My name is Bendeshe Bonner, and I was born in an impoverished village in Ethiopia. I was adopted when I was 11 months old, and from as long as I can remember, my adoptive mother read to me. She opened my world to hopes and dreams, and the books she chose had purpose and meaning. She filled my room with stories of people who looked like me and many who changed the world. I remember reading the story of Jackie Robinson and Barack Obama, and realizing on a simple but powerful level that black people are important. I want to share with you a book I read many years ago that not only changed my life, but the lives of so many others. In Linda Sue Park's novel, A Long Walk to Water, the reader is drawn to the dual narrative structure between Salva's journey as one of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan in 1985, contrasted with Nya's daily walk for water in 2008.  I was reading each narrative, their struggle, their purpose and their hopes and dreams simultaneously.  Both children walked, both faced despair, and while experiencing their journeys separately, I was becoming aware of the connection between their lives and mine. The structure reveals the purpose of individual suffering against the backdrop of a shared history.  As I read, my own probable fate continuously rushed through my mind with such emotion that I was lost at times, inserting myself into the story.  Having visited my village and my family many times now, the act of "building a well" had meaning that propelled me to start a non-profit that serves my village today.  (Bendeshe's Village, named after my birth father.) You see, A Long Walk to Water changed my life, and the lives of hundreds of children in my village.  As I read this story, I inserted my own emotional weight that at times was painful and confusing to me, yet as I navigated each storyline, I now realize it was also cathartic.   The symbol of water itself served as an analogy to the importance of having one's basic needs met, the unfairness of the disparity in opportunities people have depending on where you were born, and the importance of finding empathy and humanity in the suffering that others endure.   When I visited my family in 2020, I found a new purpose. Once we arrived home, COVID was reaching us, but we were still able to meet with friends.  I am thankful that we had time to discuss my experience in Ethiopia with my friends, as through these conversations, that little flame born out of reading "A Long Walk to Water" was realized.  Bendeshe's Village was born, and my long walk to water began.  During one of our meetings, my mom's friend who was helping us formalize our non-profit brought copies of that very book for all of us. It was a sign to me that we were on the doorstep of something very special. Today, I walk with my family and with my village toward reaching our collective goals of bringing opportunity, education, and prosperity to all who live in Bendeshe's Village.  One of those goals was to build a library next to our little school. In 2025, we were able to do so, and the importance and joy of literacy and reading are reaching not only our 300 students, but their parents as well. The books we have filled our library with have inspired and, expanded the imaginations of our students with experiences they could not fathom. Our library has opened doors of opportunity to all.

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. One of my educational goals is to graduate with a degree in business from the school I am enrolled in. I am currently a sophomore at The Isenberg School of Business at UMass Amherst. I am hoping to learn the skills necessary so that I can advance our non-profit (Bendeshesvillage Inc., named after my father) by partnering with companies that can assist us with bringing clean water, energy and technology directly to our school. My inspiration is from witnessing what my family and village need. I went back to see my family in 2010, 2020, and most recently in 2023. Seeing such poverty and lack of opportunities, knowing what I have, has been a challenge for me. What has made this struggle not only easier but also hopeful is that I know we are building sustainable change to the people who do not want a hand out; they simply want a hand up. 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. Unfortunately, we have also built a problem. More kids want to attend our school than we can currently manage. So with this opportunity, I can start our journey of building another classroom, and hopefully one with the capability to bring solar energy to the school, which will open up many more doors. Thank you for considering me for your scholarship. I can assure you that if awarded this money, I will be able to "build" physically, but much more importantly, I will be able to help build hope and change.

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 them 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. 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. 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. They are as capable as I am, all they need is opportunity. 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. My community here has learned about my culture, and more importantly, that we are so much more alike than we are different. We built a bridge between us that is expanding in ways once unimaginable. With the current climate and treatment of our immigrants, I promise to continue to educate people on the contributions we make to our society and to unearth the humanity that lives in all of us.

My name is Bendeshe Bonner. I was born in Ethiopia and adopted when I was 11 months old. I am now a sophomore at the Isenberg School of Business at UMass Amherst. Coming from the experience of being destined to die in a poor village to being given the gifts of opportunity, education, and hope has inspired me to try and provide my village, including my siblings, with the same opportunities I have been gifted. When I was 14 years old, I returned to my village for the third time to visit my family and the village where I was born. I left with a feeling of survivor's guilt, even though I was unsure what that term really was. I just knew that I felt fortunate and incredibly sad at the very same time. This experience inspired me to do something. That "something" was to start a non-profit in my birth father's name, called Bendeshe's Village. With the help of my peers and our moms, we were able to formalize this idea into a 501(c) (3) foundation that has provided education, food, water, bathrooms, dignity, and hope to 900 children and their families. So how has technology inspired me? The answer was born out of our foundation. I realized that actually running this foundation requires an education that I had and have yet to acquire. I needed to learn how to build a website (that is ever-changing because my mom keeps revising it; I say lovingly, but I am learning how to professionalize it). Most importantly, I needed to learn how to start fundraising and reaching people beyond our generous friends. Finally, I needed to learn how to research grants and other foundations to learn how to bring more financial and technological support to our school. I invested a lot of time in high school by taking all classes available that would help me achieve my goals, and I invested in self-directed studies. I decided to major in Operations Management in college because it allows me to pursue computer science classes and data analytics. By utilizing technology, I have already advanced our foundations opportunities by creating an AI platform called Prompto. This has allowed me to search and apply for grants and to expand my research prompts to find organizations that may be able to help us with fundraising, bringing technology and infrastructure to our school. I am also able to track our data that ranges from names and contact information of donors to how many uniforms and backpacks we still need for incoming students. These are just some examples of how technology is being used to run the foundation. We are only on first base, however, in terms of what we want to achieve. Our ultimate goal is to bring technology to our school in Ethiopia, and then to our village. I know I have more to learn to make this goal a reality, but I also know that as I improve my technological skills, my village will benefit. That is why technology is inspirational to me. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship. I can assure you that if awarded this scholarship. I will be paying it forward with all that I will learn. Your gift will reach well beyond me and my financial needs. You can be sure of that.

I was adopted from Ethiopia when I was 11 months old. But for the selfless act of my birth parents, I would not be here, in the United States of America, attending college and living a purposeful life. In Linda Sue Park's novel, A Long Walk to Water, the reader is drawn to the dual narrative structure between Salva's journey as one of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan in 1985, contrasted with Nya's daily walk for water in 2008. I was reading each narrative, their struggle, their purpose and their hopes and dreams simultaneously. Both children walk, both faced despair, and while experiencing their journeys separately, I was unaware of the connection between the two timelines until the end of the story and the end of their journeys. The structure reveals the purpose of individual suffering against the backdrop of a shared history. As I read, my own probable fate continuously rushed through my mind with such emotion that I was lost at times, inserting myself into the story. Having visited my village and my family many times now, the act of "building a well" had meaning that propelled me to start a non-profit that serves my village today. (Bendeshe's Village, named after my birth father.) You see, A Long Walk to Water changed my life, and the lives of hundreds of children in my village. When I came across this scholarship, I realized I was actually using "close reading" without realizing such a concept existed. The author chose minimal figurative language, allowing for young readers to understand each child's journey. The author's word choice did not overwhelm the young reader with emotional verbiage, but due to my personal experiences, I inserted my own emotional weight that at times was painful and confusing to me, yet as I navigated each storyline, I now realize it was also cathartic. The symbol of water itself served as an analogy to the importance of having one's basic needs met, the unfairness of the disparity in opportunities people have depending on where you were born, and the importance of finding empathy and humanity in the suffering that others endure. The symbolism of Nya's walk provides the importance of the human connection. As the author takes us on Nya's journey, her simplistic word choice allows readers of all ages to focus on the practicalities of Nya's walk while simultaneously and unknowingly experiencing their own unique feelings. It propelled me to examine where I would be had I not been adopted, how unfair it is for me to now have all of these opportunities that my family lacks, and whether there is something I can do to lessen the "walk" and the suffering in my village by bringing hope and opportunity. The experience of "close reading" to me was to be able to appreciate the story lines, while presenting me with challenging questions within my own story. There are repetitive themes of physical labor that force the reader to experience the hardship in a way that you can almost feel it in your bones. The repetition and simplistic description keeps you invested in wondering if hope is more powerful than despair. But how does one find hope in the midst of monotony? Can despair prevent you from realizing the journey may end with "water?" How can we live in such abundance and willfully ignore the suffering of others? What does water really mean? I first read A Long Walk to Water as a young boy, and a small little match was lit. I didn't know what would become of this little light inside of me. I didn't even understand all of my feelings at that time, but I knew that I was now thinking about my life in a deeper way, and I knew that I was feeling worried, guilty, and ultimately inspired to help my own family. A Long Walk to Water allows readers of all ages to appreciate the symbolism in his/her own way. The restrained language is intentional and deliberate, as you are able to follow the individual journeys with clarity, while also being compelled to insert your own experiences and feelings about personal responsibility, views on basic human needs and rights, and the choices we all have in impacting the lives of others. I have a unique experience in what "water " means and whether our journeys can co-exist. In 2020, my friend's mom made me realize that little flame that was inside of me not only could not be extinguished, but it was growing and looking for a way out. I had just returned from visiting my family in Ethiopia, and COVID hit on our way home. We almost didn't make it out of Kenya, where we visited on our way home. I remember the staff checking our temperatures and pulling people out of the airport line, presumably because they had a high temperature. It was extremely anxiety-provoking. Once we arrived home, we were still able to meet with friends, but there was a caution and uncertainty in the air that we all came to realize would impact the world in ways that have had everlasting change. I am thankful that we had time to discuss my experience in Ethiopia with my friends, as through these conversations, that little flame was realized. Bendeshe's Village was born, and my long walk to water began. I am also thankful that my mom's friend, who helped us with the formalities of establishing our non-profit, brought with her copies of A Long to Water for all of us to read. I read the same text, now with a new perspective. Today, I walk with my family and with my village toward reaching our collective goals of bringing opportunity, education, and prosperity to all who live in Bendeshe's Village. I would like to thank Ms. Park's personally one day for her inspiration and seeds of purpose that she planted in me years ago. I also want to thank the scholarship committee for considering me for this prestigious award.

My name is Bendeshe Bonner. In 2007 I was adopted from a very poor village in Ethiopia. My family and community tried their best to provide for me. I was loved, I was supported, yet they could not provide me with the basic healthcare that I desperately needed. I understand now that I am living what most Ethiopians can only dream of. I also know that with my good fortune, I need to strive to remain grounded in gratitude, but I also need to give back to help lift up my community in Ethiopia. I am hoping that furthering my education will enable me to do just that. I have been back to my village three times. My mom promised my father when she met him in 2007 that she would bring me back so that my family could see that I was happy, healthy and thriving with all of the opportunities that they dreamed I would have. I returned in 2010 and again in 2021 to visit my family and community in Ethiopia. It was after leaving my village in 2021 that I began to think of what kind of future my family, including my brothers and new baby sister would have. After showing my friends pictures and videos of my trip, we decided, (it was my friend's mother's idea), to start a non-profit to build a school. I strongly believe that education is opportunity and that is all my community wants. They do not want a hand out, they yearn for a hand up so that they can live and prosper. What started out as an idea has not only progressed beyond our imagination, but we have also brought two very different communities together. Just some of our accomplishments besides building a school for 300 students are, providing uniforms for every student, school supplies, teachers supplies, a food pantry for the community, a bathroom for the school, a play ground, soccer field, raised gardens, shoes for every student, and most recently chickens and roosters for every student to take home, as well as 5 cows for the school in order to provide milk for every student. Our non-profit is called Bendeshe's Village Inc., named after my birth father. Since 2021, my friends and I, along with communities near and far have come together to learn about my culture, my country of birth and how very different my Ethiopian community lives. To date, we have raised over $100,000 and have also received help from the Rotary Club, Unified Sports / Special Olympics (I am a volunteer) and all of the schools in my community. What is most meaningful however, is how many kids of all ages have asked to volunteer, and have shown genuine interest in learning about our foundation and the people we serve. They have developed a relationship with my community. That is what I am most proud of. This desire to join us continues and we have expanded our junior board and staff with kids from all ages and from all different communities. Bringing two very different communities together has helped us all enrich our lives as we continue to learn about each other. Our foundation remains dedicated to not just raising money, but to also continue to educate communities through speaking engagements, posting videos and pictures on our facebook page, and inviting kids to come along and join us in this life changing experience. Please feel free to visit our website we created to see some of our accomplishments at bendeshesvillage.com. Thank you so much for considering me for this prestigious scholarship. Bendeshe Bonner

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 am and will be forever grateful for the opportunities my adoptive family have given me, but growing up in a predominantly white community has brought its challenges as well.  Since I was little, I knew I was different.  Like the unfortunate reality for most people of color, I have faced my share of racism, from having racial slurs written on the bathroom wall to being called a racial slur while playing basketball, to having one of my elementary teachers refusing to see that her activity of “try to identify which classmates baby picture”, when I was only back person, could be insensitive.  In fact, our yearbook committee just did the same thing in the yearbook.  However, what I want to write to you about is how I have overcome and persevered. In 2020, I returned to my village to visit my birth family, and I came back with a feeling of survivor guilt.  I shared my pictures and some of my feelings with my best friends, and through conversations with their parents, the idea was born to build a school in my village, so that my siblings and others could thrive through education too.  We started a non-profit named after my birth father Bendeshe’s Village Inc.  To date, we have built much more than a school, we have built opportunity and hope! The “we” is My very white community.  My community learned about me, my feelings, and my dreams.  They came together and helped my friends and me with fundraisers, and passing our message along to others.  In doing so, I believe we have built a bridge in furtherance of understanding each other, and how we are connected as human beings.  Our classmates and students from the elementary and middle school have joined our foundation as they too wanted to belong to something bigger than us all.  It has been the unintended consequences are sharing our stories and working in service for others, that racial barriers were deconstructed and our mutual respect for one another brought our community together.  We care about each other, and we have built something that will change my community in Ethiopia forever.  The relationships that have been forged between both of my villages is a testament to how humanity can prevail over all.

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 -shot's 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 am and will be forever grateful for the opportunities my adoptive family have given me, but growing up in a predominantly white community has brought its challenges as well.  Since I was little, I knew I was different.  Like the unfortunate reality for most people of color, I have faced my share of challenges. From having racial slurs written on the bathroom wall to being called a racial slur while playing basketball, to having one of my elementary teachers refusing to see that her activity of “try to identify which classmates baby picture”, when I was only back person, could be insensitive.  In fact, our yearbook committee just did the same thing in the yearbook.  However, what I want to write to you about is how I have overcome and persevered. In 2020, I returned to my village to visit my birth family, and I came back with a feeling of survivor guilt.  I shared my pictures and some of my feelings with my best friends, and through conversations with their parents, the idea was born to build a school in my village, so that my siblings and others could thrive through education too.  We started a non-profit named after my birth father Bendeshe’s Village Inc.  To date, we have built much more than a school, we have built opportunity and hope! The “we” is My very white community.  My community learned about me, my feelings, and my dreams.  They came together and helped my friends and me with fundraisers, and passing our message along to others.  In doing so, I believe we have built a bridge in furtherance of understanding each other, and how we are connected as human beings.  Our classmates and students from the elementary and middle school have joined our foundation as they too wanted to belong to something bigger than us all.  It has been the unintended consequences are sharing our stories and working in service for others, that racial barriers were deconstructed and our mutual respect for one another brought our community together.  We care about each other, and we have built something that will change my community in Ethiopia forever.  The relationships that have been forged between both of my villages is a testament to how humanity can prevail over all.

My name is Bendeshe Bonner. In 2007 I was adopted from a very poor village in Ethiopia. My family and community tried their best to provide for me. I was loved, I was supported, yet they could not provide me with the basic healthcare that I desperately needed. Because of the grace of god, I understand now that I am living what most Ethiopians can only dream of. I also know that with my good fortune, I need to strive to remain grounded in gratitude, but I also need to give back to help lift up my community in Ethiopia. I am hoping that furthering my education will enable me to do just that. I have been back to my village three times. My mom promised my father when she met him in 2007 that she would bring me back so that my family could see that I was happy, healthy and thriving with all of the opportunities that they dreamed I would have. I returned in 2010 and again in 2021 to visit my family and community in Ethiopia. It was after leaving my village in 2021 that I began to think of what kind of future my family, including my brothers and new baby sister would have. And because of the grace given to us by My Ethiopian communities church, we were given land to build a school! I strongly believe that faith and education equals opportunity and that is all my community wants. They do not want a hand out, they yearn for a hand up so that they can live and prosper. What started out as an idea has not only progressed beyond our imagination, but we have also brought two very different communities together. Our non-profit is called Bendeshe's Village Inc., named after my birth father. Since 2021, my friends and I, along with communities near and far have come together to learn about my culture, my country of birth and how very different my Ethiopian community lives. To date, we have raised over $100,000 and have also received help from the Rotary Club, Unified Sports / Special Olympics (I am a volunteer) and all of the schools in my community. What is most meaningful however, is how many kids of all ages have asked to volunteer, and have shown genuine interest in learning about our foundation and the people we serve. They have developed a relationship with my community. That is what I am most proud of. This desire to join us continues and we have expanded our junior board and staff with kids from all ages and from all different communities. Bringing two very different communities together has helped us all enrich our lives as we continue to learn about each other. Our foundation remains dedicated to not just raising money, but to also continue to educate communities through speaking engagements, posting videos and pictures on our facebook page, and inviting kids to come along and join us in this life changing experience. Please feel free to visit our website we created to see some of our accomplishments at bendeshesvillage.com. Thank you so much for considering me for this prestigious scholarship. Bendeshe Bonner

My name is Bendeshe Bonner. In 2007 I was adopted from a very poor village in Ethiopia. My family and community tried their best to provide for me. I was loved, I was supported, yet they could not provide me with the basic healthcare that I desperately needed. I understand now that I am living what most Ethiopians can only dream of. I also know that with my good fortune, I need to strive to remain grounded in gratitude, but I also need to give back to help lift up my community in Ethiopia. I am hoping that furthering my education will enable me to do just that. I have been back to my village three times. My mom promised my father when she met him in 2007 that she would bring me back so that my family could see that I was happy, healthy and thriving with all of the opportunities that they dreamed I would have. I returned in 2010 and again in 2021 to visit my family and community in Ethiopia. It was after leaving my village in 2021 that I began to think of what kind of future my family, including my brothers and new baby sister would have. After showing my friends pictures and videos of my trip, we decided, (it was my friend's mother's idea), to start a non-profit to build a school. I strongly believe that education is opportunity and that is all my community wants. They do not want a hand out, they yearn for a hand up so that they can live and prosper. What started out as an idea has not only progressed beyond our imagination, but we have also brought two very different communities together. Just some of our accomplishments besides building a school for 300 students are, providing uniforms for every student, school supplies, teachers supplies, a food pantry for the community, a bathroom for the school, a play ground, soccer field, raised gardens, shoes for every student, and most recently chickens and roosters for every student to take home, as well as 5 cows for the school in order to provide milk for every student. Our non-profit is called Bendeshe's Village Inc., named after my birth father. Since 2021, my friends and I, along with communities near and far have come together to learn about my culture, my country of birth and how very different my Ethiopian community lives. To date, we have raised over $100,000 and have also received help from the Rotary Club, Unified Sports / Special Olympics (I am a volunteer) and all of the schools in my community. What is most meaningful however, is how many kids of all ages have asked to volunteer, and have shown genuine interest in learning about our foundation and the people we serve. They have developed a relationship with my community. That is what I am most proud of. This desire to join us continues and we have expanded our junior board and staff with kids from all ages and from all different communities. Bringing two very different communities together has helped us all enrich our lives as we continue to learn about each other. Our foundation remains dedicated to not just raising money, but to also continue to educate communities through speaking engagements, posting videos and pictures on our facebook page, and inviting kids to come along and join us in this life changing experience. Please feel free to visit our website we created to see some of our accomplishments at bendeshesvillage.com. Thank you so much for considering me for this prestigious scholarship. Bendeshe Bonner

My name is Bendeshe Bonner. In 2007 I was adopted from a very poor village in Ethiopia. My family and community tried their best to provide for me. I was loved, I was supported, yet they could not provide me with the basic healthcare that I desperately needed. My family made the most difficult decision a parent could ever make, to give me up for adoption in hopes that I could live a healthy and fulfilled life. Because of their selfless decision, I have become the most fortunate person I know. I have another loving family, and I live in a community with a good school system, people who support me, and opportunities that have enriched my life. I understand that I am living what most Ethiopians can only dream of. I know I need to give back to help lift up my community in Ethiopia. I am hoping that furthering my education will enable me to do just that. I have been back to my village three times. It was after leaving my village in 2021 that I began to think of what kind of future my family, including my brothers and new baby sister would have. After showing my friends pictures and videos of my trip, we decided, (it was my friend's mother's idea), to start a non-profit to build a school. I strongly believe that education is opportunity and that is all my community wants. They do not want a hand out, they yearn for a hand up so that they can live and prosper. What started out as an idea has not only progressed beyond our imagination, but we have also brought two very different communities together. Just some of our accomplishments besides building a school for 300 students are, providing uniforms for every student, school supplies, teachers supplies, a food pantry for the community, a bathroom for the school, a play ground, soccer field, raised gardens, shoes for every student, and most recently chickens and roosters for every student to take home, as well as 5 cows for the school in order to provide milk for every student. Our non-profit is called Bendeshe's Village Inc., named after my birth father. Since 2021, my friends and I, along with communities near and far have come together to learn about my culture, my country of birth and how very different my Ethiopian community lives. To date, we have raised over $100,000 and have also received help from the Rotary Club, Unified Sports / Special Olympics (I am a volunteer) and all of the schools in my community. What is most meaningful however, is how many kids of all ages have asked to volunteer, and have shown genuine interest in learning about our foundation and the people we serve. They have developed a relationship with my community. That is what I am most proud of. This desire to join us continues and we have expanded our junior board and staff with kids from all ages and from all different communities. Bringing two very different communities together has helped us all enrich our lives as we continue to learn about each other. Our foundation remains dedicated to not just raising money, but to also continue to educate communities through speaking engagements, posting videos and pictures on our facebook page, and inviting kids to come along and join us in this life changing experience. Please feel free to visit our website we created to see some of our accomplishments at bendeshesvillage.com. Thank you so much for considering me for this prestigious scholarship. Bendeshe Bonner

My name is Bendeshe Bonner. In 2007 I was adopted from a very poor village in Ethiopia. My family and community tried their best to provide for me. I was loved, yet they could not provide me with the basic healthcare that I desperately needed. My family made the most difficult decision a parent could ever make, to give me up for adoption in hopes that I could live a healthy and fulfilled life. Because of their selfless decision, I have become the most fortunate person I know. I have another loving family, and I live in a community with a good school system, people who support me, and opportunities that have enriched my life. I need to strive to remain grounded in gratitude, but I also need to give back to help lift up my community in Ethiopia. I have been back to my village three times. It was after leaving my village in 2021 that I began to think of what kind of future my family would have with opportunities. I strongly believe that education is opportunity and that is all my community wants. They do not want a hand out, they yearn for a hand up so that they can live and prosper. What started out as an idea has not only progressed beyond our imagination, but we have also brought two very different communities together. We brought education and opportunity to my village by creating a non-profit and building a school that has now served 900 kids. Our non-profit is called Bendeshe's Village Inc., named after my birth father. Since 2021, my friends and I, along with communities near and far have come together to learn about my culture, my country of birth and how very different my Ethiopian community lives. To date, we have raised over $100,000 and have also received help from the Rotary Club, Unified Sports / Special Olympics (I am a volunteer) and all of the schools in my community. What is most meaningful however, is how many kids of all ages have asked to volunteer, and have shown genuine interest in learning about our foundation and the people we serve. They have developed a relationship with my community. That is what I am most proud of. This desire to join us continues and we have expanded our junior board and staff with kids from all ages and from all different communities. Bringing two very different communities together has helped us all enrich our lives as we continue to learn about each other. Our foundation remains dedicated to not just raising money, but to also continue to educate communities through speaking engagements, posting videos and pictures on our facebook page, and inviting kids to come along and join us in this life changing experience. Please feel free to visit our website we created to see some of our accomplishments at bendeshesvillage.com. Thank you so much for considering me for this prestigious scholarship. Bendeshe Bonner

My name is Bendeshe Bonner. In 2007 I was adopted from a very poor village in Ethiopia. My family and community tried their best to provide for me. I was loved, I was supported, yet they could not provide me with the basic healthcare that I desperately needed. My family made the most difficult decision a parent could ever make, to give me up for adoption in hopes that I could live a healthy and fulfilled life. Their pain must have been immeasurable. Because of their selfless decision, I have become the most fortunate person I know. I have another loving family, and I live in a community with a good school system, people who support me, and opportunities that have enriched my life. I understand that I am living what most Ethiopians can only dream of. I also know that with my good fortune, I need to strive to remain grounded in gratitude, but I also need to give back to help lift up my community in Ethiopia. I am hoping that furthering my education will enable me to do just that. I have been back to my village three times. My mom promised my father when she met him in 2007 that she would bring me back so that my family could see that I was happy, healthy and thriving with all of the opportunities that they dreamed I would have. I returned in 2010 and again in 2021 to visit my family and community in Ethiopia. It was after leaving my village in 2021 that I began to think of what kind of future my family, including my brothers and new baby sister would have. After showing my friends pictures and videos of my trip, we decided, (it was my friend's mother's idea), to start a non-profit to build a school. I strongly believe that education is opportunity and that is all my community wants. They do not want a hand out, they yearn for a hand up so that they can live and prosper. What started out as an idea has not only progressed beyond our imagination, but we have also brought two very different communities together. Just some of our accomplishments besides building a school for 300 students are, providing uniforms for every student, school supplies, teachers supplies, a food pantry for the community, a bathroom for the school, a play ground, soccer field, raised gardens, shoes for every student, and most recently chickens and roosters for every student to take home, as well as 5 cows for the school in order to provide milk for every student. Our non-profit is called Bendeshe's Village Inc., named after my birth father. Since 2021, my friends and I, along with communities near and far have come together to learn about my culture, my country of birth and how very different my Ethiopian community lives. To date, we have raised over $100,000 and have also received help from the Rotary Club, Unified Sports / Special Olympics (I am a volunteer) and all of the schools in my community. What is most meaningful however, is how many kids of all ages have asked to volunteer, and have shown genuine interest in learning about our foundation and the people we serve. This desire to join us continues. Bringing two very different communities together has helped us all enrich our lives as we continue to learn about each other. Thank you so much for considering me for this prestigious scholarship. Bendeshesvilage.com Bendeshe Bonner

My name is Bendeshe Bonner. I was adopted from Ethiopia in 2007. In 2010, my mother brought me back to meet my family. As I grew older, I wanted to learn more about my family in Ethiopia and my community. We took several more trips back, and in 2021, when I was 14, I returned with a desire to help my siblings and my village reach their potential. Perhaps it was what some call "survivor's guilt." To me, seeing such extreme poverty and lack of opportunities like I was afforded was something I could not turn my back on. With a lot of help, my peers and I established a non-profit named after my biological father called "Bendeshe's Village", with a mission to build a school in my village that could also serve as a community center. I believe that education is an opportunity. To date, we have built a school, a soccer field, a bathroom, a library, a teacher's office, a food pantry, and other multi-purpose physical spaces. More importantly, we have built hope. We have graduated over 900 students from our elementary school thus far. We have raised over $200,000 to support our school and our community. Equally as important, my peers and I created a movement in our community in a small town in Kingston, MA. Our friends, and those younger and older, became interested in our foundation and have invested in learning about my village, and suddenly, we were the little engine that could. Our community fundraisers are run by kids, and most of them are for kids, such as our annual Thanksgiving flag football tournament. We have received recognition from our local news station and awards such as Heroes Among Us from the Boston Celtics, and the Hometown Hero Award from Fox 25 Boston. Recently, we were selected for the Humanitarian Award by the Mass Teachers Association and will receive it in person in July 2026. I am really proud of the opportunities we have provided others and how we have brought our community together in my hometown. We have provided an example of the importance of leadership through service, and how, by stepping into the shoes of others, we can all benefit. The rewards from providing service to others permeate your soul in ways that nothing else can. As I continue with my studies, I hope to improve my ability to give. Please feel free to experience our accomplishments by visiting our website at Bendeshesvillage.com. I thank you for your consideration of my application for your scholarship.

My name is Bendeshe Eyasu Bonner. I was born in Ethiopia and adopted by my mother when I was 11 months old. I am what most would call a "long shot." While my biological family loved me and cared for me as much as they could, I was at high risk for death due to commonly acquired and treatable infections in the United States. They were unable to provide me with any medical care, and thus made the most selfless decision parents could ever make, they allowed me to live and be raised by another family, praying that it was the right choice. It was. In order to provide my biological family with the grace and peace they deserved, my adoptive mother brought me back several times so that they could see how well I was doing. During my trip back in 2021, I was old enough to appreciate all that had been given to me, and all that my new siblings, family and village were deprived of. When we returned, at the beginning of COVID-19, my friends and I decided to ask our parents to help us start a "business" to raise money to help my village thrive as well. My friends were impacted by my pictures, videos, and stories. With help from our mothers, our non-profit Bendeshe's Village (named after my biological father) was born. Today, we have raised over $150,000. Our kid run fundraisers that incorporate my love for sports, teamwork, and inclusiveness. Our Flag Football fundraiser includes kids of all ages, girls and boys, and parents seem to enjoy tailgating as they watch. As a result of our many fundraisers, we have built an elementary school, a library, a teacher's office, a soccer field, a bathroom, a food pantry, and our most important contribution is, we have built hope. Education truly is opportunity, and my village was in desperate need of a hand up, not a hand out. We continue to involve my community where I now live in fundraising for our village through educating my generation and those younger about poverty, racial differences, the gift of giving, and how enriching others' lives can lead to immeasurable emotional and economic outcomes. The term "it takes a village" has been a literal mantra in my life. Since we have returned, we have witnessed the lives of those in my village transform. They inspire me every day to be humble, kind, grateful, giving, and to work hard on my own educational pursuits so that I can continue to advance our non-profit. With hope comes a great responsibility, and the pressure to continue to contribute to my village until they can help themselves is significant. We have started something that we cannot walk away from until our mission is complete, which will take multiple generations of educated young men and women who can pay it forward. We believe we can do it, but the reality of kids moving on and losing interest is also not lost on me. I hope to continue to inspire others as I have been inspired. I am currently at the Isenberg School of Business at UMass Amherst, and it is my hope to be able to pay for my education while I learn the skills I need to advance our non-profit and continue to give all that I can to our non-profit. As Kaila D.Davis has done, we will continue her living, loving, laughing legacy as well. Thank you for considering me for a scholarship that really encompasses the meaning of life and good character.

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