As I prepare to graduate from high school I realize I am fortunate to have received a high quality education from passionate instructors. These individuals helped shape the course of study and career path I hope to pursue in ecological/conservation biology. I have also been fortunate to have participated in community activities that helped determine my future goals. Several of these experiences afforded me opportunities to protect children from in-person and cyberbullying. Researching options for higher education has been exciting, however financial planning has been fraught with anxiety. Now with the annual costs of my top college choices being approximately $20,000 I worry that my goals could be in jeopardy. I have endeavored to achieve my best in all I attempt and I know I will continue this trait upon entering college. I hope to avoid having to rely on student loans to achieve my goals. Receiving this scholarship will alleviate financial burden, allowing me to continue focusing on academic excellence so I may pursue the goal of preserving the beauty of the natural world for posterity. As a natural biologist, protecting the environment will be a top priority. However, ensuring the safety of future generations to be able to enjoy the world’s natural beauty is just as important. I have been fortunate to have had opportunities to provide safe places for local children. One such activity was volunteer work as a counselor-in-training at a summer youth day camp in the summer of 2022. My official responsibility in this role was to aid the counselors in jobs including setting up games, leading campers from place to place, and accompanying them on field trips to monitor campers. Unofficially I became a person both the children and counselors came to trust. The campers realized they could rely on me as someone who would not tolerate bullying. The counselors knew they could count on me to ensure the campers treated each other with respect. Following the summer as a CIT, I was eligible to become a full-fledged counselor. I was hired and found myself with far more responsibilities than as a CIT. Although my volunteer work had prepared me for many of the jobs I did as a counselor, the full responsibility was now mine to ensure the safety and well-being of the campers each day. I flourished in this new role. Not only did I make sure the campers were safe in a fun and inviting atmosphere, but that they treated one another with dignity. Further, the other counselors and I strictly regulated the campers’ access to phones, and focused on teaching appropriate ways to express their thoughts and feelings. Another community activity I participated in that worked against bullying was as a co-organizer and leader of a youth summer running camp. I worked with another rising senior on my cross country team to organize the event, and served as a group leader during the camp. This three-day event taught children to learn new skills away from screens, work as teammates encouraging and uplifting each other, and instilled confidence in youngsters as they found they could accomplish feats of which they previously believed they were incapable of. Participants came away with a new-found sense of confidence and teamwork. At the close of my high school years, I look with anticipation and excitement to begin the next chapter of my life. I also reflect on the opportunities that I have had to work with youngsters in my community. I know that I have been an instrument to improve children’s safety and helped teach them to treat one another with respect and dignity.

Imagine that you are deep in the Amazon rainforest, interacting with indigenous people: eating their native food, discussing with them how their children learn, and experiencing some of their cultural traditions and heritage. Then just two days later, hiking towards the summit of one of South America’s tallest stratovolcanoes and struggling to breathe at the high altitudes while being in awe of the majesty of the landscape. This is part of what I experienced last summer during a trip to Ecuador. Encouraged by my parents, I have been an international traveler since before I began kindergarten. This was my latest journey exposing me to cultures and regions very different from my own. As I have made several of these journeys throughout my life, I have come to appreciate the importance of working to understand how both cultures and ecological biomes around us function and are influenced by one another. I know that as humanity is the center of the universe on which most of us focus, we must strive to understand how we affect one another and the natural world around us if we hope to advance in a positive way. Experiencing and working to understand world cultures is key to recognizing humanity’s place in the universe. I have been blessed in that my parents have encouraged me to do both from a very young age. These experiences have helped me better appreciate my place in humanity’s role in the universe. I realize that many individuals’ focus is self-centered and self-serving. I realize that many of my peers that have not been exposed to other ways of life have a narrow view of the world and the universe. While many people are unaware of and even fearful of other ways of life, I realize that the best way for humanity to advance is with a deepened knowledge and respect for various ways of life. Having a perspective on how and why others live the way they do provides important insights on ways for all of us to work together to achieve equity and justice for all people in a cooperative and collaborative way. Without this appreciation xenophobia, mistrust, and greed threaten to hinder or even destroy important progress humans have made in promoting peaceful progress that can uplift everyone. Beyond understanding one another, we must also work to understand our natural world and how humanity’s universe fits into it. Earth is the only refuge for life that we have for the foreseeable future. As our population expands, natural resources and habitable spaces are stretched thin. My travels have exposed me to many examples of the strains being put on the planet and its living spaces. I have had opportunities to witness the fragility of the natural world, and how dependent we, as its tenants, are on its continued functioning. This has instilled a curiosity within me to understand how the Earth’s ecosystems are interrelated and a desire to develop ways and ideas to allow for co-existence of human progress and advancement along with the maintenance and sustainability of the natural world. I know that without my travel experiences I would not have recognized the depth at which people are interconnected to the planet’s biomes. I know that my experiences have provided me with opportunities to recognize relationships that humans have with the natural world in ways that most other people lack. My personal experiences as an international traveler have created my awareness of the importance of understanding other cultures and the need to work to conserve our planet’s natural resources. Understanding our small place in the universe is imperative to ensuring humanity’s continued survival and creating a society in which all people have access to equity and fairness in life. I have witnessed firsthand the struggle for survival that many people have from day to day. I recognize the inadequacy of resources available to many people around the world and how that creates a struggle for survival, even at the cost of depleting necessary natural resources on which we all depend. I have witnessed the inequity in distribution of basic human needs for people around the world. I see the close-mindedness that many individuals carry towards those from differing backgrounds, and how that lack of openness creates strife and struggle. I know that greed has hindered the development of progress, policies, and practices that could benefit the overall condition of humanity. All of this has pushed me toward a desire to take action in improving human existence and our place in our universe. Recognizing the link between humans and the natural world is not sufficient to make positive impacts for everyone’s benefit. I have considered possibilities of how I can be part of a solution to humanity’s problems regarding a lack of awareness and understanding between cultures and an effort to conserve our natural resources for the benefit of everyone. I know that I would begin this process through post-secondary education focusing on international relations and cultural awareness and biology with a focus on ecology and conservation. I have taken and excelled in four levels of Spanish language classes in high school. I intend on continuing this course of study in college, with the ultimate goal of studying abroad in a Spanish speaking country. I will continue to develop my cultural awareness and understanding of different cultures. Preferably I would like to study in Central or South America. I wish to couple this experience with an academic study of ecological and biological processes that could eventually be used to aid native populations. I know these courses of study would guide me to being part of making our place in the universe more positive for everyone on the planet. After completing my studies I would employ my new skills to create positive changes for all humanity. I hope to be able to work with, or possibly start a non profit organization aimed at creating ecological awareness among native and indigenous populations in Central and South America. I can imagine an organization that may work to educate individuals about proper land use, reclaiming previously exhausted natural areas, and methods to ensure the land’s continued feasibility. I envision the organization working with citizens from multiple nations to help develop international cooperation and cultural awareness. Further, I desire to create a sense of savvy among Central and South American native peoples of how to work with corporations that may wish to use their lands. This would help them develop an understanding of how to advocate for themselves in negotiations. They would be empowered with a feeling of competence in their ability to make their voices heard as they work on a level at parity with people from around the world. To conclude my thoughts, I wish to reemphasize why I will work to help humanity understand its place in the universe in which we live. The vast majority of us focus on our world as our universe. Too many of us believe that there is no need for an understanding or awareness of other cultures around the world. Many are of the mindset that there is no cause for working to conserve our world’s limited natural resources. My experiences as a world traveler from a young age have taught me that cultural awareness and conservation practices are necessary to create positive progress for humanity. I wish to be part of a movement to change these beliefs and put new methods in place to counter such ideas and create positive impacts for all of humanity.

Throughout life I have always been active. I have participated in team sports including soccer and swimming. I have also enjoyed activities such as hiking, kayaking, and cycling. However, in middle school I discovered my athletic passion as a middle and longer distance runner. I have excelled in the 1600-5000m events. As I have become more experienced in the sport, I have enjoyed following and cheering for elite distance runners. Athletes such as Yared Nuguse, Grant Fisher, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Eliud Kipchoge inspire me. Recently, my favorite distance runner and Team USA athlete to cheer for became Cole Hocker. As a distance runner, Hocker inspires me. He specializes in the same events that I compete in. I understand the work and dedication it takes in his training regimen to consistently set personal records and win titles. All the while he maintains a self-controlled and modest attitude. He does not rely on dramatics or theatrics to gain recognition among fans. Instead, he lets his actions on the track speak for him and prove that he is worthy of the accolades that he has accumulated. I also see that he works strategically with his teammates, so that they can finish with the best possible times and places. When I watch Hocker race I can see that he never gives up and runs his hardest until after crossing the finish line. The greatest example of Hocker’s hard work ethic and thirst to compete at his best was displayed last summer at the 2024 Summer Olympics. I was excited to watch him run in the men’s 1500m finals; typically his best event. As the race started, there was no surprise to see favorites Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr pull out front, while Hocker settled into the back third of the pack with teammates Hobbs Kessler and Yared Nuguse right ahead. The race quickly progressed with the three teammates working together to move up through the pack into the middle. The top three leaders looked as if they would pull away as the runners entered the final lap. However, Nuguse had eased into fourth with Hocker close behind. Starting with about 250-300 meters to go Hocker began his kick with Nuguse right behind. The second place runner fell back. Hocker made his move and took him. Looking at him at this point I saw the pain and determination I understand so well myself. Both Ingebrigtsen and Kerr struggled to maintain their positions. In one final burst of resolve with about 50 or 60 meters remaining, I saw Hocker was going to take the victory. Ingebrigtsen knew he was beaten and just gave in. Kerr kept coming, but it was too late. He finished second. All the while Nuguse fought to maintain pace with Hocker and finished third as he worked with his teammate, earning a bronze medal. Cole Hocker’s 3:27.65 performance in this race embodies why he is my favorite Team USA athlete to cheer for. It earned him an Olympic gold medal, an Olympic record, and a North American area record. It was three seconds faster than his previous PR, which he set not long before at the 2024 Olympic Trials. I saw that he worked with his teammates in a strategic way, encouraging them as the race progressed. Finally, at the end of the race when he could have easily given in to fatigue and pain, he collected himself, fought as hard as he could, and won. Cole Hocker’s performance in this race should instill an extraordinary sense of pride in all Americans as we cheer on Team USA.

As I have grown into young adulthood I have found that I have many passions and characteristics that define me as an individual. I am a world traveler and an outdoor enthusiast who loves hiking, cycling, and kayaking. I am an athlete with a passion for running, a leader among my peers and teammates, and a type 1 diabetic who has never let that hold me from my passions. All of these together have led me to desire pursuing a degree in environmental biology with a concentration in conservation practices. I also hope to be able to study abroad to improve my Spanish language abilities. Further, after graduating from college I wish to establish some sort of non-profit organization that would focus on helping indigenous groups in Central and South America. The focus would be on aiding them in maintaining their lands, heritage, and cultures as they relate to outside influences and introducing sustainable land use practices. My passions in life have led me toward these educational and career goals. I have travelled to several Spanish-speaking countries in Central and South America. I have learned first-hand the importance of being able to work and communicate with people from various backgrounds, and so wish to work with people from different cultures. My travels have also been focused largely on outdoor activities, adding to my understanding that I desire a career that allows for significant time in nature. My passion for outdoor activities also includes many organized athletics. I discovered a passion for running during my middle school years. I have been involved in cross country and track and field throughout my school years. These experiences have led me to realize leadership potential and capabilities, and shown me that I can positively influence those around me. I know that these characteristics will aid in work that I do during college in team-oriented projects, and after graduation in leading others to make positive changes. Finally, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in middle school. This situation caused me to have to mature much faster than my peers. I realized that if I wanted to continue living the passions of my life, I would have to take my life in my own hands and be responsible for it. I had to learn to manage my diet and all of my diabetic supplies as a part of everyday life. I have had to check in with medical specialists routinely who monitor my progress, and I know they scrutinize all the choices I make. This experience has taught me the importance of personal discipline in achieving goals. As I graduate from high school and prepare to move into the college world, I know that my personal passions will guide me toward a future that I desire. Evaluating my passions will ensure that the direction I go will be the one that was truly meant for me as I strive to make a positive impact on the world.

I have always been told that performing acts of kindness, volunteering, and giving back to the community to create positive change is an important part of life. My parents have emphasized that life should not be about the accumulation of money or material items, but should instead be about uplifting your fellow man. As I have become older and had opportunities to live by this idea I have come to believe in its importance as well. One such opportunity I have had to give back to my community was participating in a volunteer program through a local parks and recreation department called Counselors in Training (CIT). The program was part of a youth summer day camp in my community. I participated in this program in the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of high school. In it, I was responsible for helping the older counselors manage younger children enrolled in the camp. I helped supervise the campers, set up activities, and accompanied the group on field trips to various local destinations. Not only did I learn how to help manage the youngsters for their safety and enjoyment of camp, but I also had chances to understand how much my presence and attention meant to them. I had conversations with many of the children in which I discovered they were looking for someone to listen to them and pay attention to them. I learned that these acts of kindness were appreciated by the young campers more than I was aware when at the end of the summer several of them gave me thank you notes for all the time I spent with them. Further, I took the skills I learned that summer and put them to use as a full-fledged day camp counselor for the next two summers leading up to my senior year in high school. Another act of kindness in which I was able to give back to my community was as an organizer and leader of my town’s first Youth Summer Running and Track camp in July, 2024. One of my cross country and track coaches expressed interest in holding the camp and asked if I would be willing to help. I immediately agreed, being excited to combine my passion for running and what I had learned working with youngsters as a CIT and youth camp counselor. I wanted to introduce children to the sport that has given me so many opportunities to overcome obstacles in life, make me believe in myself, and chances to work with others as a part of a team. I also knew that there would be a great deal of work, in that it would be the inaugural event. I worked to spread the information by contacting local elementary and middle schools and the local newspaper. I participated in planning sessions with my coach and other volunteers. I served as a group leader coaching youngsters during the camp. After the event, I provided more information to the newspaper so they could print a brief article about our success. I am proud of my work with this event. Ultimately we held a mini track meet that I helped to organize and run. The children were able to compete and show off what they had learned during the camp. We presented awards and recognitions at the conclusion. It was fulfilling to see that my work had created pride and happiness for the participants. The children had a positive experience, and parents have already been making inquiries about next year’s program. Now I am preparing for my college education. I hope to pursue a degree in biology with a focus on conservation practices so that the world may be preserved for generations to come. I have chosen this course of study largely due to my dedication to kindness toward my fellow man. I know that if we take no actions to protect our environment, there will be numerous negative consequences for untold numbers of people. Therefore, I wish that my career will help to conserve our natural environment, assuaging potential hardships for as many people as possible. I know that my choices in study and career will follow the pattern of volunteerism, kindness, and giving back to my community that has been a part of my life for many years. My work will promote the legacies of kindness of Jennifer and Rob Tower.

I was diagnosed with Type I diabetes in October, 2019 in the 7th grade. Until that time I had never given a thought to diet, blood sugar, or insulin. When I was released from the hospital following my diagnosis I felt much better physically, however I realized my life was going to change forever. I immediately decided that diabetes would not control me or limit me in my goals and desires. I have always enjoyed being active and being outside. I played soccer throughout elementary school and into middle school and also ran cross country. I also enjoyed hiking, bicycling, and kayaking with my father. I was determined that diabetes would not stop me from pursuing these activities. I learned what I needed to do to ensure that my body remained healthy so that I could continue my active lifestyle. As a high school senior I have been a top runner on my cross country and track teams, qualifying for state championships. Further, I am a member of my school’s swim team. I have also worked to maintain a 4.313 weighted GPA and I am ranked 14th in my class. Now, as I prepare for college I wish to study biology, concentrating in ecology. This parallels my love of outdoors and an active lifestyle. I will be required to be in the field for much of the time. Diabetes will not stop me from achieving this, as I have never allowed it to stop me from accomplishing my goals.

I have always been told that giving back to create positive change is an important part of life. My parents have emphasized that life should not be about the accumulation of money or material items, but should instead be about uplifting your fellow man. As I have become older and had opportunities to live by this idea I have come to believe in its importance as well. One such opportunity I have had to give back was participating in a volunteer program through the Waynesville, NC Parks and Recreation Department called Counselors in Training (CIT). The program was part of Waynesville’s Youth Summer Day Camp. I participated in this program in the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of high school. In it, I was responsible for helping the older counselors manage younger children enrolled in the camp. I helped supervise the campers, set up activities, and accompanied the group on field trips to various local destinations. I learned how much the young campers appreciated my work with them at the end of the summer when several of them gave me thank you notes for all the time I spent with them. Further, I took the skills I learned that summer and put them to use as a full-fledged counselor in Waynesville the next summer, and then as a counselor in Canton’s first summer day camp before my senior year in high school. Another opportunity I had to give back was as an organizer and leader of Canton, NC’s first Youth Summer Running and Track camp in 2024. One of my cross country and track coaches expressed interest in holding the camp and asked if I would be willing to help. I immediately agreed, being excited to combine my passion for running and what I had learned working with youngsters as a CIT and youth camp counselor. I wanted to introduce children to the sport that has given me so many opportunities to overcome obstacles in life, make me believe in myself, and chances to work with others and be part of a team. I also knew that there would be a great deal of work, in that it would be the inaugural event. I worked to spread the information by contacting local elementary and middle schools and the local newspaper. I participated in planning sessions with my coach and other volunteers. I served as a group leader coaching youngsters during the camp. After the event, I provided more information to the newspaper so they could print a brief article about our success. I am proud of my work with this event. The children had a positive experience, and parents have already been making inquiries about next year’s program. Now I am preparing for my college education. I hope to pursue a degree in biology with a focus on conservation practices so that the world may be preserved for generations. I am very near the top of my class with a weighted GPA of 4.313. I am excited to begin my studies at East Tennessee State University, however I will be relying solely on scholarships with loans making up the remainder of what I must pay. As a recipient of the Jackie Hudson Memorial Scholarship, I will be able to continue giving back to my fellow man, as I have been taught from a young age.

As I have grown into young adulthood I have found that I have many passions and characteristics that define me as an individual. I am a world traveler and an outdoor enthusiast who loves hiking, cycling, and kayaking. I am an athlete with a passion for running, a leader among my peers and teammates, and a type 1 diabetic who has never let that hold me from my passions. All of these together have led me to desire pursuing a degree in environmental biology with a concentration in conservation practices. I also hope to be able to study abroad to improve my Spanish language abilities. Further, after graduating from college I wish to establish some sort of non-profit organization that would focus on helping indigenous groups in Central and South America. The focus would be on aiding them in maintaining their lands, heritage, and cultures as they relate to outside influences and introducing sustainable land use practices. My passions in life have led me toward these educational and career goals. I have travelled to several Spanish-speaking countries in Central and South America. I have learned first-hand the importance of being able to work and communicate with people from various backgrounds, and so wish to work with people from different cultures. My travels have also been focused largely on outdoor activities, adding to my understanding that I desire a career that allows for significant time in nature. My passion for outdoor activities also includes many organized athletics. I discovered a passion for running during my middle school years. I have been involved in cross country and track and field throughout my school years. These experiences have led me to realize leadership potential and capabilities, and shown me that I can positively influence those around me. I know that these characteristics will aid in work that I do during college in team-oriented projects, and after graduation in leading others to make positive changes. Finally, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in middle school. This situation caused me to have to mature much faster than my peers. I realized that if I wanted to continue living the passions of my life, I would have to take my life in my own hands and be responsible for it. I had to learn to manage my diet and all of my diabetic supplies as a part of everyday life. I have had to check in with medical specialists routinely who monitor my progress, and I know they scrutinize all the choices I make. This experience has taught me the importance of personal discipline in achieving goals. As I graduate from high school and prepare to move into the college world, I know that my personal passions will guide me toward a future that I desire. Evaluating my passions will ensure that the direction I go will be the one that was truly meant for me as I strive to make a positive impact on the world.