"They" say do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life. I plan to follow that advice, combine my two passions, sports and giving back to my community, and thoroughly enjoy my career. I found my place in the sporting world early in life; it's on the pitching mound. If happy places exist, this is mine. Some call it the loneliest place in baseball. I disagree. It's the most exciting. The pitcher controls the speed of the game, can win or lose the game all on his own, but also has 8 guys behind him backing every pitch. Since I was 9 years old, I have spent many hours working my skill. I chose to skip birthday parties, weekend trips with friends, and even homecoming to become the best pitcher I can. Now I throw a number of different pitches, as well as a 91 mph fastball. In August, I committed to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) to play baseball, and cannot wait to get on the mound for the Crimson Hawks. Giving to my community started at an early age as well, however, it didn't become a passion until high school. That's when I noticed some kids were unable to play sports because they couldn't afford the equipment. This bothered me. I believe sports is important as it teaches lessons that will be needed in life. Athletes learn a strong work ethic, self-discipline, how to work together as a team, how to win, and how to lose. Sports builds confidence and teaches humility all at the same time. That is why I approached my school with an idea to help. The program, which I called Back in the Game, was designed to gather new and gently-used sporting equipment to be donated, so children in our area could participate in their chosen sport. Back in the Game became our school-wide Lenten Service Project. I introduced it to my fellow students and asked each of them to dig through their closets and drawers and donate any sporting equipment they were not using. The program lasted for four weeks and collected over 350 pieces of sporting equipment. I delivered the equipment to Inspiring Minds and The Boys and Girls Club. While at Inspiring Minds, an after-school program was in progress. The children were excited to see what I had. I overheard them talking about what they would do with the basketballs, how they would form teams and play baseball, and some were excited to just jump rope. It was then I realized my program may change someone's life. I honestly believe the success of Back in the Game is what has made giving to my community so important. With all that said, my career plan is to study Kinesiology, Health and Sport Science, then go on to obtain my masters degree in Sport Science/Exercise Science (I've already been accepted into IUP's 4+1 program). Ultimately, I want to become an athletic director at a large university. It is there I will combine my two passions, and implement programs where all student athletes are required to volunteer within the community. My hope is to work with my student athletes to develop a program similar to Back in the Game, and help the children in our community. I also hope that any program we implement will have as much effect on my student athletes as Back in the Game had on me. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for the Sport in Action scholarship. Five years of college will be expensive and I greatly appreciate any help I receive.

I live in Trumbull County, OH, where 17.2% of the population lives below the poverty level. I have attended schools where 65% of students get free lunch. I have seen kids in ripped clothes that do not fit properly and holes in shoes when it’s snowing. Many lack the necessary school supplies. What I have also seen is people are generous. They are willing to help others. There is always a book fair where free books are given to underprivileged students. Families who can afford the classroom tissues and hand sanitizer donate extra. Also, there is a coat and boot drive to provide for those who cannot afford necessary winter clothing. A few years ago, I noticed one area where donations were not occurring and no one was helping: sports equipment. It is required for every sport, whether it is a tennis racquet, baseball bat, running shoes, or basketball. Some kids are getting left behind, unable to participate in sports because they cannot afford the equipment. I believe sports is important for kids because it teaches lessons that will be needed in life. Athletes learn a strong work ethic, self-discipline, how to work together as a team, how to win, and how to lose. Sports builds confidence and teaches humility all at the same time. Everyone, no matter financial status, should be able to participate in sports. That is why I approached my school, Cardinal Mooney High School, with an idea to help kids who were “falling through the cracks” due to lack of finances. The program, which I called Back in the Game, was designed to gather new and gently-used sporting equipment to be donated, so children in our area could participate in their chosen sport. Back in the Game became Cardinal Mooney’s school-wide Lenten Service Project. I introduced it to my fellow students during mass and asked each of them to dig through their closets, drawers, and neighbor’s houses, and donate any sporting equipment they were not using. The next day, I made a drop box for the donations and quickly realized I would need more drop boxes. I developed Excel spreadsheets to list what items were donated. I stayed after school for weeks organizing, counting, and documenting what we received. The program was featured in three local newspapers. Even people not connected to Cardinal Mooney dropped off equipment. It was nice to see my vision come to life. Back in the Game lasted for four weeks and collected over 350 pieces of sporting equipment. I delivered the equipment to The Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown and Inspiring Minds. Both organizations strive to keep kids safe by providing a positive environment where they can learn, play, and grow. While at Inspiring Minds, an after-school program was in progress. The children were excited to see what I had. I overheard them talking about what they would do with the basketballs, how they would form teams and play baseball, and some were excited to just jump rope. It was then I knew I had accomplished what I’d set out to do: help others. In the fall, I will attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where I have already been accepted into the Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Science 4+1 program. In five years, I will graduate with both my bachelor's and master's degrees. Because of the success of Back in the Game, and the rewards I've received from volunteering at a local veterinarian office, The Animal Welfare League, and our Community Food Warehouse, I plan to take my love of sports and my passion for helping others to develop my career. After graduation, and working hard for a few years, I plan to become an athletic director at a large university. There, I will require my student athletes to volunteer in our community. It is my hope that together we can develop an annual program similar to Back in the Game (Covid stopped my program and most of my volunteering from continuing). By instituting this requirement, it is my goal to expose my student athletes to the feeling of accomplishments and rewards you get from helping others. Hopefully, after graduating themselves, those students will go on and continue to work in their communities helping the less fortunate, and giving them a little better shot at a brighter future. Thank you for the opportunity to apply to the Charles R. Ullman & Associates Educational Support Scholarship. As previously mentioned, my college plans require five years of schooling, which will be expensive. I am grateful to organizations, such as yourself, who provide scholarships so students can reach their goals. If you are interested in reading the media coverage Back in the Game received, please email me at colelitman@yahoo.com and I will be happy to forward it to you. Thank you.

I live in Trumbull County, OH, where 17.2% of the population lives in poverty. I have seen kids in ripped clothes lacking necessary school supplies. What I've also seen is people are generous. There is a book fair where free books are given to underprivileged students. Also, there is a coat/boot drive to provide necessary winter clothing. However, I noticed where donations were not occurring: sports equipment. It is required for every sport, whether it's a tennis racquet or basketball. Some kids are getting left behind because they cannot afford equipment. I believe sports is important. It teaches life lessons. Athletes learn a strong work ethic, how to work together, how to win, and how to lose. Sports builds confidence and teaches humility. Everyone, no matter financial status, should be able to participate in sports. That's why I approached my school with an idea. The program, which I called Back in the Game, was designed to gather new and gently-used sporting equipment to be donated, so children could participate in sports. Back in the Game became our school-wide Service Project. I asked my classmates to dig through their closets and donate any equipment they were not using. I made a drop boxes, and developed spreadsheets to list the donations. I spent weeks organizing and documenting. The program was even featured in three local newspapers. Back in the Game collected over 350 pieces of equipment, which I delivered to The Boys/Girls Club and Inspiring Minds. Both organizations strive to keep kids while providing a positive environment. The children were excited to see the equipment. I overheard them talking about what they would do with the basketballs, and how they would form teams and play baseball. It was then I knew I had accomplished what I’d set out to do: help others.

Who finds their greatest love at 4 years old? Well, me. I did. In the summer of 2008, my dad signed us up for Smart Start Baseball. It was a program designed to teach kids the fundamentals of baseball with their parent's participation. I loved it! I remember each Saturday my dad and I would ride to the school field, and along with a group of other boys and their dads, I was introduced to baseball. It was the most fun I'd had in my entire four years of life! Smart Start broke everything down to the bare basics, and I was eager to learn it all. I don't know what I loved more, hitting the ball, throwing the ball, or running circles in the grass (I was just 4). I learned how to hit the ball off the tee then run to first base, not third. I knew three outs meant the end of the inning. And, I was taught to always hustle on and off the field. After a month, Smart Start ended with a trophy ceremony and cookies. I was so proud of my first trophy! Right there, on that school field, I told my dad I wanted to play more. Little did I know what "more" would lead to. I went on to play tee ball, coach pitch, and then graduated to kid pitch. As it turned out, I was pretty good at throwing the baseball, and all I was doing was repeating what I'd been taught in Smart Start. From then on, I was the pitcher on any team I joined. When I was in 8th grade I was introduced to Matt, a man in my area who pitched for the Yankees. He had retired from professional ball and was giving lessons. I begged my dad to sign me up, and was thrilled when he did. Matt taught me how to hold the ball correctly for each pitch I threw. He changed my arm path to ensure my elbow and shoulder were protected. And, he encouraged me to gain some weight. As the years went on, I realized exactly how important baseball is to me, and where I want to go with it. Slowly, I stopped doing other sports because they didn't hold my interest. My time was spent in the weight room, in the kitchen, and doing drills. As much as I hate to do drills, I understand their importance and keep at it. All of my hard work has recently been paying off. In August, I committed to Indiana University of Pennsylvania to play baseball for the 2022/2023 year. And just last week, my fastball topped out at 91.1 mph. I love the game of baseball. It has given me so much and it all started on that school field, with my dad, learning the basics. I am a better person because of patience, team work and humility baseball has taught me. I am a better student because of the work ethic baseball has taught me. And, I am very excited to see what college baseball will teach me.

I live in Trumbull County, OH, where 17.2% of the population lives below the poverty level. I have attended schools where 65% of students get free lunch. I have seen kids in ripped clothes that do not fit properly and holes in shoes when it’s snowing. Many lack the necessary books, paper, pencils, or other school supplies. What I have also seen is people are generous. There is always a book fair where free books are given to underprivileged students. Families who can afford the classroom tissues and hand sanitizer donate extra. Also, there is a coat and boot drive to provide for those who cannot afford necessary winter clothing. A few years ago, I noticed one area where donations were not occurring and no one was helping: sports equipment. It is required for every sport, whether it is a tennis racquet, baseball bat, or running shoes. Some kids are getting left behind, unable to participate in sports because they cannot afford the equipment. I believe sports is important for kids because it teaches lessons that will be needed in life. Athletes learn a strong work ethic, self-discipline, how to work together as a team, how to win, and how to lose. Sports builds confidence and teaches humility all at the same time. Everyone, no matter financial status, should be able to participate in sports. That is why I approached my school with an idea to help kids who were “falling through the cracks” due to lack of finances. The program, which I called Back in the Game, was designed to gather new and gently-used sporting equipment to be donated, so children in our area could participate in their chosen sport. Back in the Game became our school-wide Lenten Service Project. I introduced it to my fellow students and asked each of them to dig through their closets, drawers, and neighbor’s houses, and donate any sporting equipment they were not using. I made drop boxes for the donations, and developed Excel spreadsheets to list what items were donated. I stayed after school for weeks organizing, counting, and documenting what we received. The program was featured in three local newspapers. Even people not connected to my school dropped off equipment. It was nice to see my vision come to life. Back in the Game lasted for four weeks and collected over 350 pieces of sporting equipment. I delivered the equipment to The Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown and Inspiring Minds. Both organizations strive to keep kids safe by providing a positive environment where they can learn, play, and grow. While at Inspiring Minds, an after-school program was in progress. The children were excited to see what I had. I overheard them talking about what they would do with the basketballs, how they would form teams and play baseball, and some were excited to just jump rope. It was then I knew I had accomplished what I’d set out to do: help others. In the fall I will head to college and play baseball for Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Baseball does not get scholarship money like football or basketball. We are the sport that "falls through the cracks". Education is important to me, so I will take out loans to attend school. I plan to study Kinesiology, Health and Sport Science, and ultimately want to become an athletic director at a large university. Even though I will have debt upon completion of college, my plan is to combine my love of sports with my passion for helping other athletes with programs similar to Back in the Game.

In baseball, the pitcher controls the speed of the game. Each play starts with him. His mind set and control determines whether the pitch is a strike or ball, and every pitcher wants a high strike-to-pitch ratio. Myself included. I am a baseball pitcher about to play my senior and final season of baseball. When I first started playing the mound I was nervous. I knew before I even released the ball from my hand all eyes were on me. It would sometimes rattle me. I spent many days working my mechanics. I focused on my arm path. I stressed over the proper way to hold the ball for each different kind of pitch I threw. I also worked strength exercises in hopes that any or all of these things would help me to become a better pitcher. It wasn't until I was told to slow down, to not worry about rushing to throw my next pitch, that I began to improve. You see, I was so worried about people being irritated with my speed between batters and even pitches that I rushed the game and let it interfere with my performance. I was too focused on other people to realize that was my biggest problem. I have taken this lesson into my school and personal life as well. I have learned to do something well takes time, patience, and the ability to focus on what I want instead of worrying about what others think. I am a much calmer person, and not so irritated, which has improved my friendships and teacher relationships. Patience has gotten me further in baseball that I thought I could go, and will continue to serve me well in life. It's true what they say, patience is a virtue.

The third Tuesday of the month is my most favorite day. That is when I get together with my church group at our community food warehouse and pack backpacks of food for the underprivileged children in our area. Each time, we pack just over 500 backpacks that are combined with backpacks put together by others throughout the week, and given out to students on Fridays. Our program ensures these kids have enough to eat each weekend. This is the fifth year I've been working with the community food warehouse. I'm not sure what made me choose this volunteer opportunity, but it has opened my eyes not only to the true meaning of poverty, but also to the feeling of satisfaction with helping others. I have a family friend who is a teacher and told me she sees how grateful her students are who receive the food. At first I was surprised. It's not gourmet food that we pack. It's ravioli, juice, milk, cereal, chips, and some type of "dessert". Milk that doesn't have to be refrigerated can't be good, right? My friend explained that food is the difference between having a meal or going to bed hungry. When you're truly hungry, the food we pack is a godsend. What I have learned from my five years experience at the community food warehouse is this: I don't have everything I want. I'd like a pair of Hey Dude shoes. I'd like to have the new DeMarini bat for my senior baseball season. I'd like to go on the senior spring break trip. But, I do get three meals a day. I do have a warm bed to sleep in. And, I do have parents who love me. With this new perspective, I now appreciate my life just a little more. I have also realized that I am helping others in ways that allow them to just survive. It doesn't take a bunch of time out of my day, but it makes the day of someone in my community. This realization is why I've decided to study Kinesiology, Health and Sport Science in college. My ultimate goal is to be a collegiate athletic director at a large university. There, I will require my student athletes to do community service. It is my hope that with my guidance they will come to gain a perspective on life, community and helping others as I have. It is also my hope that my student athletes will leave our community in better shape than how they found it, and that they will continue to serve throughout their lives.

The third Tuesday of each month is my favorite day. That is when I meet up with my church group at the Mercer County Community Food Warehouse and pack backpacks of food for the underprivileged children in our area. I have been working with the Community Food Warehouse for four years. To be honest, I'm not sure why I chose this program to get involved with. However, a family friend, who is an area school teacher found out that I do this and could not stop saying thank you. She told me she sees the back packs being handed out on Fridays to specific children. She said she knows these children. She knows their home lives. And, she knows that without this food they would not have enough to eat over the weekends. After that conversation I thought about how scary it would be not to know if you will have a meal to eat three times a day. It must be terrible to go to bed hungry. I just can't imagine. That is when the third Tuesday of each month became my favorite day. I know that the couple hours I spend collecting food, putting it in bags, and packing it up to be taken to schools in Mercer County is worth so much to a child. If I can give a couple hours of my time to ensure a child doesn't go to bed hungry, I am excited to do it. I know I am making a positive impact on students in our area, which is what I believe giving is all about.

"Listen to your gut even when a doctor says you are fine." I wish my aunt had pushed a little harder when telling the doctor she "just didn't 'feel right." She put her trust in the doctor instead of listening to her gut. She died two days later. She was just 50 years old. From this experience, my family has learned there are symptoms for a pulmonary embolism. It is not a silent killer. We learned a simple EKG doesn't give a complete picture of someone's health. We learned an MRI tells more of our health's story. And, we learned to demand these things when we "just don't feel right." Sherry, my aunt, did not have children. She did have six nieces and nephews, and she treated each one of us as if we were her children. She was at all of my baseball games, my cousin's football games, and took pictures before every homecoming and prom for all six of us. She had sleepovers at her house just for "the kids". We stayed up late and ate junk - all the things a parent wouldn't allow. Sherry woke on Friday, May 3, 2019, and per her usual routine, sent me a good morning SnapChat streak. Later that day, I was shocked when my mom pulled me out of school and told me the news. I just couldn't understand how or why. The next few days were a sad blur. Saying goodbye to her was the hardest thing I've ever done. I miss my aunt very much. I wish she were here to see me graduate high school and leave for college. I also wish people knew what she didn't - fight for your health. Demand tests from unwilling doctors who don't understand "I just don't feel right."

There's nothing like sitting in a tree for hours, especially in the quietness of falling snow, waiting on the perfect deer to cross your path. When it does, that deer must be within range. And, that deer must be a buck; I don't shoot does. Some people will argue that hunting is not ethical, that it's cruel to animals. I argue that if we didn't hunt deer, they would over populate. There would be more people injured or killed from colliding with a deer on the interstate. Trust me, hitting a deer in a car is unusual cruelty to both the deer and the driver. Hunting is an exciting hobby. While sitting in a tree stand or blind, shooting a deer is not guaranteed. Heck, even seeing one is not guaranteed! When (or even if) the perfect deer does come into view, it must be within shooting range, as you don't want to injury it without killing it. You want to hit the deer in the lungs. It will die faster without spoiling the meat. And, you really don't want to shoot a doe. Without does next season won't produce fawns. I do not shoot anything I won't eat. There is no reason for that. I shot my first deer when I was 8 years old, and I have shot a deer each season since. My largest was a 13 point when I was 15 years old. The exciting part is when my mother cooks the meat as steak, or meatballs, and I know I have provided dinner for my entire family. However, my favorite is when we have the meat made into jerky sticks with hot pepper cheese inside. I know what we're eating is a very lean protein and very healthy, and that makes me feel good.

Baseball is life, in case you didn't know that. I have been playing the game since I was 4 years old. I am currently an 18-year-old high school senior, and the top pitcher on my school's team. Up until this past August, my goal was to play college baseball. With my commitment to Indiana University of Pennsylvania to play ball, I can check that off my list. With that commitment came the realization that as I achieve my goals, new ones come into play. I know I will play college ball, but now I have to improve my mechanics, increase my velo, and be accurate so that I can be the best version of myself on the mound. I am working on gaining weight and strength, especially in my legs and abs. I am also working on a quicker hand path with my throwing arm. This means overtime in the gym, the kitchen, and in front of a mirror doing hand drills to see what I'm doing right and wrong. My goal before stepping onto the IUP campus is to have a 90 mph fastball. Last night I hit 89 mph. I know that once I reach that goal a new one will be waiting for me. It will probably have something to do with a high pitch-to-strike ratio. Looking past college, I want to be in the business of sports. I have already been accepted into the 4+1 Kinesiology, Health and Sport Science program at IUP, and will have both a bachelor's and master's degree in five years. Whether I become a colligate athletic director, or coach baseball at the professional level, I know that achieving one goal leads to setting the next. Education and self improvement never stops. And, the grind is what gets you there.

My house sits on 24 acres, which was gifted to my father before I was born. How lucky am I? We have a pond full of fish, and a creek that runs behind the house. However, the coolest spot is "the circle of pines". As a kid, the previous owner planted pine tree seeds in a huge circle. He never thought the trees would grow, but boy have they! Inside the "circle of pines" my dad planted clover. It's the greenest color you will ever see. This is my happy place. When life gets hectic, or school work becomes too much, I head to the "circle of pines". There I sit with birds, squirrels, turkeys and sometimes even a deer will pass through. A few years ago a peacock appeared on our property and enjoyed the pines as well. This is where my love of nature's creatures began. I love animals, all animals. There isn't a snake I won't stop to check out, or a racoon I won't talk to as it runs by. I have taken that love of animals and made a volunteer habit of it. I volunteered at a local veterinarian's office, where I was responsible for care of the overnight patients, and got to sit in on surgeries! On my first day I watched a cat leg amputation. After that, I volunteered at our local Animal Welfare League, where animals receive care while waiting to be adopted. My job was to socialize/exercise the animals until they found their forever homes. This was the best job! My love of nature and it's creatures means I will always live in the country. It is my hope that I can create something like a "circle of pines" on my own property and teach my children the wonders of nature.

4+1. I didn’t know how exciting 4+1 could be until I started looking into a career. I know what I want to do and I know it will require a masters degree. That means more money. Money I don’t have. However, the university I will attend in the fall of 2022 has a 4+1 program in my major, and I’ve already been accepted into the program. This means I will only have to take out loans for one year of graduate school instead of two. My career goal is to study Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Science. I will stay an extra year at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, take advantage of their 4+1 program, and finish with a bachelors and masters degree. Ultimately, I will become an athletic director at a large university. This goal will help me combine two of my passions; sports and community service. I believe if you do what you love you won’t work a day in your life. I am an athlete. Always have been. I don’t know what I would do without sports, therefore; I will make it a career. I also love serving my community. As an athletic director, I will require my student athletes to serve our community in some fashion. My dream is to have the students develop a program that we can build on and do yearly. I envision it being a program that serves the children, and possibly include sports. I have big plans, however, they will not come to fruition without money to pay for college. I appreciate the opportunity to apply for this scholarship.

I live in an area where 17.2% of the population lives below the poverty level. I have seen kids in ripped clothes lacking necessary school supplies. What I have also seen is people are generous. There are book fairs where free books are given to underprivileged students. Also, there is a coat/boot drive to provide winter clothing. Recently, I noticed one area where donations were not occurring: sports equipment. It's required for every sport, whether running shoes or basketballs. Some kids are unable to participate because they cannot afford equipment. Sports is important because it teaches life lessons. Athletes learn a strong work ethic, self-discipline, and how to work together as a team. Sports builds confidence and teaches humility. Everyone should be able to participate in sports. That is why I approached my school with an idea to help. The program, which I called Back in the Game, was designed to gather gently-used sporting equipment to be donated, so children in our area could participate in sports. Back in the Game became our school-wide Service Project. I asked my fellow students to dig through their closets, and donate any equipment they were not using. I made a donation drop boxes, and developed spreadsheets to track what was donated. I stayed after school for weeks organizing and documenting. Back in the Game lasted for four weeks and collected over 350 pieces of equipment. I delivered it to our Boys and Girls Club and Inspiring Minds. Both organizations strive to keep kids safe by providing a positive environment where they can learn and grow. My college plans include studying Sport Science. I want to become a collegiate athletic director. There, I will require my student athletes to develop similar programs. It is my hope that they also become committed to serving others.

“Pulmonary embolism” is a term I learned at 14 years old. I shouldn’t have had to learn it. Even more, my aunt, my favorite family member who had just turned 50 years old, shouldn’t have had one. My Aunt Sherry did not have her own children, however, she had 6 nieces and nephews. She spent most of her free time coming to my or my brother’s baseball games. She equally loved my cousin’s football games, and another cousin’s dance recital. If it had to do with one of us, she was there. She was our biggest cheerleader. She made us feel special. Like all embolisms, Aunt Sherry’s was unannounced, throwing us into a state of shock. I couldn’t understand how or why. We had just exchanged Snapchat ‘streaks’ that morning. It was our daily ritual, and her way of letting me know she was thinking of me. When my dad picked me up early from school that day and told me, my head spun. For the next few days I felt like I was in a fog. I don’t remember much of her funeral. After, I tried to get back to life as normal, but I struggled with the “why”. My mom suggested I talk with our minister. Maybe he could help, and he did. I’ve realized God has a great plan. Our brains cannot comprehend his plan, yet that is where faith comes in. I choose to believe there is a reason bad things happen, and I choose to trust God’s great plan. Thanks to my Aunt Sherry, I now not only appreciate every day that I have, and the people in my life, but my relationship with God has strengthened. Maybe that was a part of the plan. I don’t know, but I am grateful for it.

I live in Trumbull County, OH, where 17.2 percent of the population lives below the poverty level. I have attended schools where 65 percent of students get free lunch. I have seen kids in ripped clothes that do not fit properly and holes in shoes when it’s snowing. Many lack the necessary books, paper, pencils, or school supplies. What I have also seen is people are generous. They are willing to help others. There is always a book fair where free books are given to underprivileged students. Families who can afford the classroom tissues and hand sanitizer donate extra. Also, there is a coat and boot drive to provide for those who cannot afford necessary winter clothing. A few years ago, I noticed one area where donations were not occurring and no one was helping: sports equipment. It is required for every sport, whether it is a tennis racquet, baseball bat, running shoes, or basketball. Some kids are getting left behind, unable to participate in sports because they cannot afford the equipment. I believe sports is important for kids because it teaches lessons that will be needed in life. Athletes learn a strong work ethic, self-discipline, how to work together as a team, how to win, and how to lose. Sports builds confidence and teaches humility all at the same time. Everyone, not matter financial status, should be able to participate in sports. That is why I approached my school, Cardinal Mooney High School, with an idea to help kids who were “falling through the cracks” due to lack of finances. The program, which I called Back in the Game, was designed to gather new and gently-used sporting equipment to be donated, so children in our area could participate in their chosen sport. Back in the Game became Cardinal Mooney’s school-wide Lenten Service Project. I introduced it to my fellow students during mass and asked each of them to dig through their closets, drawers, and neighbor’s houses, and donate any sporting equipment they were not using. The next day, I made a drop box for the donations and quickly realized I would need more drop boxes. I developed Excel spreadsheets to list what items were donated. I stayed after school for weeks organizing, counting, and documenting what we received. The program was featured in three local newspapers. Even people not connected to Cardinal Mooney dropped off equipment. I spent countless hours working, and it was fulfilling to see my vision come to life. Back in the Game lasted for four weeks and collected over 350 pieces of sporting equipment. I delivered the equipment to The Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown and Inspiring Minds. Both organizations strive to keep kids safe by providing a positive environment where they can learn, play, and grow. While at Inspiring Minds, an after-school program was in progress. The children were excited to see what I had. I overheard them talking about what they would do with the basketballs, how they would form teams and play baseball, and some were excited to just jump rope. It was then I knew I had accomplished what I’d set out to do: create life-benefiting opportunities for others in a fun way. I will attend college in the fall and major in Sport Science. My goal is to become an athletic director at a large university. In that position, I will require my student athletes to develop programs such as Back in the Game. It is my hope that I will continue to inspire, serve, and create opportunities in my community.

JOY: a three letter word that means so much, especially if you don't have it. To me, joy means waking up in the morning, and not wanting to pull the covers back over my head to stay there. It means being excited about what my day holds and knowing that I will make a difference. For me, those days include baseball. You see, I am an athlete who plans to make a career out of what brings me joy. In the fall of 2022, I will attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania where I will study Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Science. I have already been accepted into their 4+1 program and will graduate in five years with a bachelor's and master's degrees. (Oh, and I will be a pitcher on their baseball team.) After graduation, I plan to work in the athletic field, which I'm sure will include some type of baseball coaching, while I work my way up to being an athletic director at a large university. In that position, I will require my student athletes to participate in another area that brings me joy: giving back to the community. While in high school, I developed and oversaw a school-wide program where we collected new and gently-used sporting equipment and donated it to children who without it would never be able to participate in sports. In four weeks, we collected over 350 pieces of sporting equipment. In this line of work I know I will continue to have joy in my life. It's my hope that I will help guide others to find what brings them joy and incorporate it in their lives, all while serving our community. When you do what you love, what brings you joy, there are no bad days!

I live in an area where 17.2% of the population lives in poverty. I have attended schools where 65% of students get free lunch. I have seen kids in ripped clothes, and no school supplies. What I have also seen is people are generous. We have book fairs where underprivileged students receive free books. Also, there is a coat and boot drive for those who cannot afford winter clothing. I noticed one area where donations were not occurring: sports equipment. It is required for every sport, whether a tennis racquet, or basketball. Some kids cannot afford the equipment. I believe sports is important. It teaches lessons needed in life. Athletes learn a strong work ethic, self-discipline, how to work together as a team, how to win, and how to lose. Sports builds confidence and teaches humility. Everyone should be able to participate in sports. That's when I approached my school with an idea to help. The program, which I called Back in the Game, would gather new and gently-used sporting equipment to be donated, so children in our area could play sports. Back in the Game became our school-wide Service Project. I asked fellow students to dig through their closets, and drawers, and donate sporting equipment they were not using. I made drop boxes for the donations. I developed Excel spreadsheets to list the donations. I organized, counted, and documented the equipment. Back in the Game lasted four weeks and collected 350 pieces of equipment. I delivered it to The Boys and Girls Club and Inspiring Minds. While at Inspiring Minds, an after-school program was in progress. The children were excited. They talked about what they would do with the basketballs, and how they would form teams and play baseball. I knew I had accomplished what I wanted: help others.

Have you ever wanted to do something, but didn't have the necessary tools? I have. That's why I approached my school with an idea to help kids who are ill-equipped or falling through cracks due to financial inequality. You see, I'm an athlete, and I understand what sports teaches. Because of my time on the ball field I have learned a strong work ethic, developed self-discipline, learned how to work with my teammates, learned how to win, and how to lose. Sports has helped me build confidence and taught humility, all at the same time. Kids who cannot afford the necessary equipment for their chosen sport are missing these very important life lessons, and I wanted to help. The program I pitched to my school, Back in the Game, was designed to gather new and gently used sporting equipment to be donated, so those children could find a passion, and develop life skills. Back in the Game was so well received it became our school-wide Lenten Service project, and lasted four weeks. I spent that time after school organizing, counting, and documenting what we received. The program was featured in three local newspapers, and in the end we collected over 350 pieces of equipment. I delivered the equipment to The Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown and Inspiring Minds. Both organizations strive to keep kids safe while providing a positive environment where they can learn, play, and grow. When I arrived, the kids were so excited to see what I had. They talked about playing with the basketballs, forming teams to play baseball, and some were excited to just jump rope. It was then I knew I had accomplished what I set out to do; help others. To me, a great leader is someone who leads people to not just an outcome, but a better outcome. A great leader pioneers situations where the lives of those being led are better due to the leaders involvement. I have had such people in my life. They are the reason I will be able to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the fall and study Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Science. I have already been accepted into the 4+1 program and will have both my bachelor's and masters degrees in five years. From there I want to be a collegiate athletic director. I want to not only lead, but teach my student athletes to be leaders on and off the field. I plan to require my student athletes to develop programs such as Back in the Game. Through that, hopefully I will be able to pass on what leadership skills I have developed, and provide a better outcome in their lives.

“The Last Lecture”, by Randy Pausch, should be a required read for all high school students. I read The Last Lecture while my grandfather was battling Alzheimer’s. The book was recommended by a man in my church. He said he hoped that by reading it I found my peace. At first, his comment upset me. How could I ever find peace with Alzheimer’s? With losing my grandfather so early? But, I read the book. Like my grandfather, Professor Pausch was dying. His book talked very little about his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, yet he chose to focus on all the great things in his life. He talked about his childhood and his supportive parents. How they allowed him to color on his walls - a can of paint can take care of that. He wrote about his wife, the love of his life, and his three children. Instead of focusing on dying, he was greatly appreciative for the things and experiences he had. I quickly came to realize my peace didn’t have to do with Alzheimer’s or death. Thanks to Randy Pausch and his last lecture, I chose to focus on all the great things my grandfather had in his 68 years. He played professional football! He was married to my grandmother for 45 years. He had 3 children who he got to see grow up, and he met all his 6 grandchildren. He was a good person who loved me. And, I would rather have a wonderful grandfather who loved me and played with me for 12 years, than a non involved one for 40 years. That is my peace.

The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch, should be a required read for all students! I was introduced to this book while my grandfather was fighting Alzheimer’s. Granddaddy was my hero, my Superman, who I thought could handle everything. He was married to my Gran for 45 years, has three children, and six grandchildren. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, owned his own manufacturing business, and even in his 60’s was very active and healthy. How was this fair? How could it happen to Grandadday? I was devastated and angry. A man in my church recommended I read The Last Lecture. He said he hoped I find peace with what I and my family was going through. At first I was mad. How could I ever find peace with Alzheimer’s? However, by the time I finished the book I realized that is not what my church friend was talking about. The Last Lecture made me realize that even in the worst of circumstances we can only find peace by looking at the positives. Randy Pausch died in his 40’s and chose to focus on his life’s accomplishments. He chose to focus on how lucky he was to have married the woman he did, and have the children he did. He chose to focus on his childhood and how wonderful it was. He chose not to focus on his life being cut short. I quickly realized all the great things that Grandaddy had and did were great positives. Finally, I came to realize I would rather have 15 years with a wonderful grandfather than 30 years with one who didn’t care about me or being involved in my life. That was my peace. And, I never would have found it without reading The Last Lecture.

Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.” I didn’t quite understand that quote as a child, but as I grew it has stuck with me. And, the meaning has made a great impact on my life. I enjoy spending my time giving back to my community, which I have done volunteering at our community food warehouse, local veterinarian office, and Animal Welfare League. My biggest satisfaction came during my high school freshman year when I developed, organized and oversaw my school’s Lenten Service project which I called Back in the Game. We collected new and gently used sporting equipment & donated it to under privileged children who otherwise would not be able to play sports. I truly believe sports teaches life lessons, such as a strong work ethic, how to work as a team, how to win, and how to lose. It teaches confidence and humility all at the same time. Everyone should be able to play sports regardless of their financial status. I was able to see the children reactions when I delivered the equipment to 2 local nonprofit organizations. Their joy made the weeks of hard work worth it. If I were a highly influential person I would stand for giving back to the community. I would encourage people to put aside petty arguments, and focus on how God intended us to live: in harmony, helping each other. I’d like to say it is a selfless action, but the feeling you get when you see how you can positively impact another human being is indescribable.

I live in Trumbull county, Ohio, where 15.4% of the population lives below the poverty level. I have attended schools where 65% of students get free lunch. Many lack the necessary books, paper, pens, or other supplies. What I have also seen is people are generous. They are willing to help others. There is always a book fair with free books for those who can’t afford them. Families who can afford extra classroom tissues & sanitizer donate extra. Also, there is a coat & boot drive to provide necessary winter clothing. A few years ago, I noticed one area where donations were not occurring, and no one was helping: sports equipment. It is required for every sport, whether a baseball bat, running shoes or basketball. Some kids are getting left behind because they cannot afford equipment. I believe sports is important because it teaches a strong work ethic, self-discipline, how to work together as a team, how to win, and how to lose. It builds confidence and teaches humility. Everyone, no matter financial status, should be able to participate in sports. In the Spring 2019, I approached my school with an idea to help kids who were “falling through the crack” due to lack of finances. The program, which I called Back in the Game, was designed to gather new & gently used sporting equipment to be donated, so children in our area could participate in their chosen sport. Back in the Game became our school-wide Lenten Service Project. I introduced it to my fellow students during mass and asked each of them to dig through their closets, drawers, neighbor’s house, and donate any equipment they were not using. The next day, I made a drop box for the donations and quickly realized I would need more boxes! I developed spreadsheets to list what items were donated. I stayed after school for weeks organizing, counting & documenting. The program was featured in three local newspapers. Even people not connected with my school brought items in. Back in the Game lasted four weeks and collected over 350 pieces of sporting equipment. I delivered the equipment to The Boys and Girls Club and Youngstown Inspiring Minds. Both organizations strive to keep kids safe by providing a positive environment where they can learn, play, and grow. While at Inspiring Minds, an after-school program was in progress. The children were excited to see what I had. They talked about what they would do with basketballs, how they would form teams and play baseball, and some were excited to just jump rope. It was then I knew I had accomplished what I’d set out to do: help others. I want to take my passion for helping others, combine it with my love of sports, and make a career. In the fall of 2022, I will start college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where I will study Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Science. I will also be a member of the baseball team. I have qualified for their 4+1 program, and will have my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in 5 years. Ultimately, I plan to become a collegiate athletic director. In that position I will require each of my student athletes to do non-profit charitable work relating to sports. We may even create an annual school-wide program such as Back in the Game. It is my hope that I will not only help less fortunate kids play sports and reap those rewards, but instill a giving and helping passion in my college athletes.

From the time I was 12 years old I have been volunteering in my community. I feel it's important for each of us to give back as best we can. For two years, I volunteered at our local veterinarian hospital where I was responsible for care of the overnight patients. I also helped with proofing and distribution of marketing brochures. For another two years, I volunteered at our Animal Welfare League. Injured and homeless animals are brought to the AWL for care until they find their forever home. I was responsible for socializing and training dogs and cats during their stay. Since 2017, I have packed backpacks of food for the underprivileged children in our community. This job is most satisfying as I know without the weekly backpacks, many children would not have enough food for the weekends. It makes me happy to know the little bit of time I put in to helping my community is fulfilling a need for someone else. I have big plans to continue in volunteering after college. My grandfather, my Super Hero, died from Alzheimer's at just 68 years old. He carried the ApoE4 gene; therefore, I know I have a greater chance than most to develop Alzheimer's. There are so many unknowns about this evil disease, which if a cure is not found soon, will become an epidemic in the near future. To help learn more and hopefully discover a cure, I plan to volunteer for drug studies once I've finished my college career. My grandfather was dismissed from three studies for various reasons and I would like to finish his attempted work. I feel this will be my greatest contribution in my volunteer work. One day we will have survivors of Alzheimer's. I just hope my involvement helps to reach that dream.

My motivation to excel lies in my passion, baseball. Since I was 5 years old, my parents have sacrificed their time, money and summer days at ball fields around the state so I can reach my goal of playing college baseball. As other kids were spending their summers at water parks or overnight parties, I spent my time working on baseball skills and going to bed to be rested for an early-morning tournament. My family missed numerous vacations, cut back on Christmas gifts, and eliminated "extras" to save money just so I can achieve my dream. I do not take this sacrifice lightly. My parents have given everything they can to me and my dream. It was a great day in August when I committed to Indiana University of Pennsylvania to continue my academic career and play baseball. I felt like all the work, sacrifice, and missing typical childhood things was worth it. However, now I realize the hard work is just beginning. And, I will not let myself or my parents down. That is not an option! To prepare, I am studying hard in my senior year of high school to maintain my 3.6 GPA. I still find time to volunteer at our local food warehouse to pack backpacks of food for the underprivileged children in our area, and I work daily on my baseball mechanics. It is not easy, but no great success ever is. Just last month, my parents surprised me with my enrollment in a pitching school that I have been wanting to attend for years. It is expensive and time consuming, but they want to see me succeed just as much as I want to. I get up each morning grateful for the opportunities I have and can't wait for college. This is my motivation.