a person — their response to those challenges do. As someone who balances school, work, athletics, and personal responsibilities, I resonate to the importance of perseverance and determination deeply. Holly Rowe’s example encourages me to stay focused on my education and future goals, even throughout the curveballs life throws. She has shown me that success is not only about talent, but also dedication, resilience, and passion. We lived on the same property as my grandmother, and helping take care of her taught me responsibility and patience. On top of that, my family has always opened our home to others. We’ve taken in foster kids and other kids going through tough situations, so our house was always full. That taught me a lot about empathy and how to support people, even when things aren’t easy. Generosity and kindness are also important values in my life. I try to help others in everyday situations by encouraging teammates, supporting younger students, volunteering at church. I try to lead by example through respect, compassion, and a willingness to help whenever I can. Small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

I have spent most of my life in a small town outside Nashville, Tennessee. This past August, my family moved to North Carolina to be closer to my dad’s family. While exciting, the move has also brought financial challenges. My mom is a retired teacher, and my dad is self-employed in home improvement, where work can be unpredictable. As the fifth of six children, I have learned that money must be carefully managed and sacrifices are sometimes necessary. Even with those challenges, my parents made sure I had opportunities to grow. They sacrificed so I could play travel basketball, stay involved in church, and be part of experiences that shaped who I am. We lived on the same property as my grandmother, and helping care for her taught me responsibility and compassion. Our home was often open to foster children and others in need, which taught me empathy and generosity. And now, my mother has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. My mom is always diligent about yearly mammograms and self-checks. She also feeds the family with organic foods so we aren't putting added hormones/antibiotics, etc into our bodies. Even so, she found a lump and within a week, was getting tests. They found 1 medium size and 1 small size tumor in her left breast and something "suspicious looking" in the lymphnode under her left arm. It has been labeled a BI-RAD 5, which means has a 95% chance of being malignant. She will soon have a biopsy to determine the stage, grade, and other factors. I am angry and sad about this. All the sacrifices she and my father have made so that my sister and I could have the things we do... its not fair. And honestly, I try not to think about it. My mom talks about it and jokes and tries to make things light. My mom is a strong, Christian woman. She is relying on her faith and has said that God knew this would happen before it even happened. Our job is to determine how we will walk in His Will. We are in the early stages of this disease and have no idea where this journey will take us, but I will honor her by continuing my education, as she wants me to, and make her proud. Because of my family’s financial situation (and we have no idea what this medical situation is going to bring), paying for college will be a challenge. This scholarship would ease that burden and allow me to focus on my education and future goals.

I believe I should be considered for this scholarship because of how hard I’ve worked both in school and outside of it, and because of the challenges I’ve faced and pushed through this past year. I spent my entire life in a small town outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Everything I knew was there—my friends since kindergarten, my school, and my church where I spent every Sunday and Wednesday. This past August, my family moved to North Carolina to be closer to my dad’s side of the family. While I knew it was the right decision for my family, it was still really hard. I had to leave behind everything familiar and start over completely. Starting over meant making new friends, finding a new church, and figuring out a different school system. It honestly felt like I was being dropped into the middle of something where everyone already knew each other except me. That was probably the biggest challenge I’ve faced in school—having to adjust to a new environment while still trying to succeed. The one thing that stayed consistent for me was basketball. Basketball has always been my safe place, and this year, I needed it more than ever. But even that came with challenges. I had to learn new teammates, build trust with a new coach, and prove myself all over again. It would have been easy to get discouraged, but instead, I used it as motivation. That hard work paid off. This season, I earned All-District and All-Conference honors, made the 1,000-point club, was named NCBCA 3rd Team All-District, and finished #1 in the county for both points and three-pointers. Those accomplishments mean a lot to me, not just because of the recognition, but because of everything it took to get there in a brand-new place. Academically, I’ve stayed focused even through all the changes. Adjusting to a new school wasn’t easy, but I knew I couldn’t let that affect my future. I’ve worked hard to keep my grades strong because I know college is the next step in reaching my goals. My family has played a huge role in shaping who I am. My mom is a retired teacher, and my dad is self-employed in home improvement, which means his work isn’t always steady. As the fifth of six kids, I’ve grown up knowing that money has to be managed carefully and that sometimes you don’t get everything you want. Even with that, my parents have always made sure I had opportunities. They sacrificed so I could play travel basketball and stay involved in church, where they served as worship leaders. Those experiences taught me discipline, faith, and how to stay committed to something bigger than myself. We also lived on the same property as my grandmother, and helping take care of her taught me responsibility and patience. On top of that, my family has always opened our home to others. We’ve taken in foster kids and other kids going through tough situations, so our house was always full. That taught me a lot about empathy and how to support people, even when things aren’t easy. All of these experiences have shaped what I want to do in the future. I plan to pursue a career in sports broadcasting. I’ve always loved sports, especially basketball, but what really interests me are the stories behind the game. I don’t just want to talk about scores—I want to tell the stories people don’t always hear. One story that really impacted me is Perry Wallace, the first African American varsity basketball player in the SEC at Vanderbilt. He walked into a situation where he knew he wouldn’t be accepted, and he still kept going. His story showed me that sports are about more than just winning—they’re about courage and pushing through things that aren’t fair or easy. That’s what I want to bring into sports broadcasting. I want to connect with people, tell meaningful stories, and give a deeper perspective on athletes and their journeys. I plan to major in communications or something similar so I can build the skills I need to make that happen. Because of my family’s financial situation and our recent move, paying for college is going to be a challenge. With my dad’s income being unpredictable and my mom retired, there aren’t a lot of extra resources. I also know my parents are supporting multiple kids, and I want to help take some of that pressure off of them. This scholarship would make a huge difference for me. It would help me focus on school and my future instead of worrying as much about how I’m going to afford it. I’ve been raised to work hard, stay grounded in my faith, and keep going even when things are difficult. Moving states, starting over, and still succeeding has shown me what I’m capable of. I’m ready to keep pushing forward and work toward my goal of becoming a sports broadcaster.

I spent my entire life in a small town outside of Nashville, TN. In August, we moved to North Carolina to be closer to my dad’s family. While it has been an exciting new chapter, it has also brought financial challenges. My mom is a retired teacher, and my dad is self-employed in home improvement, which can be unpredictable depending on the season and available work. As the fifth of six children, I have grown up understanding that money has to be carefully managed, and that sometimes sacrifices are necessary. Even with those challenges, my parents have always made sure I had opportunities to grow. They sacrificed so I could play travel basketball, stay involved in church where they served as worship leaders, and be part of experiences that helped shape who I am today. We also lived on the same property as my grandmother, and helping care for her taught me responsibility, compassion, and the importance of family. Growing up, we also took in foster children, and other children who were experiencing family difficulties. My home was always full of children and teens. My goal is to pursue a career in sports broadcasting. Growing up around sports—especially basketball—has given me a passion not just for playing the game, but for telling the stories behind it. My own interest in the back stories began with Perry Wallace, the first African-American varsity athlete to get a scholarship to play basketball in the SEC at Vanderbilt University. Many people have not heard of Perry Wallace. He stepped into a place where he knew he wouldn’t be accepted, and he still chose to go forward. There is so much to his story, more than what I could put into this application, but I strongly recommend you read his story, Strong Inside. I want to be someone who brings energy, insight, and connection to audiences, whether that’s through live commentary, sideline reporting, or sports media production. I plan to major in communications or a related field to help me build those skills. Because of our recent move and my family’s financial situation, paying for college will be a significant challenge. However, I need financial support to make that possible. This scholarship would help ease the burden on my family and allow me to focus on my education and future career. I have been raised to value hard work, faith, and perseverance, and I am committed to using those values as I work toward my dream of a career in sports broadcasting.