During my first year living in the United States (summer 2024), I had the opportunity to participate in a summer biomedical engineering research program at Fairfield University’s School of Engineering. As a first-generation Haitian immigrant who had only recently arrived from the Dominican Republic, this experience was life-changing. It allowed me not only to explore the world of biomedical engineering but also to give back to students like me students who are often left out of spaces like STEM. While at Fairfield University, I worked with professors, undergraduates, and graduate students on a research project about leg length discrepancies, using a novel approach to enhancing efficacy in Biomedical Engineering Research prior to access to human subject data. We did that by exploring the use of synthetic data sets to streamline research methodologies before transitioning to studies involving human subjects; and with the help of Donna Pacicca, PhD of Connecticut Children’s Hospital. At the same time, I was chosen to mentor 16 high school students from underrepresented backgrounds. I had a chance to lead them through hands-on science activities, teach them what I was learning in my own research group and lead them through their own research. But I wanted to go beyond just teaching science. I wanted to get them excited about it. So, we came up with a different approach: using their favorite athletes as a way to get them interested in STEM. Titled “paint by numbers” by John Drazan, Phd, ourbiomedical engineering professor. We studied what makes a great athlete speed, endurance, strengt and connected that to biomechanics and other areas of science. By looking into the science behind athletic performance, I helped them see that science wasn’t something distant or boring that they learn at school but it was already part of the things they loved and they can use sports scenarios to represent any problem they may face. At the end of the summer, I was chosen for the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). Our poster focused on the underrepresentation of Black and Latinx students in STEM fields and showed how connecting science to sports like we did during the summer could inspire more students to pursue STEM careers. Because our statistics prove that the students interests in STEM and pursuing a STEM career significantly increased after our research It was my first time ever presenting research, and doing so after only one year in the U.S. and being the group’s leader made it even more meaningful. This experience was completely new, but I initiated my own way to meet the needs of other marginalized students like me. I understood what it felt like to be overlooked, and I didn’t want anyone else to feel like they didn’t belong in STEM. That’s why I’m committed to building pathways for students who are often left behind. In the future, as I pursue my dream of becoming a cybersecurity analyst, or even while studying Computer information systems with a concentration in cybersecurity and a minor in finance at Howard University, I plan to use the same mindset: be innovative, lift others up, and make the space more inclusive for everyone Informational can be found at https://www.fairfield.edu/news/2025/january/sec-conference-highlights.html Or . https://www.fairfield.edu/news/2024/november/sec-research-presented-at-biomed-engineering-society.html

My name is G-Brown Gervil, and I’m a first-generation student with dreams of becoming a cybersecurity analyst. My journey started in Haiti, where I was raised by my aunt after my mother left to pursue a better life in the United States. I had to grow up fast. After facing a major political crisis in Haiti, I moved to the Dominican Republic, where I lived on my own at only 14. I handled my own groceries, school responsibilities, and daily life all while learning Spanish from scratch. Eventually, I became fluent, and even won third place in a national entrepreneurship competition. In May 2023, I moved to the U.S., and that’s where a new chapter of my life began. I started learning more about technology and cybersecurity. I’ve been taking online courses like Harvard’s CS50x and TryHackMe, and I recently completed a summer research internship at Fairfield University’s School of Engineering and Computing. There, I worked on multiple projects with graduate students and professors and even mentored younger students. These experiences confirmed my passion and my purpose. In school, I’m not just focused on academics. I’m a student-athlete on both the varsity soccer, varsity basketball and track teams. I’m also a member of the National Honor Society, a school counseling ambassador for new international students, and the vice president of my school’s Bible Club. I speak four languages fluently and serve as a translator in school, on the field, and in my church. Outside of school I am a barista at Starbucks, volunteer in my community either through NHS (blood drive, food drive, cancer awareness) or volunteer at a church’s food pantry where I use my strength to help everyone in need, especially people that are pregnant, old and disabled of help to carry the food they received to their car or to the entrance; Translate for those who don’t speak English and was partly responsible of keeping track of numbers coming in and out. Now I also help with registering new people and login data on the system. I work hard because I know that education is the key to opening doors not just for me, but for others who come from backgrounds like mine. This scholarship would help me move one step closer to my goal of attending college, earning my degree in computer information systems with a focus in cybersecurity at Howard University, The Mecca and eventually giving back to my community. I hope to start a nonprofit one day that provides cybersecurity and financial literacy education to underrepresented students. Receiving this scholarship wouldn’t just ease the financial burden on myself (as I won’t be receiving contribution from my single mom) it would give me the chance to keep going, to keep growing, and to become the professional, leader, and role model I know I can be. As i’m always ready to grind, and this scholarship will be a plus to my motivations to thrive.

I came up and knew money not as a door to possibility but as something that needed to be stretched, budgeted, and more often than not, sacrificed. I was born in Haiti and immigrated to the Dominican Republic where I was raised without my parents, brought up by my aunt. Life there learned me early how to live without many of the things that other children assumed. Financial literacy was not taught at school. I learned by observing how my aunt rationed food, managed to save money for school supplies, made sacrifice after sacrifice to keep us going, and managed, through some legerdemain I didn't fully understand, to get by on next to nothing. When I came to the United States, I thought that with more opportunity money issues would come to an end but I quickly learned that financial literacy is still a challenge, especially for first-generation students like me. My mom didn't have the knowledge or resources to explain to me how student loans worked, build credit, or save for college. I figured I would have to teach myself, then. I began asking questions, researching online, and getting involved in programs like the Village Initiative Project and 100 Black Men of Stamford Inc., where I attended workshops on credit, debt, budgeting, and even career building. At the same time, I began working. I worked as a junior research assistant and now work as a Starbucks barista. Having my own money taught me about taxes, direct deposit, and how quickly not spending wisely can add up. I created a simple budgeting system for myself and started helping my little cousin learn about money too. I also learned that financial literacy is not just about making money it's about planning, saving, and spending resources effectively to build the future you want. Education has always been my passport, and financial literacy plays a huge role in that. This upcoming fall I will be majoring n computer information systems with a concentration in cybersecurity and minor in finance at Howard University. My goal is to be a cybersecurity analyst so I can help safeguard individuals and organizations against data breaches and financial exploitation. I’ve already taken initiative by completing online courses like Harvard’s CS50x and hands-on like TryHackMe, where I’m learning how to analyze vulnerabilities and secure networks. But I want to do more than help individuals protect their digital wallets I want to help them protect their real ones, too. Further down the road, I want to start a nonprofit that offers free financial literacy and cybersecurity workshops for underprivileged kids, especially in immigrant communities. Many people who come from backgrounds like mine do not know how to build credit, start saving for retirement, or avoid getting scammed online. I want to close that gap. My own experiences with money have made me value each dollar, but more importantly, they've taught me that knowledge is power. The more I learn, the more I want to pass on to others my family, my teammates, my community. Financial literacy isn't about money; it's about giving people the power to build secure, independent lives.

As a male, Haitian, first-generation college student, adversity has characterized every ounce of who I am. My story did not begin with ease and comfort but instead with separation and sacrifices I migrated to the Dominican Republic at a young age, and unlike other kids, I was not raised by neither of my parents. I was raised by my aunt, my greatest source of support and discipline. Growing up apart from my parents made me mature so much faster. I learned to fend for myself, deal with emotional battles, and roll with change without the standard instruction that most kids receive. It was not always simple. There were days I battled with identity, with isolation, and with the stress of attempting to make the most of something I did not ask for. Yet in spite of all this, I was taught to be independent, to solve problems, and to value the few constants I had like my aunt's care and sacrifices. Then I came to the United States, and there was an extra layer of complexity to my path. New language. New culture. New system. And being a first-gen student, there was no blueprint no one in my immediate family who could guide me through the college process. But I persisted. I worked hard, I asked questions, I sought scholarships, and I forged my own path. Now, I am set to attend Howard University, where I will major in Computer Information Systems with a concentration in Cybersecurity. My goal is to become a cybersecurity analyst and go back to communities like my ownones that aren't thought of when it comes to digital security and access to tech knowledge. I want to use what I know to protect not just information, but people small businesses, under-resourced schools, families who aren't aware they're vulnerable online. Adversity has made me resourceful, independent, and motivated. It's made me more compassionate, more determined, and more motivated to succeed not only for myself, but for all those who had faith in me when things were going badly. This scholarship would alleviate some of the financial pressure from me and enable me to concentrate on what truly matters: creating a future in which young Black and immigrant students can look at someone like me and say, "If he did it, I can too." I did not have it all growing up, but I am creating something. And that, to me, is the definition of strength.

As a first-generation Haitian student, not only has my perception of the world been altered, but also how I engage with the world. I have been born to a family that left behind everything known for the chance of possibility, and it is this sacrifice that fuels everything I do. Adjusting to life in new nations (Dominican Republic, United States), adjusting to new education systems, and learning over and over how to juggle cultures taught me early that perspective and resilience are my greatest assets. My background has made me attuned to the reality that opportunity is not always offered on a level playing field, and most particularly to Black young people and immigrants. And instead of letting than that holding me back, it has pushed me to work more diligently and dream bigger. I've learned to view obstacles as opportunities to lead and develop, not just for myself, but for the communities I'm representing. This is the perspective that led me to want to pursue cybersecurity. I want to protect online places for underrepresented communities, especially those who aren't necessarily fortunate enough to have the means or the knowledge to protect themselves online. I don't see myself as only a student, but as a future maker someone who takes what they've learned and uses it to make a positive impact. My heritage gives me roots, motivates me, and instructs me that my success is never mine alone it's a step forward for my whole community.

As a first-generation Haitian student, I bring with me the resilience, determination, and ambition of my family and my lineage. Born outside of the U.S., but still very much a part of the broader Black diaspora, I know firsthand the systemic issues that many times afflict Black communities—limited access to resources, lack of representation in tech, and no digital security training. These experiences have only strengthened my ambition to utilize my studies and subsequent career to empower and defend Black and African-American communities. I plan to attend Howard University, to me the best HBCU that aligns with my values of excellence, culture, and service. I'll be majoring in Computer Information Systems with a focus in Cybersecurity and a minor in Finance. My aspiration is to become a cybersecurity analyst not just to safeguard digital infrastructures, but to combat the cyber attacks that disproportionately afflict underserved communities. Cybersecurity is no longer just the concern of big businesses. Small or Black owned businesses, churches, non-profits, and individuals are threatened every day online phishing scams, data breaches, identity theft—and they do not have the tools or the expertise to defend themselves. I'd like to change that. I am going to take my degree and certifications, like CompTIA Security+, and bring cybersecurity education to more individuals, particularly in Black communities. My goal is to hold cybersecurity workshops, establish connections with HBCUs and Black community groups, and mentor Black children who are interested in pursuing tech. Internships and hands-on experience will be invaluable to my development, and I am fully committed to applying everything that I learn to make more secure digital worlds for those who need it most. I believe that digital security is a form of empowerment, and when we secure our information, assets, and identities, we empower our communities. Going to Howard is not only an academic decision. For me it’s also a cultural and social investment. I'm excited to study in an environment that positively reinforces Black excellence and encourages students like me to serve and lead. I know that I'll be part of a community of like-minded individuals who are not only seeking personal achievement but are committed to uplifting others as well. Being awarded this scholarship would enable me to concentrate on my professional and academic growth without the crushing weight of financial pressure. With this scholarship, I will be able to completely achieve my long-term objective: enhancing cybersecurity awareness in the Black community, safeguarding the digital future of Black businesses and organizations, and paving the way for future first-generation students who once were in my shoes to pursue careers in tech Ultimately, I'm not seeking a job I'm seeking a purpose. A purpose that ensures that the Black community finally get involved in technology and excels in it, safely and without fear.