When I think about growing up, some of my most ordinary memories are the ones I wish I could have back. My parents both worked, so my grandparents were a big part of raising me. Nana walked me to and from school when I was in elementary school. At the time, those walks probably seemed completely normal to me. I didn't realize that one day I would miss having her beside me or that something as simple as walking home from school would become a memory I would hold onto. Pops was the person I could count on for rides to practices. Sports have been part of my life since I was five years old, so there were a lot of practices, games, equipment, and places I needed to be. He was one of the people who helped make all of that possible. Grandma was different. She was someone I looked up to and genuinely loved spending time with. Some of my favorite memories with her are simply being together in the kitchen and baking. She was a mentor to me, but she was also my friend. Over the last six years, I lost all three of them. During that same period, my family also lost three of my uncles. Six people who had been part of my childhood and family were suddenly people I could only visit through memories. Experiencing that much loss while growing up has changed the way I look at time. I have learned not to assume that the people I love will always be there for the next practice, holiday, birthday, or ordinary afternoon. I also learned that perseverance doesn't always look dramatic. Sometimes it is continuing to show up. I had to learn that lesson in a different way when I underwent knee surgery during high school. Soccer has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and suddenly I couldn't do something that had always felt natural to me. Recovery meant rehabilitation, patience, frustration, and repeatedly doing small things that didn't seem important until they added up. There were days when progress felt slow, but quitting wasn't something I wanted to accept. I thought about the people who had spent so much of their own time helping me become who I was. Nana had walked beside me. Pops had driven me where I needed to go. Grandma had given me her time, attention, and example. I wanted to keep moving forward. Today, I am completing high school while taking college courses, competing in athletics, and preparing for the next chapter of my education. My experiences have also contributed to my interest in kinesiology because I understand personally what it feels like to lose physical ability temporarily and work to regain it. Losing so many people I love has taught me something I wish I had not needed to learn so young: time with people matters. My grandparents helped raise me through thousands of seemingly ordinary moments. Those moments no longer feel ordinary. They are part of the reason I keep showing up.

During my three-week study abroad program in Athens, Greece, history stopped feeling like something confined to a textbook. I saw how ideas from classical civilization continue to influence literature, government, philosophy, art, and the way people understand the world. That experience strengthened one of my academic interests, but my experiences as an athlete have also led me toward another: kinesiology. I am currently completing high school and courses through Arizona Western College, working toward earning an associate degree alongside my high school diploma. Managing both programs has allowed me to challenge myself academically and begin undergraduate coursework, which requires discipline, planning, and drive to continue working when my schedule becomes demanding. My academic interests include both Classics and kinesiology. Classics allows me to explore how history, literature, philosophy, and culture shape human thought and society. Kinesiology interests me because it examines the human body, movement, injury prevention, and recovery. Although these subjects may appear different, both help us understand the human experience, one through ideas and culture and the other through physical health and ability. My interest in kinesiology became personal during my sophomore year, when a knee injury required surgery and temporarily took me away from the sports I love. Recovery required patience, physical rehabilitation, and trust in a process that did not always produce immediate results. I began to understand how much knowledge and planning are involved in helping an injured athlete regain strength and confidence. That experience taught me not to take movement for granted and made me curious about how the body heals, how injuries can be prevented, and how athletes can be supported physically and mentally. Returning to athletics strengthened my determination. Participating in soccer, tennis, and volleyball while completing college-level coursework has taught me how to manage my time, respond to setbacks, and remain committed when under pressure. As a soccer defender, I have learned that leadership is often demonstrated through preparation, communication, and dependable actions rather than attention or recognition. My educational goals also extend beyond my own success. I founded Paideia Learning Co. Inc. to expand access to humanities-based learning, literacy development, critical-thinking activities, leadership instruction, and career readiness programming for students from low-income households. Through Paideia and my educational project, Mythos Classics, I want to show students that subjects such as history, literature, philosophy, and the arts can strengthen practical skills, including communication, reasoning, and decision-making. One of the roles I am most proud of does not appear on a transcript or athletic record, being an older sister. I have two younger sisters who watch how I respond to challenges, manage my responsibilities, and chase my goals. I try to mentor them by helping them with school, encouraging their interests, and showing them that setbacks do not have to determine what happens next. Knowing that they look to me as an example motivates me to make thoughtful choices and continue working toward my goals, even when the path is difficult. This scholarship would help pay for tuition, textbooks, course materials, and other expenses as I continue my undergraduate education. The $1,000 award would reduce part of the financial burden of college and allow me to devote more time to my studies and service. My long-term goal is to use education to improve the lives of others, whether through the humanities or kinesiology. I want to build a career rooted in curiosity, resilience, and service. Supporting my education would not affect only my future; it would strengthen my ability to mentor my sisters, expand educational opportunities for other students, and demonstrate what young women can accomplish when their ambitions are encouraged.

My name is Chloe Dammeyer, and I am a 17-year-old student-athlete from Yuma, Arizona. I will be graduating with my high school diploma while also earning my Associate’s Degree through Arizona Western College. I have always challenged myself academically, but sports have been just as important in shaping who I am. I come from a family of six, and my family is a huge part of my life. I have an older brother, Jacob, and two younger sisters, Lucy and Emily. Being one of four kids has taught me a lot about patience, responsibility, and supporting each other. Our schedules can get pretty crazy between school, sports, work, and everyday life, but my parents have always made it a priority to show up for us. Whether it is traveling for a game, helping with school, or just being there when something does not go as planned, I know I have people in my corner. Athletics have been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. I play soccer, tennis, and volleyball, and I love being able to compete in different sports. Soccer is the sport I am most passionate about. I play defender, which is a position that has taught me that contributing to a team does not always mean being the person who scores the goal. Sometimes your job is to communicate, stay calm under pressure, and do the work that allows your teammates to succeed. I was honored to be named First Team All-Conference and Region Defensive Player of the Year, but I am most proud of knowing that I earned those accomplishments through years of practice and hard work. Balancing multiple sports with high school and college classes has definitely not always been easy. There are days when I go from school to practice and then come home knowing I still have several hours of homework. It has forced me to become disciplined with my time and taught me that if something is important to me, I have to be willing to work for it. Education is also very important to me. I have taken college courses while in high school because I wanted to challenge myself and get a head start on my future. One of the subjects I am especially interested in is Classics. I enjoy learning about ancient civilizations, mythology, languages, and how ideas from thousands of years ago still influence our world today. After graduation, I plan to attend a four-year university and continue my education. I would also love the opportunity to continue playing soccer in college. I am still figuring out exactly where my education will eventually take me, but I know I want to build a successful career, continue challenging myself, and make my family proud. What stood out to me about the Stephan Laurence Wolley Memorial Scholarship is the importance Stephan placed on family and competition. Those are two things that have played a major role in my own life. Sports have taught me how to compete, how to lose, how to improve, and how to keep going. My family has taught me why those things matter. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue toward the goals I have worked hard for throughout high school. More importantly, I would be honored to receive a scholarship that keeps Stephan’s memory and the values that mattered to him alive.

Growing up in Yuma, Arizona, has taught me that your community becomes part of who you are. Yuma is a border town with a large Hispanic population, and as a Hispanic student and the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, I have grown up surrounded by people who value family, hard work, and helping one another. These values have shaped the person I am and the impact I hope to make in the future. Education and sports have been two of the biggest influences in my life. I am completing dual-enrollment courses while working toward earning an associate degree along with my high school diploma. At the same time, I compete in varsity soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Balancing academics and three sports has not always been easy, but it has taught me discipline, time management, perseverance, and how to keep going when something does not come easily. Sports have also shown me how much opportunity can depend on access. Having coaches, teammates, facilities, equipment, and people who encourage you can completely change a young person's confidence and direction. Not every child has those same opportunities. That is something I want to remember as I continue my education and eventually begin my career. My family is one of my greatest inspirations. My grandparents came to the United States from Mexico and built a life through hard work and sacrifice. Because of them and the generations that followed, I have opportunities they did not have. I don't want to take those opportunities for granted. To me, earning a college degree isn't only about creating a successful future for myself. It is also about being in a position where I can help create opportunities for someone else. I want to use my education to become a leader who stays involved in the community that helped raise me. One of my goals is to mentor younger students, especially girls and Hispanic students, and encourage them to see college as something that is possible for them. I also want to support programs that give children access to sports regardless of their family's financial situation. I know firsthand that sports can teach lessons that go far beyond winning a game. Sloane Stephens' story inspires me because she has shown that success and service do not have to be separate. She reached the highest levels of her sport but still chose to invest her time and resources in young people who needed opportunities. I hope to approach my own future the same way. I want to work hard, earn my education, build a successful career, and never forget where I came from. If my education eventually allows me to open a door for another student, mentor a young athlete, or give a child an opportunity they otherwise would not have had, that will be one of the most meaningful measures of my success.

The Taylor Swift performance that I find most moving is her performance of “New Year’s Day” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2017. I have been a Taylor Swift fan for years, and I love many of her bigger performances, but this one stands out because of how simple and emotional it was. Jimmy Fallon had recently lost his mother and was returning to the show for the first time. He shared that when he was younger, his mom would squeeze his hand three times to mean “I love you.” Taylor performed “New Year’s Day” that night, and the song happened to include a similar reference to squeezing someone’s hand three times. The song had already been written, so the connection was not planned. What I love most about this performance is that Taylor did not need a huge stage, special effects, or an elaborate show to make an impact. She simply sat at the piano and sang. Knowing what Jimmy Fallon was going through made the performance feel even more meaningful. I have listened to Taylor’s music for much of my life, and I think one reason I have remained a fan is because her songs can connect to so many different moments. As I have grown up, different songs have meant different things to me. As a student and athlete, I spend a lot of time focused on goals, grades, practices, games, and what comes next. This performance is a reminder that some of the most important things in life are much simpler, familia, friendships, memories, and being there for someone when they need you. Taylor has performed for millions of people on some of the biggest stages in the world, but this quiet performance is still one of my favorites. To me, it shows what makes her special as an artist. Her music can make people feel understood, and sometimes a simple song at exactly the right moment can mean more than the biggest show.

Growing up Catholic, faith has always been part of my life, but as I have gotten older, I have begun to understand what it means to make that faith my own. God has given me something to turn to during moments of uncertainty, pressure, and disappointment, while also reminding me to be grateful during times of success. As a student and athlete, I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well. I am completing dual-enrollment coursework toward an associate degree while finishing high school and competing in varsity soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Balancing these responsibilities can be challenging. There are times when I have prepared for an exam, worked toward an athletic goal, or hoped for a certain outcome and things have not gone the way I wanted. My faith has helped me understand that I cannot control everything. I can prepare, work hard, and give my best effort, but I also have to trust God with the outcome. My faith has also shaped the way I view success. Growing up in Yuma, Arizona, in a Hispanic Catholic family, I have been surrounded by values of family, sacrifice, gratitude, and service. My grandparents immigrated from Mexico, and knowing the sacrifices made by the generations before me has given me a strong appreciation for the opportunities I have today. I believe those opportunities come with a responsibility. My education should not only be about what I can accomplish for myself, but also about what I can eventually do for others. Athletics have reinforced many of the same lessons I have learned through faith. Being part of a team requires humility. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you support someone else, and sometimes you fail and have to get back up. Faith reminds me that my value is not determined by a grade, an award, a victory, or someone else's opinion of me. That perspective helps me remain grounded and continue moving forward. As I enter college and eventually begin my career, I know I will face difficult decisions, competition, and situations where doing what is right may not always be the easiest choice. I want my Catholic faith to remain my foundation. I hope it guides me to lead with integrity, treat people with dignity, remain humble in success, and have compassion for people whose experiences may be different from mine. I do not know exactly where every opportunity in my future will lead, but I know the kind of person I want to become. I want my career to be meaningful, not simply successful. Whatever path I choose, I hope to use my education and abilities in a way that honors God, makes my family proud, and allows me to positively impact the lives of others.