Most people inherit something when their parents pass…money, property, maybe a family business. I’ll inherit a person. My brother, Brady, was born with Down syndrome, autism, and a host of complex medical needs. He is nonverbal and requires full-time support. When my parents have passed or are unable to continue to care for Brady, I’ll become his legal guardian. That’s not just a future responsibility for me, however. It’s shaped every decision I’ve made so far. I realized early on that love alone wouldn’t be enough to keep him safe. Brady’s future depends on public systems (Medicaid, Social Security, special education law, long-term care services, etc.), and I wanted to be someone who could navigate those systems fluently. Not just for him, but for every family like mine trying to stay afloat in the red tape. That’s what led me to public service. I’m currently an senior at Grand Canyon University, majoring in government and legal studies. I accelerated my degree, and alongside school, I’ve stepped into leadership roles that push me to think at scale. As Director of Clubs, I’ve supported over 130 student organizations and learned how to create infrastructure that includes and empowers. One of the most meaningful ways I’ve served the public is through my work as a research analyst at Love Your School, a nonprofit that supports families navigating thier child’s education. In this role, I develop guides that break down complex laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into clear, usable resources. I talk to families who are often overwhelmed, under-supported, and unsure of where to begin, and help them understand their rights. I’ve worked on everything from special education placement to school choice programs, and I’ve seen firsthand how confusing and intimidating public systems can be. I’ve also seen how much of a difference it makes when someone takes the time to explain things clearly and offer next steps. That’s the kind of public servant I want to be: grounded, practical, and committed to real people’s needs. At seventeen, I also noticed a huge gap in education for students like Brady, non-speakers who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). So I built something to meet that need. I created SpellAdventures, a subscription-based curriculum designed for neurodiverse learners. What started as a side project has grown into a resource serving over 300 families around the world. The business helps fund my education, but more importantly, it’s shown me how to create tools that make life easier and more empowering for marginalized communities. Next fall, I plan to begin law school to become a disability rights advocate and public policy expert. I want to help shape the systems that shape people’s lives. Whether that’s inside a federal agency or through nonprofit work, my mission is the same: make public systems more accessible, more effective, and more compassionate. This scholarship would ease the financial burden of continuing my education. I’ve worked hard to pay for school through my own business. This scholarship would take off some of the financial pressure so I can say yes to the next steps (internships, legal experience, and real-world service) without having to choose between impact and income. I didn’t choose my inheritance, but I choose to honor it. My career will be dedicated to serving the most vulnerable people in our communities, those who often don’t have the resources or voice to advocate for themselves. That calling, to me, is what public service is all about.

The U.S. criminal justice system’s greatest failure is its inability to properly recognize, accommodate, and protect individuals with disabilities. From policing through incarceration, people with cognitive and developmental disabilities are disproportionately criminalized. It’s not because they are more dangerous, but because the system is fundamentally unprepared to understand and serve them. Over 40% of incarcerated individuals have at least one disability, compared to roughly 15% of the general population (U.S. Department of Justice). Youth with disabilities are arrested at nearly three times the rate of their nondisabled peers (National Council on Disability). Once inside the system, they face harsher charges, inadequate legal accommodations, and inhumane conditions such as solitary confinement or neglect. These realities highlight not only a failure of policy but a deep civil rights crisis. My commitment to this cause is deeply personal. My brother, who has both Autism and Down syndrome, struggles to be understood and fairly treated by society. That has profoundly shaped the way I view the legal system. Witnessing his vulnerabilities and the ways society often overlooks individuals like him has fueled my determination to advocate for stronger legal protections and accommodations. I am passionate about ensuring that people with disabilities, especially those who cannot speak for themselves, receive equitable treatment and respect in every part of life, including the justice system. During my senior year of high school, I immersed myself in studying different philosophies of criminal justice, including rehabilitation, deterrence, restitution, and retribution. I analyzed the research and debated which approach best serves society and reduces repeat offenses. The evidence was overwhelming: rehabilitation programs focused on addressing the root causes of criminal behavior have the most success in lowering recidivism rates. This insight reaffirmed my conviction that the justice system must shift its focus from punishment to healing, especially for marginalized groups such as people with disabilities, who often find themselves entangled in the system due to systemic neglect rather than malice. Though my current work primarily focuses on education as a research analyst at Love Your School, the connection to criminal justice is clear and urgent. I have written extensively on disability inclusion and special education policies, developed accessible educational materials, and supported families navigating complex legal systems. These experiences have revealed to me how early failures in education disproportionately push students with disabilities into disciplinary systems that ultimately lead to criminal justice involvement. According to a 2018 Government Accountability Office report, students with disabilities make up 12% of the school population but account for 25% of school arrests. That is a stark indicator of how unmet needs in education can spiral into legal consequences. My long-term goal is to become a disability rights attorney who stands alongside clients who are often misunderstood or misrepresented. I intend to fight for systemic reforms, including mandatory disability awareness training for police officers and legal professionals, reevaluation of competency standards to reflect neurodiversity, and the expansion of diversion programs that emphasize rehabilitation over incarceration. By championing these changes, I hope to ensure that the legal system no longer punishes difference but respects and accommodates it. Justice, to me, is not simply equal treatment, but fairness that recognizes and responds to diverse needs. Unfortunately, the legal system often equates disability with incompetence, vulnerability with guilt, and difference with danger. This leads to systemic failures that not only harm individuals but undermine the integrity of justice itself. Beyond my research and advocacy work, I have actively sought leadership roles to develop the skills necessary to effect systemic change. As a Student Leader Clubs Director at Grand Canyon University and Secretary of our International City/County Management Association chapter, I have collaborated with fellow emerging public service leaders to craft inclusive policies and initiatives. These experiences have honed my abilities in advocacy, coalition-building, and strategic planning. These are skills I plan to use as an attorney working to reform the justice system. Leading diverse teams and engaging with community stakeholders have deepened my understanding of how policy and law intersect to impact real lives. This scholarship would be instrumental in supporting my ongoing preparation for law school and allowing me to expand the advocacy work I have already begun. I am not waiting to make a difference. With every research paper, every volunteer hour, and every leadership opportunity, I am building a foundation to fight for those the justice system routinely overlooks and misunderstands. This commitment drives me every day. Justice is not optional. It is an imperative that must be fulfilled for everyone, regardless of ability.

When my brother was diagnosed with Down syndrome, experts did not give us goals -- they gave us limits. They told my mom he would never learn to read, never use the bathroom independently, and never understand numbers or write his name. They advised us to lower our expectations and focus on keeping him “comfortable.” However, my mom chose a different path. She read extensively about special education law, hired an attorney, challenged the system, and became the fierce advocate my brother needed. Night after night, I watched her sit at the kitchen table, highlighting IEP documents and drafting emails no parent should have to write just to secure basic support. Growing up in the middle of that fight shaped my beliefs about justice, dignity, accessibility, and what every family deserves. I grew up inside that fight. It shaped everything I believe about justice, dignity, accessibility, and what families deserve. Now, as a Government major with a Legal Studies emphasis at Grand Canyon University, I am pursuing a future in disability and education law because I know what is at stake. I have seen how systems fail and how policy can be a lifeline when people know how to use it. My long-term goal is to practice disability law and shape education policy that better serves neurodiverse and disabled students. I am studying law so I can change it. Families like mine cannot afford to wait for reform. I want to write it. My passion for disability law and education policy has grown through both personal and professional experiences. In my role at Love Your School, I have authored over 75 articles explaining IDEA, Section 504, and Arizona’s education funding programs to families who often feel overwhelmed and unheard. My work helps educate parents nationwide on their rights, advocate for their children, and navigate bureaucratic barriers with confidence. These experiences have shown me firsthand how structural barriers in education limit opportunities, but they also demonstrate how knowledge and advocacy can empower families. In response to the gap in accessible, inclusive learning tools, I created a subscription platform, SpellAdventures, offering multisensory spelling lessons for neurodiverse students. While it began as a small project, it has grown into a resource for families seeking tailored support. It reminded me that change does not always start with a courtroom. Instead, it sometimes begins at the kitchen table, with a parent trying to teach a child who learns differently. This is the kind of work I want to expand on: actionable, family-centered, and justice-driven. My education is preparing me to understand the law and also to change it. I am particularly interested in policies around IEP accountability, equitable school funding, and anti-discrimination protections for students with invisible disabilities. My dream is to serve as a legal advocate and eventually shape state or federal legislation that reflects the lived experiences of disabled communities. But advocacy requires more than passion; it requires rigorous training, legal knowledge, and the ability to navigate systems effectively. That’s what I am building now, and what this scholarship would help make possible. I am deeply committed to using my degree in service to people with disabilities. Whether through direct advocacy, resource creation, policy writing, or future litigation, my mission is to ensure every student (regardless of their abilities or disabilities) has access to the education and protections they deserve. I want to be the kind of lawyer who not only understands the system but also rewrites it so families never have to beg for what should have been theirs all along.