My name is Isaiah Penny, and I am an Electrical Engineering student at Oklahoma State University who is passionate about service, mentorship, and using engineering to improve the lives of others. As a first-generation college student from a rural community and as a Black engineering major, I’ve learned the importance of perseverance, representation, and community support—values that have shaped both my educational pursuits and my long-term ambitions. Academically, I am working toward a career in electrical engineering with interests in power systems, circuit design, and improving infrastructure reliability. I want to use my degree not only to build a stable future for myself, but also to bring engineering solutions to underserved communities—both locally and globally. Much of my involvement on campus reflects this goal. One of my proudest experiences has been serving as a Peer Mentor in the Parker Hall Living Learning Program. In this role, I support first-year engineering students by providing tutoring, hosting review sessions, giving college and career advice, and building a welcoming community in the freshman engineering dorm. As an upperclassman, I know how intimidating engineering programs can feel, especially for students who may not see themselves represented. I aim to be the mentor I once needed. I have also been deeply involved in community-based engineering work through CEAT LOCAL Leaders. The Stillwater City Council presented us with real issues affecting the community, and our task was to use engineering knowledge to research solutions. Our team conducted program visits across the city—including the food bank, water treatment plant, and city council meetings—to understand how the city operates behind the scenes. By the end of the semester, we presented our findings and recommendations to local officials, reinforcing my belief that engineering can directly impact policy and improve quality of life. My commitment to global service is reflected in my work as a Wishes for Water Global Partner Representative. Our mission is to fund the drilling of boreholes in rural Zimbabwe, which can dramatically improve access to clean water, strengthen educational outcomes, and expand job opportunities. Being part of a project that addresses global inequality has motivated me to pursue an engineering career that prioritizes humanitarian impact. Additionally, as the Philanthropy Committee Head for the CEAT Student Council, I have led initiatives that directly support the Stillwater community. In this position, I have helped raise 140 food items for the local food bank, collected 40 blood donations for the American Red Cross, raised $230 for a nonprofit supporting domestic violence survivors, organized a letter-writing campaign for children in hospitals, and spent nearly 20 hours volunteering at the food bank. These experiences have taught me that meaningful change often comes from consistent, small acts of service that add up over time. Looking ahead, paying down my student loans would provide financial flexibility that allows me to continue pursuing leadership, service, and academic opportunities without the weight of financial stress. The money I save would go toward study materials, professional development opportunities, and savings for future relocation or internships—steps that will help me enter the engineering workforce prepared and confident. Ultimately, I hope to build a career where technical knowledge and community service go hand in hand. Whether I am mentoring younger students, improving local infrastructure, or contributing to global water access projects, my goal is to use engineering as a tool to uplift others. This scholarship would help me continue that mission.

Entering higher education has always felt like stepping into a world that wasn’t originally built with students like me in mind. As a Black student from a rural community, I’ve often navigated spaces where resources were limited, advanced coursework wasn’t always accessible, and I rarely saw people who looked like me pursuing engineering. Yet these challenges have shaped my hopes for college just as much as they have fueled my determination to succeed within it. Neither of my parents were able to finish college—they had to leave school for financial reasons long before earning a degree. Their experiences became the foundation of my educational motivation. I grew up hearing stories about what they wanted to accomplish, how close they came, and how life’s pressures pulled them away from opportunities they deserved. Instead of discouraging me, their journeys opened my eyes to the barriers that many first- and second-generation students face. They also instilled in me a responsibility to continue where they could not. Each step I take in higher education feels like I am carrying our family forward. Growing up in a rural area added another layer to that journey. There were fewer academic programs, fewer mentors in STEM, and fewer examples of pathways into engineering. But the quiet of rural life also gave me space to become curious—to take things apart, to experiment, and to imagine a future where I could build and repair the systems that make modern life possible. When I finally entered college, I brought that curiosity with me, but I also carried the concern that I might not be prepared in the same way students from larger, better-resourced schools were. My hope for higher education is simple: to access opportunities that allow me to grow into the engineer I know I can become. I want to be part of spaces where students from underrepresented backgrounds don’t feel like outsiders, and where our perspectives are seen as strengths rather than exceptions. My long-term goal is to work in electrical engineering—particularly in areas like power systems or circuit design—and eventually to mentor students who share my background so they don’t have to navigate the system alone. Being a Black student, a rural student, and a student whose parents were forced to leave college early has shaped nearly every part of my educational path. These pieces of my identity have made my journey more difficult at times, but they have also given me resilience, perspective, and a deep appreciation for every opportunity I earn. Higher education is not just a personal milestone for me—it represents the fulfillment of my family’s hopes and an investment in the communities I come from. And with support, I’m determined to make the most of it.