My name is Casey Frazier-Pringle, and I am an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in animal and veterinary science, with plans to become a veterinarian specializing in reproductive health, a theriogenologist. I am the proud product of a single mother who taught me to value community and hard work, though we didn’t always have the tools or resources to make the path easy. My journey has been one of growth and healing, and I believe my experiences position me to carry forward the legacy of Mark Anthony Green. Like Mr. Green, I have faced personal challenges that shaped my commitment to education and service. During my adolescence, I struggled with mental health issues that went unnoticed by those around me until the effects of my struggle were too apparent to miss. That season of silent struggle before finally receiving the help I needed opened my eyes to just how many young Black people suffer in silence due to a lack of support and representation. But that experience ignited something within me: a deep desire to do my best to make sure no young person feels invisible. I began volunteering with youth-focused organizations and mentoring programs as early as high school and still to this day at my HBCU, determined to be the support I once needed. I found healing through service, and I started to understand that education is not just about academic success—it’s about empowerment. It’s about helping others discover their voice and their worth and how to use them both effectively. That’s why I believe I’m a strong candidate for the Mark Green Memorial Scholarship. Like Mr. Green and Mrs. Green, I believe in the transformative power of education, not only to change one life but to impact the future generations. I’ve learned to push past obstacles, educational and environmental, not because it was easy, but because I saw the bigger picture. I know what it’s like to feel like the odds are stacked against you—and I also know what it feels like to find your purpose in helping others rise and become their best selves. With the help of this scholarship, I will continue my education and form plans for building a future that allows me to make meaningful contributions to both the field of animal science and my communities that helped me get to where I am today. I plan to create youth mentorship and wellness programs that focus on emotional education, life skills, and career readiness. I want to bring representation to veterinary medicine, a field where Black professionals are still deeply underrepresented, and show students from underserved backgrounds that they, too, belong in spaces of science, leadership, and care.

My personal experience with substance misuse came in the form of melatonin, a sleep aid I began taking during a period of emotional and mental distress in high school. At first, it was an occasional fix when I spent too long on homework or studying, but over time, I became dependent on it. I didn’t realize I was misusing it until I couldn’t sleep without it. I would go days without sleep until I took a sleep aid again; it took almost 3 years to be able to sleep a full night without it. What hurts the most is that no one ever stopped to ask me why I wasn’t sleeping in the first place. I was just labeled a “night owl,” and my struggle went unnoticed, even by those in the same house as me; they assumed that I was making a conscious decision, but I wasn't. This taught me an early and painful lesson: mental health issues, especially in young African-American women, are often ignored or misunderstood. Our pain gets masked as attitude, laziness, or just a phase. We’re expected to be strong without showing signs of struggle, something that has been pushed on us for far too long, and something that we unfortunately are teaching our children. But that silence can lead to unhealthy coping habits, emotional burnout, and in some cases, harm. I’ve seen and experienced how unaddressed emotional pain can build up and lead people to make choices that hurt themselves. My own experience shaped my passion for mental health, emotional education, and mentorship. I want to use my higher education to create programs that give young African-American men and women a safe place to be vulnerable, connect with mentors, and learn how to manage their emotions in healthy ways. These programs would focus on emotional literacy, mental health support, and life skills—things like recognizing burnout, building confidence, and understanding that needing help doesn’t make you weak. And it would also reach parents as well, they are likely struggling in silence too, and they deserve compassion and help to not pass it onto their children. Too often are feelings and emotions are dismissed because of a lack of understanding. I want to break this cycle and for it to remain broken. I plan to improve care and communication in our communities by advocating for better training for teachers, counselors, and youth leaders, so they can recognize emotional red flags and behaviors and respond with compassion. I also want to work directly with youth and families to teach emotional regulation and self-awareness from an early age. By creating spaces where conversations about mental health are normalized, I hope to break generational cycles of silence and help others feel seen and supported before they feel like they have to resort to harmful coping mechanisms. My struggle taught me that healing starts with being heard. I want to be that person for someone else, the one who notices, who asks why, and who helps them find a better way forward. I believe that kind of care can save lives, especially for African American youth who deserve to be treated with dignity, understanding, and grace. Thank you for the opportunity to apply and be considered for this scholarship. It would have a lasting effect on my future goals and education.

Animal care and welfare play a critical role in conservation efforts by ensuring that animals, especially those that are endangered or threatened, are treated ethically, live in healthy environments, and are capable of thriving in both wild and managed populations. Proper care and practices not only support the physical and psychological well-being of animals but also increase the success of breeding efficiency, rehabilitation efforts, and the introduction of species into native habitats. At the heart of conservation is the understanding that animals are not just statistics; they are beings with needs that must be met to preserve biodiversity. Stress, poor nutrition, disease, and lack of proper enrichment can all negatively affect reproductive success, longevity, and survival rates. Animal care and welfare must be foundational in zoos, sanctuaries, and rehabilitation centers that serve conservation goals. When animals are well cared for, they are more likely to thrive and contribute to the long-term stability of their species. Prioritizing animal welfare helps gain public support for conservation. When people see animals treated with respect and compassion, they are more inclined to support organizations that protect wildlife and the environment. It is also important to educate the public on how to treat wild and domesticated animals in the wild, as well as the affects of waste on not only the animals but our ecosystem. As someone passionate about this field of study, I envision contributing to the field through hands-on animal care, research, and public outreach. During a summer internship with the USDA’s National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Laboratory Training Program in 2024, I was able to learn the connection between animal care and laboratory research, and I plan to utilize the tools taught to me during that time. My goal is to become a veterinarian specializing in theriogenology. I want to work in environments where I can provide high-quality medical care to animals during their breeding and development, while also contributing to species preservation plans. This will likely include working in rescue centers, vet clinics, or conservation research projects that monitor animal reproductive health. I would also like to advocate for welfare-focused policies and to help develop standards that ensure ethical treatment across all breeding and treatment programs. Whether it’s improving enrichment strategies for captive animals, studying the impact of habitat loss on stress levels, or going to legislative measures to ensure proper care across the board, I want my work to reflect a balance between science, compassion, and cultural awareness. I deeply believe in the power of education. I want to mentor and inspire the next generation of students, especially those from underrepresented communities. Conservation is not just about saving species—it’s about empowering people, ensuring that they know they play a pivotal role. By increasing access to opportunities in animal science and wildlife care, we can build a more effective conservation movement.

If given the opportunity to improve my community, I would focus on improving access to educational resources and mentorship programs for youth. Education is one of the most powerful tools for change, and too often, young minorities in underserved areas are left behind due to a lack of exposure, guidance, and support. I believe there are ways to break the cycles of poverty, hopelessness, and disconnection by creating spaces that encourage academic growth through self-confidence and planning. When I was growing up, I witnessed many of my peers fall through the cracks—not because they lacked the potential to excel or even perform well, but because they didn't have someone to help them recognize it. Too many times have I seen not just the students struggle, but also our teachers as well. Some students require different teaching methods that most teachers don't know how to teach. Many students have dreams of becoming doctors, engineers, or entrepreneurs, but didn’t know the steps to get there, or didn’t believe they were capable of possessing the necessary skills. Seeing that as I grew up shaped my passion for mentorship and community service. I’ve seen firsthand how just one person believing in you can change your entire mindset. I would plan to create a mentorship and career-readiness program that partners with all of the local schools and community centers. It would connect students with college and post-grad mentors and professionals from similar backgrounds for trade career options, giving them guidance on academics, career paths, and basic life skills. Some students may opt to go straight into the workforce after high school, and there is much they will need to learn, like taxes, mortgages, job options, etc. The program would include workshops on financial literacy, college and scholarship applications, resume building, and regulating mental health. I would also organize career days and field trips to colleges and workplaces so students can visualize their futures beyond what they see in their everyday surroundings or on social media. In addition to mentorship, I would invest in creating safe and accessible learning environments outside of the school settings—whether that means opening community libraries with free internet and tutoring, or starting after-school programs focused on teaching STEM, the arts, or agriculture. I want to meet students where they are and show them the possibilities they have. This work is important to me because I’ve walked in those shoes alongside others who didn't make it out of their circumstances. I know what it’s like to be full of ambition and drive, but unsure of how to turn dreams into plans that will have the best outcome for my life. I’ve also been blessed with mentors who believed in me, pushed me, and opened doors I didn’t know existed. Now it’s my turn to pay it forward. I don’t want to just succeed for myself—I want to make sure I’m reaching back and lifting others. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship. I know it will have a lasting impact on my future—and, in turn, the futures of those I aim to serve.

I am Casey Frazier-Pringle, a rising sophomore Animal Science major at Tuskegee University. I was born in a city on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, and raised solely by my mother. My journey into the field of agriculture began at a young age when I took a school trip the Tybee Island, along the coast of Georgia. There, myself and my peers had the privilege to shadow marine biologist and their volunteers as they cared for the animals on the island. This experience was the first that sparked my interest in the field of animal science specifically. Since then, I have spent my summers participating in programs coordinated by Tuskegee University and Morehouse College. Those programs helped me better understand animals and inspired me to pursue a career dedicated to animal welfare and reproductive health. Throughout my academic career, I have consistently excelled in my studies, taking two 9th-grade courses in 8th grade, maintaining a GPA of 3.9 in high school, receiving honors such as the College Board National African American Recognition Award, and being accepted to over 50 colleges and universities across the country. My academic interests focus on animal reproduction and agricultural practices, particularly methods to improve livestock health and reproduction in animals. My plans for the future include attending Tuskegee University's College of Veterinary Medicine and graduating a year early to become a theriogenologist. This past summer, I had the pleasure of participating in the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Laboratorian Training Program coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture. During this experience, I and other students from undergraduate and graduate degree programs hailing from different Historically Black Colleges and Universities could learn advanced laboratory techniques and study various zoonotic viruses and diseases. The purpose of this was to inspire us to take an interest in studying those diseases and viruses, many of which could prove to be detrimental to the population if an outbreak were to occur. As I mentioned earlier, my goals include working with animal reproduction, the title I plan to acquire being a theriogenologist. Theriogenology is a specialty in veterinary medicine that focuses on the reproductive health of animals. There are many things in the world that can harm animals, which in turn makes it hard to feed the population effectively. During my internship, we learned just how detrimental and dangerous certain viruses are to animals and humans, many of which could affect the gestation period of an animal. I plan to research these elements to be able to protect animals and make certain that their reproductive cycles are as smooth as they can be. I believe my dedication to my goals, academic achievements, and passion for animal science make me an ideal candidate for this scholarship. I am eager to contribute my knowledge and skills to advance the field and make a meaningful difference in the world of animal care. Thank you for considering my application. I am hopeful that with your support, I can continue to pursue my passion and contribute to the field of Animal Science.

I am highly passionate about pursuing a long-term career in Animal Science, and I am eager to further my education in this field. My ultimate goal is to attend veterinary school, where I can learn from experienced veterinarians and gain the knowledge and expertise necessary to establish my own practice someday. One of my biggest aspirations is to open a pet hospital or hotel in Atlanta, GA, where I can provide exceptional care for pets in my community. I believe that pets are an important part of our lives, and they deserve the best care possible. By opening a pet hospital or hotel, I can ensure that pets receive the attention and treatment they need to live happy and healthy lives. In order to achieve my goals, I am committed to working hard and continuing to learn as much as possible about Animal Science. I recognize that this field is constantly evolving and changing, and I want to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements and techniques. In addition, I am dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming environment for pets and their owners. I understand that pets are often seen as members of the family, and it is important to me that they are treated with the utmost care and respect. I will strive to create a warm and friendly atmosphere where pets and their owners feel comfortable and at ease. Overall, I am excited about the prospect of pursuing a career in Animal Science and am eager to make a positive impact in the lives of pets and their owners. Through hard work, dedication, and a commitment to excellence, I am confident that I can achieve my goals and make a difference in the world of Animal Science.As someone who has always had a deep love and respect for animals, I am thrilled to be pursuing a career in Animal Science. I believe that this field offers a wide range of exciting opportunities to make a positive impact on the lives of animals and the people who care for them. One of my primary goals is to attend veterinary school, where I can gain the knowledge and experience necessary to provide top-notch care for animals of all types. From dogs and cats to horses, cows, and more, I am passionate about learning everything I can about the health and well-being of animals. In addition to my desire to become a veterinarian, I also have dreams of opening a pet hospital or hotel in my community. I believe that there is a real need for high-quality, compassionate pet care in many areas, and I am eager to help fill that gap. By providing a safe and welcoming environment for pets and their owners, I hope to make a positive impact in the lives of countless animals. Of course, I recognize that achieving these goals will require a great deal of hard work and dedication. That's why I am committed to continuing my education and staying up-to-date with the latest advancements and techniques in Animal Science. Whether I am studying at school or working in the field, I am always eager to learn more and improve my skills. Ultimately, my goal is to make a difference in the world of Animal Science. Whether I am providing hands-on care for animals or working to educate others about the importance of animal welfare, I believe that there are countless ways to make a meaningful impact in this field. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and look forward to working towards my goals with passion and determination.