Growing up as the youngest of four siblings shaped a lot of who I am. My family has always meant everything to me. Even though we were spread out in age, the bond we shared was strong. My siblings took care of me when I was younger, and as they got older and moved out, I missed them deeply. My parents worked hard to give me opportunities they never had, and even when life became difficult, we stayed close. That sense of family is something I carry with me in everything I do. Sports were a big part of my life growing up. I played basketball in middle school and during my first two years of high school. I did it because it was fun and it gave me something positive to focus on outside of school. Being on a team taught me discipline, teamwork, and how to push myself even when things got tough. Later on, I switched to track, and I realized I was even better at that than basketball. I worked hard, improved fast, and eventually had the chance to compete at track nationals. That experience showed me what I was capable of when I committed myself fully. My athletic journey also opened the door for me to give back. For several summers, I worked as a student coach at one of my former coach’s camps. At first, I did it because I wanted some money in my pocket, but it quickly became something much more meaningful. I wanted to be a good example for the kids I worked with. Growing up in Baltimore, I have seen how easy it is for young people to fall into the wrong path. I have seen people my age ends up in the streets, in jail, or worse. I never wanted that for the kids I coached. I wanted to show them that there are better options and that they can choose a different future. Now I am a freshman in college, and even though I am no longer competing, the lessons I learned from sports still guide me. My underclassmen from track still look up to me. They ask me for advice about sports, school, and life. I try to visit when I can because I know my presence matters to them. I am not perfect and I make mistakes, but I am always trying to grow and help others avoid the same pitfalls. Academically, I am pursuing a degree in cybersecurity. My interest in technology started with video games, but my passion for cybersecurity came from a PLTW class in high school. Learning about defending networks and protecting data felt right to me. It gave me a sense of purpose. I plan on joining the ethical hackers club to build my skills and prepare for a career where I can protect people from cybercrime. My future plans are simple but meaningful. I want to graduate, build a stable career, and use my success to give back to my community. Whether it is mentoring younger athletes, helping kids stay on the right path, or protecting people through cybersecurity, I want to make a positive impact. That is what drives me every day.

Growing up in Baltimore shaped a lot of who I am. Baltimore is a predominately Black city, and it is infamous for its crime rate, but it is also full of people who are strong and trying their best to build better lives. Being a Black student from a city like mine means I have seen both the challenges and the potential that exist in my community. I grew up around people who worked hard but still faced barriers that others never had to think about. That reality is a big part of why I am pursuing a degree in cybersecurity and why I want to make a difference in the future. My interest in technology started with video games. They were a core part of my life, and they made me curious about how everything worked behind the screen. But my direct interest in cybersecurity came from a PLTW class in high school. We learned the basics of defending networks and protecting data, and something about it just felt right. It resonated with me in a way nothing else ever had. I knew immediately that this was what I wanted to do. Cybersecurity is one of the fastest growing fields in STEM, yet Black professionals make up only a small percentage of the workforce. Depending on the source, estimates show that Black people represent around 9 percent of cybersecurity professionals in the United States. That number is low, and it motivates me even more to break into the field and help change that. I am now a freshman in college working toward my degree, and I plan on joining the ethical hackers club to build my skills. I want to become someone who can protect people from cybercrime, especially those in communities like mine who are more vulnerable to scams and identity theft. A lot of people do not have the knowledge or resources to protect themselves online, and I want to use my education to change that. Cybersecurity is not just a career to me. It is a way to serve others and keep them safe. I also give back to my community in other ways. I started doing community service in middle school and continued through COVID when I helped my church every day with food giveaways and supply pickups. Helping others has always been important to me. I believe the most valuable thing you can give someone is your time because that is something you can never get back. In the future, once I am financially stable, I want to donate supplies or even create a scholarship to help students like me. But even before that, I want to mentor younger students and show them that they can succeed in STEM fields too. I want to inspire the next generation by being visible, by being present, and by proving that someone who looks like me can succeed in cybersecurity. I want to show them that the odds can change and that they can be the ones to change them. My ambition, my drive, and my desire to make an impact come from everything I have lived through, and I am determined to use my education to open doors for others.

Growing up in Baltimore shaped a lot of who I am. Baltimore is a predominately Black city, and it is infamous for its crime rate, but it is also full of people who are strong, resilient, and trying their best to build better lives. Being Black in a city like mine never made me feel different because everyone around me looked like me. I did not really understand what it meant to be a minority until my parents decided that the best path for my education was to send me to private middle schools in wealthy areas instead of public school. That was the first time I realized how different the world could feel depending on where you stood. When I visited those schools, I suddenly became aware of my skin color in a way I never had before. I remember getting backhanded compliments like “you speak so well,” as if they did not expect someone who looked like me to speak clearly or intelligently. It was a truly eye-opening experience. I was young, but I could feel the difference in how people looked at me. Thankfully I eventually found a school where I felt comfortable, but that experience stayed with me. High school brought its own challenges. That was where stereotypes were pushed onto me, whether people meant it in a racist way or not. There were kids who would say things like “of course you are good at basketball you are Black,” as if my entire identity could be summed up by a sport. Others would say the n word because they thought it was funny. It was frustrating and uncomfortable, and it reminded me that no matter how hard I worked or how well I behaved, some people would still see me through a stereotype. There were also no Black teachers in the building. I liked my teachers and there was nothing wrong with them except for one, but I would have been more comfortable with at least one Black teacher. Someone who understood what it felt like to be the only one in the room. Now I am in my first year of college, and my identity continues to shape my path. My mother recently lost her job due to mistreatment from higher ups, and we are financially struggling. Being a minority student means I do not have the same safety net that others might have. I need to take advantage of every opportunity to help pay for school because my education is not just about me. It is about helping my family, building a stable future, and proving that I can rise above the challenges placed in front of me. Being Black has impacted my life in ways that were difficult, but it also made me stronger. It taught me resilience, awareness, and the importance of pushing forward even when the world tries to limit you. My identity will continue to shape my journey, but it will not hold me back. It will motivate me to keep going and to become someone who can open doors for others who look like me.

Achieving your dreams is not something that happens overnight. I faced many obstacles growing up, and there were moments when I didn't even know how things would turn out. But every time I triumphed over a challenge, I remind myself of the goals that I set for myself and that it will be worth it. One of the most challenging times in my life occurred during the COVID pandemic, when I was in the seventh grade. My family was dealing with so much at once. My grandfather passed away, my father was diagnosed with cancer, and we were not sure how serious it was. If it were as bad as the doctors feared, he would have had only six months to live. At the same time, my mother was working with lawyers to get my grandmother released from prison because she had long served her sentence. All of this was happening while the world was in lockdown. I was confused, scared, and overwhelmed. That period changed me. It made me grow up faster, and it made me realize how important faith, family, and resilience really are. Even after things improved, my family continued to face financial struggles. That has been one of the biggest obstacles in my pursuit of higher education. I am doing everything I can to help my family by applying to every opportunity and scholarship available. I know how important college is for my future, and I refuse to let our circumstances stop me. I am now a freshman in college, and even though the work is challenging, I am proud of myself for making it this far. My goal is to work in cybersecurity. My interest in technology started with video games, but my passion for cybersecurity came from a PLTW class in high school. When we learned about defending networks and protecting data, something clicked. It felt right. Cybersecurity is more than a career to me. It is a way to protect people, especially those who do not have the knowledge or resources to protect themselves online. Giving back has always been a part of who I am. I started doing community service in middle school because I needed hours to graduate, but I quickly realized I genuinely enjoyed helping people. During COVID, I helped my church every day with food giveaways, supply pickups, and anything else they needed. Since then, I have continued to serve whenever I can. In the future, I want to use my education to give back even more. I want to protect my community from cybercrime, mentor younger students, and once I am financially stable, donate supplies or even create a scholarship. My obstacles shaped me, but they did not stop me. They motivated me to build a future where I can help others overcome their own. ​

Growing up, I never expected community service to become such an important part of my life. I started doing it in middle school because I needed service hours to graduate, but it was during that time that I realized I actually liked helping people. It felt good to know that something I did, even something small, could make someone else’s day a little easier. I did not think much of it at first, but looking back, that was the beginning of my commitment to serving others. Then COVID happened, and everything changed. I had nothing else to do, and my church began going out to different places to serve the community. I decided to participate, and eventually we started doing the service work directly at our church. Since my mother was one of the people who helped run it, I was there every single day during the lockdown. We handed out food, organized supplies, helped families who were struggling, and did whatever needed to be done. Even though the world felt like it was falling apart, helping others gave me a sense of purpose. It reminded me that even in the hardest times, you can still be a blessing to someone else. Since then, I have always stayed involved. Whether it is food giveaways, supply pickups, or helping with organization in the church, I enjoy giving my time. I learned that the most important thing you can donate is your time because that is something you can never get back. Money helps, but time shows people that you truly care. It shows them that they matter enough for you to stop what you are doing and be there for them. As I got older, I also discovered my passion for cybersecurity. I am a freshman in college now, and I plan on joining the ethical hackers club to build my skills. My interest in cybersecurity came from a PLTW class in high school. We only covered the basics, but something about defending networks and protecting data just felt right to me. It resonated with me in a way nothing else did. I realized that cybersecurity is another form of service. You are protecting people from criminals who want to use their information for wrongful purposes. You are keeping families, businesses, and communities safe in a world where technology is everywhere. In the future, I want to use my career to give back just like I always have. If things go as planned and I become financially stable, I want to donate supplies or maybe even create a scholarship to help students like me. But even more than that, I want to keep giving my time. I want to volunteer, mentor younger students, and use my skills to help people stay safe online. Helping others has always been a part of who I am, and I plan to carry that with me for the rest of my life. It truly is a blessing to be a blessing to others.

Growing up, technology was always a significant part of my life, even before I fully understood what information technology was. Video games were the first thing that pulled me into the world of tech. They were more than just entertainment for me. They were a core part of my childhood and, honestly, a core part of who I am today. Playing games made me curious about how everything worked behind the screen. I did not know it at the time, but that curiosity was the beginning of my interest in technology. As I got older, that interest grew, especially because my family always relied on me for anything tech-related. Whether it was fixing a device, setting something up, or helping them understand how something worked, I enjoyed being the person they turned to for assistance. It made me feel useful, and it made me realize that technology was something I naturally connected with. However, I still did not know exactly what I wanted to do in the field until I entered high school. My direct interest in cybersecurity came from taking a PLTW computer science class during my senior year. We covered a lot of different topics, but the cybersecurity unit stood out to me immediately. Even though we only learned the basics, something about defending networks and protecting data just felt right. It sounded so cool to me, and it resonated with me in a way nothing else in technology ever had. Coding was fun, but it did not feel like something I wanted to do every day. Data analytics did not feel right either. But cybersecurity clicked instantly. I knew that was what I wanted to do for a career. Now I am a freshman in college, and I just finished my first semester. The work is challenging, but I enjoy it because I know I am working toward something meaningful. I am planning on joining my school’s ethical hackers club because I want to learn as much as I can and surround myself with people who share the same passion. I want to build real skills, get hands-on experience, and grow into someone who can make a difference in the cybersecurity world. My background also plays a big role in why this field matters to me. As an underrepresented minority, I know how hard it can be to find opportunities in IT. A lot of students like me do not have mentors in the field, and financial limitations make higher education difficult. I have seen firsthand how easy it is for people in my community to fall into the wrong path because they do not have guidance or access to opportunities. That is why I am determined to take advantage of every chance I get. I want to break into this field not just for myself, but so I can eventually help others do the same. Technology has always been a part of my life, but cybersecurity gave me direction. It gave me a purpose. I want to protect people, defend systems, and make the digital world safer. This scholarship would help me continue my education and move closer to the career I have been working toward. I am committed, I am passionate, and I know that with the right support, I can achieve my goals and give back to the communities that shaped me. ​

Growing up, sports were always something that kept me grounded and gave me a sense of purpose. I played basketball in middle school and for the first two years of high school. I did it because I thought it was fun, and it gave me something to do outside of school. I liked being active, being around my teammates, and having something to look forward to every day. But even more than that, I have always been someone who liked being involved with the community. So during those years, I worked as a student‑coach at one of my former coach’s summer camps. I needed some money in my pocket, so why not do something that I like and is impactful to others. Yes, I wanted them to become better athletes, but most importantly, I wanted to be a good example to them. Growing up in Baltimore, it is very easy to turn your life around for the worse because of bad decision-making. I have seen people my age end up in the streets, in jail, or in the worst-case scenario, dead. That is something I would never wish on anyone, especially not kids who still have their whole lives ahead of them. That is why I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to show them that the streets are not the way out, and that there are better paths they can take. Even if I was only a few years older than they were, I knew my presence mattered. After playing basketball, I switched to running track, and I was so much better at it than I ever was at basketball. I even had the opportunity to compete at track nationals. For my last two years of high school, I worked during the summer, but it was not at a camp. Even then, I still wanted to help younger kids, so on my summer track team, I helped out wherever I could when coaching them. These kids were a lot better off, but being a good example still mattered to me. I wanted to help them improve as much as I could, both as athletes and as people. Now I am a freshman in college, and the guys who were my underclassmen still look up to me. They ask me for advice both in and outside of sports. I love them, and I try to visit when I can. I have been told that my presence matters to them, and that means more to me than anything. I am not a perfect person, and I make bad decisions sometimes, but I want to improve myself and prevent others from doing the same. That is how I plan to make a positive impact in my community through youth sports. I want to keep being someone younger athletes can look up to, someone who shows them that they can choose a better path and build a better future. ​

Growing up in a Christian household, faith was always around me, but I will be honest, I was only a Christian because everyone else was. I believed in God, but I did not really lean into my faith until I reached a point in my life where I truly needed it. That moment came during COVID when I was only in the seventh grade. My family was dealing with so much at once, and it felt like everything was falling apart. My grandfather passed away, my father was diagnosed with cancer, and we were not sure how bad it was. If it were as serious as the doctors feared, he would have had only six months to live. At the same time, my mother was working with my grandmother’s lawyers to release her from prison because she had long served her sentence. All of this was happening while the world was in lockdown and everyone was panicking. It was too much for me to understand at that age. I was confused and scared, and I did not know what to do. The only place I could turn to was my faith. I prayed every day that God’s grace and providence would help us pull through. I prayed for my father, for my grandmother, for my mother, who was carrying so much on her shoulders, and for my family as a whole. Even though the Lord called my grandfather home, my father is still here today, and my grandmother is free and living her life. The world eventually got back on track, and COVID is not the threat it once was. I will never forget what God has done for my family and me. That experience changed me. It made my faith real. It made me understand what it means to trust God even when everything around you feels uncertain. Now my family is facing financial troubles, and once again, as I always have since then, I am turning to my faith. I am praying for God’s grace and strength as I work toward my goals. I am taking advantage of every opportunity and scholarship possible to help pay for college because I know how important education is for my future. This scholarship is meaningful to me because it represents hope. It represents support for students like me who are trying their best, who have ambition and drive, but who also need help to keep moving forward. It represents the same kind of care and dedication that Jim Maxwell showed to young people, and I want to honor that by continuing to grow in my faith and in my education. I have no doubt that God will be with me every step of the way. My family and I will get through this, just like we have gotten through everything else. I believe that with hard work, faith, and the opportunities I am blessed with, I will be able to graduate from college with a degree. I want to build a future that reflects everything God has brought me through. My faith has carried me this far. It will continue to guide me to even greater heights. ​

Growing up as the youngest of four siblings, I always looked up to them, but my bond with my older sister was something special. I adored her. Many siblings grow up fighting with each other, but that was never us. She was more than just a sister to me. Since we were over ten years apart, she took care of me a lot when I was little, and I followed her everywhere I could. When she and my other siblings grew older and started moving out due to certain family circumstances, the house felt emptier. I missed all of them, but I missed her the most. She was the one who made me feel safe and understood, and suddenly, she was no longer around. Things became even harder when she decided to join the Navy because she knew college was not for her. I was proud of her, but I also felt this heavy sadness knowing she would be even farther away. When she left for boot camp in 2015, I could not see her for eight weeks. At that age, it felt like forever. I counted down the days, hoping she was okay and not too stressed. When she finished, we drove to Wisconsin for her graduation. I will never forget my excitement. Seeing her in uniform brought a rush of happiness I still remember. I had missed her so much. Afterward, she was always deployed, and I was lucky to see her once a year. Each time she left, it felt like losing her again. Then, during my seventh-grade year, COVID happened. She was out at sea when the lockdown started. It was a blessing because she had a lower chance of getting sick, but it was also a curse because she was stuck on the ship and so far from home. I could not call her or text her. The only thing I could do was send letters, and she only got them months at a time. I worried about her constantly. The way she sounded in her letters made it clear that being stuck out there, along with everything else she was dealing with, was taking a mental toll on her. I felt helpless. I just wanted her home. Years passed before I saw her again. When it finally happened, I will never forget it. She was staying in Virginia, and we traveled to see her. Seeing her healthy and smiling gave me overwhelming relief and happiness. She looked different but was the same sister I had missed. I realized how much I love her and how much she means to me. That moment will stay with me forever.

Sgt. Albert Dono Ware’s legacy of service, sacrifice, and bravery reminds me a lot of the values that have shaped my own life. For me, those values start with my parents. They have sacrificed so much and took risks that I did not fully understand when I was younger, but now that I am older, I see how much they have done to get me where I am today. Their hard work and the chances they took inspire me every day to keep improving myself and to push forward as I progress through college. Whenever things get difficult, I think about everything they went through, and it motivates me to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. These values also shape how I see the challenges faced by the African diaspora in the United States. A lot of families, like mine, work twice as hard just to reach the same starting point. Whether it is access to education, financial stability, or opportunities in technology, there are still barriers that make the path harder than it needs to be. But the same values that helped my parents push through, service, sacrifice, and bravery, are the same values that can help our communities move forward today. They show us that even when the odds are stacked against us, we can still build something better for ourselves and for the people coming after us. My goal is to work in cybersecurity, and even though that is a personal dream of mine, I know I can use it to help so many people. Cybercrime affects vulnerable communities the most, especially people who do not have the resources or knowledge to protect themselves. When I achieve success, I want to sow back into my community by using my skills to protect people’s data and keep them safe from criminals who try to take advantage of them. Helping others has always been something I cared about, and cybersecurity gives me a way to do that on a bigger scale. To really address the challenges facing the African diaspora, I think we need reforms that focus on access, access to education, access to technology, and access to opportunities that can lead to long term success. Strengthening STEM programs in schools, providing affordable cybersecurity training, and supporting Black owned businesses with better digital protection would make a huge difference. The key stakeholders who should be involved are community leaders, educators, policymakers, and people in the tech field who understand how important digital safety is. When all of these groups work together, real change can happen. Sgt. Ware’s legacy shows what it means to serve others, and my parents’ sacrifices show me what it means to keep going even when the path is not easy. Those lessons guide me as I continue my journey. I am working hard to build a future in cybersecurity, not just for myself, but so I can help protect and uplift the people around me. That is the kind of impact I want to make, and that is the kind of future I am working toward every day.

Growing up I have always loved video games. What started as a fun hobby slowly sparked my interest in technology as a whole. I became curious about how games were made how computers worked and eventually how the code behind all of it functioned. When I got the chance to take the PLTW Computer Science course in high school that curiosity turned into something more serious. I enjoyed every part of the class from writing basic programs to understanding how data moves and how software interacts with hardware. That experience confirmed for me that computer science was not just something I liked it was what I wanted to study in college and turn into a career. Out of all the paths within computer science cybersecurity stood out to me the most. As our world becomes increasingly connected through technology, I realize how important it is to protect that technology and the people who use it. Cybercrimes are growing every day, targeting individuals, companies, and even governments. I want to be part of the solution helping to defend against these threats and keep information safe. Working in cybersecurity would allow me to not only make a difference in the tech world but also help people by protecting their privacy and security. On top of that it is a field that offers strong financial stability which is important to me and my future. Being able to support myself while doing meaningful work is the ultimate goal and cybersecurity fits both parts of that. I believe I am a strong candidate for this scholarship because I have a clear vision for my future and a strong work ethic. I know what I want to do and why it matters to me. I also understand that life does not always go as planned there will be challenges setbacks and unexpected detours along the way. But I believe that reaching your goals despite those challenges makes the success even more meaningful. I am prepared to work hard learn from failures and keep pushing forward. I am not asking for a handout. I am asking for a chance an opportunity to prove myself continue my education and work hard to give back to the tech community. With the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to turning my vision into reality and making a positive impact in the field of computer science.