My name is Bendeshe and I have been playing Minecraft since I was approximately 8 years old. It is actually the only game my mother let me play, or rather engage in, because she loved how creative I was and how many "houses" I built her! Minecraft is an experience! My friends and I still play it proudly. It became so much more fun when we all got headsets and can join each others worlds. We will forever remember that Minecraft got us through COVID! We still have our Microsoft subscriptions so that we can keep playing. If you asked me years ago, my favorite aspect of the game was the creativity part. Constructing buildings and and developing creative rooms and experiences behind each door. I loved it too because my mother was genuinely interested in what I was making. I remember when she requested that I build her a pool, so I did! Now that I am older, I love the interactive aspect between my friends. We download all the mods and collect skins. We really have a wide range of things we like. The Ender Dragon Hunt kept us occupied and competitive for hours. I think we all love that we have never tired of Minecraft, and it brings us back to when we were younger. I was never a lego kid, but I could spend endless hours building worlds and creating experiences that would impress my family. Minecraft will always resonate with me. From my childhood, to helping me through COVID, to impressing my family, and the continued get together with my friends, I will always remember Minecraft as one of my actual building blocks throughout my childhood.

My name is Bendeshe, I was born in 2007 in a small village in Ethiopia that was very poor, with no educational opportunities or healthcare facilities.  My family and community were faced with the hardest decision that I can imagine anyone would have to make, to give up their firstborn in order to provide me not only with a chance to survive but also with a chance to thrive.  I developed a very treatable illness shortly after I was born, but all my family knew was that I was not eating, or drinking and that like many in my village, they feared I was going to die.  My family had no means to support me, and I am sure with broken hearts, they agreed to send me to an orphanage in hopes I would be adopted by a good family. My adoptive mother told me that the only question my dad asked her was "Will you bring him back so that we know he is safe and healthy and happy."  My adoptive mom kept a diary and pictures of this journey.  Thankfully my adoptive mother kept her promise and she brought me back to see my family in 2010, 2020, and most recently in 2023.  It is comforting to know my story and that my tummy mommy and my family love me too.  What is challenging, however, is that I live in the wealthiest country in the world, and I have opportunities that my family, including my three siblings who were born after me, will never have.  I have learned that my feelings are similar to survivor's guilt.  What has made this struggle not only easier but also hopeful is that following my trip to see my family in 2020, my friends and I decided to start a non-profit to build a school for my village.  Bendeshesvillage.com is named after my Ethiopian dad.  When I returned to my village, my parents were so proud to see this healthy, educated young man that they brought into this world. I will be the first one in my family to graduate high school and college is beyond their imagination. Our foundation has brought opportunities for all of those little boys and girls that look like me to realize their own dreams, and for their parents to be as proud as mine are. The most exciting part of all of this is that they are changing their own lives through education. To think that one day, my sister will not only graduate from the School of Bendeshe's Village but she may do so by studying in the light. When we traveled back to Ethiopia in 2023, we were able to see firsthand what we have built, and it is much more than a school.  We have built hope.  We have overcome so much together.  We have not only brought my community in Ethiopia together but also my community where I live has come together to help as well.  The kids in my town continue to host fundraisers that have enabled us to accomplish goals far beyond our initial mission. We are now looking to bring energy into the village. These ideas have been born out of questions from some of the youngest members of our non-profit. My community here has learned about my culture, poverty, racism, and how I have felt being one of the very few black people in my school.  And my community in Ethiopia has hope.  They too will overcome. But we have more work to do. Thank you for considering me for your scholarship! Bendeshe

My name is Bendeshe Eyasu Bonner and I was born in 2007 in a small village in Ethiopia that was very poor, with no educational opportunities or healthcare facilities.  I was a long shot, and now I am pursuing a degree in computer science so that I be the change for my village! My family had no means to support me, and I am sure with broken hearts, they agreed to send me to an orphanage in hopes I would be adopted by a good family. My adoptive mother told me that the only question my dad asked her was "Will you bring him back so that we know he is safe and healthy and happy."  My adoptive mom kept a diary and pictures of this journey.  Thankfully my adoptive mother kept her promise and she brought me back to see my family in 2010, 2020, and most recently in 2023.  It is comforting to know my story and that my tummy mommy and my family love me too.  What is challenging, however, is that I live in the wealthiest country in the world, and I have opportunities that my family, including my three siblings who were born after me, will never have.  I have learned that my feelings are similar to survivor's guilt.  I have remained very close with my family through pictures and communication on Facebook Messenger. (My mom bought them a cell phone that they can charge and use in the closest town center).  It is both meaningful and hard at the same time.  What has made this struggle not only easier but also hopeful is that following my trip to see my family in 2020, my friends and I decided to start a non-profit to build a school for my village.  Bendeshesvillage.com is named after my Ethiopian dad.  When I returned to my village, my parents were so proud to see this healthy, educated young man that they brought into this world. Our foundation has brought opportunities for all of those little boys and girls that look like me to realize their own dreams, and for their parents to be as proud as mine are. The most exciting part of all of this is that they are changing their own lives through education. We brought the teachers a lap top so that they could show the kids a whole new world where science and technology can promote so many needed changes, such as agriculture, energy and discoveries yet to be realized. To think that one day, my sister will not only graduate from the School of Bendeshe's Village but she may do so by studying in the light, with her own computer. When we traveled back to Ethiopia in 2023, we were able to see firsthand what we have built, and it is much more than a school.  We have built hope.  We have overcome so much together.  We have not only brought my community in Ethiopia together but also my community where I live has come together to help as well.  The kids in my town continue to host fundraisers that have enabled us to accomplish goals far beyond our initial mission. We created an interest in computer science and engineering that will propel their village into first world civilization. We have seen what a hand up has already done. With their opportunity they expanded raised gardens and have sent us a proposal for a footbridge that will connect one part of the village to the other during the rainy season.   Education is opportunity and my community in Ethiopia now has hope.  They too will overcome. But we have more work to do. I know that if I can reach my educational goals, I can help them to reach theirs. I thank you for considering me for this opportunity. Bendeshe

My name is Bendeshe Eyasu Bonner, I was born in 2007 in a small village in Ethiopia that was very poor, with no educational opportunities or healthcare facilities.  I was a long shot, and now, I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science and Economics! My family and community were faced with the hardest decision that I can imagine anyone would have to make, to give up their firstborn in order to provide me not only with a chance to survive but also with a chance to thrive.  My family had no means to support me, and I am sure with broken hearts, they agreed to send me to an orphanage in hopes I would be adopted by a good family. My adoptive mother told me that the only questions my dad asked her was " Will he go to school and Will you bring him back so that we know he is safe and healthy and happy."  My adoptive mom kept a diary and pictures of this journey.  Thankfully my adoptive mother kept her promise and she brought me back to see my family in 2010, 2020, and most recently in 2023.  It is comforting to know my story and that my tummy mommy and my family love me too.  What is challenging, however, is that I live in the wealthiest country in the world, and I have opportunities that my family, including my three siblings who were born after me, will never have.  I have learned that my feelings are similar to survivors guilt.  I have remained very close with my family through pictures and communication on Facebook Messenger. (My mom bought them a cell phone that they can charge and use in the closest town center).  It is both meaningful and hard at the same time.  What has made this struggle not only easier but also hopeful is that following my trip to see my family in 2020, my friends and I decided to start a non-profit to build a school for my village.  Bendeshesvillage.com is named after my Ethiopian dad.  When I returned to my village, my parents were so proud to see this healthy, educated young man that they brought into this world. Our foundation has brought opportunities for all of those little boys and girls that look like me to realize their own dreams, and for their parents to be as proud as mine are. The most exciting part of all of this is that they are changing their own lives through education. And we have just begun! When we traveled back to Ethiopia in 2023, we were able to see firsthand what we have built, and it is much more than a school.  We have built hope.  We have overcome so much together.  We have not only brought my community in Ethiopia together but also my community where I live has come together to help as well.  It is important for me to bring my village opportunities to connect to the modern world, and introduce them to science, computer science, learning how important advanced engineering skills are to help them with their agricultural needs, and to encourage them to pursue higher education by encouraging an enthusiasm and curiosity in STEM education. I know that we can do this, because I have seen first hand their eagerness to learn and how much just one computer has promoted their curiosity.

My name is Bendeshe Eyasu Bonner.  I am happy to share my story with you and I hope that you will feel I am worthy of this scholarship.  I am what some people may refer to as “a long shot.”  At least that is what I was. I know that If can achieve my educational goals, I can and will make sure all of the other long shots can overcome too.  One of my educational goals is to pursue a degree in business and computer science with a concentration in international studies so that I can take over our non-profit (Bendeshesvillage.com) and learn how to pursue other opportunities to bring technology and energy to the village in Ethiopia where I was born.  I will need to learn computer science skills in order to achieve our goals of creating advanced technology systems in my village. I was born in 2007 in a small village in Ethiopia that was very poor, with no educational opportunities or healthcare facilities.  My family and community were faced with the hardest decision that I can imagine anyone would have to make, to give up their firstborn in order to provide me not only with a chance to survive but also with a chance to thrive.  I developed a very treatable illness shortly after I was born, but all my family knew was that I was not eating, or drinking and that like many in my village, they feared I was going to die.  Fortunately, an outreach social worker visited my village and told my family they would be willing to help me.  My family had no means to support me, and I am sure with broken hearts, they agreed to send me to an orphanage in hopes I would be adopted by a good family. My adoptive mother told me that the only question my dad asked her was "Will you bring him back so that we know he is safe and healthy and happy."  My adoptive mom kept a diary and pictures of this journey.  Thankfully my adoptive mother kept her promise and she brought me back to see my family in 2010, 2020, and most recently in 2023.  It is comforting to know my story and that my tummy mommy and my family love me too.  What is challenging, however, is that I live in the wealthiest country in the world, and I have opportunities that my family, including my three siblings who were born after me, will never have.  I have learned that my feelings are similar to survivors guilt.  I have remained very close with my family through pictures and communication on Facebook Messenger. (My mom bought them a cell phone that they can charge and use in the closest town center).  It is both meaningful and hard at the same time.  What has made this struggle not only easier but also hopeful is that following my trip to see my family in 2020, my friends and I decided to start a non-profit to build a school for my village.  Bendeshesvillage.com is named after my Ethiopian dad.  When we traveled back to Ethiopia in 2023, we were able to see firsthand what we have built, and it is much more than a school.  We have built hope.  We have overcome so much together.  We are now looking to bring energy, and computer technology into the village. I plan to attend a college that can teach me what I need to learn. I have started learning on my own, but there is much more I need to know. Thank you for considering me.

My name is Bendeshe Eyasu Bonner.  I am happy to share my story with you and I hope that you will feel I am worthy of this scholarship.  I am what some people may refer to as “a long shot.”  At least that is what I was. I know that If I can achieve my educational goals, I can and will make sure all of the other long shots can overcome too.  One of my educational goals is to pursue a degree in business with a concentration in international studies so that I can take over our non-profit (Bendeshesvillage.com) and learn how to access other opportunities to bring technology and energy to the village in Ethiopia where I was born.  I know that I have so much more to learn. I was born in 2007 in a small village that was very poor, with no educational opportunities or healthcare facilities.  My family and community were faced with the hardest decision that I can imagine anyone would have to make, to give up their firstborn in order to provide me not only with a chance to survive but also with a chance to thrive.  I developed a very treatable illness shortly after I was born, but all my family knew was that I was not eating, or drinking and that like many in my village, they feared I was going to die.  Fortunately, an outreach social worker visited my village and told my family they would be willing to help me.  My family had no means to support me, and I am sure with broken hearts, they agreed to send me to an orphanage in hopes I would be adopted by a good family. My adoptive mother told me that the only question my dad asked her was "Will you bring him back so that we know he is safe and healthy and happy."  My adoptive mom kept a diary and pictures of this journey.  Thankfully my adoptive mother kept her promise and she brought me back to see my family in 2010, 2020, and most recently in 2023.  It is comforting to know my story and that my tummy mommy and my family love me too.  What is challenging, however, is that I live in the wealthiest country in the world, and I have opportunities that my family, including my three siblings who were born after me, will never have.  I have learned that my feelings are similar to survivors guilt.  I have remained very close with my family through pictures and communication on Facebook Messenger. (My mom bought them a cell phone that they can charge and use in the closest town center).  It is both meaningful and hard at the same time.  What has made this struggle not only easier but also hopeful is that following my trip to see my family in 2020, my friends and I decided to start a non-profit to build a school for my village.  Bendeshesvillage.com is named after my Ethiopian dad.  When I returned to my village, my parents were so proud to see this healthy, educated young man that they brought into this world. Our foundation has brought opportunities for all of those little boys and girls that look like me to realize their own dreams, and for their parents to be as proud as mine are. The most exciting part of all of this is that they are changing their own lives through education. To think that one day, my sister will not only graduate from the School of Bendeshe's Village but she may do so by studying in the light. When we traveled back to Ethiopia in 2023, we were able to see firsthand what we have built, and it is much more than a school.  We have built hope.  We have overcome so much together.  We have not only brought my community in Ethiopia together but also my community where I live has come together to help as well.  The kids in my town continue to host fundraisers that have enabled us to accomplish goals far beyond our initial mission. We are now looking to bring energy into the village. These ideas have been born out of questions from some of the youngest members of our non-profit. My community here has learned about my culture, poverty, racism, and how I have felt being one of the very few black people in my school.  And my community in Ethiopia has hope.  They too will overcome. But we have more work to do.

My name is Bendeshe Eyasu Bonner.  I am happy to share my story with you and I hope that you will feel I am worthy of this scholarship.  I am what some people may refer to as “a long shot.”  At least that is what I was. I know that If can achieve my educational goals, I can and will make sure all of the other long shots can overcome too.  I was born in 2007 in a small village in Ethiopia that was very poor, with no educational opportunities or healthcare facilities.  My family and community were faced with the hardest decision that I can imagine anyone would have to make, to give up their firstborn in order to provide me not only with a chance to survive but also with a chance to thrive.  I developed a very treatable illness shortly after I was born, but all my family knew was that I was not eating, or drinking and that like many in my village, they feared I was going to die.  Fortunately, an outreach social worker visited my village and told my family they would be willing to help me.  My family had no means to support me, and I am sure with broken hearts, they agreed to send me to an orphanage in hopes I would be adopted by a good family. My adoptive mother told me that the only question my dad asked her was "Will you bring him back so that we know he is safe and healthy and happy."  My adoptive mom kept a diary and pictures of this journey.  Thankfully my adoptive mother kept her promise and she brought me back to see my family in 2010, 2020, and most recently in 2023.  It is comforting to know my story and that my tummy mommy and my family love me too.  What is challenging, however, is that I live in the wealthiest country in the world, and I have opportunities that my family, including my three siblings who were born after me, will never have.  I have learned that my feelings are similar to survivors guilt.  I have remained very close with my family through pictures and communication on Facebook Messenger. (My mom bought them a cell phone that they can charge and use in the closest town center).  It is both meaningful and hard at the same time.  What has made this struggle not only easier but also hopeful is that following my trip to see my family in 2020, my friends and I decided to start a non-profit to build a school for my village.  It is named after my dad, Bendeshesvillage.com.  We have not only brought my community in Ethiopia together but also my community where I live has come together to help as well.  When we traveled back to Ethiopia in 2023, we were able to see firsthand what we have built, and it is much more than a school.  We have built hope.  We have overcome so much together.  My community here has learned about my culture, poverty, racism, and how I have felt being one of the very few black people in my school.  And my community in Ethiopia has hope.  They too will overcome. One of my educational goals is to pursue a degree in business economics with a concentration in international studies so that I can take over our non-profit and learn how to pursue other opportunities to bring technology and energy to my village. I think it is foreseeable that by the time my little sister graduates from our school, she will no longer being reading in darkness, and the School of Bendeshe's Village will provide opportunities for not only every child, but for every adult as they will be able to pursue their own goals as well. Thank you for considering me.

My name is Bendeshe Eyasu Bonner. I am happy to share my story with you as I hope that Ms. Theresa Lord would feel I was worthy of her support. One of my educational goals is to pursue a degree in business with a concentration in international studies so that I can take over our non-profit (Bendeshesvillage.com) and learn how to pursue other opportunities to bring technology and energy to the village in Ethiopia where I was born. I was born in 2007 in a small village in Ethiopia that was very poor, with no educational opportunities or healthcare facility. My family and community were faced with the hardest decision that I can imagine anyone would have to make, to give up their first born in order to provide me not only with a chance to survive, but also with a chance to thrive. I developed a very treatable illness shortly after I was born, but all my family knew is that I was not eating, or drinking, and that like many in my village, they feared I was going to die. Fortunately an outreach social worker visited my village and told my family that they would be willing to help me. My family had no means to support me, and I am sure with broken hearts, they agreed to send me to an orphanage in hopes I would be adopted by a good family. My adoptive mother told me that the only question my dad asked her was "will you bring him back so that we know he is safe and healthy and happy." My adoptive mom kept a diary and pictures of this journey. Thankfully my adoptive mother kept her promise and she brought me back to see my family in 2010, 2020 and most recently in 2023. It is comforting to know my story and that my tummy mommy and my family love me too. What is challenging however, is that I live in the wealthiest country in the world, and I have opportunities that my family, including my three siblings who were born after me, will never have. I have learned that my feelings are similar to survivors guilt. I have remained very close with my family through pictures and communication on facebook messenger. (My mom bought them a cell phone that they can charge and use in the closest town center). It is both meaningful and hard at the same time. What has made this struggle not only easier, but also hopeful is that following my trip to see my family in 2020, my friends and I decided to start a non-profit to build a school for my village. It is named after my dad, Bendeshesvillage.com. We have not only brought my community in Ethiopia together, but also my community where I live have come together to help as well. When we traveled back to Ethiopia in 2023, we were able to see first hand what we have built, and it is much more than a school. We have built hope. We have overcome so much together. My community here has learned about my culture, poverty, racism, and how I have felt being one of very few black people in my school. And my community in Ethiopia have hope. My sister will attend our school! I wish I had more space to share more.

It is easy to write about LeBron James's accomplishments on the court. The debate of him being the GOAT versus Michael Jordan will probably continue forever. I have grown up watching LeBron, and no one I know has the skill to completely dominate and change a game than he does. I could look up all his stats and justify why he is the greatest basketball player of all time, but those stats alone are not what qualifies him as the GOAT. His character is what makes him the GOAT. LeBron is an unselfish player and person. He is a dedicated family man and he is a leader on and off the court. LeBron is self made. He grew up with the odds stacked against him, and he used his gift of basketball to rise up. Not everyone with his gift makes it, because they are not willing to do what is necessary to reach their potential. That means taking care of your body, your mind and working beyond the point your muscles tell you to quit. Everyone knows that LeBron is the hardest working player on the court. His basketball IQ makes everyone around him better. LeBron can analyze the game in real time, which allows him to outsmart those around him, and conserve his energy as his body has grown older. That is why he has not declined as a player like one would expect. His love for the game, his competitiveness without being blaming others for losses also makes him uniquely special. He holds himself to a high standard as a player and as a leader. His character is one to look up to. On a personal note, LeBron is the GOAT to me because I too was born into poverty and had to overcome to rise up. I was born in a poor village in Ethiopia, and someone took a chance on me too. My mom. She is a huge LeBron fan as well, and has taught me that reaching your potential takes more than god given skills, it takes motivation, spirit, love for what you do, and strong character to achieve. I know I did all that I could to reach my potential on the court. Unfortunately I do not have the god given talent that I wished I had to enable me to make the team I wanted, but I think I have his character. I started a non-profit foundation too to help my village in Ethiopia. I know I have some of his traits in me. My absolute favorite and memorable day in my life so far was when the Boston Celtics said I was going to receive the Heroes Among Us Award, and they let me pick the game. Without hesitation I said, Jan 28, 2023 because if I can be on the court at the same time LeBron James is, well then my life will be complete. I may be making this up in my mind, but I could swear that when I was brought out to center court to receive my award, LeBron turned and gave me an approving look. Even if it's not true, I was on the court with the GOAT! LeBron is a leader, and a giver. His foundation is helping others, who will help others, who will help others. He will never know the amount of lives he has changed. Those stats will be impossible to calculate, but those are his best stats. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship. It would be an honor to receive the LeBron James scholarship. Bendeshe Bonner bonnerbendeshe@gmail.com bendeshesvillage.com