Hello! My name is Ivie Schaechterle. I am an upcoming senior in Wyoming. It has been my dream forever to help the world, but for a long time, I couldn't figure out how I wanted to do that. This is until I found my passion for true crime and investigation. The first crime case I ever learned about was the JonBenét Ramsey homicide. A poor little girl in Colorado was murdered in the 90s, and her killer was never identified. I had so many questions. Why couldn't they test the DNA evidence left on her body? Why can't they figure out who it was? How can her murderer just walk free? This case was the first to catapult me into the rabbit hole of true crime and forensics. Further delving into this world has made me realize that so many victims and families have suffered because the science behind criminal justice hasn't been strong enough to bring them justice. Ever since then, I knew that I wanted to fix that. I want to become someone who uses forensic science to identify suspects in criminal investigations. It is also my goal to advance the science behind forensic evidence and make it stronger and more reliable in identification. Crime rates have unfortunately flourished over the years. Having this particular science so exact can put a lot of these criminals behind bars permanently and potentially lower these rates. So many families and victims could also get closure knowing that the person who hurt them is put away and unable to inflict damage upon others. Forensic science is the way to do this. If there were greater advancements in DNA analysis and biometric identification our world could become so much safer. They could both become so much more reliable which is great for making sure you put away the real perpetrator and for showing their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in court. You can even use forensic identification to exonerate falsely convicted people and let them live the life they deserve as well. Now, to be able to achieve all of these goals, the most important first step for me is to gain the education I need to fully understand and make these advancements. I have always flourished in the world of STEAM. From an early age, I showed much interest in mathematics and science. I've further continued to show great aptitude for both. STEAM programs I have grown up participating in have not only expanded my logical horizons, but my creative abilities as well! The fact that interests me the most is that STEAM allows people like myself to find career paths and interests that we may not have even considered. Coming from a small town in Wyoming, there are a few careers that people simply expect me to go into, but the idea of STEAM has shown me that I can expand those options and do anything I want and that I am not limited because of where I start in life. I am immensely grateful for the STEAM programs I was exposed to from a young age because, without them, I'm not sure I'd have found my true calling in the world of forensic science. To quickly wrap this up, I want to thank you immensely for allowing me to apply for this generous scholarship. I would be simply elated if you grant me this scholarship, and I promise that if I am one of the recipients, the money will go to great use. Thank you again for the consideration and have a great rest of your day!