Ciao! My name is Christopher (Chris) Eckel, and I am from the large town of Piscataway, New Jersey. While some may argue that central New Jersey doesn't exist, I can tell you firsthand it does, and it is home to some of the best outdoor experiences of my life. I love the outdoors, specifically on bike trails, or while on other small adventures. Aside from having a passion for the outdoors and the wilderness, I take a strong liking to science and mathematics, including an understanding of everything around me and how it all works and exists. My love and passion for math and the sciences plays perfectly into one of my favorite hobbies: drag racing. I attended my first drag race when I was less than one month old, and I haven't stopped since. I travel with my parents up and down the east coast every summer to get to the biggest events of the year and occasionally leave with the trophy. Being at the race track is where my interest in STEM was sparked, and as an older person now, I have learned to appreciate the diversity of all the cars and engine combinations. What makes me a great candidate for the consideration of these scholarships is that I cannot stress enough how much I enjoy pushing the people around me to new heights, as well as pushing myself. I was always told that if you want to accomplish something great in life, you have to work for it. Furthermore, I've always told myself that being average is to be another brick in the wall, but to be bold and unconquered is to be a pioneer and innovator of the future.