I am a hard-working High School Graduate with the drive to succeed. I am currently attending New River Community College and am working on my Associates Degree in Automotive Technology. I think selecting Automotive Technology as my career path in part, is my passion for cars. I love the artistic styling, the sound of an engine and the technology and advancements that have made cars what they are today. These things have steered my path towards working with my hands and understanding how to repair and maintain an automobile. I am striving to attend college debt-free and would like to complete my Automotive Technician training and obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to continue to gain real-world experience by returning to work in a garage training under experienced technicians. I feel this will continue to build my confidence which would allow me to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning a garage myself. I have worked at an Oil Change shop, a very small private garage and have just accepted a position for the summer in a GMC Dealership. These jobs have given me the confidence to do some work on my own. I recently repaired and sold a 1991 Honda Civic 5-Speed, that was not running. My goal was to repair the card and make it street-worthy as well as teach myself how to drive a manual transmission vehicle. After looking over several videos on YouTube and deciding what parts would be needed, I ordered them. My dad and I began the process of changing out the old parts for the new ones, such as the valve cover gasket, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter and battery. I was successful in getting it running and after only a week of practice, I was driving it. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to do the same. In the next five years, I will be graduated from College and have a few years of experience under my belt. I would like to begin focusing on a plan to give back to the community. Initially, I would like to work with an employer to start an apprenticeship with a local schools. Then, in the years to come, I would like to take this a step farther, but opening an honest and trustworthy garage garage of my own. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place where customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to continue to support local schools with an expanded apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic. I would like to set up a scholarship program where I may be able to help upcoming students kickstart their college tuition. I feel by working with the local high schools, I could open the eyes of so many students, who may be wondering what they want to do when they grow up. I feel if I could get more students interested in the automotive industry, it could open the doors, not only for the students but for the industry. There are so many untapped minds that could flip an aging technology on its ear, but we just haven't reached out to the right student yet, and that's something that I would like to try and communicate to high school students of today. Thank you for the opportunity to apply.

I am a hard-working High School Graduate with the drive to succeed. I am currently attending New River Community College and am working on my Associates Degree in Automotive Technology. I think my passion for cars comes from my dad. While he is not a mechanic, he's had a knack for being able to fix things and we enjoy tinkering on cars. He's always talking about cars and pointing things out to me always piqued my interest. My dad and I often go to car shows and talk about what our next project car may be. I am striving to attend college debt-free and would like to complete my Automotive Technician training and obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to continue to gain real-world experience by returning to work in a garage training under experienced technicians. I feel this will continue to build my confidence which would allow me to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning a garage myself. I have worked at an Oil Change shop, a very small private garage and have just accepted a position for the summer in a GMC Dealership. These jobs have given me the confidence to do some work on my own. I recently repaired and sold a 1991 Honda Civic 5-Speed, that was not running. My goal was to repair the card and make it street-worthy as well as teach myself how to drive a manual transmission vehicle. After looking over several videos on YouTube and deciding what parts would be needed, I ordered them. My dad and I began the process of changing out the old parts for the new ones, such as the valve cover gasket, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter and battery. I was successful in getting it running and after only a week of practice, I was driving it. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to do the same. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place where customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic. I would also like to set up a scholarship program where I may be able to help upcoming students kickstart their college tuition. I feel by working with the local high schools, I could open the eyes of so many students, who may be wondering what they want to do when they grow up. I feel if I could get more students interested in the automotive industry, it could open the doors, not only for the students but for the industry. There are so many untapped minds that could flip an aging technology on its ear, but we just haven't reached out to the right student yet, and that's something that I would like to try and communicate to high school students of today. Thank you for the opportunity to apply.

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College, obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning my own garage. I am currently in my second semester at a local Community College, taking Automotive Technology. I will soon resume an apprenticeship at a local garage, mentoring under a master technician. My prior job at a small quick oil change garage and my internship have given me the confidence to do some work on my own. I recently picked up a 1991 Honda Civic 5-Speed, that was not running and turned it into a school project. The goal was to repair the car and make it street worthy as well as teach myself how to drive a manual transmission vehicle. After looking over several videos on YouTube and deciding what parts would be needed, I ordered them. I began the process of changing out the old parts for the new ones, such as the valve cover gasket, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter and battery. I was successful in getting it running and after only a week of practice, I was driving it to school. I've now sold that car and picked up another car that isn't running and hope to get started working on it this summer. I also volunteer in the youth program my church. I run sound and slides for our worship service and participate in our small group Bible studies. I've really been able to connect to some great people in our young adult group. So many kids my age are out partying and that's just not my thing. My parents instilled in my some pretty solid values and I feel I have the responsibility to uphold those and be an example for my little sister and others. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to do the same. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic. I would also like to setup a scholarship program where I may be able help upcoming students kickstart their college tuition.

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College, obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real-world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning my own garage. My parents have instilled in me, that alcohol can be a slippery slope for some and you don't necessarily know if it will be for you until it is too late. There is alcoholism in my family and I just don't feel it is worth finding out the hard way, if I could become an alcoholic. I feel that I have worked too hard and come too far to be in a position that I do not have control over. DUIs are a very serious problem for people of all ages. It affects individuals, families and communities. I hear so often that on the news that DUIs have killed more and more every day. That's why I feel it is important to understand the effects of DUIs and the strategies that can be used to prevent them. It was eye opening to know that the average dealth caused by DUIs are over 10,000 per year in the United States alone. It is clearly a problem that is not going to go away on its own. If someone is fortunate enough to survive a DUI accident, the consequences of a DUI conviction can also be severe. DUI convictions can result in fines, jail time, license suspension and a criminal record, which may impact a person's employment opportunities, reputation and relationships. On top of all of those things, the financial costs are substantial. Costs include legal fees, fines and increased insurance rates. But in my mind, the real cost are the lives lost and the impact to those who lost loved ones. To help stop DUIs, the public needs awareness and continued education about the dangers of drunk driving. Educating people about the consequences of DUIs as well as alternative transportation options, such as discussing who is going to be the designated driver, before you start drinking, using a ride-sharing service and just having a plan can change attitudes and behaviors ahead of time. Increasing law enforcement in the way of increased presence, sobriety checkpoints and harsher penalties may also be a good way to help prevent drunk driving. Until people take responsibility for their actions and understand how one decision they make while impaired can affect so many others around them, there will be no change, fatalities will continue to rise and the roads will continually become less safe for everyone. However, pushing for change, we can all strive for a clear path to fewer DUIs and deaths.

I am a hard-working High School Graduate with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well-rounded, participated in my High School Choir and Theater Programs as well as having played for my High School's Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams, helping bring home a State Championship last year in Tennis I am striving to attend college debt-free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I have been accepted and am attending New River Community College and would like to complete my Automotive Technician training and obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to continue to gain real-world experience by returning to work in a garage over the summer, training under experienced technicians. This would continue to build my confidence which would allow me to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning a garage myself. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to do the same. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place where customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic. I would also like to set up a scholarship program where I may be able to help upcoming students kickstart their college tuition. I feel by working with the local high schools, I could open the eyes of so many students, who may be wondering what they want to do when they grow up. With the introduction of electric cars and the path automakers are on, there are so many areas that a mechanic can specialize in. I see so many fields crossing in the automotive industry. Forty years ago, garages may have had a microfiche to look up parts. Today, there's no limit to what you can look up on the internet. Who knows what the next forty years will bring? I truly feel that within the field of automotive, there are so many technologies that come into play. Computer science, Engineering, video, LiDAR and RADAR just to name a few. The amount of technology that is packed into a single car today dwarfs the technology of only a few years ago. I feel if I could get more students interested in the automotive industry, it could open the doors, not only for the students but for the industry. There are so many untapped minds that could flip an aging technology on its ear, but we just haven't reached out to the right student yet, and that's something that I would like to try and communicate to high school students of today. I support my community by returning to my High School and volunteering in the Drama Department. I show students what I have learned about sound and lights and help inspiring stage managers learn the dos and don'ts related to live productions. I also volunteer at my church, working with the youth group, along side the youth pastor. Thank you for the opportunity to apply.

I have wanted to be a mechanic for many years. I really like cars, how they sound, how they smelI and how one car to someone could be a work of art to someone else. I never get tired of reading about cars. I want to someday own my own garage so that I can begin to do custom work for clients. I am striving to attend college debt-free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I have been accepted and am attending New River Community College and would like to complete my Automotive Technician training and obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to do the same. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place where customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic. I would also like to set up a scholarship program where I may be able to help upcoming students kickstart their college tuition. I feel by working with the local high schools, I could open the eyes of so many students, who may be wondering what they want to do when they grow up. With the introduction of electric cars and the path automakers are on, there are so many areas that a mechanic can specialize in. I see so many fields crossing in the automotive industry. Forty years ago, garages may have had a microfiche to look up parts. Today, there's no limit to what you can look up on the internet. Who knows what the next forty years will bring? I truly feel that within the field of automotive, there are so many technologies that come into play. Computer science, Engineering, video, LiDAR and RADAR just to name a few. The amount of technology that is packed into a single car today dwarfs the technology of only a few years ago. I also feel if I could get more students interested in the automotive industry, it could open the doors, not only for the students but for the industry. There are so many untapped minds that could flip an aging technology on its ear, but we just haven't reached out to the right student yet, and that's something that I would like to try and communicate to high school students of today.

I am a hard-working High School Graduate with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well-rounded, participated in my High School Choir and Theater Programs as well as having played for my High School's Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams, helping bring home a State Championship last year in Tennis I think my passion for cars comes from my dad. He often says he has a plethora of useless car knowledge as he recalls the 0-60 time of a 1987 Buick Grand National. He said he doesn't know why he remembers car specs, but cannot remember how long to cook a frozen dinner. He's always talking about cars and pointing things out to me always piqued my interest. My dad and I often go to car shows and from a distance, try to figure out the years of the cars before we get to them. He's usually right more than I am. I am striving to attend college debt-free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I have been accepted and am attending New River Community College and would like to complete my Automotive Technician training and obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to continue to gain real-world experience by returning to work in a garage over the summer, training under experienced technicians. This would continue to build my confidence which would allow me to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning a garage myself. I just finished up a summer apprenticeship at a local garage where all types of automotive services were performed. I had previously been working a garage that specialized in oil changes and minor work. I had been working there for two years. These jobs have given me the confidence to do some work on my own. I recently picked up a 1991 Honda Civic 5-Speed, that was not running and turned it into a school project. The goal was to repair the card and make it street-worthy as well as teach myself how to drive a manual transmission vehicle. After looking over several videos on YouTube and deciding what parts would be needed, I ordered them. My dad and I began the process of changing out the old parts for the new ones, such as the valve cover gasket, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter and battery. I was successful in getting it running and after only a week of practice, I was driving it to school. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to do the same. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place where customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic. I would also like to set up a scholarship program where I may be able to help upcoming students kickstart their college tuition. I feel by working with the local high schools, I could open the eyes of so many students, who may be wondering what they want to do when they grow up. With the introduction of electric cars and the path automakers are on, there are so many areas that a mechanic can specialize in. I see so many fields crossing in the automotive industry. Forty years ago, garages may have had a microfiche to look up parts. Today, there's no limit to what you can look up on the internet. Who knows what the next forty years will bring? I truly feel that within the field of automotive, there are so many technologies that come into play. Computer science, Engineering, video, LiDAR and RADAR just to name a few. The amount of technology that is packed into a single car today dwarfs the technology of only a few years ago. I feel if I could get more students interested in the automotive industry, it could open the doors, not only for the students but for the industry. There are so many untapped minds that could flip an aging technology on its ear, but we just haven't reached out to the right student yet, and that's something that I would like to try and communicate to high school students of today. Thank you for the opportunity to apply.

I am a hard-working High School Graduate with the drive to succeed. I am striving to attend college debt-free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I am attending New River Community College and would like to complete my Automotive Technician training and obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I just finished up a summer apprenticeship at a local garage where all types of automotive services were performed. This job has given me the confidence to do some work on my own. I recently picked up a car that was not running and turned it into a school project. The goal was to repair the card and make it street-worthy as well as teach myself how to drive a manual transmission vehicle. After looking over several videos on YouTube and deciding what parts would be needed, I ordered them. I was successful in getting it running and driving. The community I live in is fairly small. Many local businesses support our community and their families. I would like to do the same. I hope to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place where customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I would like to support local schools with an apprenticeship program and set up a scholarship program to help kickstart college tuition.

As an inspiring mechanic, my Barbie Dream House, may be a bit more of a Barbie Dream Garage with a place to sleep, entertain and relax. First, to lay the groundwork, I'd like to have a 2 floor Craftsman Style house in charcoal gray with white trim, 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. The large master bedroom, bath with a dry sauna, walk-in closet on the main floor with the other three bedrooms upstairs. A large open concept living space adjoining the kitchen to entertain while cooking. The kitchen will have a double fridge, a pellet ice make strait from Chick-Fil-A, a double oven, a sink to the side of the oven along with a 2nd sink in the island, overlooking the living space. Upstairs would be three bedrooms and a game room with a pool table, ping pong and a dozen of my favorite vintage arcade games and pinball. The house would have a lot of rock around it with rock and white columns and exposed beams on the front porch. Around back, a large screened in porch for when you want out of the sun along with a nice outdoor kitchen with an eating area with plenty of seating, rock walls and firepit and an outdoor movie area leading to an inground, heated, salt water pool and water slide. To the side, an attached 3 car garage. The garage would be a few feet wider and a few feet taller than average to reduce the usual door dings and worry that my vehicles may not fit. It would have no slip, epoxy floors and plenty of garage storage/organization for those seasonal items you just don't need that often. I'd also have a small work bench and basic tools for when you need something quickly. On the opposite side of the garage from the house, a mother-in-law suite, so family could come and stay and have privacy. The suite would have a bedroom, living space, kitchen and a bath and a half. It would have a connecting breezeway through the backyard to the screen porch. Around the side, a detached 2 car wide, 3 car deep, garage with 15 foot ceilings and a 2nd floor with a "Man Cave" and a home office. The garage would have the same no slip epoxy floors for durability, a couple of storage lifts to raise up any cars I'm not using, a four post auto lift to service my cars. The garage would have an automobile theme with traffic signs, stop lights and appropriate lighting to display my cars. The "Man Cave" would be outfitted with a 4K Projector, a 120" screen and Klipsch Reference 5.2 Home Theater Audio. It would stadium seating for myself and 14 of my closet friends. As for my office, there would be floor to ceiling windows facing the pool with electrochromic glass, to darken the room on those very sunny days and for privacy. A deck off of the office and "Man Cave" would have steps down to the patio. Thank you for the opportunity for me to apply for this scholarship and thank you for taking your time to read my essay. -Ian Kelley

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I feel the Career Search Scholarship will be a benefit to me. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College and obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real-world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion for working on cars and someday, owning my own garage. I have been very fortunate because my grandfather on my dad's side, was an electrician by trade, but throughout his years, also became a good carpenter, a good plumber and a handyman in many other areas. That knowledge was handed down to my dad, who has many of those talents. He and I have worked on a project car that I have, which has included rewiring some harnesses and minor engine work. He's handed some of his talents down to me and now I wish to grow them and be able to pass them along as well. I feel with the benefit of this and hopefully other scholarships, I will be able to concentrate more on my work without having to be concerned with how to afford my other college expenses. The only career I am currently planning on exploring while attending college is being a mechanic at a local garage. My plans are to use my newly learned skills from my college classes while they are fresh in my mind. I feel this will help me not only use what I have learned but allow me to also generate conversation and questions that I can bring back to my instructors if something I have learned in class doesn't ring true in a real-world scenario. This too will allow the master technician at the garage, who I will be working under, observe me working and troubleshooting, help me when I need it as well as give him the information that he needs to determine if he would hire me when I am done with my education. Thank you for your time in reading my application and I hope you feel I am deserving of your award.

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I feel the Koehler Family Trades Scholarship will be a benefit to me. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College and obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real-world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion for working on cars and someday, owning my own garage. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to do the same. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic. I would also like to set up a scholarship program where I may be able to help upcoming students kickstart their college tuition. I have been very fortunate because my grandfather on my dad's side, was an electrician by trade, but throughout his years, also became a good carpenter, a good plumber and a handyman in many other areas. That knowledge was handed down to my dad, who has many of those talents. He and I have worked on a project car that I have, which has included rewiring some harnesses and minor engine work. He's handed some of his talents down to me and now I wish to grow them and be able to pass them along as well. Seeing how my grandfather and father have worked so hard to have success in whatever they chose to do, whether it be their job or something around the house, has given me the drive and desire to follow in their footsteps. Thank you for your time in reading my application and I hope you feel I am deserving of your award.

My name is Ian Kelley, and I am a hard-working High School Senior at Glenvar High School with the drive to succeed. I am very well rounded, participating in my School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the BETA Club. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of college loans once I graduate. I appreciate your time to review my application and would greatly appreciate your consideration for this scholarship. Tennis has had a significant impact on my life. Tennis has allowed me to not only be part of a Team, represent my school, excel as an individual but it has also turned into a fun hobby that I get play with friends and family for fun. It has taught me several valuable lessons, not to mention inspired me to be more physically fit. I have developed better self-control and learned the importance of not giving up. No one likes to lose, and I am no exception. One of the most significant lessons I have learned through tennis is the importance of perseverance. I’ve learned that tennis requires patience. Losing a point used to get me down. I now play with a different mindset and attempt to play each point like a new point, not the next point. Playing tennis has also taught me the value of hard work and dedication. These things have helped me to apply myself to my studies and other areas of my life, knowing that hard work and persistence will pay off in the end. Another valuable lesson that tennis has taught me is self-control. I have always been hard on myself and no so good at holding in my emotion. When I expressed myself in a negative way, the outward appearance of that burst wasn’t good for me or the Team. Tennis requires a significant amount of self-control, both on and off the court. Maintaining a healthy diet, practicing consistently, and staying focused during matches are just a few examples of the control and discipline required. Through my tennis training, I have learned to stay calm and composed under pressure, which has helped me handle challenging situations in my school as well as in one of my favorite hobbies, learning to be a mechanic. In conclusion, tennis has had a significant impact on my life, teaching me valuable lessons that I can apply to my personal and professional goals. From developing perseverance to self-discipline and has helped me succeed in various areas of my life. As I move forward, I am grateful for coaches and players that have invested time in me and the lessons I have learned through tennis and will continue to apply these lessons to achieve my goals.

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I feel the Lillian's and Ruby's Way Scholarship will be a great benefit to me. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College, obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real-world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning my own garage. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to give back to the community. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic themselves. I would also like to set up a scholarship program where I may be able to help up and coming students, kickstart their college tuition. I feel that by providing a helping hand and investing in my community, especially the youth within the community, I am opening doors that may be closed to some. The reason I feel so passionately about this is, an acquaintance knew that I had a love of cars, reached out to me to see if I wanted to apprentice under him at his new garage. He was willing to invest his time as a master technician, into me, who is still very new to automotive, although I have been working at a garage for a couple of years. I've never been offered the chance to work one on one with someone as their apprentice. I appreciate this opportunity to grow my knowledge and plan on paying it forward in the future. Thank you for taking the time to read my application.

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I feel the Colby R. Eggleston and Kyla Lee Entrepreneurship Award will be a great benefit to me. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College, obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real-world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning my own garage. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to give back to the community. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic themselves. I would also like to set up a scholarship program where I may be able to help up and coming students, kickstart their college tuition. I feel that by providing a helping hand and investing in my community, especially the youth within the community, I am opening doors that may be closed to some. The reason I feel so passionately about this is, an acquaintance knew that I had a love of cars, reached out to me to see if I wanted to apprentice under him at his new garage. He was willing to invest his time as a master technician, into me, who is still very new to automotive, although I have been working at a garage for a couple of years. I've never been offered the chance to work one on one with someone as their apprentice. I appreciate this opportunity to grow my knowledge and plan on paying it forward in the future. Thank you for taking the time to read my application.

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I feel the Jean-Antione Joas Scholarship will be a benefit to me. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College, obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real-world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning my own garage. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to give back to the community. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic themselves. I would also like to set up a scholarship program where I may be able to help up and coming students, kickstart their college tuition. I feel that by providing a helping hand and investing in my community, especially the youth within the community, I am opening doors that may be closed to some. The reason I feel so passionately about this is, an acquaintance knew that I had a love of cars, reached out to me to see if I wanted to apprentice under him at his new garage. He was willing to invest his time as a master technician, into me, who is still very new to automotive, although I have been working at a garage for a couple of years. I've never been offered the chance to work one on one with someone as their apprentice. I appreciate this opportunity to grow my knowledge and plan on paying it forward in the future. Thank you for taking the time to read my application.

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I feel the Ruth Hazel Scruggs King Scholarship will be a benefit to me. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College, obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real-world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning my own garage. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to give back to the community. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic themselves. I would also like to set up a scholarship program where I may be able to help up and coming students, kickstart their college tuition. I feel that by providing a helping hand and investing in my community, especially the youth within the community, I am opening doors that may be closed to some. The reason I feel so passionately about this is, an acquaintance knew that I had a love of cars, reached out to me to see if I wanted to apprentice under him at his new garage. He was willing to invest his time as a master technician, into me, who is still very new to automotive, although I have been working at a garage for a couple of years. I've never been offered the chance to work one on one with someone as their apprentice. I appreciate this opportunity to grow my knowledge and plan on paying it forward in the future. Thank you for taking the time to read my application.

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I feel the Samuel D. Hartley Memorial Scholarship will be a benefit to me. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College, obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning my own garage. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to do the same. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic. I would also like to set up a scholarship program where I may be able help upcoming students kickstart their college tuition. I have been very fortunate because my grandfather on my dad's side, was an electrician by trade, but throughout his years, also became a good carpenter, a good plumber and a handyman in many other areas. That knowledge was handed down to my dad, who has many of those talents. He and I have worked on a project car that I have, which has included rewiring some harnesses and minor engine work. He's handed some of his talents down to me and now I wish to grow them and be able to pass them along as well. I feel with the benefit of this and hopefully other scholarships, I will be able to concentrate more on my work without having to be concerned with how to afford my other college expenses. Thank you for your time in reading my application and I hope you feel I am deserving of your award.

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College, obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real-world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning my own garage. While I do have friends that drink, I personally do not. My parents have instilled in me, that alcohol can be a slippery slope for some and you don't necessarily know if it will be for you until it is too late. There is alcoholism in my family and I just don't feel it is worth finding out the hard way, if I could become an alcoholic. I feel that I have worked too hard and come too far to be in a position that I do not have control over. DUIs are a very serious problem for people of all ages. It affects individuals, families and communities. I read that every day, more than 30 people are involved in a DUI-related crash from being the driver, passenger or other road users. That's why I feel it is important to understand the effects of DUIs and the strategies that can be used to prevent them. With an average of 10,000 deaths per year in the United States alone, it is clearly a problem that is not going to just go away. Aside from the deaths, the consequences of a DUI conviction are also severe. DUI convictions can result in fines, jail time, license suspension and a criminal record, which may impact a person's employment opportunities, reputation and relationships. On top of all of those things, the financial costs are substantial. Costs include legal fees, fines and increased insurance rates. To help stop DUIs, the public needs awareness and continued education about the dangers of drunk driving. Educating people about the consequences of DUIs as well as alternative transportation options, such as discussing who is going to be the designated driver, before you start drinking, using a ride-sharing service and just having a plan can change attitudes and behaviors ahead of time. Increasing law enforcement in the way of increased presence, sobriety checkpoints and harsher penalties may also be a good way to help prevent drunk driving. Until people take responsibility for their actions and understand how one decision they make while impaired can affect so many others around them, there will be no change, fatalities will continue to rise and the roads will continually become less safe for everyone. However, pushing for change, we can all strive for a clear path to fewer DUIs and deaths.

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College, obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real-world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning my own garage. I currently work at a local garage that specializes in oil changes and basic services. I have been working there for two years. This job has given me the confidence to do some work on my own. I recently picked up a 1991 Honda Civic 5-Speed, that was not running and turned it into a school project. The goal was to repair the card and make it street worthy as well as teach myself how to drive a manual transmission vehicle. After looking over several videos on YouTube and deciding what parts would be needed, I ordered them. My dad and I began the process of changing out the old parts for the new ones, such as the valve cover gasket, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter and battery. I was successful in getting it running and after only a week of practice, I was driving it to school. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to do the same. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic. I would also like to setup a scholarship program where I may be able help upcoming students kickstart their college tuition.

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I feel the Helping Heart Foundation Scholarship will help me a lot. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College, obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion of working on cars and someday, owning my own garage. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to do the same. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic. I would also like to setup a scholarship program where I may be able help upcoming students kickstart their college tuition. A time of emotional weakness that was fairly recent, was something that happened last year. There was a rumor spread about me which was untrue. As the rumor was repeated, it continued to grow and made me feel helpless because while I knew it was not true, the people who heard it did not. I felt I needed to go to my teacher and attempt to get to the bottom of it and to help clear the air. After a long talk with my teacher, he advised me let him know if I continued to hear things were still being said, while he escalated the concern to the principal and talked to some other students. While this was happening, it made me feel that this rumor had made my friends not trust me, which again made me feel helpless. After a few days and conversations that were had with the teacher and some students, I was relieved to find that my friends understood that I would have never said or done the things mentioned in the rumor.

I am a hard-working High School Senior with the drive to succeed. I feel I am very well rounded, participating in my High School Choir and Theater Program as well as being a member of the Varsity Golf and Tennis Teams. I am striving to attend college debt free, so I will not have the burden of loans once I graduate. I would like to complete my Automotive Technician training at New River Community College, obtain my Virginia State Inspection License and my ASE Certification. I would then like to gain real world experience by working in a garage and training under experienced technicians. This would give me the confidence to continue my passion of working on cars and some day, owning my own garage. I currently work at a local garage that specializes in oil changes and basic services. I have been working there for two years. This job has given me the confidence to do some work on my own. I recently picked up a 1991 Honda Civic 5-Speed, that was not running and turned it into a school project. The goal was to repair the card and make it street worthy as well as teach myself how to drive a manual transmission vehicle. After looking over several videos on YouTube and deciding what parts would be needed, I ordered them. My dad and I began the process of changing out the old parts for the new ones, such as the valve cover gasket, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter and battery. I was successful in getting it running and after only a week of practice, I was driving it to school. The community I live in is fairly small. There are many local businesses that support our community and their families. I would like to use my skills and talents to do the same. I hope to one day be able to give back to the community by operating an honest and trustworthy garage. I would like to keep my pricing fair and competitive as well as be a place customers know they can come and be treated with respect and honesty. I also envision being able to support local schools with an apprenticeship program to help upcoming high school students learn about the trade and be able to make informed decisions about one day, becoming a mechanic. I would also like to setup a scholarship program where I may be able help upcoming students kickstart their college tuition.

I see generational wealth as a two-edged sword. On one side, wealth in the form of money and on the other, wealth in the form of knowledge. For example, my grandfather on my dad's side, was an electrician by trade, but throughout his years, also became a good carpenter, a good plumber and a handyman in many other areas. That knowledge was handed down to my dad, who has many of those talents and has handed some of those down to me. However, generational wealth in the form of money, handed down over the generations is what most people are referring to when they speak of generational wealth. An example of how generational wealth helped my mom and dad is when they purchased their first house. Each of my grandparents gave my parents a little money for a larger down payment, which lowered their monthly payment and made the house more affordable. This type of generational wealth was shared while my grandparents were still living. Another similar example would be when my parents were renovating their house many years later and my grandfather offered to pay for the new room and my grandmother offered to pay towards our new fence in our back yard. Another, more recent example of generational wealth was when my grandfather recently passed away. In my grandfather's will, he left to all of his children, many antiques as well as lawn equipment, tools, furniture, land and his pickup truck. This form of generational wealth allows the recipient to decide whether they would like to keep the asset they were given, or sell them for money. My dad and aunts decided to do both. They kept some antiques and tools, but sold the land and the pickup truck. I feel that generational wealth varies greatly among different classes of people as well as the lifestyle that they may be living or want to live. If a loved one leaves 100,000 to a family member, it could be life changing to some, while it may just be another IRA Contribution to another. It could mean the difference of making higher education available to a family who cannot afford it, pay off their house, or bail them out of tons of credit card debt. I feel that generational wealth could have good and bad effects on a person or family as well. With wealth also comes great responsibility and decision making. I feel that my grandparents and parents have instilled in me the importance of paying cash for my purchases, saving to afford something I do not have cash to buy and making sure my wealth does three things, allows me to save, spend, and give. And my using those practices, I should be able to do the same for my children and grandchildren.

My experience with cancer is a positive one. Back in 2019, my grandad, who was nearly 80, was diagnosed with Stage 1 Lung Cancer in the upper right lobe of his lung. The Doctor was very aggressive and quick to schedule him in for additional testing after finding a dark spot on a routine body scan. Once additional test results came back and confirmed that the Doctor.'s findings, my family's heart sank. That was not the news that we had wanted to hear. In fact, the spot had been there for a couple of years, but the Doctor did not think it was anything at the time. You hear of other people having cancer in their family but fortunately for us, we have not had to experience it very often. The Dr. explained the procedure and scheduled the surgery to occur in the coming weeks to month. Thanks to the availability of the future appointments to come and the technology to do the procedure without invasive surgery by using the Cyber Knife, my grandad was able to complete his treatment and remained cancer free from that point forward. His recovery was very quick and although he did have to have that upper right lobe removed, his day to day activites and endurance seemed to by unphased. (He later passed on an unrelated heath issue, but I am so thankful that it was not due to the terrible effects that cancer plays on your body.) I am amazed by the technology, which not only cured my grandad, but also found the cancer in the first place. We hear of so many people that are diagnosed with so many different forms of cancer, some of which, I have never even heard of. But if you just take a second to consider, these cancers are not new. The likelihood that these cancers have existed forever is very high. The role that technology and continued research has played is what has allowed us to find these cancers and hopefully find them fast enough to be able to successfully treat them without the loss of another life. Ever since I was a kid, I've heard of people raising money to cure cancer. While it's still a disease that plagues the world and affects nearly everyone at some point in their life, It is by far from a lost cause. Every dollar donated and the time to invested is saving lives. Those Doctors and Scientists are the real heros.

I believe I have the integrity and drive to succeed in anything I set my mind to, work hard to achieve, and can do so in a realistic timeframe.

I would have to say that my favorite song from Taylor Swift's 1989 album would have to be Bad Blood. Bad Blood is such a very catchy song. That beat and specifically the bass hits very hard in my car, which if I am honest, probably is the major reason I press repeat several times when it comes on. But most of all, I love all of those cameos in Bad Blood!!! Like, how do you lasso in so much talent from so many walks of life into a music video. It's great to be able to see familiar faces in the video. It makes you stop, rewind, watch, watch several more times and appreciate the work and coordination that must have gone into this endeavor. The camera work and the special effects are movie quality for sure. Anyone can appreciate, especially when you look back over the years, music video quality has certainly improved greatly. If you expand upon the cameos, there are some other extremely talented singers too. I think it would have been interesting to have Zendaya or Haley Steinfeld singing on the track too. And Jessica Alba and Cindy Crawford!! Pretty amazing group of women from all sorts of professions, from singers to actresses an models. Bad Blood is one of those songs that everyone in the car immediately starts singing and bobbing their head to. My 15 year old sister really loves Bad Blood and has the pipes to sing along. And my dad loves it too, but keep that between us. In fact, Bad Blood is the song that my dad used to test and burn in my new sub-woofer and amplifier in my car. And it seriously made that amplifier and sub-woofer work and sounded great. You just can't do that with any song. So to sum it up, Bad Blood has everything you could want in a pop song. It has a very catch beat, good lyrics, a great music video with familiar actresses and singers, great special effects just to name a few. 1989 is probably best known for Shake It Off. And while that's also a very catch tune that we all like to listen to, I think that Bad Blood edges it out, at least for myself and my family. Great song Taylor. Thank you for your work and dedication to putting out good music. I also wanted to take just a second to say thank you for taking the time to read my application for this scholarship. Ian Kelley