Title: Cultivating the Future: STEM, Arts, and an 'Up-stander' Mentality As a rising college junior pursuing my passion for biology, I recognize the importance of a strong foundation in STEM and the arts. My name is Dawit Teshome, a Black undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), and I am applying for the Mohamed Magdi Taha Memorial Scholarship to further grow my knowledge and positively impact my community. Inspired by the legacy of Mohamed Magdi Taha, I strive to be an ‘up-stander’ and give voice to the underrepresented, using my skills and academic foundation to support others and make a difference in the world. Throughout my academic journey, I have maintained a high level of commitment to my studies, resulting in an impressive high school GPA of 3.67 and a college GPA of 3.86. My dedication got me to UMBC, a highly regarded institution, where I am proud to pursue my degree and develop the necessary skills to excel in the STEM field. I understand the importance of being resilient, working hard, and going beyond merely surviving in my environment. Instead, being an ‘up-stander’ means to thrive and empower others to do the same. My commitment to STEM and the arts stems from my aspiration to actively improve lives and help those who lack resources or opportunities. By integrating my passion for biology with the creative aspects of the arts, I hope to develop innovative solutions to tackle challenges faced by underprivileged communities in areas such as healthcare and education. I strongly believe that combining these two disciplines can lead to a more holistic and empathetic approach to problem-solving and create a better understanding of how our world functions at an individual and collective level. As a Black man from Ethiopia, I am fully aware of the struggles of finding representation in both STEM and the arts. I plan to use my voice to advocate for inclusivity and equal opportunity within these fields, actively working towards breaking barriers for future generations. I aim to engage with my peers, professors, and community members in solidarity, building a collaborative and diverse network that fosters growth and the exchange of ideas. As an ‘up-stander,’ I will not only push to succeed academically but also create spaces where my peers and those who follow in my footsteps have the opportunities to learn and grow as individuals. The support of the Mohamed Magdi Taha Memorial Scholarship would not only open doors for my academic career but also empower me to become a change-maker in a world that desperately needs compassionate, innovative leaders. By investing in my education, I can seize opportunities to make a long-lasting impact in the fields of STEM and the arts. Determined to make a difference, I remain steadfast in my pursuit of excellence in my studies while using my voice to advocate for the underrepresented. Thank you for considering my application for this prestigious scholarship. Together, we can create a brighter future for those whose voices need to be heard.

As a kid who dreams and wants to help people I always looked for ways I could help the people around em to change their life's. I always liked to think that somewhere in the world there is some one helping someone in need, sadly this dream was shut down faster than it could bloom. A trip to Ethiopia in the summer of 2018 opened my eyes to differences in medical care for people outside of the United States. When I visited rural hospitals, patients were unsatisfied because they were not receiving treatment or were given the wrong treatment because of the lack of qualified health care professionals. Many in the medical field received inadequate training to care for patients. My grandma fell ill with liver disease and doctors did not know how to treat her condition. Not only did they not know what was wrong they showed zero patient care experience. I wondered if she was in the United States would she have received better care and been able to overcome this illness? If her doctors had more training and experience, would they have been able to offer her better care? What if more specialist doctors were available in her area? Instead, she passed away due to complications from her illness. I was furious by the lack of medical care options for her and I was torn up by her death. Even more troubling is that I realized this problem is not unique to Ethiopia; these problems even exist in areas in the US such as rural regions with sparse populations. This realization has given me resolve to pursue a degree in biochemistry and medical research. Even though the path seems long and hard I eventually plan on becoming a neurosurgeon. I would like to find a major and a career that will have an impact on potentially improving people’s quality of life. In high school, I am working towards achieving this goal by taking rigorous academic courses especially in math and science. I've Been parts of many programs and even have been a primary author of a paper that was published at the gorge Washington school of medicine library archives. This experience will allow me to see if the medical field is the right fit for me and give me a better sense of how I need to proceed forwards to achieve my career goals. I realize that I cannot take on the entire challenge of providing healthcare to everyone on my own, but by dedicating myself to a medical profession I feel like I can be part of the solution. Hopefully, this pathway leads me back to helping those in less developed countries to have better, higher quality access to health care. I really hope that one day I will be the one that gives the care that these people need and many more. I will be able to spread health care far and beyond to everyone and i can go to sleep knowing that I helped.