Leadership is more than titles; it is the ability to inspire action, empower others, and unite individuals toward a shared purpose. To be a leader is not “to lead” but “to serve”. It is about creating a ripple effect of positive change that extends beyond oneself to impact communities and the world. As an electrical engineering student passionate about innovation and community engagement, I see leadership as the bridge between technical expertise and societal progress. My journey as a leader has been shaped by my academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and community service, all of which have prepared me to be a catalyst for change at Illinois Tech and throughout my post-graduate career. Leadership is not about authority or control; it is about vision, empathy, and action. It is the ability to recognize potential in others and create opportunities for them to grow. At Madison College, I embraced this philosophy by leading initiatives that brought people together and fostered collaboration. For example, as the Outreach Coordinator for the Volunteer Center, I organized events that encouraged students to engage with their community, promoting a culture of service and civic responsibility. This role taught me that leadership is not about directing others but about inspiring them to take ownership of their actions and contribute to a greater cause. Since beginning my college journey, I have actively embraced leadership opportunities at every turn. My leadership path began even before college when I was awarded a two-year scholarship to study in the U.S. through Leading Change Africa, a non-profit focused on leadership and community development. Before starting my studies, I completed a six-month training program in leadership, personal development, and English proficiency, with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability. This program encouraged eco-friendly practices and community impact, shaping my commitment to creating a greener future. As the Student President of Leading Change Africa Promotion 2021, I worked closely with the Director of Academics to foster a culture of community service and environmental stewardship. I led initiatives such as neighborhood clean-ups, tree-planting campaigns, and workshops on sustainable living, which strengthened our community and made a tangible impact. This experience taught me the importance of leading by example, inspiring collaboration, and addressing societal challenges through actionable solutions. This early leadership role laid the foundation for my ongoing commitment to making a positive difference. It reinforced my belief that leadership is not just about holding a title but about taking initiative, empowering others, and creating meaningful change. These principles continue to guide me as I strive to be a catalyst for progress in my academic and personal endeavors. My leadership style is rooted in inclusivity and empowerment. Whether I am mentoring high school students in computer basics or leading STEM workshops for elementary and middle school students, I strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued and capable of achieving their goals. These experiences have reinforced my belief that leadership is about lifting others and equipping them with the tools they need to succeed. My commitment to community building and leadership extends beyond the classroom. As a member of the Electronics and Robotics Club and the STEM Club in the summers of 2024, I collaborated with peers to organize events that promoted STEM education and innovation. One of my most rewarding experiences was serving as a mentor for the STEM for Kids Program at the Goodman Community Center. I developed interactive lessons on basic electronics, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm for technology among young students. Witnessing their excitement as they successfully built their first circuit was a testament to the power of hands-on learning and mentorship. Among my many volunteering experiences, my mentorship role at Girls Inc. stands out as the most impactful. Mentorship, to me, is not just about teaching concepts—it is about empowering young minds to believe in their potential, break barriers, and envision themselves in fields where they have been historically underrepresented. At Girls Inc., I dedicated myself to guiding and inspiring middle and high school girls, making STEM an accessible and exciting journey rather than an abstract concept. Recognizing the importance of hands-on learning, I designed and implemented an engaging soldering project where participants built their electronic circuits. This initiative transformed hesitation into confidence as students experienced the thrill of creating something tangible. To ensure the project’s success, I sourced materials, planned logistics, and secured budget approvals, guaranteeing that every student had the necessary tools. Witnessing their transformation—from uncertainty to curiosity, and eventually to celebration- reinforced my belief that representation in STEM requires active participation, not just visibility. Beyond teaching, I focused on the program’s sustainability and impact. I held weekly planning meetings with program coordinators, educators, and fellow mentors to refine curricula, tailor activities, and track progress. My responsibilities also included leading students in STEM career discovery activities, assisting with data collection, maintaining attendance records, and organizing logistics to enhance program efficiency and effectiveness. This experience sharpened my ability to lead with empathy, manage complex projects, and advocate for inclusive educational opportunities. These skills will continue to drive my commitment to using engineering as a tool for social impact, ensuring that future generations have the resources and support they need to thrive in STEM fields. As Vice President of Fellowship for Phi Theta Kappa, I lead with the belief that academic excellence and services are deeply interconnected. In this role, I oversee fellowship initiatives and Honors in Action projects, guiding members to explore impactful topics such as the intersection of technology and storytelling. This work encourages them to bridge intellectual curiosity with practical, real-world applications. One of my most significant achievements has been organizing the Golden Apple Awards, an event dedicated to recognizing exceptional faculty and staff who go above and beyond to inspire, challenge, and transform students’ academic journeys. By managing nominations, logistics, and event coordination, I have ensured that educators feel valued and appreciated, fostering a culture of excellence and gratitude within the academic community. Additionally, my role as a delegate for the IMPACT 2025 Civic Engagement Conference allowed me to work with students from diverse backgrounds to address pressing social issues. Together, we brainstormed solutions to challenges such as educational inequality and environmental sustainability, demonstrating the importance of collective action in driving change. These experiences have honed my ability to plan, organize, and engage others in meaningful ways.

Growing up in Burkina Faso, education was never guaranteed—but it became my greatest pursuit. My parents, neither of whom were formally educated, worked tirelessly to provide for our family. After my father passed away, my mother—a seamstress—worked tirelessly to support my siblings and I. In that reality, education became my only way forward. Being first generation college student and first Stem student in my family(none of my siblings studied stem), my journey has been shaped by persistence, by service, and by the deep-rooted belief that knowledge is a powerful tool for liberation and progress. My cultural heritage instilled in me the values of discipline, resilience, and collective responsibility. These values have not only shaped my educational path but also fueled my determination to uplift others along the way. As a student of Electrical Engineering and Technology at Madison College, I’ve sought to turn my educational journey into a ripple effect of impact. I served as the Outreach Coordinator for the Madison College Volunteer Center, connecting students to service opportunities across the community. I later became Vice President of Fellowship for Phi Theta Kappa, where I coordinated the Golden Apple Awards—an event recognizing outstanding educators who transformed students' lives. I was also a member of the Student Success Awards Banquet planning committee and a featured student speaker. These roles have taught me that leadership is not about standing above others—it's about standing with them, lifting as you climb. But one of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is my honors initiative: a low-cost, offline educational content server built using Raspberry Pi microcontrollers. This device is designed for use in conflict-affected or underserved regions like my home country, where terrorism and poverty have forced millions of children out of school. Partnering with local education coalitions in Burkina Faso, I tailored the tool to host offline resources—interactive lessons, virtual science labs, and class-specific materials. It’s a modest step, but one rooted in the belief that students shouldn’t have to sacrifice their future because of where they’re born. My background reminds me daily of what’s at stake. I was 17 the first time I used a computer. But instead of letting my circumstances define me, I’ve used them to fuel a life of service, perseverence, and determination. Beyond the classroom, I’ve worked to expand access to STEM education for youth. Through nonprofits like Girls Inc. and the Goodman Community Center, I’ve mentored middle and high school students—especially young girls and underrepresented youth in STEM. I’ve led workshops, introduced basic electronics, and created hands-on projects that made technology feel exciting and accessible. Seeing a student light up as they complete their first circuit reminds me that representation matters—and so does showing up for others. To me, Dr. Soronnadi Nnaji's legacy represents the values I live by-academic excellence, service to community, and deep pride in African heritage. Like him, I believe a meaningful life isn't measured by personal gain, but by the lives we impact. I dream of returning to Burkina Faso to build a technical institute that provides affordable, high- quality education-especially for girls often excluded from STEM. Receiving this scholarship would not only help me continue my education and develop accessible, tech- driven solutions, but would also affirm that stories like mine matter. I hope to carry Dr. Nnaji's name forward-not just in gratitude, but through action. In every class, every project, and every community, I will lead with my heritage, my experience, and my drive to build a future where no one is left behind.

When I began studying engineering, I didn’t just want to build devices—I wanted to solve problems that matter. One of the projects closest to my heart emerged from a deep need in my home country, Burkina Faso, where education is often out of reach for displaced and rural children. In collaboration with my honors advisor at Madison College, I developed a low-cost, offline educational content server using a Raspberry Pi microcontroller. The project started with a single question: How can we deliver quality educational content to students without internet access? This was not just a technical challenge, but a personal mission. I knew what it meant to grow up with limited access to resources and saw firsthand how a lack of digital infrastructure could cut students off from opportunity. Using a Raspberry Pi and open-source software, I created a portable server that allows students to connect via mobile phones or local Wi-Fi and access preloaded academic content—without needing the internet. The server supports multiple users at once, is battery-efficient, and costs under \$100 to build. What began as a classroom project grew into a scalable prototype. Through partnerships with faculty, mentors, and educational NGOs like CNEPT in Burkina Faso, I refined the design to include class-specific resources and even virtual science labs. These enhancements helped tailor the system to meet real classroom needs for students in refugee camps or remote schools. This project changed how I see technology—not just as a tool, but as a bridge. A bridge between ideas and access, between isolation and inclusion. Working in technology inspires me because of this power to create real, practical solutions that improve lives. It excites me to know that with a microcontroller, a vision, and collaboration, I can reach across the world and support someone else’s dream to learn. It also deepened my understanding of what innovation really means: not always reinventing the wheel, but often adapting and rethinking tools to fit new environments and constraints. That process of discovery and iteration—from concept to impact—fuels my passion for engineering. This experience was more than academic. It strengthened my leadership, research, and communication skills. I organized meetings with stakeholders, coordinated with nonprofits, tested various technical configurations, and presented my work to panels and mentors. I saw the direct connection between my education and the ability to serve others. As I continue my studies in electrical and computer engineering, I am driven by the belief that technology must be inclusive. I want to keep building devices and systems that reach those who’ve been left behind by traditional infrastructure. Whether it’s through designing low-cost tools, advocating for digital equity, or mentoring other underrepresented students in STEM, I hope to be part of a generation of engineers that focuses not only on progress—but on access. This project helped me realize what’s possible when we mix purpose with innovation. And it’s that potential—the ability to turn empathy into impact—that keeps me inspired every day I work in technology.

Growing up in Burkina Faso, West Africa, I saw firsthand the devastating effects of limited access to technology and education. My mother, a seamstress, raised eight children on less than \$60 a month after my father passed away. In our household, education was never a given—it was a dream that demanded relentless effort and unwavering belief. My earliest encounters with technology came late in life, but they ignited in me a fire not just to learn, but to innovate solutions for those who are systemically left behind. This passion led me to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering & Technology at Madison College in Wisconsin, where I’ve focused on embedded systems, hardware programming, and sustainable innovation. One of the most meaningful experiences during my time here was leading an honors project where I designed a low-cost, offline Raspberry Pi server that delivers educational content to displaced students and remote communities without internet access. This project was inspired by the needs of students in conflict-affected areas of Burkina Faso, and it continues to grow through partnerships with local organizations and educators. In ten years, I envision myself as a global engineer and changemaker. I want to lead initiatives that create affordable, accessible technology—especially in the fields of education, renewable energy, and public health. I want to be building medical, educational devices that not only will be innovative for all people but also will be affordable enough for all backgrounds to have access to them. While doing all this, I want to establish a technical training center in Burkina Faso open to all but preference given to girls and students from low level background. Another of my goals is to build a social enterprise focused on building scalable tech solutions that empower underserved communities. I don’t just want to build devices—I want to build ecosystems of opportunity. Choosing to pursue a two-year degree was a strategic and empowering decision. It gave me the foundation I needed, both academically and personally. I didn’t just learn theory; I applied it through real-world projects, community engagement, and leadership. It gave me the confidence to take bold steps—whether by mentoring girls in STEM, organizing campus recognition events like the Golden Apple Awards, or collaborating on community-focused research. My associate’s degree has been a launchpad, not just toward a career, but toward a mission. Receiving the AE Cares Scholarship would not only lighten my financial burden as I continue my academic journey—it would also affirm the values I live by: equity, impact, and inclusion. I want to represent the change I believe in and show that no matter where you come from, your potential has no limits when met with opportunity.

At the heart of my journey stands my mother—her hands tirelessly guiding fabric through an old sewing machine, her feet pressing the pedal with rhythmic determination. She is a traditional seamstress, not by choice but by necessity, working relentlessly to provide for my siblings and me. As I grew older, I realized that I wasn’t just watching her sew garments; I was witnessing a woman stitch together the fragile pieces of our survival with unwavering strength. When her legs began failing due to years of overwork, I stepped forward—not just as a daughter but as a caregiver, a provider, and a determined dreamer. Balancing caregiving with work and academics was not a choice; it was a responsibility I embraced. In addition to excelling in my electrical engineering studies, I took on jobs to help support my family while ensuring my mother could rest. I spent nights studying complex circuits and early mornings assisting her with daily tasks. I scheduled doctor’s appointments, adjusted her workspace for comfort, and took on household responsibilities—all while maintaining my commitment to leadership, community service, and mentorship. The weight of these responsibilities shaped my resilience. I learned to navigate exhaustion, to push forward when balancing everything felt impossible. But more importantly, I discovered the profound power of selflessness and perseverance. Every moment spent caring for my mother reinforced my purpose: to use my education and skills to create opportunities, not just for myself, but for others like her—women who sacrifice their well-being for their families, young girls who hesitate to dream beyond their circumstances, and communities that deserve access to sustainable, life-changing technology. This experience has profoundly influenced my career path. As a future electrical engineer, I aim to design energy-efficient systems and smart infrastructure that improve lives. I am particularly passionate about developing assistive technologies—solutions that alleviate the physical burdens of labor-intensive work, ensuring that people like my mother never have to choose between survival and their health. Balancing work, leadership roles in college, volunteering for 100+ a year, and academics has not been easy, but it has been meaningful. It has taught me that success is not just measured by personal achievements but by the lives we uplift along the way. As I continue my journey, I carry with me the lessons of sacrifice, resilience, and the unwavering belief that education is the bridge to empowerment. And just as my mother stitched together our survival, I will use my knowledge to stitch together a future of innovation, accessibility, and lasting change.