My name is Christopher Vargo, I'm currently a freshman at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania and former Alumni of Charleroi Area School District. You may know the name Charleroi as it was referred to in political speeches referring to Haitian Immigration. During my senior year I championed the HHH (Helping Haitian's feel at Home project). With the many young immigrants attending our school that couldn't speak English it was my program that helped send tutors to their homes to help. While in these homes we were able to not only help the youth students but their families. It was an amazing experience and one with gratifying results. I have always helped others I have done clothing and shoe drives and at Christmas my family passes out blankets to those in need of warmth. I am not only a social champion but a champion on the football field where I lead my team to an undefeated season playing multiple positions but also as a wrestler winning multiple championships. During my last Junior High season in wrestling with an undefeated season I was kicked in the knee causing multiple injuries just before the championships. I spent 6 months recovering only to end up having issues with it swelling up and hurting daily. After an MRI showed a torn meniscus requiring more surgery I decided to wait for an opportunity where I could heal and it not effect my athletic endeavors. My recovery was long but I started to feel stronger. Lifting and playing basketball helped strengthen my knee and during my senior year I beat the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the nation Jaxon Forrest. I was well on my way but tuition and books, laptops etc can make for economic disaster for a student. When I graduated Charleroi in 2024 i carried a 4.3 average, and in my studies I plan my degree in teaching and sports management. This is where I can continue to help my fellow man the most. I can continue to educate those in need and extend my hand to those in athletics to make sure they are on the right track not only with education by with the the lord. Much of what I do I contribute to my mom who embraces me with her arms and warms me with her smile. She is my guardian angel and looks after me in spirit since her death in November of 2019. I was only 12 at the time but I know she's still with me as I'm sure you can still feel Stephan's presence as well. They shall continue to guide us through life as in our good lords book of John 5 vs 24 states. Beleavith in me any thy shall have everlasting life. I hope you find it in your heart to grant me the honor of representing the Stephan L. Wolley Scholarship. There are always others deserving of the generous donations to help eliminate the financial burden of college I have found it very stressful to be able to complete assignments, go to practice and study while trying to work to afford to pay tuition. With the help of this scholarship I could be more focused on school and my tasks.instead of being worried and stressed out over creating a financial burden that my last far into my years as a teacher. Thank you so much for taking the time to consider my application. Remember that although they may not be of flesh they are with us in everything we do. As long as they remain in our heart they shall remain in our life.

I love making 3D art, anything from a tree, a house, or a horse. It doesn't matter what I build it's more of what I get out of my time playing. I find it very calming and satisfying. Sometimes I play it to stop thinking about the things I lost in my life and try and find things in the game. I build in the sky, under a tree or anywhere I can to just get away. Several years ago, I was struggling with the loss of my mom. I started playing at the same time and for some reason, building was so calming, and it made me feel safe. It was a way of dissociating from the real world and for some time, I even felt like my mom was with me. I credit it for helping me deal with my issues and get me to a better place. I don't play as much as I used to, but I noticed recently I'll play more if I have a bad day or if I need help reconnecting with my mom. To me, the game is more than just what others see it as. As a ten-year-old losing a parent was the last thing I could have ever dreamed of. Minecraft doesn't replace her, but it does bring me closer to her. And if you ask me if I have ever built my mom in 3D that is an obvious YES. With endless ways to play and endless things to do in Minecraft, it will always have a special place in my heart.

If there was ever a scholarship that I wanted to win, this is the one. It's about what this scholarship represents. I've been contributing and helping others long enough to know not all people are built the same. Many are motivated, and few are driven. When you lose a parent, you become withdrawn and lost. However, this is how I came to show my faith, and love for my community. My Name is Christopher J Vargo of Charleroi, Pennsylvania. I'm a senior with plans to attend Edinboro University. I have struggled with my childhood although I was very successful at sports. I had wrestled since age 3. By age 7, I won my first youth state championship. Throughout the years, my family supported me in paying tournament and club fees and taking me from one event or practice to another. They would put other things aside to ensure, I would be successful, which sometimes created financial hardships. This sounds like it would have been the perfect up-raising, but it created a stressful environment. Mom and Dad were perfect parents. We went to church or listened to teachings on early morning rides to events. But some felt I was being pushed too hard. I would get bruises from wrestling and people without an understanding of the sport, feared abuse. Soon, child protective services would enter the picture, pull me aside, and try to get me to say I was being mistreated. This caused a lot of undue stress on me. I was raised as a champion in life, a leader, and I was hard on myself. I can remember back to a young age when my family would give clothing and food to children within the community. Eventually, our school district would overtake our efforts and create a food and clothing drive which would become very successful. Every Christmas we still give to the homeless and those in need. You could see in their eyes that it was more than just a gift of kindness; it was the fact that someone cared enough to do something for them. At age 12, just before wrestling season, my mom got sick. Up to this point, she was the one who cared for everyone. She took me everywhere without question. My brother Jonathan was at Mercyhurst College during the time, so I helped my mom, while my dad was required to work. Then she went to the hospital to get fluids. It was a Friday, I stayed with a friend for the weekend and went to school on Monday. That day was the last I spoke to her; she was taken to become an angel as she received her wings to heaven. We drove silently to my brother's college; my distressed appearance must have given it away. It was my brother's first home wrestling match and mom wasn't there. Choosing to keep my feelings intact, I held my older brother tight. It was the first time I had ever seen him cry. I remember being fearful of him as I was 106# and he was 197#. After the funeral the 3 of us decided that the best way to keep the memory of my mom alive would be to continue showing the love and faith we have for others in her great name.

If there was ever a scholarship that I wanted to win, this is the one. It's about what this scholarship represents. It depicts the 4 fields of education. I've been helping others long enough to know not all people are built the same. Many are motivated, and few are driven. When you lose a parent, you become withdrawn and lost. I was mentored by 2 teachers that opened my eyes to the need for educators. This is how I came to show my faith, and love for my community and to serve as a guide for others in the future. My Name is Christopher J Vargo of Charleroi, Pennsylvania. I'm a senior with plans to attend Edinboro University. Growing up, I was small which made me an easy target for bullies. I have struggled with my childhood although I was very successful at sports. I had wrestled since age 3. By age 7, I won my first youth state championship. Throughout the years, my family supported me in paying tournament and club fees and taking me from one event or practice to another. They would put other things aside to ensure, I would be successful, which sometimes created financial hardships. This sounds like it would have been the perfect up-raising, but it created a stressful environment. Mom and Dad were perfect parents. We went to church or listened to teachings on early morning rides to events. But some felt I was being pushed too hard. I would get bruises from wrestling and people without an understanding of the sport, feared abuse. Soon, child protective services would enter the picture, pull me aside, and try to get me to say I was being mistreated. This caused a lot of undue stress on me. I was raised as a champion in life, a leader, and I was hard on myself. I can remember back to a young age when my family would give clothing and food to children within the community. Eventually, our school district would overtake our efforts and create a food and clothing drive which would become very successful. As a student, I have watched the politics of school as well as the care and devotion shown by some educators. You could see in their eyes that knowledge was more than just a gift; in some, it was the fact that someone cared enough to do something for them. At age 12, just before wrestling season, my mom got sick. Up to this point, she was the one who cared for everyone. She took me everywhere without question. My brother Jonathan was at Mercyhurst College during the time, so I helped my mom, while my dad was required to work. Then she went to the hospital to get fluids. It was a Friday, I stayed with a friend for the weekend and went to school on Monday. That day was the last I spoke to her; she was taken to become an angel as she received her wings to heaven. We drove silently to my brother's college; my distressed appearance must have given it away. It was my brother's first home wrestling match and mom wasn't there. Choosing to keep my feelings intact, I held my older brother tight. It was the first time I had ever seen him cry. I remember being fearful of him as I was 106# and he was 197#. After the funeral the 3 of us decided that the best way to keep the memory of my mom alive would be to educate others in school and on the mat.

If there was ever a scholarship that I wanted to win, this is the one. It's about what this scholarship represents. It depicts the strength of character and the love and faith of God. I've been contributing and helping others long enough to know not all people are built the same. Many are motivated, and few are driven. When you lose a parent, you become withdrawn and lost. However, this is how I came to show my faith, and love for my community. My Name is Christopher J Vargo of Charleroi, Pennsylvania. I'm a senior with plans to attend Edinboro University. Growing up, I was small which made me an easy target for bullies. I have struggled with my childhood although I was very successful at sports. I had wrestled since age 3. By age 7, I won my first youth state championship. Throughout the years, my family supported me in paying tournament and club fees and taking me from one event or practice to another. They would put other things aside to ensure, I would be successful, which sometimes created financial hardships. This sounds like it would have been the perfect up-raising, but it created a stressful environment. Mom and Dad were perfect parents. We went to church or listened to teachings on early morning rides to events. But some felt I was being pushed too hard. I would get bruises from wrestling and people without an understanding of the sport, feared abuse. Soon, child protective services would enter the picture, pull me aside, and try to get me to say I was being mistreated. This caused a lot of undue stress on me. I was raised as a champion in life, a leader, and I was hard on myself. I can remember back to a young age when my family would give clothing and food to children within the community. Eventually, our school district would overtake our efforts and create a food and clothing drive which would become very successful. Every Christmas we still give to the homeless and those in need. Blankets and hats always seemed to be the biggest hit. Brand-new shoes and jackets were the best. You could see in their eyes that it was more than just a gift of kindness; it was the fact that someone cared enough to do something for them. At age 12, just before wrestling season, my mom got sick. Up to this point, she was the one who cared for everyone. She took me everywhere without question. My brother Jonathan was at Mercyhurst College during the time, so I helped my mom, while my dad was required to work. Then she went to the hospital to get fluids. It was a Friday, I stayed with a friend for the weekend and went to school on Monday. That day was the last I spoke to her; she was taken to become an angel as she received her wings to heaven. We drove silently to my brother's college; my distressed appearance must have given it away. It was my brother's first home wrestling match and mom wasn't there. Choosing to keep my feelings intact, I held my older brother tight. It was the first time I had ever seen him cry. I remember being fearful of him as I was 106# and he was 197#. After the funeral the 3 of us decided that the best way to keep the memory of my mom alive would be to continue showing the love and faith we have for others in her great name.

If there was ever a scholarship that I wanted to win, this is the one. It's about what this scholarship represents. It depicts the strength of character in an educator. Helping others is not enough, all people are not built the same. Many are motivated, and few are driven. When you become an educator, you must listen and learn. After the loss of my mom, I was mentored by 2 teachers that made a difference in my life and I want to do the same for others. My Name is Christopher J Vargo of Charleroi, Pennsylvania. I'm a senior with plans to attend Edinboro University. Growing up, I was small which made me an easy target for bullies. I have struggled with my childhood although I was very successful at sports. I had wrestled since age 3. By age 7, I won my first youth state championship. Throughout the years, my family supported me in paying tournament and club fees and taking me from one event or practice to another. They would put other things aside to ensure, I would be successful, which sometimes created financial hardships. This sounds like it would have been the perfect up-raising, but it created a stressful environment. Mom and Dad were perfect parents. We went to church or listened to teachings on early morning rides to events. But some felt I was being pushed too hard. I would get bruises from wrestling and people without an understanding of the sport, feared abuse. Soon, child protective services would enter the picture, pull me aside, and try to get me to say I was being mistreated. This caused a lot of undue stress on me. I was raised as a champion in life, a leader, and I was hard enough on myself seeking perfection. I can remember back to a young age when my family would give clothing and food to children within the community. Eventually, our school district would overtake our efforts and create a food and clothing drive which would become very successful. Every Christmas we still give to the homeless and those in need. Blankets and hats always seemed to be the biggest hit. Brand-new shoes and jackets were the best. You could see in their eyes that it was more than just a gift of kindness; it was the fact that someone cared enough to do something for them. At age 12, just before wrestling season, my mom got sick. Up to this point, she was the one who cared for everyone. She took me everywhere without question. My brother Jonathan was at Mercyhurst College during the time, so I helped my mom, while my dad was required to work. Then she went to the hospital to get fluids. It was a Friday, I stayed with a friend for the weekend and went to school on Monday. That day was the last I spoke to her; she was taken to become an angel as she received her wings to heaven. We drove silently to my brother's college; my distressed appearance must have given it away. It was my brother's first home wrestling match and mom wasn't there. Choosing to keep my feelings intact, I held my older brother tight. It was the first time I had ever seen him cry. I remember being fearful of him as I was 106# and he was 197#. After the funeral the 3 of us decided that the best way to keep the memory of my mom alive would be to teach others and help students become champions in life like me.

If there was ever a scholarship that I wanted to win, this is the one. It's about what this scholarship represents. It depicts the strength of character and the love and faith of God. I've been contributing and helping others long enough to know not all people are built the same. Many are motivated, and few are driven. When you lose a parent, you become withdrawn and lost. However, this is how I came to show my faith, and love for my community. My Name is Christopher J Vargo of Charleroi, Pennsylvania. I'm a senior with plans to attend Edinboro University. Growing up, I was small which made me an easy target for bullies. I have struggled with my childhood although I was very successful at sports. I had wrestled since age 3. By age 7, I won my first youth state championship. Throughout the years, my family supported me in paying tournament and club fees and taking me from one event or practice to another. They would put other things aside to ensure, I would be successful, which sometimes created financial hardships. This sounds like it would have been the perfect up-raising, but it created a stressful environment. Mom and Dad were perfect parents. We went to church or listened to teachings on early morning rides to events. But some felt I was being pushed too hard. I would get bruises from wrestling and people without an understanding of the sport, feared abuse. Soon, child protective services would enter the picture, pull me aside, and try to get me to say I was being mistreated. This caused a lot of undue stress on me. I was raised as a champion in life, a leader, and I was hard on myself. I can remember back to a young age when my family would give clothing and food to children within the community. Eventually, our school district would overtake our efforts and create a food and clothing drive which would become very successful. Every Christmas we still give to the homeless and those in need. Blankets and hats always seemed to be the biggest hit. Brand-new shoes and jackets were the best. You could see in their eyes that it was more than just a gift of kindness; it was the fact that someone cared enough to do something for them. At age 12, just before wrestling season, my mom got sick. Up to this point, she was the one who cared for everyone. She took me everywhere without question. My brother Jonathan was at Mercyhurst College during the time, so I helped my mom, while my dad was required to work. Then she went to the hospital to get fluids. It was a Friday, I stayed with a friend for the weekend and went to school on Monday. That day was the last I spoke to her; she was taken to become an angel as she received her wings to heaven. We drove silently to my brother's college; my distressed appearance must have given it away. It was my brother's first home wrestling match and mom wasn't there. Choosing to keep my feelings intact, I held my older brother tight. It was the first time I had ever seen him cry. I remember being fearful of him as I was 106# and he was 197#. After the funeral the 3 of us decided that the best way to keep the memory of my mom alive would be to continue showing the love and faith we have for others in her great name.

If there was ever a scholarship that I wanted to win, this is the one. It's about what this scholarship represents. It depicts the strength of character and the love and faith of God. I've been contributing and helping others long enough to know not all people are built the same. Many are motivated, and few are driven. When you lose a parent, you become withdrawn and lost. However, this is how I came to show my faith, and love for my community. My Name is Christopher J Vargo of Charleroi, Pennsylvania. I'm a senior with plans to attend Edinboro University. Growing up, I was small which made me an easy target for bullies. I have struggled with my childhood although I was very successful at sports. I had wrestled since age 3. By age 7, I won my first youth state championship. Throughout the years, my family supported me in paying tournament and club fees and taking me from one event or practice to another. They would put other things aside to ensure, I would be successful, which sometimes created financial hardships. This sounds like it would have been the perfect up-raising, but it created a stressful environment. Mom and Dad were perfect parents. We went to church or listened to teachings on early morning rides to events. But some felt I was being pushed too hard. I would get bruises from wrestling and people without an understanding of the sport, feared abuse. Soon, child protective services would enter the picture, pull me aside, and try to get me to say I was being mistreated. This caused a lot of undue stress on me. I was raised as a champion in life, a leader, and I was hard on myself. I can remember back to a young age when my family would give clothing and food to children within the community. Eventually, our school district would overtake our efforts and create a food and clothing drive which would become very successful. Every Christmas we still give to the homeless and those in need. Blankets and hats always seemed to be the biggest hit. Brand-new shoes and jackets were the best. You could see in their eyes that it was more than just a gift of kindness; it was the fact that someone cared enough to do something for them. At age 12, just before wrestling season, my mom got sick. Up to this point, she was the one who cared for everyone. She took me everywhere without question. My brother Jonathan was at Mercyhurst College during the time, so I helped my mom, while my dad was required to work. Then she went to the hospital to get fluids. It was a Friday, I stayed with a friend for the weekend and went to school on Monday. That day was the last I spoke to her; she was taken to become an angel as she received her wings to heaven. We drove silently to my brother's college; my distressed appearance must have given it away. It was my brother's first home wrestling match and mom wasn't there. Choosing to keep my feelings intact, I held my older brother tight. It was the first time I had ever seen him cry. I remember being fearful of him as I was 106# and he was 197#. After the funeral the 3 of us decided that the best way to keep the memory of my mom alive would be to continue showing the love and faith we have for others in her great name.

My name is Christopher Vargo, I am a senior in high school with plans to attend Edinboro University. Once there I will study Sport Management with a secondary education in teaching. I currently carry a 4.13 and have excelled in the sport of wrestling. This sport has been my passion since I was 3, following in my brothers' footsteps and my father before him. As you might know, wrestling is a sport like no other. It is demanding on both the body and mind. I have been successful at the sport since my youth, winning state championships with the support of my parents. I was taken to tournaments almost every weekend, and my small body and mind were faced with mental and physical challenges which made me stronger and more knowledgeable of my skill set than others my age. In November of 2019, my mother got sick. She was always extremely strong and was with me supporting me in every endeavor. She seemingly never got sick; she was always there for us. She went to the hospital and was released with a bad diagnosis; she came home for a few days and still was able to care for herself until that weekend. My dad took her back to the hospital she was able to walk in on her own. They admitted her with kidney failure from dehydration. They took no X-rays, no CT scans, and even stopped giving her fluids, they were fixated on her kidney function. Monday morning, she died from a twisted bile. It was diagnosed 12 days previously by a clinic worker, but the hospital never reviewed the findings. It required an emergency operation and for almost two weeks her toughness and dedication to her family took priority over her own health. I am faced with athletic expectations as well as training every day to be the very best I can be. I had a strong mother who didn't stop fighting, every day she would tell me she felt better. If she would not have been so strong maybe I would still have her with me today. But now I use her strength to fuel me to set my goals. I have had 2 knee injuries, and part of my meniscus removed, and I have wrestled through pain and swelling to become a 4-time state placer just missing being the state champion twice the past two years. My club coach played a big role in my life, and he has been my coach even through high school. He has stepped up to be not just a father figure but a great friend. I started my high school career strong, placing 3rd at state. My knee injuries were always present, I seemingly aggravated them just before state every year and recovery was hard, he helped me train to recover. Although swollen like softballs, he helped me somehow push on. I wanted to be successful not just for me but for him and my mom and for all of those who stepped into my life after my mom's death. I had to prove to myself and others that you can accomplish your goals. Although my mom is gone, she is still with me supporting me in every accomplishment like my coach, and they both comfort me in my failures in different ways. I refuse to look at life as though it owes me something. The club I belong to has a motto, person, student, and athlete. Be a good person, be a good student, and take pride in being a good athlete.

My name is Christopher Vargo, I am a senior at in high school with plans to attend Edinboro University. Once there I will study Sport Management with a secondary education in teaching. I currently carry a 4.13 and have excelled in the sport of wrestling. This sport has been my passion since I was 3, following in my brothers' footsteps and my father before him. As you might know, wrestling is a sport like no other. It is demanding on both the body and mind. I have been successful at the sport since my youth, winning state championships with the support of my parents. I was taken to tournaments most every weekend, my small body and mind faced with mental and physical challenges which made me stronger and more knowledgeable of my skill set than others my age. However, in November of 2019, my mother got sick. She was always extremely strong and was with me supporting me at every endeavor. She seemingly never got sick; she was always there taking care of us. She went to the hospital and was released with a bad diagnosis, came home for a few days and still was able to care for herself until that weekend. My dad took her back to the hospital able to walk in on her ow. They admitted her with kidney failure from dehydration. They took no x-rays, no CT scans and even stopped giving her fluids, they were fixated on her kidney function. Monday morning, she died from a twisted bile. It was diagnosed 12 days previously by a clinic worker, but the hospital never reviewed the findings. It required an emergency operation and for almost weeks her toughness and dedication to her family took priority over her own health. I am faced with athletic expectations as well as training every day to be the very best I can be. I had a strong mother that didn't stop fighting, every day she would tell me she felt better. If she would not have been so strong maybe I would still have her with me today. But now I use her strength to fuel me to set my goals. I have had 2 knee injuries, and part of my meniscus removed, and I have wrestled through the pain and swelling to become a 4-time state placer just missing being the state champion twice the past two years. My father played a big role in my life, and he was my coach until I went into high school. I started my high school career strong, placing 3rd at state. My knee injuries always present, I seemingly aggravated them just before state and recovery was critical, and although swollen like softballs I somehow pushed on. I wanted to be successful not just for me but for my mom and my family and for all of those who stepped into my life after my mom's death. I had to prove to myself and to others that you can accomplishing your goals and not give up. Although my mom is gone, she is still with me supporting me in every accomplishment and she even comforts me in my failures. I refuse to look at life as though it owns me something. The club I belong to has a moto, person, student, and athlete. Be a good person, be a good student, and take pride in be a good athlete. When I read this scholarship, it reminded me so much of my own situation. If I win this scholarship or not, I want you to know it touched me.

I am Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA and I plan to study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling and have placed 3rd, 5th, and 2nd at state. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after my mom passed away in 2019. I have been a role model for many young athletes, and I help train those who need that little extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. I have had many college coaches tell me that I will do very well and although wrestling is not my intended career it is my stepping-stone to the next level. There, I can give back to those less fortunate and talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college, I will help shape children's minds through teaching and as a coach. The fact that I will be able to touch so many makes me happy. I have had coaches and teachers mentor me and guide me through the roughest times of my life. Losing a parent is never easy for anyone and they were all there for me. Supporting me just like my mom did. So, now that you know a little about me, let me tell you about when the team went out for dinner after a wrestling match. You know wrestling requires a strict diet as a key part along with training. Well, everyone had ordered, and everyone was talking about how hungry we were as we waited for our food. So, we decided to have a chugging contest and asked for pitchers of pop. Everyone waited on a countdown and started to drink. Some finished faster than others but then someone burped. People started laughing others stopped drinking and then someone said be ladylike. That's when Vitali had pop come out his nose. The laughing was endless as the carbonation created a musical montage of squeaks and chirps. Those that had pop in their mouth struggled to keep it in. Sadly, when the food arrived very few were even able to eat, due to drinking so much, I would not trade that day for anything as it made a bond between all of us that in my senior year, I can honestly say I will miss everyone when it's over. By the way, I was able to eat my meal. At 126 pounds my appetite is amazing. My dad says at college I'll have to cut back on food consumption, I'm hoping to get a scholarship to cover that. :) I hope that you see some of the attributes in me that I share with Sean. He truly sounds like someone others would admire. I hope to be able to receive such an honoring award and will do my best to continue to support this scholarship while eating my way into college. This Scholarship is what makes everything possible for someone like me. Thank you for the ability to tell you about myself and I hope to hear from you as a finalist.

I am Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA and I plan to study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling and have placed 3rd, 5th, and 2nd at state. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after my mom passed away in 2019. I have been a role model for many young athletes, and I help train those who need that little extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. I have had many college coaches tell me that I will do very well and although wrestling is not my intended career it is my stepping-stone to the next level. I can give back to those less fortunate and talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college, I will help shape children's minds through teaching and as a coach. The fact that I will be able to touch so many makes me happy. I have had coaches and teachers mentor me and guide me through the roughest times of my life. Losing a parent is never easy for anyone and they were all there for me. Supporting me just like my mom did. That is where my drive comes from. So, if I can do the same for at least one student or athlete, then I will give back the amazing gift that was given to me. I also plan to start a scholarship on behalf of my mom. It will support those not able to afford college tuition. But hopefully, I can help get student-athletes a full scholarship to pursue their dreams. That is how I plan to make a positive impact on the world. I will do it one person at a time or entire classrooms, but I will be a positive role model and guide them through the challenges that life has to offer. Make no mistake, it will not be easy, and it will not happen in one day, but I have faith in being able to have the patience and I will make my time available to those who seek my guidance on the mat or in the classroom. Last year I did a wrestling clinic to help many youth athletes and it was a huge success. I had 60 wrestlers attend and I invited a few college wrestlers to volunteer as well. Many parents showed gratitude and there were many positive outcomes. I hope that you see some of the attributes in me that I share with Ms. Teri. She truly sounds like someone others should admire. I hope to be able to receive such an honored award and will do my best to continue to support this scholarship well into my future endeavors. This Scholarship is what makes everything possible for someone like me. Thank you for the ability to tell you about myself and I hope to hear from you as a finalist.

I am Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA and I plan to study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling and have placed 3rd, 5th, and 2nd at state. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after my mom passed away in 2019. I have been a role model for many young athletes, and I help train those who need that little extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. I have had many college coaches tell me that I will do very well and although wrestling is not my intended career it is my stepping-stone to the next level. I can give back to those less fortunate and talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college, I will help shape children's minds through teaching and as a private coach. The fact that I will be able to touch so many makes me happy. I have had coaches and teachers mentor me and guide me through the roughest times of my life. Losing a parent is never easy for anyone and they were all there for me. Supporting me just like my mom did. So, if I can do the same for at least one student or athlete, then I will give back the amazing gift that was given to me. I would also start a business on behalf of my mom. I will train wrestlers interested in college that have the desire to win. I can help train student-athletes to pursue their dreams. That is how I plan to make a positive impact on the world. I will do it one person at a time or entire classrooms, but I will be a positive role model and guide them through the challenges that life has to offer. Make no mistake, it will not be easy, and it will not happen in one day, but I have faith in being able to have the patience and I will make my time available to those who seek to excel on the mat and in the classroom. Last year I did a wrestling clinic to help many youth athletes and it was a huge success. I had 60 wrestlers attend and I invited a few college wrestlers to volunteer the profits were huge. Many parents showed gratitude and there were many positive outcomes. I hope that you see some of the attributes that I possess as a very determined person. My accolades are profound enough that others should admire and look to learn from. I hope to be honored with this award and will do my best to continue to support this scholarship well into my future endeavors. This Scholarship is what makes everything possible for someone like me. Thank you for the ability to tell you about myself and I hope to hear from you as a finalist.

I am Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA and I plan to study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling and have placed 3rd, 5th, and 2nd at state. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after my mom passed away in 2019. I have been a role model for many young athletes, and I help train those who need that little extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. I have had many college coaches tell me that I will do very well and although wrestling is not my intended career it is my stepping-stone to the next level. I can give back to those less fortunate and talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college, I will help shape children's minds through teaching and as a coach. The fact that I will be able to touch so many makes me happy. I have had coaches and teachers mentor me and guide me through the roughest times of my life. Losing a parent is never easy for anyone and they were all there for me. Supporting me just like my mom did. So, if I can do the same for at least one student or athlete, then I will give back the amazing gift that was given to me. I would also start a scholarship on behalf of my mom. It will support those not able to afford college tuition. But hopefully, I can help get student-athletes a full scholarship to pursue their dreams. That is how I plan to make a positive impact on the world. I will do it one person at a time or entire classrooms, but I will be a positive role model and guide them through the challenges that life has to offer. Make no mistake, it will not be easy, and it will not happen in one day, but I have faith in being able to have the patience and I will make my time available to those who seek my guidance on the mat or in the classroom. Last year I did a free wrestling clinic to help many youth athletes and it was a huge success. I had 60 wrestlers attend and I invited a few college wrestlers to volunteer as well. Many parents showed gratitude and there were many positive outcomes. I hope that you see some of the attributes in me that I share with Ms. Aserina. She truly sounds like someone others should admire. I hope to be able to receive such an honored award and will do my best to continue to support this scholarship well into my future endeavors. This Scholarship is what makes everything possible for someone like me. Thank you for the ability to tell you about myself and I hope to hear from you as a finalist.

I am Chris Vargo, a senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA, and I plan to study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling, and I have placed 3rd, 5th, and 2nd in the state. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after my mom passed away in 2019. I have been a role model for many young athletes, and I help train those who need that little extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. I have also been coached by some of the best coaches in the business. I have had many college coaches tell me that I will do very well, and although wrestling is not my intended career, it is my stepping-stone to the next level. I will be able to give back to those less fortunate and talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college, I will help shape the minds of children, through teaching and as a coach. The fact that I will be able to touch so many lives, creates a good piece of mind. I have had coaches and teachers mentor me and guide me through the roughest times of my life. Losing a parent is never easy for anyone, and they were all there for me. Supporting me just like my mom did. If I can do the same for at least one student or athlete, then I have given back the amazing gift that was given to me. That is how I plan to make a positive impact on the world. I will do it one person at a time, or entire classrooms, but I will be a positive role model and guide them through the challenges that life has to offer. Make no mistake, it will not be easy, and it will not happen in one day, but I have faith in being able to have the patience and I will make my time available to those who seek my guidance.

My name is Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area School District. I am a wrestler completing with Bentworth School District as part of a co-op. I currently have a 4.3 GPA in a college prep program. I am being raised by my father after the death of my mom in 2019. My mom was my best supporter, and she was the balance between my father and me. My dad was also my coach, and it was hard separating between being a coach and a father. That's where my mom came in. She agreed with my dad on most things, but my mom made his gruff guidance subtle. It's not easy at any age to lose a parent, which is by far the hardest obstacle I may face in my entire life. This happened just before my freshman wrestling season. I was a two-time PA youth champion and placed third twice as well. I was undefeated in both of my Jr. High seasons, but I was kicked in the knee at practice dislocating my kneecap at the end of one season and then tearing my meniscus at the end of the next season. Both injuries occurred just before the state tournament. The doctor said, "Since I was so young, it had a possibility of healing." Well, I wrestled my freshman year, sometimes in pain, other times my knee was swollen and stiff. This was the COVID year, and many practices were canceled as well as events. I win WPIALs, I win Regionals, and I am in a position to go to a new Super Region Tournament, where I get my first loss. I moved on to a sixteen-man State bracket, then into the semi-finals, and then another loss, but I bounced back to take third place. My dad said, "Mom was with me", and honestly, I could feel her presence. As a veteran, my dad's Army training was a tell-tell sign that he was going to be hard of you. Although he seemed to be tough, he would also make practices fun. I fell in love with the sport because of this. Although he is often misunderstood because of his loud voice and size, he needed my mom just as much as I did. I often think of my mom in situations of stress and sadness. I think he laughs to hide his pain. I'm sure he's just as lost without my mom. It makes me smile, remembering how special they were together. In my sophomore, and junior years, I had good seasons. It seemed like my knee was fine up until about a month before state. That's when I would feel my knee tweak. I worried if I could go on. Then, I would hear my mom's voice cheering me on from above. Well, it seemed to work anyway, I placed 5th in 2022 and in 2023 I was the state runner-up based on a questionable call. It hurt being that close and losing to someone I had beaten three times previously. After the season, I had surgery hoping to recover quickly so as not to have any issues with the start of the season. I am currently ranked #2 in the state, and #22 Nationally. I have won matches against a few of the wrestlers ranked above me and beat #16 this season. I have decided to continue my education as an Athlete at Edinboro, Penn West University. It is a smaller college where I won't be just a number. I plan to start there in August of 2024 in sports administration with education as a secondary study.

My name is Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area School District. I am a wrestler completing in a co-op with Bentworth School District. I currently have a 4.3 GPA in a college prep program. I am being raised by my father after the death of my mom in 2019. My mom was my best supporter, and she was the balance between my father and me. My dad was also my coach, and it was hard separating between coach and father. That's where my mom came in. She agreed with my dad on most things, but my mom made his gruff guidance subtle. David sounds allot like my father. He was a three-sport athlete, and he became a coach when my older brother started wrestling. As a veteran his Army training was obviously a tell-tell sign that he was going to be tough and demanding. Although he seemed to be tough, he would also make practices fun. I fell in love with the sport because of this. But don't misunderstand, my father is a very caring person, protective of his family and athletes, and he goes the extra mile. Although he is often misunderstood because of this loud voice and size he too, is like David always making jokes and telling stories that makes everyone laugh. I guess in a way you could say David was my coach. Although we never met, I feel I know him. I know enough to know he was an amazing coach. I would have enjoyed listening to one of his pep talks. I would have enjoyed just laughing at one of his jokes. I often think of my mom in situations of stress and sadness. I'm sure that like my mom, he still makes people smile, by remembering how special they were. I didn't know Coach Sutton, but he seems like an amazing person. I know that someone like him would have make a huge impact on many lives. Just knowing that he cared as much for his family and friends as those that didn't know him and that he is still helping by supporting athletes by offering this scholarship shows that he is a person of honor and privilege. Which would make receiving this scholarship one of great distinction for me. As my plans include college at Edinboro University, I can promise to continue to support and honor the memory of Coach Sutton. If not for the positive impact of great coaches I feel many would quit the sport because it got hard, or the outcome they expected was not desirable.

I am Christopher J. Vargo, a senior at Charleroi Area High School, in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA. I plan to attend college at Edinboro University. I will study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling and have placed 3rd, 5th, and 2nd in The State of Pennsylvania. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after the passing of my mom in 2019 due to an obstructed bowel, which was misdiagnosed in the hospital. I have been a role model for many young athletes and helped train those who need extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. But I don't know if I would be as focused and determined if not for my dad. My dad was a Military Police Officer trained in Airborne and a Drill Instructor. From a very young age excellence and honor were the two words I heard daily. I did many push-ups as punishment for bad behavior. I did, however, enjoy the fitness, strength, and endurance created through this experience. This made an impact on my life. I look up to him as a veteran of the Gulf War. I am proud to be connected to such a great and diverse group of honored Americans. I also have been involved with many charities. We started clothing drives for jackets and blankets to help those in need. This year I supplied blankets, cans of popcorn, and new clothing and shoes for mentally challenged adults. I like being involved and helping the American Legion with events as well as helping the Lions Club. I like being able to give back to those less fortunate. I talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college, I will help shape minds through teaching and maybe even as a coach. This will enable me to touch so many lives in a good way. I will be able to impact others the way my dad influenced me. This seems similar to how Johnny lived his life. My dad says once a military man, always a military man. I will live through hard work and dedication and will honor those who have served. So, if I can do the same as Johnny and my dad for at least one student or athlete. I will give back the gift that was given to me. That is how I plan to make a positive impact on the world. I will do it one person at a time, or entire classrooms. I will be a positive role model and guide them through the challenges that life has to offer. It will not be easy. It will not happen in one day. I have faith in being able to have the patience. I will make my time available to those who seek my guidance. I hope to be able to receive this honored award and will do my best to continue to support this scholarship well into my future endeavors. Thank you for the ability to tell you about myself, and I hope to hear from you soon.

I am Christopher Vargo, a senior at Charleroi Area High School. I currently have a 4.133 GPA and work as hard in school as I do on the wrestling mat. I started wrestling at age 3 in the great State of Pennsylvania. As a young boy, my father would have me count change as we drove to tournaments, which made me aware of the value of money. It took money to travel and time. My father always said investing your time and money requires a payout. If I wanted to continue to participate, it must pay dividends in the form of winning. I realized when I started school that I enjoyed math, especially personal finance. It took me a long time to realize that my mom and dad were investing in my future and that they sometimes went without, just to keep me from knowing, money was not as easy to come by as I thought. I don't have a college fund, so I never thought about what I would do to afford to continue my education. I began to put my mind into the sport of wrestling as my parents said, "Doing well would pay dividends." I worked hard and accomplished what I set out to do, as a three-time state placer in high school, finishing as a runner-up at 127 pounds last year. I have decided to attend Edinboro University as a scholar-athlete starting in the fall of 2024. I plan to study Sports Administration, with a secondary in Education to teach math, at least until I can get a position as an Athletic Director. I can also coach wrestling and supplement my income I figure if I can invest a good portion of my income in high-yield accounts making 4-6% I can collect interest of $4-6,000 yearly based on $100,000. As time moves forward this can be an affordable retirement plan just based on interest alone. That is if I don't have the high cost of college tuition to repay. I know not everything always goes as planned, in 2019 I lost my mom, due to medical malpractice. I lost my gram in 2021, my other gram, and two uncles in 2023. Nothing can prepare you for situations like this. No rainy-day fund can replace the love and support from family. But there are also the financial aspects that are now gone as well. I did receive some financial compensation and I quickly invested it for my future, but if not for the support and generosity of people like you that make scholarships available, I may have to trade what was given for the loss of my mom's love and devotion for education expenses. It's not a fair trade and I would give all I have to have her back. That is what I have as a baseline to start my future, I plan to live within my means and eventually be able to retire while I'm still young enough to enjoy life.

I am Chris Vargo a Senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently have a GPA of 4.133. I am a student-athlete who has been competing in the sport of wrestling for 14 years. I have excelled in this sport and have made the podium since my freshman year. I ride mountain bikes, and I like to camp and go fishing. I support my school and its athletic programs. I have the support of the administration and staff who all hold me in high regard. I come from a modest home, my mother was a very involved parent and would take me everywhere until she died in 2019. My dad is a retired State Correctional Officer. Most don't know how emotional it is to lose a parent, it is not easy. It's physically and emotionally stressful. In 2021 I lost my grandma on my mom's side and in 2023 I lost my other grandma and two uncles on my dad's side. It's amazingly hard to stay focused but I do. I truly believe the sport of wrestling has given me much more than I could ever give it back. I have gained sportsmanship, honor, integrity and much more. I can control my emotions, calm the butterflies and know how to handle loss so much better than when I started. I have a focus that comes from knowing my grades and attendance must be in check. I even balance my diet to remain within the weight allowance I choose to participate in. Overall wrestling has become a life choice not just a sport. I have decided to become a sports administrator with a secondary in teaching. I am hoping to come back to give students the knowledge I have obtained and to steer them in the direction of their chosen path. If I can change one life and pull him from heading down the wrong road, it will be worth everything I have accomplished. Life is not easy and we take many things for granted. I learned early in my life that you are never afforded a free pass. You must make a stand and if there is something you want you have to go after it. Similar to scholarships, if you want it go get it. My essay might not be the best, but I have worked and sweated and cried, I have been injured and bled, and had surgeries and yet still, I stand competent that I can be victorious. This is what being a student-athlete has done for me.

I am Chris Vargo a Senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently have a GPA of 4.133. I am a student-athlete who has been competing in the sport of wrestling for 14 years. I plan to attend an affordable college to study sports administration and get a secondary in teaching. I am eighteen years old with many skills that my father taught me, such as masonry, carpentry, automotive and welding. I like to ride my mountain bike and go fishing and camping. I am shy in some ways and outgoing in others, I support my school and its athletic teams. Yet I sometimes feel alone at times maybe because of my mom. My mother was a very involved parent and would take me everywhere until she died in 2019. It is very emotional to lose a parent, it is not easy on me. It's physically and emotionally stressful. Just this year alone I also lost two uncles and recently my gramma. It makes me sad to worry that the people we love always leave us. That's why I don't go on dates very often, I just don't want to go through the heartache of leaving and saying goodbye. My senior year then off to college, why take the chance when my heart still hasn't healed? I started a clothing and food drive at my school when I was eight. It's now ten years later and the school has taken over. I still go from business to business and collect food as well as using the money I earn and buy blankets, clothes and other items for those in need. I don't think about myself much because I have been raised to provide for others less fortunate than me. I know that if I do good things, I will be rewarded in the end. Last year I was asked to help a family whose mother lost her job as a nurse before Christmas. She had three children and I thought about their situation long and hard. I thought nurses get paid very well, the family has a horse, and their wish list was extensive and lavished, but then realized we all fall on hard times. I used five hundred dollars of my own to make sure they had a nice Christmas. This year I was asked to help Children and Youth Services as they give to many children in abusive or mistreated homes. I hope they find comfort in the blankets I donate. That is what it means to give back to the community as a volunteer. I have lost and given up a lot in the short span of my life and I now look for help as well to be able to expand my education and eventually teach others what I have learned. That in the end is the value I will receive from being a community volunteer. The ability to continue to give back to our community. I hope that my story has interested you enough to receive your generous scholarship.

Let me first start with, I am truly sorry for your loss. My mom died in November of 2019. I had just turned fourteen. My brother was away at college and it was by far the toughest day of my life. If it were not for the support I received, I am not sure if I would be writing this essay. Many things go through your mind and with my dad working with my brother at college. How were we to survive? I could pick out one person that supported me the most and that would be my dad. He is always there for me. Takes care of me and wants the best for me. He has always done so, from the time I was little. Supporting me in football and wrestling. Taking me to so many different places and teaching me so much. I remember times when my dad would take off work just to be home with me. He even quit his job because it wasn't going to fit with my schedule. My dad sacrificed a lot for me but I'm not sure he was my only supporter. At three years old, I started going to a wrestling club, my dad took my older there and the owner Jim Akerly, a West Virginia University All-American wrestler was quick to take me on as more of entertainment than anything else. He would have me shadow-drill wrestling moves since I was so young. When I was five or six he had me wrestling new kids the see what they were made of. Many of them cried and never came back. I always questioned his reasoning. As I grew I became a multiple-time youth state champion. Going into high school was always a big deal but Coach Jim always said, you have to want it. In my freshman year, I placed third, I had a knee injury and placed fifth as a sophomore and second as a junior. Coach Jim has been there for me for fourteen years now. Just as long as my mom was alive, I owe Coach Jim a lot for his support. But as they say, it takes a village to raise a kid. When it comes to education specifically, after my mom died a teacher at my school became my mentor. Mr. Pap is a younger teacher and he was dating another teacher at that time in my life. They got married and have even told me they consider me their kid, as they don't plan on having kids which makes me their only child. They support me come watch me wrestle, and help me if I have homework questions. They even take off work to come watch me wrestle for a state title. At the end of the day, nobody can replace my mom. but having such great people in my life to help guide me is surely what my mom would have wanted.

I am not one to accept many honors, I do what is required of me in school and just pay attention to what goes on around me. I have a focus, a moral guide that points me in the direction of success. As a young boy, I was successful in athletics. I had many triumphant victories in football and wrestling. After a while the success didn't bother me anymore, most people expected it from me. It was also a part of being raised by a loving family. We would donate items to needy families, and my dad would buy turkeys and give them to anyone who needed a little help. Don't get things wrong we didn't have a lot to give, but we had more than those we helped. One year we bought for a mother of three who lost her job. I remember getting a list of items and shopping for a boy that was my age. It makes your heart feel good. When the mom arrived to get all the gifts she fell to her knees and cried. I didn't know how to react it was heart-wrenching. In November of 2019, my mom passed away. I didn't know how to deal with my loss. Everyone was very supportive and I had never seen so many people attend a funeral. For three hours straight the line just kept moving. I dedicated many goals in life to my mom and she was always there with me. This I thought would have changed my life. I'm not sure how much it changed things but I made promises to her and I plan to be just as wonderful and amazing as she was. Since my mom's death, we have donated and given to countless charities. Around Thanksgiving, we still do turkey dinners from Giant Eagle, and for Christmas, my brother and I don't want gifts, but instead, we buy them for people who are in need. This is how we honor our mom and her memory. We do not look for anything in return because that would be disrespectful to her. I would appreciate receiving this scholarship as it would be a reminder of all the good things I have already done and serve as motivation to continue to honor those like my mom and Michael Rudometkin for all that they did for the community and just people down their luck or just needing a smiling caring face.

I hear it said often, that today's workforce is short on those who want to work in the construction field. My name is Christopher Vargo and I am the son of a retired contractor. I recall many times when I was younger, helping out on jobs with my dad and the crew. As I got older, I would help with siding and roofing jobs. One of the ways my dad would teach us the trades was to have us do the work while he watched and crafted our skills. I have built a garage with my brother by hand from the ground up. Laying out the foundation, pouring concrete, laying block, framing, siding and ultimately finishing off the roof and gutters. So, I guess my dad has been my biggest influencer. Although I would be studying the manual labor aspect of construction I am glad to have been given the knowledge of how to build and appreciate that I can make beautiful works of art. I have decided to study business and administration with a secondary in education. I feel that if my dad can influence me to enjoy making things out of wood I can help create a steady flow of workers to the workforce and manage a large construction company. How impactful can one person be, I might not be able to change the world but I can change many people along the way and open a path for those who don't know how rewarding a career in construction could be. I am currently a senior at Charleroi Area High School, I have a 4.133 GPA and I have committed to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. I have been an athletic team captain in wrestling since my freshman year. I am a multiple-state-place winner taking third, fifth and second in the last 3 years. Previously, I was a multiple-time state champion. I have the skills to be a leader and although I have stopped participating in football due to my smaller size, I began to focus on one sport. I am a role model for my youth athletes and I plan to use my platform at a division one college to help other individuals just like myself. I haven't mentioned my mom because she passed away in November of 2019. My mom was my rock and solid support. I promised her I would live a good life and be successful. Growing up losing a parent is hard. I couldn't imagine how life could be without her until she was gone. We were always a close family but losing her brought us closer now I worry about my dad. He always says to use my mind and it will take me places he never got to see. Construction is not easy work but someone's got to do it. I don't know if I can live up to Dustin's success but I will be honored to receive his scholarship.

I am Chris Vargo a Senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently have a GPA of 4.133. I am a student-athlete who has been competing in the sport of wrestling for 14 years. My mother was very involved and would take me to many venues until she died in 2019. I know how emotional it is to lose a parent, it is not easy. It's physically and emotionally stressful. I had an uncle who just recently passed away from leukemia, and a week after that I lost another uncle to pancreatic cancer. I also have an aunt currently in remission. As a wrestler, I fight a different battle every day to not give up, and to push myself to the limit. I must constantly control my weight by watching what I eat and going to the gym to build strength, power and stamina. Being in shape has many levels, to be in wrestling shape is by far the highest. I want to be at the highest level I can. I aspire to be an NCAA All-American and Champion I have a village of people who look out for me, my family and my coaches are always there but I have had a lot of guidance from a good friend and teacher that has opened my eyes to being an educator. I feel if I can help students and explain the fight, they too will be guided in the proper direction. Not everyone can be saved, but everyone can fight and given the will to fight, you will have a chance to win. If you give up you've already lost. My mom did not die from cancer but was one of the strongest people I know. Her spirit lives within me. When she was sick she made no excuses, she went to work and performed her job functions. When she finally called off she was very weak but was able to walk into the emergency room. She would tell me she was feeling better and not to worry, she would be home soon. She was misdiagnosed and even starved by having her IV fluids reduced. She fought until it was too late, she had sepsis throughout her body and after a massive heart attack, she was gone. I pushed my way through all of these situations and I look to help spread awareness and to help others in similar situations. I am being recruited by a Division 1 school that will help me build my platform and I shall continue to honor my mom. My major will be Sports Administration and one day I shall open and operate my own wrestling training business. With my background, I feel it will be a good fit.

I am Chris Vargo a Senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently have a GPA of 4.133. I am a student-athlete who has been competing in the sport of wrestling for 14 years. My mother was very involved and would take me to many venues until she died in 2019. I know how emotional it is to lose a parent, it is not easy. It's physically and emotionally stressful. I had an uncle who just recently passed away from leukemia, and a week after that I lost another uncle to pancreatic cancer. I also have an aunt currently in remission. As a wrestler, I fight a different battle every day to not give up, and to push myself to the limit. I must constantly control my weight by watching what I eat and going to the gym to build strength, power and stamina. Being in shape has many levels, to be in wrestling shape is by far the highest. I want to be at the highest level I can. I aspire to be an NCAA All-American and Champion I have a village of people who look out for me, my family and my coaches are always there but I have had a lot of guidance from a good friend and teacher that has opened my eyes to being an educator. I feel if I can help students and explain the fight, they too will be guided in the proper direction. Not everyone can be saved, but everyone can fight and given the will to fight, you will have a chance to win. If you give up you've already lost. My mom did not die from cancer but was one of the strongest people I know. Her spirit lives within me. When she was sick she made no excuses, she went to work and performed her job functions. When she finally called off she was very weak but was able to walk into the emergency room. She would tell me she was feeling better and not to worry, she would be home soon. She was misdiagnosed and even starved by having her IV fluids reduced. She fought until it was too late, she had sepsis throughout her body and after a massive heart attack, she was gone. I pushed my way through all of these situations and I look to help spread awareness and to help others in similar situations. I am being recruited by a Division 1 school that will help me build my platform and I shall continue to honor my mom. My major will be Sports Administration and one day I shall open and operate my own wrestling training business. With my background, I feel it will be a good fit.

I am Chris Vargo a Senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently have a GPA of 4.133. I am a student-athlete who has been competing in the sport of wrestling for 14 years. My mother was very involved and would take me to many venues until she died in 2019. I know how emotional it is to lose a parent, it is not easy. It's physically and emotionally stressful. I had an uncle who just recently passed away from leukemia, and a week after that I lost another uncle to pancreatic cancer. I also have an aunt currently in remission. As a wrestler, I fight a different battle every day to not give up, and to push myself to the limit. I must constantly control my weight by watching what I eat and going to the gym to build strength, power and stamina. Being in shape has many levels, to be in wrestling shape is by far the highest. I want to be at the highest level I can. I aspire to be an NCAA All-American and Champion I have a village of people who look out for me, my family and my coaches are always there but I have had a lot of guidance from a good friend and teacher that has opened my eyes to being an educator. I feel if I can help students and explain the fight, they too will be guided in the proper direction. Not everyone can be saved, but everyone can fight and given the will to fight, you will have a chance to win. If you give up you've already lost. My mom did not die from cancer but was one of the strongest people I know. Her spirit lives within me. When she was sick she made no excuses, she went to work and performed her job functions. When she finally called off she was very weak but was able to walk into the emergency room. She would tell me she was feeling better and not to worry, she would be home soon. She was misdiagnosed and even starved by having her IV fluids reduced. She fought until it was too late, she had sepsis throughout her body and after a massive heart attack, she was gone. I pushed my way through all of these situations and I look to help spread awareness and to help others in similar situations. I am being recruited by a Division 1 school that will help me build my platform and I shall continue to honor my mom. My major will be Sports Administration and one day I shall open and operate my own wrestling training business. With my background, I feel it will be a good fit.

Hello, My name is Christopher Vargo, I attend Charleroi Area High School and I plan to study business administration. I chose this field because I am a leader. I have excelled in my classroom academics and my athletics as a team captain. I feel I was born to be successful. There are many advantages to being an entrepreneur, some of which benefit the family in a sense. It brings those in your life closer by having you work side by side. One of the many benefits offered when being an entrepreneur is, having time to spend with your family. It is said that families who have a business can concentrate on their personal life and parents can have a more healthy relationship. The advantage would be that family members can be involved in the business as well. Both husbands and wives can help in various aspects of the business while the kids can see what their parents do for a living. Eventually, the business can be handed down to the children. A second reason it could help is, by serving as a stress reliever. Most jobs have you go in no matter what, but if you have a business you can take days off to take care of yourself when you're sick or when your kids are sick. You can work while having a certain freedom to do as you please, and there is no politics. The only thing is you still need to work at a certain pace to get your work done. Another very important fact of working as an entrepreneur is that you can sell your goods for the price that you feel comfortable with. You will always have expenses but you can concentrate on your product quality. After all, someone who has cheap products can always have lower prices because the person who produces that product doesn't care about quality. This is the type of business that usually fails due to reliability to customers. I would much rather purchase a quality product that will last versus a product that breaks during use. There is no doubt I will be successful. Failure is not in my business vocabulary. Failure is just temporary it only becomes permanent when you stop trying. I know business is not sipping mia tias on the beach, it's hands-on if you want it to be successful you must do what's required to make it a success.

I believe in the faith of God. For me, reading the Scriptures is a key area of discipline not only in my academic studies but in my devotion. I see the Scriptures as a source of God’s revelation to his people. Therefore, when one is reading the Scriptures, one is engaging with God. One cannot, however, approach the reading of Scripture in the same way as one would any other text. Understanding the Scriptures is in a way, being brought to life – the use of the Scriptures is god's way to reveal part of Himself to you in a specific moment in a specific situation so that you can understand and learn from his teachings. My Uncle loved to teach me the Scriptures, and I realized that there must be some analysis and awareness, particularly of the time and contexts as to when different passages were written. The Holy Spirit both inspired the one who wrote it originally and inspired and guided me as a reader. We may be historically and socially limited in time, but the Holy Spirit certainly is not. If I were to write a Scripture of my own life, I couldn't just read it, I must interpret it to apply it to the age I was at the time. How God helped me or taught me patience and understanding. It is about opening oneself up to show how I was guided by the Holy Spirit. As one reads the Scripture, one does not just merely to find out more about God, but how it impacts one's way of life, my life as a follower of Him. The joy of reading the Scriptures is knowing that I have not reached the end of my understanding of it. Each time I approach it, something new will be revealed through the Holy Spirit which I have not considered before. In my own life, I remember asking God in prayer, asking why my mother was needed in Heaven instead of here on Earth. Sometimes my mom or dad would have to work but someone was always there for me. Now, that my mom is in Heaven I know even when I leave home that she is with me. That is how God has made the biggest impact of all on my life. The Scripture contains mystery, with hidden gems still to be discovered. Reading the Scriptures, therefore, is a great way to understand the many ups and downs in life. As an educator, I know God will guide me through my career, and I have faith that I will receive just rewards through the gift of prayer.

I am Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA and I plan to study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling and have placed 3rd, 5th and 2nd in that state. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after my mom passed away in 2019. I have been a role model for many young athletes and I help train those who need that little extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. I have also been coached by some of the best coaches in the business. I have had many college coaches tell me that I will do very well and although wrestling is not my intended career it is my stepping stone to the next level. I will be able to give back to those less fortunate and talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college I will help shape the minds of children through teaching and as a coach. The fact that I will be able to touch so many lives puts me in a good place. I have had coaches and teachers mentor me and guide me through the roughest times of my life. Losing a parent is never easy for anyone and they were all there for me. Supporting me just like my mom did. So if I can do the same for at least one student or athlete, then I have given back the amazing gift that was given to me. That is how I plan to make a positive impact on the world. I will do it one person at a time or entire classrooms, but I will be a positive role model and guide them through the challenges that life has to offer. Make no mistake, it will not be easy and will not happen in one day, but I have faith in being able to have the patience and make my time available to those who seek my guidance. This year I decided to have a clinic to help many youth athletes and it was a huge success. I had 60 wrestlers attend and I invented a few college wrestlers to help. Many parents showed gratitude and there were many positive outcomes. I hope that you see some of the attributes in me that I share with Dr. Chavez. He truly sounds like someone others should admire. I hope to be able to receive such an honored award and will do my best to continue to support this scholarship well into my future endeavors. It is really hard to talk about my mom, she was there for everything I did and now she's there in a different way but I've made it. I will graduate and honor her and continue to keep her in my heart. Nothing makes you ready for losing your parent but it does bring about the amazing people in your life. I've found the best support system in the world through caring friendships and that is truly triumphant in itself.

I am Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA and I plan to study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling and have placed 3rd, 5th and 2nd in that state. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after my mom passed away in 2019. I have been a role model for many young athletes and I help train those who need that little extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. I have also been coached by some of the best coaches in the business. I have had many college coaches tell me that I will do very well and although wrestling is not my intended career it is my stepping stone to the next level. I will be able to give back to those less fortunate and talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college I will help shape the minds of children through teaching and as a coach. The fact that I will be able to touch so many lives puts me in a good place. I have had coaches and teachers mentor me and guide me through the roughest times of my life. Losing a parent is never easy for anyone and they were all there for me. Supporting me just like my mom did. So if I can do the same for at least one student or athlete, then I have given back the amazing gift that was given to me. That is how I plan to make a positive impact on the world. I will do it one person at a time or entire classrooms, but I will be a positive role model and guide them through the challenges that life has to offer. Make no mistake, it will not be easy and will not happen in one day, but I have faith in being able to have the patience and make my time available to those who seek my guidance. This year I decided to have a clinic to help many youth athletes and it was a huge success. I had 60 wrestlers attend and I invented a few college wrestlers to help. Many parents showed gratitude and there were many positive outcomes. I hope that you see some of the attributes in me that I share with Derk. He truly sounds like someone others should admire. I hope to be able to receive such an honored award and will do my best to continue to support this scholarship well into my future endeavors. Thank you for the ability to tell you about myself, explain what sports has given me, what it has taught me about being humble, and respectable and in wanting to give back to others.

I am Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA and I plan to study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling and have placed 3rd, 5th and 2nd in that state. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after my mom passed away in 2019. I have been a role model for many young athletes and I help train those who need that little extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. I have also been coached by some of the best coaches in the business. I have had many college coaches tell me that I will do very well and although wrestling is not my intended career it is my stepping stone to the next level. I will be able to give back to those less fortunate and talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college I will help shape the minds of children through teaching and as a coach. The fact that I will be able to touch so many lives puts me in a good place. I have had coaches and teachers mentor me and guide me through the roughest times of my life. Losing a parent is never easy for anyone and they were all there for me. Supporting me just like my mom did. So if I can do the same for at least one student or athlete, then I have given back the amazing gift that was given to me. That is how I plan to make a positive impact on the world. I will do it one person at a time or entire classrooms, but I will be a positive role model and guide them through the challenges that life has to offer. Make no mistake, it will not be easy and will not happen in one day, but I have faith in being able to have the patience and make my time available to those who seek my guidance. This year I decided to have a clinic to help many youth athletes and it was a huge success. I had 60 wrestlers attend and I invented a few college wrestlers to help. Many parents showed gratitude and there were many positive outcomes. I hope that you see some of the attributes in me that I share with Sean. He truly sounds like someone others should admire. I hope to be able to receive such an honored award and will do my best to continue to support this scholarship well into my future endeavors. This Scholarship is what makes everything possible for someone like me. Thank you for the ability to tell you about myself and I hope to hear from you as a finalist.

Hello, my name is Christopher Vargo and I am the son of an Army Veteran and prison guard. I believe these are some of the skills which made me a natural leader. My mom was a smart independent women, my dad would say, she was raised old school like he was. They were very involved in my life. I dont recall a time that my mom didnt make time for me, until her death in 2019. My dad told me and my brother it's time to grow up because you just never know how long someone will be with us. I was always independent like my mom, as a wrestler you find certain skills and you live life a little differently. I have wrestled since I was four, I played football and was always a leader, and that leadership didn't stop when I stepped off the field or mat. I was taught leaders are always looked up to. Just because your not actively participating doesn't mean people see you differently in your everyday life. Without my mom I also take on additional roles in the family. I help cook, clean and even help others. I really wouldn't say it's a leadership role but more importantly doing my part. Losing a parent is not easy at any age, yet, I felt I needed to step up at a young age. I take care of my dad sometimes and my older brother too. He thinks he takes care of me, sometimes it's easier to let him believe he's in charge. You understand right? I don't always see myself as a leader. There is so much more to learn and experience. Sometimes it's good to be able to relax and allow someone else to lead for awhile. Maybe that's why you have two parents. I am in my senior year now, I'm looking forward to graduating but I know I'm going to miss it. I will move forward into college life knowing that I can apply everything that I do in my everyday life and be successful. That's really what matters to me. One day I will be able to help guide someone just like me down the same path to success as a teacher or coach. Thank you for allowing me this chance to obtain this scholarship. It has been my pleasure and I hope I will be chosen to recieve this reward.

I am Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA and I plan to study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching childhood education. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling and have placed 3rd, 5th and 2nd in that state. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after my mom passed away in 2019. I have been a role model for many young athletes and I help train those who need that little extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. I have also been coached by some of the best coaches in the business. I have had many college coaches tell me that I will do very well and although wrestling is not my intended career it is my stepping stone to the next level. I will be able to give back to those less fortunate and talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college I will help shape the minds of children through teaching and as a coach. The fact that I will be able to touch so many lives puts me in a good place. I have had coaches and teachers mentor me and guide me through the roughest times of my life. Losing a parent is never easy for anyone and they were all there for me. Supporting me just like my mom did. I believe my mom impacted my life the most and she showed me how much early children's education is needed. So if I can give to at least one student or athlete, then I have given back the amazing gift that was given to me. I plan to make a positive impact on the world. I will do it one person at a time or entire classrooms, but I will be a positive role model and guide them through the challenges that life has to offer. Make no mistake, it will not be easy and will not happen in one day, but I have faith in being able to have the patience and make my time available to those who seek my guidance. I hope to be able to receive such an honored award and will do my best to continue to support this scholarship well into my future endeavors. Thank you for the ability to tell you about myself and I hope to hear from you shortly.

I am Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA and I plan to study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling and have placed 3rd, 5th and 2nd in that state. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after my mom passed away in 2019. I have been a role model for many young athletes and I help train those who need that little extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. I have also been coached by some of the best coaches in the business. I have had many college coaches tell me that I will do very well and although wrestling is not my intended career it is my stepping stone to the next level. I will be able to give back to those less fortunate and talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college I will help shape the minds of children through teaching and as a coach. The fact that I will be able to touch so many lives puts me in a good place. I have had coaches and teachers mentor me and guide me through the roughest times of my life. Losing a parent is never easy for anyone and they were all there for me. Supporting me just like my mom did. So if I can do the same for at least one student or athlete, then I have given back the amazing gift that was given to me. That is how I plan to make a positive impact on the world. I will do it one person at a time or entire classrooms, but I will be a positive role model and guide them through the challenges that life has to offer. Make no mistake, it will not be easy and will not happen in one day, but I have faith in being able to have the patience and make my time available to those who seek my guidance. This year I decided to have a clinic to help many youth athletes and it was a huge success. I had 60 wrestlers attend and I invented a few college wrestlers to help. Many parents showed gratitude and there were many positive outcomes. I hope that you see some of the attributes in me that I share with David. He truly sounds like someone others should admire. I hope to be able to receive such an honored award and will do my best to continue to support this scholarship well into my future endeavors. Thank you for the ability to tell you about myself and I hope to hear from you shortly.

I am Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA and I plan to study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling and have placed 3rd, 5th and 2nd in that state. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after my mom passed away in 2019. I have been a role model for many young athletes and I help train those who need that little extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. I have also been coached by some of the best coaches in the business. I have had many college coaches tell me that I will do very well and although wrestling is not my intended career it is my stepping stone to the next level. I will be able to give back to those less fortunate and talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college I will help come back to shape the minds of children through teaching and maybe be a father figure or coach as well. The fact that I will be able to touch so many lives in a good way puts me in a good place. I have had coaches and teachers mentor me and guide me through the roughest times of my life. Losing a parent is never easy for anyone and they were all there for me. Supporting me just like my mom did. I don't have just one specific figure but my dad is the only true father figure I need. Everyone is like family, I miss my mom every day and I'm so happy to have the people that I do have in my life. So if I can do the same for at least one student or athlete, then I have given back the amazing gift that was given to me. That is how I plan to make a positive impact on the world. I will do it one person at a time or an entire classroom, but I will be a positive role model and guide them through the challenges that life has to offer. Make no mistake, it will not be easy and will not happen in one day, but I have faith in being able to have the patience and make my time available to those who seek my guidance.

Wrestling is a sport of one-on-one competition, there is never anyone else to blame, no team member to hold accountable. There is only one winner and sadly someone must lose. I like being an underdog in a match. What that means to me is I am not held to any expectations, I can just do my best and hope for the best outcome. I would expect that most people would rather feel the same way. It was my freshman year of high school nobody expected me to place in the state tournament. Everything was new to me besides wrestling. New Coaches, the loss of my mother, Covid-19 and the question looming if we would even have a wrestling season or not. I have had my share of wins at the youth level but now I am facing off with guys three and four years older than me. I wasn't favored to win I wasn't even favored to place. I had the returning state champion in my region, there were six returning state placers at my weight. Going into sections I was ready, I said toe on the line, no matter who was across from me just do my best. I control my destiny, names at that point don't matter. Someone wins, someone loses. I had a goal to become a 4-time state champion, I even had backup goals. Anyway, it's time to prove myself, I go out and battle winning sections, and the next day I prevail again winning my first WPIAL title and easily beating a returning state champion. Every step from here gets harder. Knee issues plagued me over the past couple of years but at this point, I'm thinking the championship is mine to win or lose. Going into Regions I'm still the underdog. In the semi-finals, I was winning eight to zero when I shot a clean double, my opponent's knee bent badly and I won due to injury default. In my final match, I won easily eight to two winning the southwest regional championship. That year because of Covid they introduced a super-region tournament, I had the same guy I defeated in the region in the semi-finals, I lost two to one. I hoped to revenge for that loss and here I was in the state tournament the underdog again. Perfect I embraced that role and Found myself in the semis. Nobody expected me to be there but sadly, I would not win that match. I wrestled back to try to win a third-place medal at states. Guess who it was? Correct the same guy I faced two times before and lost once. Again, I got no respect for being there. I harnessed that energy and I did it. I won a third-place medal at the state level. The moral to my life experience, wrestle every match one at a time and not worry if you are better or not just do what you came to do.

My experience with cancer has not been a good one, I lost two uncles within a week of each other in 2023. I have an aunt who is currently fighting, and in remission, and one uncle who has been cancer-free for 20 years. I worry every day about my dad and other family members. It's not easy trying to maintain my grades and be the best person I can be, It seems this disease is just a vicious monster. When my mom passed away in 2019 it was everything I could do, just to keep myself together. She had an operatable situation that was misdiagnosed, which led to her death. I promised her that I would be the best I could, and honor her in my academic studies, as well as athletic endeavors. Soon after my uncle started to be more involved in my life, we would go fishing and just enjoy each other's company. In 2021 he told me about being diagnosed and that he was going to fight it and win. I watched him with honor fight the toughest fight of his life, only to lose. This made me question so many things in my life. Why fight so hard just to lose? As a wrestler, I was competing and training constantly, so it was a very similar fight to me. I placed 3rd in the state in 2020, lost my focus in 2021 and ended up 5th so my goal of being a state champion started to slip away. My college aspects dwindled, and then a second uncle was diagnosed with cancer, he told me never to give up, to fight the fight, not to let it control me and I'll win. I took every word to heart and I placed 2nd in the state, losing on a questionable call. But this made sense to me, it wasn't about the fight, and winning it was about not giving up. I have since been accepted to a Division 1 program where I will study Sports Administration with secondary education in teaching. I plan to use the knowledge I gained to help struggling students learn not to quit, to look at adversity in a different light, and even when you feel like giving up you're just one step away from winning. If I can save one student, or change the path he or she is on, then I will have honored those that I have lost. I hope to be honored with this award. It would mean the world to me to support the very thing, that has turned me in so many different directions. My story can inspire and give hope to those that want to give up. I hope to have proven my worthiness to be accepted and thank you for your consideration.

I would like to become a teacher and I feel that there are always doors that open. We never stop learning and there is always a need to become further educated. Therefore opening another door. Teaching might not be a six-figure high-paying job but it does have other awards. There are not many professions that allow you to help mold the minds of others. Become a mentor to those who need guidance. Make a difference today, tomorrow and in the future all at one time. Some people can't afford college and they depend on scholarships just to assist them in making the right decision. Although any education at any college is worth having the impact of that education is different. An education at Stanford is presumed to be better than that of a junior college, although the certificate is equal in education it is not equal in value. The value of education grants the certificate holder certain nuances, for example, a higher wage or more respect. I come from a one-parent household, my mother passed away in November 2019. Although state grants and academic scholarships are a part of tuition, they do not cover everything. I cannot expect my father to go into debt or be responsible for my choices. If going to college creates a burden on my family it will be hard on me too. Being able to find scholarships such as this makes my pursuit of attending a reputable college more affordable. If not for the kindness and generosity of Morgan Levine Dolan, I believe that seeking the highest level of education would not be affordable to most. As a high school wrestler, I perform at extremely high levels and I know what is required to achieve long and short-term goals. I have competed since I was four years old. I have won state titles and I have fallen short of my expectations. It was not due to trying or preparedness, but more to injury. I have been our team captain for two years now. I am a leader, a motivator and a teacher within the practice room and on the mat. I continue those same efforts in the classroom and life. I can't explain how much the scholarship would truly mean but I know I would do everything I could to earn it. Life gives no guarantees but it does give opportunities and I want to thank you for this opportunity.

I had a friend that I was in preschool with, we were inseparable. I remember running and jumping off logs, just being kids. We would go on field trips walking together and chasing ducks at the pond. Every day with him was a new adventure. Sometimes we would just lay on our backs and watch the clouds overhead. We would see many clouds that reminded us of animals and even people. We were only 6 or 7 at the time and it was like we were invincible. As we grew I remember days where he would tell me he had to go to the doctor and other days where I would look for him at school and he wasn't there. Some for reason I could feel our invincibility slowly being challenged. He would complain about not feeling good. He would only run short distances and get short of breath. I would try to push him onward and make him do the things we did together as we were younger. One day, I recall his mom talking to my mom and they seemed sad. They hugged each other for a long time. After that day I only saw him for maybe 30 mins after school here and there. He always had doctor appointments or restricted play times. I could tell things were getting bad he was no longer able to do the many things we took for granted. I often asked why this happened to my best friend and would constantly reassure him that he would be fine. I told him the story of footprints in the sand but changed it a little. I told him when he looks and sees only one set that would mean I would be carrying him on my back. I didn't know how bad things would get but I wanted him to know I would always be there. Just before junior year in high school, he went from two legs to four wheels. We both thought it was cool in a way but we honestly knew it wasn't good. We would laugh and joke about not having to look for a parking spot anymore. One day we even timed him to see how fast he could go. I remember telling him he gained a few seconds and that it was the only way he could beat me in a race. Our bond was no different than it was in preschool but it changed both our lives. I still can't understand how this was able to happen to such a good person. It is now my senior year and because of his continued decline in health, he no longer goes to my school. I miss him but it also hurts to see him in that condition. I still visit him and he smiles and likes to listen to me talk about our trips to the park, chasing the ducks and watching the clouds when we were little. I realized that he has helped me decide my future too. I'm not sure what I would have wanted to do without him but I'm going to be a teacher. Something I never thought I would ever want to do. And I owe that to my best friend.

I am Chris Vargo a senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently carry a 4.133 GPA and I plan to study Sports Administration with a secondary degree in teaching. I am a student-athlete focused on wrestling and have placed 3rd, 5th and 2nd in that state. I am currently being raised in a single-parent home after my mom passed away in 2019 from an obstructed bowel which was misdiagnosed in the hospital. I have been a role model for many young athletes and I help train those who need that little extra support. I enjoy wrestling with a passion for everything it has given me. I have also been coached by some of the best coaches in the business. I have had many college coaches tell me that I will do very well and although wrestling is not my intended career it is my stepping stone to the next level. I will be able to give back to those less fortunate and talk to younger athletes about the importance of education and sportsmanship. When I graduate college I will help shape the minds of children through teaching and maybe as a coach. The fact that I will be able to touch so many lives in a good way puts me in a happy place. I have had coaches and teachers mentor me and guide me through the roughest times of my life. Losing a parent is never easy for anyone and they were all there for me. Supporting me just like my mom did. So if I can do the same for at least one student or athlete, then I have given back the amazing gift that was given to me. That is how I plan to make a positive impact on the world. I will do it one person at a time or entire classrooms, but I will be a positive role model and guide them through the challenges that life has to offer. Make no mistake, it will not be easy and will not happen in one day, but I have faith in being able to have the patience and make my time available to those who seek my guidance. I hope to be able to receive such an honored award and will do my best to continue to support this scholarship well into my future endeavors. Thank you for the ability to tell you about myself and I hope to hear from you in the near future.

I have been an avid cook for about 4 years now. My mom and dad would always have me help cook to teach me basic cooking practices. When my mom passed away in 2019 I decided to step up my role and help by making dinners. I also believe that everyone loves good food and they aren't afraid to pay for what they feel is good value. I have had many great recipes given to me for comfort foods and my family has always traveled around to find great barbeque. There's just something special about a slow-cooked rib and pulled pork that makes your mouth water. There are many empty businesses in our area, mostly due to big box stores like Walmart. Adding any type of business to the area is helpful to the community and is always welcomed. The first thing to consider is the location and access. I have found that having a business in the wrong location can destroy your business plan, no matter how good it may be. After the location is in mind I would write up the business plan focusing on the area. Go to the bank to secure a line of credit and start funding my business and decide what requirements must be met and what if any legal obligations I would have. Now would be a good time to start thinking of marketing and how to get the business noticed. It seems most advertising is done online where you can pick the area of saturation you wish to cover. I would gather an email list from everyone to start building a customer base. Although it does seem easy to put those plans together, there is a very serious and scary side of business and that is that everything is at risk. I've heard it stated as "sink or swim." I can only hope that I receive the proper instruction in college to help me succeed. I am not someone who quits or gives up easily, I have had adversity and even when I thought I might not be able to finish, I put all of that behind me and pushed through. It's funny how much I love food in that aspect because as a wrestler, I always have to watch what I eat. It's a constantly regulated diet and many times I want to just grab a bowl of ice cream or a slice of cake, I guess that comes with self-control. But I also think my leadership as a team player will help me succeed in business someday.

I am Chris Vargo a Senior at Charleroi Area High School in Pennsylvania. I currently have a GPA of 4.133. I am a student-athlete who has been competing in the sport of wrestling for 14 years. My mother was very involved and would take me to many venues until she died in 2019. I know how Sacha's children feel losing and parent is not easy. This specific scholarship would mean a lot to me because I had an uncle who just passed away from leukemia. A week after that I lost another uncle to cancer and I have an aunt currently in remission. Cancer is a very ugly thing that rips apart lives and it's not picky. It doesn't care who it hurts. I fight a different battle every day to not give up, and to push myself to the limit. I must constantly control my weight by watching what I eat and going to the gym to build strength, power and stamina. Being in shape has many levels. I want to be at the highest level I can. I have a village of people who look out for me, my family and my coaches are always there but I have had a lot of guidance from a good friend and teacher that has opened my eyes to being an educator. I feel if I can help students and explain the fight they will be guided in the proper direction. Not everyone can be saved, but everyone can fight and given the will to fight you will have a chance to win. If you give up you've already lost. My mom did not die from cancer but was one of the strongest people I know. Her spirit lives within me. When she was sick she made no excuses, she went to work and performed her job functions. When she finally called off she was very weak but walked into the emergency room. She would tell me she was feeling better and not to worry she would be home soon. She was misdiagnosed and even starved by having her fluid reduced. She fought until it was too late, with sepsis throughout her body and a massive heart attack, she was gone. I believe in this award and will help spread the awareness and goals of those who support it. I am highly recruited by Division 1 schools that will help me build upon my platform and shall continue to honor The Sacha - Curry - Warrior Scholarship.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse meets Phineas and Ferb in "The Stolen MOUSEKETOOL". After years of learning how Mickey and the crew would use a curriculum of cognitive, social and creative learning opportunities to solve problems, in comes Phineas and Ferb. Micky has lost many mouseketools in the past but this time it is believed to be stolen. Possibly by the evil scientist Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz or Mickey's arch nemesis Pete. The call goes out to Agent P of the O.W.C.A. to spy on the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz and Pete as Perry the Platypus has done so, in the past. Is the evil doctor once again up to no good, or has Pete finally outwitted Mickey? Who is behind the missing mouseketool? Phineas and Ferb plan to help Mickey and the gang solve the problem of the day by creating a new mouseketool. Candice as always tries to reveal their shenanigans to Mom and Dad but Pluto keeps giving away her hiding places. While the boys work hard on a top-secret device to help Mickey, the hot dog song plays and everyone dances and has a great time. Meanwhile, Perry discovers that Pete is actually working for Dr. Doofenshmirtz! The boys are nearing completion of the new tool when they notice parts are missing. Pete has stolen specific numbers used to identify certain buttons that are essential to the project. But which numbers are missing? Mickey has the numbers, 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 and 9. Phineas and Ferb help by reciting the numbers and find that Pete has stolen the numbers 3, 5, 6 and 0. Mickey and the crew search for Pete and request that he return the missing numbers. Pete gives back the numbers and apologizes to Mickey as always. Pete explains to Mickey that he only took the numbers because he wanted to learn them, but Pete states, "I never stole the mouseketool". The hot dog song plays again and everyone including Pete dances and has a great time. Meanwhile, at Dr. Doofenshmirtz's lab, Perry finds the mouseketool and a struggle begins. The tool flips into the air and acid starts to eat away at the tool as Perry and Dr. Doofenshmirtz start to argue over who is at fault. Will we never solve today's problem or will Phineas and Ferb once again save the day? Candice has her mom's attention and they head toward the boys. The boys are just finishing the project after returning from retrieving the stolen numbers from Pete. Candice pulls off the cover to reveal what the boys have made. Linda, the boy's mother tells Candice, "It's just a calculator, Candice" The boys see Perry and say, "Oh, there you are Perry". As Mickey takes his new very special mouseketool home to solve all the mathematical problems that arise.

My experience with cancer has not been a good one, I lost two uncles within a week of each other in 2023. I have an aunt who is currently fighting, and in remission, and one uncle who has been cancer-free for 20 years. I worry every day about my dad and other family members. It's not easy trying to maintain my grades and be the best person I can be, It seems this disease is just a vicious monster. When my mom passed away in 2019 it was everything I could do, just to keep myself together. She had an operatable situation that was misdiagnosed, which led to her death. I promised her that I would be the best I could, and honor her in my academic studies, as well as athletic endeavors. Soon after my uncle started to be more involved in my life, we would go fishing and just enjoy each other's company. In 2021 he told me about being diagnosed and that he was going to fight it and win. I watched him with honor fight the toughest fight of his life, only to lose. This made me question so many things in my life. Why fight so hard just to lose? As a wrestler, I was competing and training constantly, so it was a very similar fight to me. I placed 3rd in the state in 2020, lost my focus in 2021 and ended up 5th so my goal of being a state champion started to slip away. My college aspects dwindled, and then a second uncle was diagnosed with cancer, he told me never to give up, to fight the fight, not to let it control me and I'll win. I took every word to heart and I placed 2nd in the state, losing on a questionable call. But this made sense to me, it wasn't about the fight, and winning it was about not giving up. I have since been accepted to a Division 1 program where I will study Sports Administration with secondary education in teaching. I plan to use the knowledge I gained to help struggling students learn not to quit, to look at adversity in a different light, and even when you feel like giving up you're just one step away from winning. If I can save one student, or change the path he or she is on, then I will have honored those that I have lost. I hope to be honored with this award. It would mean the world to me to support the very thing, that has turned me in so many different directions. My story can inspire and give hope to those that want to give up. I hope to have proven my worthiness to be accepted and thank you for your consideration.