My name is Claire LoPiccolo, and I am currently a senior in high school. Some extracurriculars I have participated in over the past four years are the Blue & Gold Key Society student ambassador program, Student Council, varsity soccer (captain), club soccer, track and field, and JV lacrosse. I love to volunteer for various clubs in my school community, such as Hope Walks, Meals for Many, Cradles to Crayons, SpeakUp! (leader), and the Mind Your Brain fundraising team. After high school, I plan to attend Penn State University, majoring in political science and minoring in Spanish. Post-grad, I strive to attend law school to become a bilingual lawyer. Through the Global Citizen Scholars Program at my school, I have been exposed to global disparities in education systems. Over the summer of 2025, I created lesson plans and taught English grammar to Kenyan children who lived in orphanages in the impoverished villages of Nairobi, Kenya, via Zoom. The children's ages ranged from nine to eleven, and each was at a different level of English comprehension due to the lack of consistent education in their villages. This experience created a newfound passion within me and led me to want to form or join an initiative to close educational disparity gaps around the globe. I was able to witness firsthand different forms of educational poverty in underdeveloped countries. The schools lacked the necessary infrastructure, such as financial resources, supplies, administration, teachers, staff, and curriculum, to function as successful institutions. It often became apparent that they were struggling to make ends meet when the students were unable to complete their homework assignments because they did not have access to the same notebooks as the week prior, or when they could not stay connected to the Zoom call for the entire hour-long session due to technological difficulties. Despite these challenges, the students were always extremely eager and willing to learn and practice new English skills. It was amazing to watch the children’s excitement when they finally mastered a skill set. To me, this shows that it does not matter an individual’s socioeconomic, racial, or gender status; everybody deserves the opportunity to be educated. I would like to create a non-profit organization that focuses on collecting and donating old technological devices and other gently used school supplies to underprivileged regions. To start, I’d propose the idea to my school community, specifically, the leader of the Global Citizen Scholars Program. Over time, I hope it will spread to other schools in my area and, in the long run, all around the world. Schools could run a drive to collect these supplies, along with fundraising at the venue, to raise money to cover the shipping expenses needed to transfer the supplies to the specific location in need. To encourage students and families beyond my school community, I could post on social media platforms. This will reach the target audience and promote awareness about the severity of the gaps, and educate people on the impacts of global education on the world. The expansiveness of this program would also create networks that connect students to programs worldwide, boosting opportunities. Lastly, I hope that bringing this issue into the light of communities generates a sense of sensitivity and interconnectedness among people internationally, motivating everyone to create change.

During the summer of 2025, I became passionate about helping those in need, specifically those affected by the accessible education gaps around the world. Through the Global Citizen Scholars Program at my school, The Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, I have been exposed to global disparities in education systems. For example, over the summer of 2025, I created lesson plans and taught English grammar to Kenyan children who lived in orphanages in the impoverished villages of Nairobi, Kenya, via Zoom. The children's ages ranged from nine to eleven, and each was at a different level of English comprehension due to the lack of consistent education in their villages. This experience created a newfound passion within me and led me to want to form or join an initiative to close educational disparity gaps around the globe. I was able to witness firsthand different forms of educational poverty in underdeveloped countries. The schools lacked the necessary infrastructure, such as financial resources, supplies, administration, teachers, staff, and curriculum, to function as successful institutions. It often became apparent that they were struggling to make ends meet when the students were unable to complete their homework assignments because they did not have access to the same notebooks as the week prior, or when they could not stay connected to the Zoom call for the entire hour-long session due to technological difficulties. Despite these challenges, the students were always extremely eager and willing to learn and practice new English skills. It was amazing to watch the children’s excitement when they finally mastered a skill set. To me, this shows that it does not matter an individual’s socioeconomic, racial, or gender status; everybody deserves the opportunity to be educated, as it is the key to success. I would like to create a non-profit organization that focuses on collecting and donating old technological devices and other gently used school supplies to underprivileged regions. To start, I’d propose the idea to my school community, specifically, the leader of the Global Citizen Scholars Program. Over time, I hope it will spread to other schools in my area and, in the long run, all around the world. Each school could run a drive to collect these supplies, along with a bake sale at the venue to raise money to cover the shipping expenses needed to transfer the supplies to the specific location in need. To encourage students and families beyond my school community to contribute to this organization, I could post on social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, and hang posters around my school and my town to spread the word. If all goes well, this will reach the target audience and promote awareness about the severity of the equity gaps, and help people better understand the impacts of global education on the world. I strongly believe that this initiative would lead society in the right direction in reducing the inequality within educational systems in underdeveloped parts of the world. The expansiveness of this program would also create networks that connect students to programs worldwide, boosting opportunities. Lastly, I hope that bringing this issue into the light of communities generates a sense of sensitivity and interconnectedness among people internationally, motivating everyone to create change.

I am a motivated and compassionate student with a clear vision for my future. I am deeply committed to pursuing both my undergraduate degree and a law degree, with the goal of building a career that allows me to advocate for others and create meaningful change. Education is incredibly important to me, not only as a pathway to personal growth, but also as a tool to make a difference in the lives of others. My goal is to take advantage of the 3+3 program at Penn State University. This program would allow me to pursue both my undergraduate and law degree in seven years. This would allow me to maximize my educational goals while saving a year’s worth of tuition. I am aware that an undergraduate and law degree will put me in extreme financial debt. However, through scholarships, financial assistance, and work, I plan to offset the financial burden. I will not let financial restrictions get in the way of my goals and dream career. One of my greatest passions is working with diverse communities. Through my Global Citizens Scholar program, I was able to spend an entire summer creating lessons plans and teaching children in improvised Kenyan communities English and Grammar over Zoom. The experience was so life changing that it changed my future education goals. I now plan to minor in Spanish so that I can effectively communicate with and support bilingual and Spanish-speaking clients in my future legal career. I believe that language should never be a barrier to justice, and I am driven to help bridge that gap by ensuring that individuals feel heard, understood, and represented. I am especially drawn to the legal field because it combines critical thinking, communication, and service—three areas where I strive to excel. I am determined, hardworking, and focused, and I take pride in setting goals and following through with them. My dedication to my studies and my future career reflects my strong sense of responsibility and my desire to contribute positively to society. I would be a strong candidate for any scholarship because I am not only committed to my own success, but also to using my education to serve others. I am eager to learn, grow, and take advantage of every opportunity that will help me become a knowledgeable and compassionate legal professional. With the support of a scholarship, I will be able to continue pursuing my goals and make a lasting impact in the communities I hope to serve.