During my freshman year in college, I participated in a two-semester-long research project through the Geology department. Despite the positive learning outcome of the research program, I often felt discouraged in the process. The department environment was usually not accepting of differences in ability, sexual orientation, and identity, and this led to lots of anxiety about how my self-worth and future career. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I know the importance of feeling safe in a supportive environment, and the idea of growing as an undergraduate in an academic environment that was not accepting and encouraging was super discouraging. Transferring universities was an option I pondered, and it meant lots of uncertainties about what my future held. Despite the fear of changing schools, I applied to transfer to the University of Florida, and after several months of waiting, I received my transfer acceptance letter from the University of Florida and started in August 2024. Transferring to a new university has not been without its challenges but they are overshadowed by the feeling of security, acceptance, and encouragement I now feel at my new university. I was able to find safe and accepting roommates that I now call my friends. We participate together in extracurriculars with LGBTQ+ friendly peers and support each other. I have connected with peers who have common interests outside of school as well as who share the love of exploring the sciences. I completed the Florida Museum Undergraduate Internship Program and was paired with a mentor professor who is accepting, encouraging, and providing academic opportunities in my field which has included becoming published as a first author in a scientific journal. I am very appreciative to be in a supportive educational environment where I can grow as a student and individual. I have also been a Work Study Student Assistant in a department office. As an openly gay women being a student assistant that can be supportive to all students, especially the LBGTQ+ community who can often feel unseen in this political climate, has been a rewarding experience. I am currently finishing my Bachelors of Science degree and plan to start graduate school in August 2026 where I am working on gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare me not only for graduate school but also a successful career in geosciences. My career goals involve becoming a Licensed Professional Geologist and being part of the science community, which focuses on improving the health of our planet by focusing on sustainability and green practices. I am very proud of what I accomplished thus far in my educational experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity of having a safe and encouraging academic environment to grow my knowledge and skills in research. Having someone to relate to who works in a field you are pursuing can make your academic journey feel less isolating, more achievable and encouraging. By pursuing my education in this field, I hope to be a figure that others like me can identify with and I can be of support, as there are small numbers of women, particularly LGBQT+ in the geosciences.

From joining my first STEM club in the first grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment and have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in the physical sciences. I enjoy all aspects of science, but particularly I appreciate the educational outreach portion of it. This passion was sparked in high school during the COVID-19 pandemic, where I held science-themed educational demonstrations and activities for children impacted by the pandemic. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to teach the kids to have an appreciation for science, and to use fun and engaging activities that made the topics more accessible and approachable. I have had some career-based experience that helped solidify my passion. When completing my internship through Volusia County Mosquito Control, part of my role in this environmental science position was community education and outreach. I traveled to local libraries and community centers and participated in educational demonstrations aimed both at adults, as well as kids. Mosquitoes are misunderstood creatures and have super interesting adaptations and qualities that are not commonly known. They are viewed only as harmful pests but are important to the ecosystem and serve purposes greater than just nuisance biting. Being able to teach about this often-disliked creature in a way that was engaging, and often opinion-changing was a very rewarding experience. Community education and outreach intersect heavily with my career goals. I am currently pursuing my Bachelor of Science in the area of geology, focusing my extracurricular course work on paleontology. I am currently working on my Bachelor of Science degree in Geology where I am focused on gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare me not only for graduate school but also to allow me to have a successful career in geosciences. The field of geology that focuses on understanding how we as humans impact the earth around us, how to reverse any damage we have already created and ways we can improve our use of resources and apply to green building is of interest to me. Career-wise, I have a huge interest in paleontological collections work. It also is a dream of mine to be a researcher at a museum, where I can access collections of the many specimens waiting to be researched, as well as teach my findings to the public. This career path heavily intertwines with educational outreach. Museums are facilities that serve multiple purposes; they house materials of interest to be researched by scientists, as well as serve to educate the public about science and history through engaging displays and demonstrations. It is often at places like museums that people find a passion or curiosity about something they did not know before, much like me. I have fond childhood memories of attending field trips to the local museum, where museum workers did demonstrations and interactive learning experiences that stuck with me all of these years later. I want to do educational outreach much in the same manner, where I can teach something that sticks with an individual for years and bridge the gap between the public and academic spheres in a way that makes science accessible for all.

From joining my first STEM club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. While in middle and high school, I participated in Science Olympiad, and this was a significant STEM experience for me. It introduced me to different research and scientific methods that paved the path to my passion for sciences today. I became involved in community service at age 5 when I joined Girl Scouts and throughout my high school experience and college as well, I have been able to participate in outreaches through school and community organizations. I have also been inspired to start outreaches of my own including a Stem Outreach for kids. I enjoy using my science skills to help others so I started a STEM Outreach to help the children with their academics in a fun way. Playing a role in helping the children discover that they are smart and capable and that science is fun has been important to me. My community service experience over the years has given me hope about how we as a community can come together to be there for others in need, and I look forward to continuing this through my college days and in my career path in the STEM field. I am currently working on my Bachelors of Science degree in Geology where I am focused on gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare me not only for graduate school but also to allow me to have a successful career in geosciences. The field of geology that focuses on understanding how we as humans impact the earth around us, how to reverse any damage we have already created and ways we can improve our use of resources is of great interest to me. I successfully completed a summer environmental science internship as well as a fall museum archive and collections research internship experience. My career goals involve becoming a Licensed Professional Geologist and being part of the science community, which focuses on improving the health of our planet by focusing on sustainability and green practices. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. This scholarship will allow me to continue to put full effort and focus in all my academics and extracurricular activities while continuing to strive for higher goals.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment and have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. Throughout middle and high school, I participated in the highly competitive Science Olympiad, which helped improve my STEM skills of research, experimenting, and dealing with challenges and the unexpected. Participating in this science competition for many years has made a big impact on my long-term career goals in several ways. One thing I enjoyed about the Science Olympiad was researching and immersing myself in different science topics of interest. My favorite categories to compete in focused on understanding environmental processes and conservation, wind power, properties of rocks and minerals, and fossils. I am now using that dedication and interest in the environment and green practices that I developed in the Olympiad currently in my college endeavors. I am pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Geology where I am working on gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare me not only for graduate school but also a successful career in geosciences. The field of geology that focuses on understanding how we as humans impact the earth around us, how to reverse any damage we have already created and ways we can improve our use of resources is of great interest to me. Hydropower is a clean and renewable source of energy. Geologists play an important role in helping analyze the rock type and structural features in order to evaluate if an area has a safe foundation for a dam to be built that can produce hydropower. Being able to minimize greenhouse gas emissions by using hydropower is one way that we can work together on improving the environment. Hydropower not only generates clean form of electricity but can be help provide clean drinking water. Community education and outreach intersect heavily with my career goals. As part of my career goals, I feel it is important to do educational outreach about environmental issues including clean energy. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. This scholarship will allow me to continue to put full effort and focus in all my academics and extracurricular activities while continuing to strive for higher goals focused on helping improve the health of our planet.

From joining my first STEM club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. I identify as a Gay woman and know the importance of feeling safe and in a supportive environment. During my freshman year, I participated in a two-semester-long research project through the Geology department. Despite the positive learning outcome of the research program, I often felt discouraged in the process. The department environment was often not accepting of differences in ability, sexual orientation and identity, and this led to lots of anxiety about how my self-worth and future career. Thoughts of growing as an undergraduate in an academic environment that was not accepting and encouraging was stressful and worrisome. Despite the fear of changing schools, I decided to apply to transfer to the University of Florida. Transferring to a new university has not been without its challenges but they are overshadowed by the feeling of security, acceptance and encouragement I now feel. I am very appreciative to be in a supportive educational environment where I can grow as a student and individual. I am pursuing a BS degree in Geology where I am working on gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare me not only for graduate school but also a successful career in geosciences as a Licensed Professional Geologist. My career goals involve being part of the science community whose focus is to improve the health of our planet by focusing on sustainability and green practices. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher education, I would like to be a mentor to LGBTQ+ students who are pursuing a career in STEM so that they can feel encouraged and supported. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is important to me. This scholarship will allow me to continue to put full effort and focus in all my academics and extracurricular activities while continuing to strive for higher goals.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment and have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. I am currently working on my Bachelors of Science degree in Geology where I am focused on gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare me not only for graduate school but also to allow me to have a successful career in geosciences. I participated in a two-semester-long research project about Geology through the undergraduate research opportunity program. I was mentored by a Geology professor, and we explored the high-pressure behavior of the mineral Kaolinite. After completing the research project, I gained experience in conducting research, data analysis, and lab experience in the major. I learned how to use IGOR Pro to create graphs and analyze spectrometer data. Lastly, I gained skills in presentation etiquette as well as creating a proper scientific research poster. Despite the positive learning outcome of the research program, I often felt discouraged in the process. The environment was often not accepting of differences in ability or identity, and this led to lots of anxiety about how my self-worth and future career. This started to affect my ability to fully feel engaged and at ease not only in the academic setting but also in extracurricular activities pertaining to my major. Thoughts of growing as an undergraduate in an academic environment that was not accepting and encouraging was stressful and worrisome. I knew I needed to expand my peer group to those who not only have common interests but felt the same understanding of the importance of feeling included. I began exploring geology programs at different universities and looking into my options at other schools. Transferring to a new school would be a big change faced with uncertainty. Despite the fear of changing schools, I decided to apply to transfer to the University of Florida, completed my application and hit the submit button. After several months of waiting, I received my transfer acceptance to UF. Transferring to a new university has not been without its challenges. However, the challenges have been overshadowed by the feeling of security, acceptance and encouragement I feel at my new university. I am very appreciative to be in a supportive environment where I can grow as a student and individual. This scholarship will allow me to continue to put full effort and focus in all my academics and extracurricular activities while continuing to strive for higher goals. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher education, I would like to be a mentor to students pursuing a career in STEM so that they can feel encouraged and supported. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is important to me.

From joining my first STEM club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. While in middle and high school, I participated in Science Olympiad, and this was a significant STEM experience for me. It introduced me to different research and scientific methods that paved the path to my passion for sciences today. I became involved in community service at age 5 when I joined Girl Scouts and throughout my high school experience and college as well, I have been able to participate in outreaches through school and community organizations. I have also been inspired to start outreaches of my own including a Stem Outreach for kids. I enjoy using my science skills to help others so I started a STEM Outreach to help the children with their academics in a fun way. Playing a role in helping the children discover that they are smart and capable and that science is fun has been important to me. My community service experience over the years has given me hope about how we as a community can come together to be there for others in need, and I look forward to continuing this through my college days and in my career path in the STEM field. I participated in a two-semester-long research project about Geology through the undergraduate research opportunity program. I was mentored by a Geology professor, and we explored the high-pressure behavior of the mineral Kaolinite. After completing the research project, I gained experience in conducting research, data analysis, lab experience in the major as well as presentation etiquette. Despite the positive learning outcome of the research program, I often felt discouraged in the process. The environment was often not accepting of differences in ability or identity, and this led to lots of anxiety about how my future career. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher education, I would like to be a mentor to students pursuing a career in STEM so that they can feel encouraged and supported. I hope to be a part of academic environments that encourage quality relationships and support one another. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is important to me. I know that by completing a BS degree in Geology, I will be able to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare me not only for graduate school but also to allow me to have a successful career in geosciences. I hope to be involved in geological research and field work to help make a positive impact on the science community whose focus is to improve the health of our planet by focusing on sustainability and green practices. Understanding geology is a key factor in understanding how we as humans impact the earth around us, and how to reverse any damage we have already created. This scholarship will help me come closer to my personal and professional goals.

From joining my first STEM club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. While in middle and high school, I participated in Science Olympiad, and this was a significant STEM experience for me. It introduced me to different research and scientific methods that paved the path to my passion for sciences today. I became involved in community service at age 5 when I joined Girl Scouts and throughout my high school experience and college as well, I have been able to participate in outreaches through school and community organizations. I have also been inspired to start outreaches of my own including a Stem Outreach for kids. I enjoy using my science skills to help others so I started a STEM Outreach to help the children with their academics in a fun way. Playing a role in helping the children discover that they are smart and capable and that science is fun has been important to me. My community service experience over the years has given me hope about how we as a community can come together to be there for others in need, and I look forward to continuing this through my college days and in my career path in the STEM field. I participated in a two-semester-long research project about Geology through the undergraduate research opportunity program. I was mentored by a Geology professor, and we explored the high-pressure behavior of the mineral Kaolinite. After completing the research project, I gained experience in conducting research, data analysis, lab experience in the major as well as presentation etiquette. Despite the positive learning outcome of the research program, I often felt discouraged in the process. The environment was often not accepting of differences in ability or identity, and this led to lots of anxiety about how my future career. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher education, I would like to be a mentor to students pursuing a career in STEM so that they can feel encouraged and supported. I hope to be a part of academic environments that encourage quality relationships and support one another. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is important to me. I know that by completing a BS degree in Geology, I will be able to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare me not only for graduate school but also to allow me to have a successful career in geosciences. I hope to be involved in geological research and field work to help make a positive impact on the science community whose focus is to improve the health of our planet by focusing on sustainability and green practices. Understanding geology is a key factor in understanding how we as humans impact the earth around us, and how to reverse any damage we have already created.

From joining my first STEM club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. While in middle and high school, I participated in Science Olympiad, and this was a significant STEM experience for me. It introduced me to different research and scientific methods that paved the path to my passion for sciences today. I became involved in community service at age 5 when I joined Girl Scouts and throughout my high school experience and college as well, I have been able to participate in outreaches through school and community organizations. I have also been inspired to start outreaches of my own including a Stem Outreach for kids. I enjoy using my science skills to help others so I started a STEM Outreach to help the children with their academics in a fun way. My goal during the outreach events was to help provide safe, entertaining, and educational STEM activities. Playing a role in helping the children discover that they are smart and capable and that science is fun has been important to me. My community service experience over the years has given me hope about how we as a community can come together to be there for others in need, and I look forward to continuing this through my college days and in my career path in the STEM field. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher education, I would like to be a mentor to students pursuing a career in STEM so that they can feel encouraged and supported. I hope to be a part of academic environments that encourage quality relationships and support one another. I would like to be a mentor to undergraduates when I become a Geologist, as helping others in their scientific journey would lead to more positive changes and more discoveries that can impact how we understand the world around us. I hope to be involved in geological research and field work to help make a positive impact on the science community whose focus is to improve the health of our planet by focusing on sustainability and green practices. Understanding geology is a key factor in understanding how we as humans impact the earth around us, and how to reverse any damage we have already created.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEAM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the science and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment and have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, and community service awards at the local, regional, and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. I am now using that dedication and interest in the sciences and environment in my college endeavors. I have just finished my 2nd year in college where I am working on my Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. I participated in a two-semester-long research project about Geology through the undergraduate research opportunity program. I was mentored by a Geology professor, and we explored the high-pressure behavior of the mineral Kaolinite. After completing the research project, I gained experience in conducting research, data analysis, lab experience in the major as well as presentation etiquette. Despite the positive learning outcome of the research program, I often felt discouraged in the process. The environment was often not accepting of differences in ability or identity, and this led to lots of anxiety about how my future career. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher education, I would like to be a mentor to students pursuing a career in STEM so that they can feel encouraged and supported. I hope to be a part of academic environments that encourage quality relationships and support one another. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is important to me. I became involved in community service at the young age of 5 when I joined Girl Scouts, and my commitment to community outreach has only flourished over the years. During high school, I started a Stem Outreach to help children with their academics as well as help them feel encouraged. Playing a role in helping the children discover that they are smart and capable and that science is fun has been important to me. Photography is a personal interest of mine that motivated me to create the Capturing Shots of Kindness Outreach. Through my photo outreach, I have been able to use my artistic skills to create special photoshoot experiences free of charge, so that foster care and special needs children could feel uplifted and special. I helped organize collection drives for foster care children for needed items such as backpacks, school supplies, clothes, and holiday gifts and treats. Seeing the beautiful smiles and the difference the collection drives have made for the children has been a very personal and touching experience. By completing a BS degree in Geology, I hope to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare me to have a successful career in geosciences. I plan to attend graduate school and participate in research at the university level as well as achieve my goal of becoming a Licensed Professional Geologist. My career goals involve working towards sustainability, and in the future, I want to apply my geological knowledge in green building settings, and work alongside environmental engineers and sustainability scientists for building and construction that is sustainable.

I became involved in community service at the young age of 5 when I joined Girl Scouts, and my commitment to community outreach has only flourished over the years. Throughout my high school experience and college as well, I have been able to participate in outreaches through school and community organizations that have included food and toy drives, making and serving food to families in need, assisting with school-based outreach events, helping local veterans, senior citizens, and low-income families, as well as many other projects. I also have been inspired to start community outreaches of my own using some of my strengths to help others. I enjoy using my academic skills to help others and I thought that my positive experiences with STEM could be used to help special needs and children in foster care that needed extra support. During high school, I started a Stem Outreach to help children with their academics as well as help them feel encouraged. My goal during Stem outreach events was to help provide safe, entertaining, and educational Stem activities while helping to foster learning and curiosity. Playing a role in helping the children discover that they are smart and capable and that science is fun has been important to me. Photography is a personal interest of mine that motivated me to create the Capturing Shots of Kindness Outreach. Through my photo outreach, I have been able to use my artistic skills to create special photoshoot experiences free of charge, so that foster care and special needs children could feel uplifted and special. Through this outreach, I have been able to advocate for the needs of children in foster care as well as organized collection drives for foster care children for needed items such as backpacks, school supplies, clothes, and holiday gifts and treats. The outreach drives encouraged community members to give to others as well as helped the children feel special knowing someone had shopped and created a special gift package and letter of encouragement just for them. Seeing the beautiful smiles and the difference the collection drives have made for the children has been a very personal and touching experience. The smiles and joy I have witnessed on the children’s faces during stem outreach activities and through Capturing Shots of Kindness, my photography outreach for children in foster care, have been inspiring and affected me immensely. Being able to continue to use my academic, artistic and leadership skills to help others throughout college and in my chosen career is of great importance to me.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the science and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment and have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, and community service awards at the local, regional, and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. Throughout middle and high school, I participated in the highly competitive Science Olympiad, which helped improve my STEM skills of research, experimenting, and dealing with challenges. I am now using that dedication and interest in the sciences and environment in my college endeavors. I have just finished my 2nd year in college where I am working on my Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. I participated in a two-semester-long research project about Geology through the undergraduate research opportunity program. I was mentored by a Geology professor, and we explored the high-pressure behavior of the mineral Kaolinite. After completing the research project, I gained experience in conducting research, data analysis, and lab experience in the major. I learned how to use IGOR Pro to create graphs and analyze spectrometer data. Lastly, I gained skills in presentation etiquette as well as creating a proper scientific research poster. Despite the positive learning outcome of the research program, I often felt discouraged in the process. The environment was often not accepting of differences in ability or identity, and this led to lots of anxiety about how my future career. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher education, I would like to be a mentor to students pursuing a career in STEM so that they can feel encouraged and supported. I hope to be a part of academic environments that encourage quality relationships and support one another. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is important to me. I became involved in community service at age 5 when I joined Girl Scouts and throughout my high school experience and college as well, I have been able to participate in outreaches through school and community organizations. I have also been inspired to start outreaches of my own including a Stem Outreach for kids. Playing a role in helping children discover that they are smart and that science is fun has been important to me. Being able to use my academic, artistic, and leadership skills to help others has been of great satisfaction to me, and has shown me how we all can use our talents to encourage and support others in need. By completing a BS degree in Geology, I hope to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare me to have a successful career in geosciences. I plan to apply to graduate school and participate in research at the university level. I am focused on having quality and challenging fieldwork experience that will help contribute to the skills needed for graduate school and my goal of becoming a Licensed Professional Geologist. My career goals involve working towards sustainability, and in the future, I want to apply my geological knowledge in green building settings, and work alongside environmental engineers and sustainability scientists for building and construction that is sustainable.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment and have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. Throughout middle and high school, I participated in the highly competitive Science Olympiad, which helped improve my STEM skills of research, experimenting, and dealing with challenges. I am now using that dedication and interest in the sciences and environment that I developed in my stem courses and Olympiad in my college endeavors. I became involved in community service at age 5 when I joined Girl Scouts and throughout my high school experience and college as well, I have been able to participate in outreaches through school and community organizations. I have also been inspired to start outreaches of my own including a Stem Outreach for kids. Playing a role in helping children discover that they are smart and that science is fun has been important to me. Being able to use my academic, artistic, and leadership skills to help others has been of great satisfaction to me, and has shown me how we all can use our talents to encourage and support others in need. I have just finished my 2nd year in college where I am working on my Bachelors of Science degree in Geology. I participated in a two-semester-long research project pertaining to Geology through the undergraduate research opportunity program. After the two semesters of research were completed, I attended an undergraduate research symposium, where I gained experience in research presentations. I created a scientific poster and spoke to other researchers about the project and what conclusions we were able to draw from it, as well as future research endeavors. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher education, I would like to be a mentor to students pursuing a career in Stem so that they can feel encouraged and supported. I hope to be a part of academic environments that encourage quality relationships and supporting one another not only in professional pursuits but on a personal level as well. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is of importance to me. Aside from science, music is also a passion of mine. I taught myself to play guitar and have been playing for six years. Though I enjoy many genres, heavy metal in particular is one of my all-time favorites. In my free time, I enjoy learning metal riffs from my favorite artists, such as Acid Bath and Mudvayne. Heavy metal serves as an artistic outlet for me, and it has definitely shaped my guitar playing. I know that by completing a BS degree in Geology, I will be able to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare me not only for graduate school but also to allow me to have a successful career in geosciences as a Licensed Professional Geologist. Listening to heavy metal often helps me relax especially when faced with the rigor of stem course work as putting full effort and skills in all my academic and extracurricular activities is of great importance to me. I am funding my college education through scholarships, summer paid internships, working part time during the school year and help from family. A scholarship is financially needed for educational related expenses and will help me become one step closer to achieving my academic, professional, and personal pursuits.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment and have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. Throughout middle and high school, I participated in the highly competitive Science Olympiad, which helped improve my STEM skills of research, experimenting, and dealing with challenges. I am now using that dedication and interest in the sciences and environment that I developed in my stem courses and Olympiad in my college endeavors. I have just finished my 2nd year in college where I am working on my Bachelors of Science degree in Geology. I participated in a two-semester-long research project pertaining to Geology through FSU’s undergraduate research opportunity program. After the two semesters of research were completed, I attended an undergraduate research symposium, where I gained experience in research presentations. I created a scientific poster and spoke to other researchers about the project and what conclusions we were able to draw from it, as well as future research endeavors. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher education, I would like to be a mentor to students pursuing a career in Stem so that they can feel encouraged and supported. I hope to be a part of academic environments that encourage quality relationships and supporting one another not only in professional pursuits but on a personal level. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is of importance to me. I became involved in community service at age 5 when I joined Girl Scouts and throughout my high school experience and college as well, I have been able to participate in outreaches through school and community organizations. I have also been inspired to start outreaches of my own including a Stem Outreach for kids. Playing a role in helping children discover that they are smart and that science is fun has been important to me. Being able to use my academic, artistic, and leadership skills to help others has been of great satisfaction to me, and has shown me how we all can use our talents to encourage and support others in need. I know that by completing a BS degree in Geology, I will be able to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare me not only for graduate school but also to allow me to have a successful career in geosciences. I am focused on having quality and challenging fieldwork experience that will help contribute to the skills needed not only for graduate school but also for my goal of becoming a Licensed Professional Geologist. Putting full effort and skills in all my academic and extracurricular activities is of great importance to me and will be truly impactful in my career in the field of geology. A scholarship is financially needed for educational related expenses and will help me become one step closer to achieving my academic, professional, and personal pursuits.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and knew early on that I would be pursuing a STEM degree in college. I have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment and have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. From stem courses to the highly competitive Science Olympiad, my experience in stem activities has not only enhanced my education but has helped me with making friends, creating a team, and being a team leader. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, artistic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. I am finishing up my 2nd year at Florida State University where I am working on my Bachelor’s degree in Geology. During my freshman year I completed the University Research Opportunity Program where I was able to be a research assistant to a Geology professor and become involved with stem research at the university level. I am in the University Honor’s Program, a member of honor societies Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi as well as a member of the FSU Geological society. One thing I enjoyed in high school and now in college is researching and immersing myself in stem topics of interest which has helped me build my academic and research science skills. . After completing my Bachelor of Science in Geology, I have plans to pursue a graduate degree in Geology. After graduate work in addition to doing research for a University, I would like to become a Certified Geologist. My work as an environmental geologist will focus on helping keep the environment safe in Florida by examining underground rock and soil environments as well as helping manage wetlands to prevent erosion. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher education, I would like to be a mentor to students pursuing a career in Stem so that they can feel encouraged and supported. I hope to be a part of academic environments that encourage quality relationships and supporting one another not only in professional pursuits but on a personal level. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is of importance to me. I know that the science, research, leadership, and teambuilding skills I have and continue to develop throughout my STEM engagement has helped contribute to my ability to be successful at the university level and will have a direct influence on my chosen career.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and knew early on that I would be pursuing a STEM degree in college. I have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment and have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in science. From stem courses to the highly competitive Science Olympiad, my experience in stem activities has not only enhanced my education but has helped me with making friends, creating a team, and being a team leader. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, artistic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. I am finishing up my 2nd year at Florida State University where I am working on my Bachelor’s degree in Geology. During my freshman year I completed the University Research Opportunity Program where I was able to be a research assistant to a Geology professor and become involved with stem research at the university level. I am in the University Honor’s Program, a member of honor societies Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi as well as a member of the FSU Geological society. One thing I enjoyed in high school and now in college is researching and immersing myself in stem topics of interest which has helped me build my academic and research science skills. . After completing my Bachelor of Science in Geology, I have plans to pursue a graduate degree in Geology. After graduate work in addition to doing research for a University, I would like to become a Certified Geologist. My work as an environmental geologist will focus on helping keep the environment safe in Florida by examining underground rock and soil environments as well as helping manage wetlands to prevent erosion. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher education, I would like to be a mentor to students pursuing a career in Stem so that they can feel encouraged and supported. I hope to be a part of academic environments that encourage quality relationships and supporting one another not only in professional pursuits but on a personal level. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is of importance to me. I know that the science, research, leadership, and teambuilding skills I have and continue to develop throughout my STEM engagement has helped contribute to my ability to be successful at the university level and will have a direct influence on my chosen career.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in the area of science, and this has helped me build my academic and research science skills. From stem courses to the highly competitive Science Olympiad, my experience in stem activities has not only enhanced my education but has helped me with making friends, being a team leader and helping to be a part of a safe space for peers who also share a passion for STEM. When starting college, I chose to opt in to be part of an LGBTQ-friendly housing environment. Being supportive of the community and knowing that my living space is safe for my roommates has been important to me and helpful in starting the college journey. I am pursuing a career in the geosciences. I participated in a two-semester-long research project pertaining to Geology and I was mentored by a Geology professor. I was able to gain experience in conducting research, data analysis, and lab experience pertaining to the major. I also gained skills in presentation etiquette as well as creating a proper scientific research poster. Despite the positive learning outcome of the research program, I often times felt discouraged in the process. The environment was not accepting of differences in ability or identity, and this led to lots of anxiety pertaining to how my future and others that are part of the LGBTQ community. I am in the University Honors Program, a member of honor societies Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi and a member of the FSU Geological Society. I think that putting full effort and skills in all my academic and extracurricular activities while being part of an environment of inclusivity is important. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. Being a figure in the science field who can represent women and the LGBT community for other aspiring scientists is a future goal of mine, as the scientific field should be a place for everyone to bring forth new ideas. I am currently in my 2nd year at Florida State University, where I am working on my Bachelor’s degree in Geology.. I want to be part of the change needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. I am hoping to be part of that change as an undergraduate through my courses and university involvement. After I complete my higher-level education, I would like to be a mentor to other LGBTQ students pursuing a career in STEM so that they can feel encouraged and supported. Feeling seen and included by all, safe and listened to is important to everyone. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is important to me.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in the area of science, and this has helped me build my academic and research science skills. I identify as a Gay woman and know the importance of feeling safe and in a supportive environment. When starting college, I chose to opt in to be part of an LGBTQ-friendly housing environment. Being supportive of the community and knowing that my living space is safe for myself and my roommates has been important and helpful in starting the college journey. I am pursuing a career in the geosciences. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in the area of science, and this has helped me build my academic and research science skills. I participated in a two-semester-long research project pertaining to Geology and I was mentored by a Geology professor. I was able to gain experience in conducting research, data analysis, and lab experience pertaining to the major. I also gained skills in presentation etiquette as well as creating a proper scientific research poster. Despite the positive learning outcome of the research program, I often times felt discouraged in the process. The environment was not accepting of differences in ability or identity, and this led to lots of anxiety pertaining to how my future research and field experiences would be as a whole. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. Being a figure in the science field who can represent women and the LGBT community for other aspiring scientists is a future goal of mine, as the scientific field should be a place for everyone to bring forth new ideas. I want to be part of the change needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher-level education, I would like to be a mentor to other LGBTQ students pursuing a career in STEM so that they can feel encouraged and supported. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is important to me. A scholarship is financially needed for educational-related expenses and will help me become one step closer to achieving my academic, professional, and personal pursuits.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in the area of science, and this has helped me build my academic and research science skills. From stem courses to the highly competitive Science Olympiad, my experience in stem activities has not only enhanced my education but has helped me with making friends, creating a team, and being a team leader. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, artistic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. I identify as a Gay woman and know the importance of feeling safe and in a supportive environment. When starting college, I chose to opt in to be part of an LGBTQ-friendly housing environment. Being supportive of the community and knowing that my living space is safe for myself and my roommates has been important and helpful in starting the college journey. I am pursuing a career in geoscience. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in the area of science, and this has helped me build my academic and research science skills. I participated in a two-semester-long research project pertaining to Geology and I was mentored by a Geology professor. I was able to gain experience in conducting research, data analysis, and lab experience pertaining to the major. I also gained skills in presentation etiquette as well as creating a proper scientific research poster. Despite the positive learning outcome of the research program, I often times felt discouraged in the process. The environment was not accepting of differences in ability or identity, and this led to lots of anxiety pertaining to how my future research and field experiences would be as a whole. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. Being a figure in the science field who can represent women and the LGBT community for other aspiring scientists is a future goal of mine, as the scientific field should be a place for everyone to bring forth new ideas. I want to be part of the change needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher-level education, I would like to be a mentor to other LGBTQ students pursuing a career in STEM so that they can feel encouraged and supported. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is important to me. A scholarship is financially needed for educational-related expenses and will help me become one step closer to achieving my academic, professional, and personal pursuits.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in the area of science, and this has helped me build my academic and research science skills. From stem courses to the highly competitive Science Olympiad, my experience in stem activities has not only enhanced my education but has helped me with making friends, creating a team, and being a team leader. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, artistic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. I am currently in my 2nd year at Florida State University where I am working on my Bachelor’s degree in Geology. During my freshman year I completed the University Research Opportunity Program where I was able to be a research assistant to a Geology professor and become involved with stem research at the university level. I am in the University Honor’s Program, a member of honor societies Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Eta Sigma as well as a member of the FSU Geological society. One thing I enjoyed in high school and now in college is researching and immersing myself in stem topics of interest. After completing my Bachelor of Science in Geology, I have plans to pursue a graduate degree in Geology. After graduate work in addition to doing research for a University, I would like to become a Certified Geologist. My work as an environmental geologist will focus on helping keep the environment safe in Florida by examining underground rock and soil environments as well as helping manage wetlands to prevent erosion. I enjoy using my science academic skills to help others so during high school I thought that my positive experiences in STEM could help children in foster care who were dealing with so much. I started a Stem Outreach to help the children with their academics and help them feel encouraged. My goal during Stem outreach events has been to help provide safe, entertaining, and educational Stem activities while helping to foster learning and curiosity. Playing a role in helping the children discover that they are smart and capable and that science is fun has been important to me. As I continue to develop my academic knowledge in my chosen career, I hope to continue to engage in stem related outreaches with groups that focus on helping children. I have also been involved in community service during high school and now college through school-based clubs and community organizations. My community service experience over the years has given me hope about how we as a community can come together to be there for others in need, and I look forward to continuing this through my college days and in my career path. I know that the science, research, leadership, and team building skills I have and continue to develop throughout my STEM engagement has helped contribute to my ability to be successful at the university level and will have a direct influence on my chosen career. A scholarship is financially needed for educational-related expenses and will help me become one step closer to achieving my academic, professional, and personal pursuits.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in the area of science, and this has helped me build my academic and research science skills. From stem courses to the highly competitive Science Olympiad, my experience in stem activities has not only enhanced my education but has helped me with making friends, creating a team, and being a team leader. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, artistic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. I identify as a Gay woman and know the importance of feeling safe and in a supportive environment. When starting college, I chose to opt in to be part of an LGBTQ-friendly housing environment. Being supportive of the community and knowing that my living space is safe for myself and my roommates has been important and helpful in starting the college journey. I am pursuing a career in geoscience. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in the area of science, and this has helped me build my academic and research science skills. I participated in a two-semester-long research project pertaining to Geology and I was mentored by a Geology professor. I was able to gain experience in conducting research, data analysis, and lab experience pertaining to the major. I also gained skills in presentation etiquette as well as creating a proper scientific research poster. Despite the positive learning outcome of the research program, I often times felt discouraged in the process. The environment was not accepting of differences in ability or identity, and this led to lots of anxiety pertaining to how my future research and field experiences would be as a whole. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. Being a figure in the science field that can represent women and the LGBT community for other aspiring scientists is a future goal of mine, as the scientific field should be a place for everyone to bring forth new ideas. I want to be part of the change needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher-level education, I would like to be a mentor to other LGBTQ students pursuing a career in STEM so that they can feel encouraged and supported. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is important to me.

From joining my first stem club in 1st grade to my current STEM involvement at the University level, I have developed a love for the sciences and environmental fields and have an interest in the study of rocks, minerals, fossils, and the environment. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in the area of science, and this has helped me build my academic and research science skills. From stem courses to the highly competitive Science Olympiad, my experience in stem activities has not only enhanced my education but has helped me with making friends, creating a team, and being a team leader. My academic and extracurricular activities are a big focus for me and I always strive to do my best. I have received academic, artistic, and community service awards at the local, regional and national levels and I feel pride for my achievements and efforts. I identify as a Gay woman and know the importance of feeling safe and in a supportive environment. When starting college, I chose to opt in to be part of an LGBTQ-friendly housing environment. Being supportive of the community and knowing that my living space is safe for myself and my roommates has been important and helpful in starting the college journey. I am pursuing a career in geoscience. I have focused many of my college-level, high school courses, and extracurricular activities in the area of science, and this has helped me build my academic and research science skills. I participated in a two-semester-long research project pertaining to Geology and I was mentored by a Geology professor. I was able to gain experience in conducting research, data analysis, and lab experience pertaining to the major. I also gained skills in presentation etiquette as well as creating a proper scientific research poster. Despite the positive learning outcome of the research program, I often times felt discouraged in the process. The environment was not accepting of differences in ability or identity, and this led to lots of anxiety pertaining to how my future research and field experiences would be as a whole. I would like to be part of the change that is needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. Being a figure in the science field who can represent women and the LGBT community for other aspiring scientists is a future goal of mine, as the scientific field should be a place for everyone to bring forth new ideas. I want to be part of the change needed for the academic STEM field to be more inclusive and accepting of all. After I complete my higher-level education, I would like to be a mentor to other LGBTQ students pursuing a career in STEM so that they can feel encouraged and supported. Being able to focus on academic and professional pursuits without being held back or affected by gender or sexual orientation is important to me.