I am an avid outdoorsman and often feel closest to God when I am alone in the woods or the bank of a body of water. As I pursue my dream of becoming a field engineer, I want to preserve the beautiful forests and lakes that personally bring me spiritual peace. In addition, I want to ensure that as new construction begins, conservation is a consideration, not just profit. The land does not belong to us, it is merely on loan to us. Leviticus 25:23-24 states “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land. I feel strongly that protecting nature and the environment is a calling, and I am led to ensure that generations to come have the opportunity to see what God created. I was fortunate to be baptized in the ocean, and the peace and strength that I felt when I rose from the waves is indescribable. I knew from that moment, I wanted to protect the world around me and encourage others to share that experience. When God created the world, he certainly knew how far we would grow and evolve, and how much things would change around us. However, when he created man, it was clear that taking care of the land was a primary responsibility. Genesis 2:15 says “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” It is our responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation, and to preserve and respect it. As a future civil engineer, I hope to impact how infrastructure is built, while respecting the land and resources we have been given. I have been sharing the gospel since an early age, and plan to continue to glorify God in as many ways as possible. I look forward to building strong foundations, both physically and figuratively. I am a senior at Edgewood Junior Senior High School, a school of choice that has a rigorous academic platform. All the courses offered are either Advanced Placement or Honors courses, and I currently have a weighted GPA of 4.35. In addition to succeeding in the classroom, I am the Varsity Captain of the Lacrosse Team, a member of the Edgewood drumline, and The National Honor Society. I have learned that overcoming obstacles takes dedication and perseverance, and I intend to apply those lessons to the challenges I will face in college. One of the biggest obstacles I am anticipating is struggling to be away from my family, especially my younger brother who often relies on me to help him regulate his emotions. I plan to attend the Florida Institute of Technology which is a one-hour commute. By attending a university within this proximity, I will be able to spend weekends and down time with my family and will be close enough to attend my brother's lacrosse games and band events.

Throughout my life, music has always been something that I have enjoyed both playing and listening to. I can remember listening to old rock songs on the radio with my dad on long trips to South Carolina. This ultimately led me to learn to play the guitar. I can remember one summer; I was asked to play the national anthem at the beginning of the season for my summer softball league. I remember it well because my coach used to call me "little Hendrix ''. Although I did not understand at the time, the experience definitely had an impact on him. Even today, I continue to see the impact that my music has on people. Most recently, I recall our Edgewood band director saying that he was approached by multiple people from Latin countries who were impressed by our rendition of "El Camino Royal '', and how powerful that felt. To have someone from the song's native country tell us that we had done it right made me feel empowered, but also the fact that we left most of them crying showed the impact this music had on them. It is the simple things like this that encourage me to follow my passion for music and are evidence of the impact music has had on both me and my community. I have also been fortunate enough to share my music with my church congregation. Music is a powerful part of worship and being able to share my talents to glorify God is something that allows me to give back and be part of something bigger than myself. I am grateful that I was raised in a church that allowed me this opportunity to grow and gain performance experience. I have a strong work ethic and have worked hard to maintain above average grades (weighted 4.32 GPA) while leading the band as well as leading my Varsity lacrosse team as their Captain. My dream is to obtain an engineering degree from one of the top colleges in Florida, and ultimately become a field engineer. I have been accepted to the 2024 Fall term at Florida Institute of Technology, and one of the reasons I chose to apply there is their Pep Band program. Being part of the Edgewood Drumline has been an enlightening experience as well. Witnessing firsthand how music can excite and motivate a crowd is nothing short of magical. I certainly feel that music is my creative outlet in an otherwise very analytical world. I put great emphasis on Science, Math and Technology as I know they will help me in my chosen career field, but I feel being able to play music and perform creates a much-needed balance in my life.

Being the child of a firefighter and a law enforcement officer, I have been raised with a strong sense of community and service. I have watched my parents make sacrifices for the good of the community and to benefit our family regularly. I have dreamed of attending college and pursuing an engineering degree for as long as I can remember but knew I would have to work hard to achieve my dream. My sense of hard work and dedication are evident in my successes thus far. I currently hold a third-degree black belt in taekwondo, and still train daily. I put a strong emphasis on my academics and currently have an unweighted 3.98 GPA. Additionally, I am a member of the National Honor Society and received an academic letter during my junior year. I knew that I would need to set myself apart, so I have worked hard to maintain my grades and have taken many college-level classes. I strive to be an effective leader, and I am currently the captain of my high school lacrosse team. I enjoy being part of a team and working together to achieve results. I am also the co-section leader of the percussion section in the high school band. I was instrumental in organizing and creating a drumline, which the school previously did not have. During my high school career, the drumline has grown into a successful part of the school's spirit activities and athletics. Much like my parents, I take immense pride in my community and strive to make it a better place. I volunteer as a camp counselor every summer for a Christian-based summer taekwondo program. I have also been volunteering at the local U-Pick Farm for several years. Helping others and giving back provides me with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. One of the most influential people in my life was my uncle, Bill Womack. He worked in the construction management field, and I always looked up to him and his ability to build and fix anything. Fortunately, I was able to have many conversations with him about my desire to become a civil engineer and our shared passion for building things before he was tragically murdered. I miss him immensely and look forward to carrying on his legacy by pursuing a degree in civil engineering and construction management. I strive to be as kind, dependable and resource as he was. I have officially been accepted to the Fall 2024 class at the Florida Institute of Technology. I have worked hard to set myself apart from other applicants, and now the finish line is in sight. Winning this scholarship would provide me with the financial assistance I need to successfully attend classes next fall. I have a powerful desire to be independent, and through the help of scholarships like this, I will be able to achieve my dream of an engineering degree.

When God created the world, he certainly knew how far we would grow and evolve, and how much things would change around us. However, when he created man, it was clear that taking care of the land was a primary responsibility. Genesis 2:15 says “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” It is our responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation, and to preserve and respect it. As a future civil engineer, I hope to impact how infrastructure is built, while respecting the land and resources we have been given. I have been sharing the gospel since a young age, and plan to continue to glorify God in as many ways as possible. I look forward to building strong foundations, both physically and figuratively. I began sharing scripture in church at a very young age as well as playing music during worship. My parents taught me that my gifts and talents were God given, and I strive to use them to honor him in all things that I do. I have been volunteering for the past 4 summers as a youth Christian Taekwondo camp counselor and take immense pride in sharing the gospel with the kids. One of our biggest responsibilities is to share the word, and I look forward to continuing to lead people to Christ. I am an avid outdoorsman and often feel closest to God when I am alone in the woods or the bank of a body of water. As I pursue my dream of becoming a field engineer, I want to preserve the beautiful forests and lakes that personally bring me spiritual peace. In addition, I want to ensure that as new construction begins, conservation is a consideration, not just profit. The land ultimately does not belong to us, it is merely on loan to us. Leviticus 25:23-24 states “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.” I feel strongly that protecting nature and the environment is a calling, and I am led to ensure that generations to come have the opportunity to see what God created. I was fortunate to be baptized in the ocean, and the peace and strength that I felt when I rose from the waves is indescribable. I knew from that moment, I wanted to protect the world around me and encourage others to share that experience.

When God created the world, he certainly knew how far we would grow and evolve, and how much things would change around us. However, when he created man, it was clear that taking care of the land was a primary responsibility. Genesis 2:15 says “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” It is our responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation, and to preserve and respect it. As a future civil engineer, I hope to impact how infrastructure is built, while respecting the land and resources we have been given. I have been sharing the gospel since a young age, and plan to continue to glorify God in as many ways as possible. I look forward to building strong foundations, both physically and figuratively. I take immense pride in my community and strive to make it a better place. I volunteer as a camp counselor every summer for a Christian-based summer taekwondo program. I enjoy sharing God's word and leading people to Christ. I have also been volunteering at the local U-Pick Farm for several years, as well as assisting with a yearly fundraiser for the Brevard County Public Safety Charity. Helping others and giving back provides me with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. I am an avid outdoorsman and often feel closest to God when I am alone in the woods or the bank of a body of water. As I pursue my dream of becoming a field engineer, I want to preserve the beautiful forests and lakes that personally bring me spiritual peace. In addition, I want to ensure that as new construction begins, conservation is a consideration, not just profit. The land ultimately does not belong to us, it is merely on loan to us. Leviticus 25:23-24 states “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.” I feel strongly that protecting nature and the environment is a calling, and I am led to ensure that generations to come have the opportunity to see what God created. I was fortunate to be baptized in the ocean, and the peace and strength that I felt when I rose from the waves is indescribable. I knew from that moment, I wanted to protect the world around me and encourage others to share that experience. I am a senior at Edgewood Junior Senior High School, a school of choice that has a rigorous academic platform. All of the courses offered are either Advanced Placement or Honors courses, and I currently have a weighted GPA of 4.35. In addition to succeeding in the classroom, I am the Varsity Captain of the Lacrosse Team, a member of the Edgewood drumline, and The National Honor Society. I have learned that overcoming obstacles takes dedication and perseverance, and I intend to apply those lessons to the challenges I will face in college. One of the biggest obstacles I am anticipating is struggling to be away from my family, especially my younger brother who often relies on me daily to help him regulate his emotions. I plan to attend the Florida Institute of Technology which is close enough to allow me to spend weekends and down time at home with my family, and even attend my younger brother's school events.

Being the child of a firefighter and a law enforcement officer, I have been raised with a strong sense of community and service. I have watched my parents make sacrifices for the good of the community and to benefit our family regularly. I have dreamed of attending college and pursuing an engineering degree for as long as I can remember but knew I would have to work hard to achieve my dream. My sense of hard work and dedication are evident in my successes thus far. I currently hold a third-degree black belt in taekwondo, and still train daily. I put a strong emphasis on my academics and currently have an unweighted 3.98 GPA. Additionally, I am a member of the National Honor Society and received an academic letter during my junior year. I knew that I would need to set myself apart, so I have worked hard to maintain my grades and have taken many college-level classes. I strive to be an effective leader, and I am currently the captain of my high school lacrosse team. I enjoy being part of a team and working together to achieve results. I am also the co-section leader of the percussion section in the high school band. I was instrumental in organizing a creating a drumline, which the school previously did not have. During my high school career, the drumline has grown into a successful part of the school's spirit activities and athletics. Much like my parents, I take immense pride in my community and strive to make it a better place. I volunteer as a camp counselor every summer for a Christian-based summer taekwondo program. I have also been volunteering at the local U-Pick Farm for several years. Helping others and giving back provides me with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Over the past summer, I was fortunate enough to obtain an aerospace engineering internship with a local company (Bansbach Easylift). My experiences during this opportunity truly solidified that I wanted to pursue a career in the engineering field. The hands-on real-life experience was immeasurable. After the internship, I immediately applied to the Florida Institute of Technology. I have officially been accepted to the Fall 2024 class at the Florida Institute of Technology. I have worked hard to set myself apart from other applicants, and now the finish line is in sight. Winning this scholarship would provide me with the financial assistance I need to successfully attend classes next fall. I have a powerful desire to be independent, and through the help of scholarships like this, I will be able to achieve my dream of an engineering degree.

“A well-rounded student-athlete understands that academics and athletics are equally important – they are both critical components of a well-lived life.” – Drew Brees I am a senior at Edgewood Junior Senior High School, a school of choice that has a rigorous academic platform. All of the courses offered are either Advanced Placement or Honors courses, and I currently have a weighted GPA of 4.35. In addition to succeeding in the classroom, I am the Varsity Captain of the Lacrosse Team. The lessons I have learned on the lacrosse field have helped to shape my character, my drive to succeed as well as preparing me for leadership both on the field and in life. Prior to beginning lacrosse in high school, I began studying Taekwando and it quickly instilled in me that hard work pays off. Through perseverance and dedication, I now have my third-degree black belt and have won numerous national championships. As much as martial arts is part of who I am, playing lacrosse brought new challenges and new opportunities for growth. Martial arts is in many ways an individual sport, and lacrosse taught me the value of being part of a team. Playing lacrosse has become my outlet in a very demanding and rigorous schedule. When I take the field, I tune out all of the outside stress and demands, and focus solely on finding ways to improve my abilities so I can in turn help lead my team to victory. My dedication to the sport and my team has placed me in a leadership role as the Team Captain, a position which I take very seriously. I always consider the good of the team in every decision I make. My passion for building a legacy is strong, and I work hard to carry on school traditions while still embracing change when it is beneficial. My high school lacrosse career has been a time of every changing leadership, as we have been through four head coaches in four years. I quickly came to realize that the onus would be on the team to provide a sense of consistency and security to the program. In many ways, it made us stronger as a team, because we often had to rely on each other to ensure things like conditioning and recruiting new players was accomplished. Lacrosse has helped shape my drive to pursue my passions and reminded me that I can do hard things. I have also learned that I enjoy being part of something bigger than myself. Finding a group of diverse peers that all work together for a common goal is nothing short of magical. When you have a team to rely on and that can rely on you, it brings a sense of pride and belonging and instills confidence. Being part of this team has helped me realize that I want to pursue a career working with others, not as a solo individual.

“A well-rounded student-athlete understands that academics and athletics are equally important – they are both critical components of a well-lived life.” – Drew Brees I am a senior at Edgewood Junior Senior High School, a school of choice that has a rigorous academic platform. All of the courses offered are either Advanced Placement or Honors courses, and I currently have a weighted GPA of 4.35. In addition to succeeding in the classroom, I am the Varsity Captain of the Lacrosse Team. The lessons I have learned on the lacrosse field have helped to shape my character, my drive to succeed as well as preparing me for leadership both on the field and in life. Prior to beginning lacrosse in high school, I began studying Taekwando and it quickly instilled in me that hard work pays off. Through perseverance and dedication, I now have my third-degree black belt and have won numerous national championships. As much as martial arts is part of who I am, playing lacrosse brought new challenges and new opportunities for growth. Martial arts is in many ways an individual sport, and lacrosse taught me the value of being part of a team. My high school lacrosse career has been a time of every changing leadership, as we have been through four head coaches in four years. I quickly came to realize that the onus would be on the team to provide a sense of consistency and security to the program. In many ways, it made us stronger as a team, because we often had to rely on each other to ensure things like conditioning and recruiting new players was accomplished. Lacrosse has helped shape my drive to pursue my passions and reminded me that I can do hard things. I have also learned that I enjoy being part of something bigger than myself. Finding a group of diverse peers that all work together for a common goal is nothing short of magical. When you have a team to rely on and that can rely on you, it brings a sense of pride and belonging and instills confidence. Being part of this team has helped me realize that I want to pursue a career working with others, not as a solo individual. In addition to playing lacrosse and studying martial arts, I enjoy reading and learning about military history as well as studying politics and world events. I am an avid outdoorsman and spend as much time as my busy schedule will allow hunting and fishing. I am also passionate about spending time with my family. I have experienced the loss of several influential people in my life and do not want to take for granted those who love and support me. I plan to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering and look forward to someday finding the same satisfaction in building and creating infrastructure as I do in being part of my lacrosse family.

When God created the world, he certainly knew how far we would grow and evolve, and how much things would change around us. However, when he created man, it was clear that taking care of the land was a primary responsibility. Genesis 2:15 says “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” It is our responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation, and to preserve and respect it. As a future civil engineer, I hope to impact how infrastructure is built, while respecting the land and resources we have been given. I have been sharing the gospel since a young age, and plan to continue to glorify God in as many ways as possible. I look forward to building strong foundations, both physically and figuratively. I began sharing scripture in church at an incredibly young age as well as playing music during worship. My parents taught me that my gifts and talents were God given, and I strive to use them to honor him in all things that I do. I have been volunteering for the past 4 summers as a youth Christian Taekwondo camp counselor and take immense pride in sharing the gospel with the kids. One of our biggest responsibilities is to share the word, and I look forward to continuing to lead people to Christ. I am an avid outdoorsman and often feel closest to God when I am alone in the woods or the bank of a body of water. As I pursue my dream of becoming a field engineer, I want to preserve the beautiful forests and lakes that personally bring me spiritual peace. In addition, I want to ensure that as new construction begins, conservation is a consideration, not just profit. The land ultimately does not belong to us, it is merely on loan to us. Leviticus 25:23-24 states “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.” I feel strongly that protecting nature and the environment is a calling, and I am led to ensure that generations to come have the opportunity to see what God created. I was fortunate to be baptized in the ocean, and the peace and strength that I felt when I rose from the waves is indescribable. I knew from that moment, I wanted to protect the world around me and encourage others to share that experience.

Being the child of a firefighter and a law enforcement officer, I have been raised with a strong sense of community and service. I have watched my parents make sacrifices for the good of the community and to benefit our family regularly. I have dreamed of attending college and pursuing an engineering degree for as long as I can remember but knew I would have to work hard to achieve my dream. My sense of hard work and dedication are evident in my successes thus far. I currently hold a third-degree black belt in taekwondo, and still train daily. I put a strong emphasis on my academics and currently have an unweighted 3.98 GPA. Additionally, I am a member of the National Honor Society and received an academic letter during my junior year. I knew that I would need to set myself apart, so I have worked hard to maintain my grades and have taken many college-level classes. I strive to be an effective leader, and I am currently the captain of my high school lacrosse team. I enjoy being part of a team and working together to achieve results. I am also the co-section leader of the percussion section in the high school band. I was instrumental in organizing a creating a drumline, which the school previously did not have. During my high school career, the drumline has grown into a successful part of the school's spirit activities and athletics. Much like my parents, I take immense pride in my community and strive to make it a better place. I volunteer as a camp counselor every summer for a Christian-based summer taekwondo program. I have also been volunteering at the local U-Pick Farm for several years. Helping others and giving back provides me with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Over the past summer, I was fortunate enough to obtain an aerospace engineering internship with a local company (Bansbach Easylift). My experiences during this opportunity truly solidified that I wanted to pursue a career in the engineering field. The hands-on real-life experience was immeasurable. After the internship, I immediately applied to the Florida Institute of Technology. I have officially been accepted to the Fall 2024 class at the Florida Institute of Technology. I have worked hard to set myself apart from other applicants, and now the finish line is in sight. Winning this scholarship would provide me with the financial assistance I need to successfully attend classes next fall. I have a powerful desire to be independent, and through the help of scholarships like this, I will be able to achieve my dream of an engineering degree.

Being the child of a firefighter and a law enforcement officer, I have been raised with a strong sense of community and service. I have watched my parents make sacrifices for the good of the community and to benefit our family regularly. I have dreamed of attending college and pursuing an engineering degree for as long as I can remember but knew I would have to work hard to achieve my dream. My sense of hard work and dedication are evident in my successes thus far. I currently hold a third-degree black belt in taekwondo, and still train daily. I put a strong emphasis on my academics and currently have an unweighted 3.98 GPA. Additionally, I am a member of the National Honor Society and received an academic letter during my junior year. I knew that I would need to set myself apart, so I have worked hard to maintain my grades and have taken many college-level classes. I strive to be an effective leader, and I am currently the captain of my high school lacrosse team. I enjoy being part of a team and working together to achieve results. I am also the co-section leader of the percussion section in the high school band. I was instrumental in organizing a creating a drumline, which the school previously did not have. During my high school career, the drumline has grown into a successful part of the school's spirit activities and athletics. Much like my parents, I take immense pride in my community and strive to make it a better place. I volunteer as a camp counselor every summer for a Christian-based summer taekwondo program. I have also been volunteering at the local U-Pick Farm for several years. Helping others and giving back provides me with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Over the past summer, I was fortunate enough to obtain an aerospace engineering internship with a local company (Bansbach Easylift). My experiences during this opportunity truly solidified that I wanted to pursue a career in the engineering field. The hands-on real-life experience was immeasurable. After the internship, I immediately applied to the Florida Institute of Technology. I have officially been accepted to the Fall 2024 class at the Florida Institute of Technology. I have worked hard to set myself apart from other applicants, and now the finish line is in sight. Winning this scholarship would provide me with the financial assistance I need to successfully attend classes next fall. I have a powerful desire to be independent, and through the help of scholarships like this, I will be able to achieve my dream of an engineering degree.

My experience with Mental Health “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” - Luke 23:34-38. It was just a normal day, like any other. I had just finished school, and my mom had picked me up. We had to get groceries that day, so we headed to the grocery store. Little did I know, that the phone call we would get in the parking lot would change my life forever. The voice was concerned and out of breath, telling us that my Uncle Billy was in the hospital, and in rough shape. The news was heart-wrenching. It was concealed from me at first, but I came to learn that it was my cousin, who suffers from mental illness, that caused this, which ended up ultimately taking my uncle’s life. His situation, and lack of resources, had placed him living with my Uncle, and after a heated argument, my cousin struck him with a hammer, claiming his life. The event was tragic, but it opened my eyes to how the mental health support systems had failed our family. After the incident and the aftermath, I lost two family members due to the lack of resources committed to helping my cousin, who struggled with mental illness. I remember the days my mom worked late shifts, my Uncle Billy would come pick me up from school in his old Ford pickup, and me and my younger brother would hang out at his house, and my cousin was often there. The relationship between me and my Uncle was strong, and the news of his passing created a deep pain for me. It was harder for me to accept that it was my cousin who had done it. However, it created a sense of passion for me and a desire to carry on my Uncle’s legacy through myself and my actions. My uncle was a pillar of our extended family structure and stepped up to fill in anywhere he was needed. After my Grandmother passed away from cancer, Uncle Billy made sure to always be around, attending sporting events and school concerts so my brother and I always knew we were important. I spent a lot of time talking with him about my future goals, and he encouraged me to pursue a college degree and follow my dreams. Just as he was always there for me, he was always there for his grandson, despite the lack of resources available. He spent countless hours working with the family to try to find the right counseling and medication to help my cousin, but unfortunately hit many roadblocks. My Uncle was beloved by my family, and rightfully so. I remember vividly if anything was broken, my family would always call my Uncle Billy. He was a master with tools and could fix anything. It was one of his greatest attributes, other than his kind and caring nature. I aspire to one day follow his path of righteousness and carry on my Uncle’s legacy, an amazing man taken far too soon. I truly believe if he could send a message from the other side of the pearly gates, it would be an affirmation of love for us all, including the young man who ended his life. I believe he would ask us to forgive the grandson that he sacrificed everything for, much like Jesus wished for forgiveness for the disciples who betrayed him and those who crucified him.

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” - Luke 23:34-38. It was just a normal day, like any other. I had just finished school,and my mom had picked me up. We had to get groceries that day, so we headed to the grocery store. Little did I know, that the phone call we would get in the parking lot would change my life forever. The voice was concerned and out of breath, telling us that my Uncle Billy was in the hospital, and in rough shape. The news was heart-wrenching. It was concealed from me at first, but I came to learn that it was my cousin, who suffers from mental illness, that caused this, which ended up ultimately taking my uncle’s life. His situation, and lack of resources, had placed him living with my Uncle, and after a heated argument, my cousin struck him with a hammer, claiming his life. The event was tragic, but it opened my eyes to how the mental health support systems had failed our family. After the incident and the aftermath, I had lost two family members due to the lack of resources committed to helping my cousin, who struggled with mental illness. I remember the days my mom worked late shifts, my Uncle Billy would come pick me up from school in his old Ford pickup, and me and my younger brother would hang out at his house, and my cousin was often there. The relationship between me and my Uncle was strong, and the news of his passing created a deep pain for me. It was harder for me to accept that it was my cousin who had done it. However, it created a sense of passion for me and a desire to carry on my Uncle’s legacy through myself and my actions. My uncle was a pillar of our extended family structure and stepped up to fill in anywhere he was needed. After my Grandmother passed away from cancer, Uncle Billy made sure to always be around, attending sporting events and school concerts so my brother and I always knew we were important. I spent a lot of time talking with him about my future goals, and he encouraged me to pursue a college degree and follow my dreams. Just as he was always there for me, he was always there for his grandson, despite the lack of resources available. He spent countless hours working with the family to try to find the right counseling and medication to help my cousin, but unfortunately hit many roadblocks. My Uncle was beloved by my family, and rightfully so. I remember vividly if anything was broken, my family would always call my Uncle Billy. He was a master with tools and could fix anything. It was one of his greatest attributes, other than his kind and caring nature. I aspire to one day follow his path of righteousness and carry on my Uncle’s legacy, an amazing man taken far too soon. I truly believe if he could send a message from the other side of the pearly gates, it would be an affirmation of love for us all, including the young man who ended his life. I believe he would ask us to forgive the grandson that he sacrificed everything for, much like Jesus wished for forgiveness for the disciples that betrayed him and those who crucified him.

My experience with Mental Health “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” - Luke 23:34-38. It was just a normal day, like any other. I had just finished school, and my mom had picked me up. We had to get groceries that day, so we headed to the grocery store. Little did I know the phone call we would get in the parking lot would change my life forever. The voice was concerned and out of breath, telling us that my Uncle Billy was in the hospital, and in rough shape. The news was heart-wrenching. It was concealed from me at first, but I came to learn that it was my cousin, who suffers from mental illness, that caused this, which ended up ultimately taking my uncle’s life. His situation, and lack of resources, had placed him living with my Uncle, and after a heated argument, my cousin struck him with a hammer, claiming his life. The event was tragic, but it opened my eyes to how the mental health support systems had failed our family. After the incident and the aftermath, I lost two family members due to the lack of resources committed to helping my cousin, who struggled with mental illness. I remember the days my mom worked late shifts, my Uncle Billy would come pick me up from school in his old Ford pickup, and me and my younger brother would hang out at his house, and my cousin was often there. The relationship between me and my Uncle was strong, and the news of his passing created a deep pain for me. It was harder for me to accept that it was my cousin who had done it. However, it created a sense of passion for me and a desire to carry on my Uncle’s legacy through myself and my actions. My uncle was a pillar of our extended family structure and stepped up to fill in anywhere he was needed. After my Grandmother passed away from cancer, Uncle Billy made sure to always be around, attending sporting events and school concerts so my brother and I always knew we were important. I spent a lot of time talking with him about my future goals, and he encouraged me to pursue a college degree and follow my dreams. Just as he was always there for me, he was always there for his grandson, despite the lack of resources available. He spent countless hours working with the family to try to find the right counseling and medication to help my cousin, but unfortunately hit many roadblocks. My Uncle was beloved by my family, and rightfully so. I remember vividly if anything was broken, my family would always call my Uncle Billy. He was a master with tools and could fix anything. It was one of his greatest attributes, other than his kind and caring nature. I aspire to one day follow his path of righteousness and carry on my Uncle’s legacy, an amazing man taken far too soon. I truly believe if he could send a message from the other side of the pearly gates, it would be an affirmation of love for us all, including the young man who ended his life. I believe he would ask us to forgive the grandson that he sacrificed everything for, much like Jesus wished for forgiveness for the disciples who betrayed him and those who crucified him.

My experience with Mental Health “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” - Luke 23:34-38. It was just a normal day, like any other. I had just finished school, and my mom had picked me up. We had to get groceries that day, so we headed to the grocery store. Little did I know the phone call we would get in the parking lot would change my life forever. The voice was concerned and out of breath, telling us that my Uncle Billy was in the hospital, and in rough shape. The news was heart-wrenching. It was concealed from me at first, but I came to learn that it was my cousin, who suffers from mental illness, which caused this, that ended up ultimately taking my uncle’s life. His situation, and lack of resources, had placed him living with my uncle, and after a heated argument, my cousin struck him with a hammer, claiming his life. The event was tragic, but it opened my eyes to how the mental health support systems had failed our family. After the incident and the aftermath, I lost two family members due to the lack of resources committed to helping my cousin, who struggled with mental illness. I remember the days my mom worked late shifts, my Uncle Billy would come pick me up from school in his old Ford pickup, and me and my younger brother would spend time together at his house, and my cousin was often there. The relationship between me and my uncle was strong, and the news of his passing created a deep pain for me. It was harder for me to accept that it was my cousin who had done it. However, it created a sense of passion for me and a desire to carry on my uncle’s legacy through myself and my actions. My Uncle was beloved by my family, and rightfully so. I remember vividly if anything were broken, my family would always call my Uncle Billy. He was a master with tools and could fix anything. It was one of his greatest attributes, other than his kind and caring nature. I aspire to one day follow his path of righteousness and carry on my uncle’s legacy: an amazing man taken far too soon. I honestly believe if he could send a message from the other side of the pearly gates, it would be an affirmation of love for us all, including the young man who ended his life. I believe he would ask us to forgive the grandson that he sacrificed everything for, much like Jesus wished for forgiveness for the disciples who betrayed him and those who crucified him.

Being the child of a firefighter and a law enforcement officer, I have been raised with a strong sense of community and service. I have watched my parents make sacrifices for the good of the community and to benefit our family regularly. I have dreamed of attending college and pursuing an engineering degree for as long as I can remember but knew I would have to work hard to achieve my dream. My sense of hard work and dedication are evident in my successes thus far. I currently hold a third-degree black belt in taekwondo, and still train daily. I put a strong emphasis on my academics and currently have an unweighted 3.98 GPA. Additionally, I am a member of the National Honor Society and received an academic letter during my junior year. I knew that I would need to set myself apart, so I have worked hard to maintain my grades and have taken many college-level classes. I strive to be an effective leader, and I am currently the captain of my high school lacrosse team. I enjoy being part of a team and working together to achieve results. I am also the co-section leader of the percussion section in the high school band. I was instrumental in organizing a creating a drumline, which the school previously did not have. During my high school career, the drumline has grown into a successful part of the school's spirit activities and athletics. Much like my parents, I take immense pride in my community and strive to make it a better place. I volunteer as a camp counselor every summer for a Christian-based summer taekwondo program. I have also been volunteering at the local U-Pick Farm for several years. Helping others and giving back provides me with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Over the past summer, I was fortunate enough to obtain an aerospace engineering internship with a local company (Bansbach Easylift). My experiences during this opportunity truly solidified that I wanted to pursue a career in the engineering field. The hands-on real-life experience was immeasurable. After the internship, I immediately applied to the Florida Institute of Technology. I have officially been accepted to the Fall 2024 class at the Florida Institute of Technology. I have worked hard to set myself apart from other applicants, and now the finish line is in sight. Winning this scholarship would provide me with the financial assistance I need to successfully attend classes next fall. I have a powerful desire to be independent, and through the help of scholarships like this, I will be able to achieve my dream of an engineering degree.