Growing up, stability wasn’t something I found in a traditional setup. It was built for me by hands that had already spent a whole lifetime working. Being raised by my grandparents taught me early on that family is not just defined by circumstances, it is defined by sacrifice. While most kids my age were looking to their parents for guidance, I was watching two people who had already raised their own children step right back up to give me a real shot at a secure future. Their love wasn't shown through big speeches. It was shown through early mornings, tired hands, long days, and an unshakeable determination to make sure I never had to go without the things I needed. Living under their roof gave me a totally different perspective on life than a lot of my peers had. My grandparents carried wisdom that came from decades of dealing with real hardship, and they passed that resilience, discipline, and work ethic down to me every single day. They gave up what should have been their quiet, peaceful retirement years just to navigate parent teacher conferences, late night homework sessions, and extra financial strain. They did all of that just so I could have every opportunity to make something of myself. Watching them pour whatever energy and resources they had left into my growth made me realize that my success was not just a personal goal anymore. It became a personal responsibility to make sure their sacrifices actually meant something. That upbringing is the exact reason I move the way I do today and why I take my education so seriously. As an Electrical Engineering major, every late night I spend staring at complex circuits, analyzing problems, and pushing through tough technical coursework comes straight from the drive my grandparents modeled for me. They taught me how to take nothing and build something real out of pure determination and focus. I bring that exact same mindset into the classroom and into my engineering labs every single day because I know where I come from and I know what it took to get me here. My goals for the future are directly tied to the foundation they laid for me. Getting my degree is about more than just earning a title or landing a job in technical innovation. It is about reaching a level of stability where I can step up and support the people who supported me when I needed it most. My goal is to build a successful career in engineering, establish real financial security, and ultimately give my grandparents the peace of mind they deserve after spending their entire lives taking care of others. Winning the Shirley Kelley Scholarship would take a massive financial weight off my shoulders as I work toward completing my degree. Higher education comes with heavy costs, and receiving this support would allow me to focus completely on my classes and academic success without putting extra financial pressure on my family. More than anything, receiving this award would stand as a tribute to my grandparents and everything they gave up for me. It would prove that the foundation they built is paying off, and that the sacrifices of one generation can truly power the success of the next.

Becoming a father at seventeen years old completely reshaped the trajectory of my life. When my son was brought into this world, I was still a kid myself, trying to figure out who I was, where I fit in, and how I was going to make something of my future. Suddenly, my life was no longer just about my own ambitions or my own survival. I was holding a precious, innocent life in my arms, and every single decision I made from that moment forward carried immense weight. However, stepping into parenthood at such a young age did not happen in a vacuum. It happened during one of the most unstable and painful chapters of my life, creating a storm of adversity that tested every ounce of my strength, resilience, and faith. At the exact same time I was learning how to be a father, my family was experiencing severe financial hardship and housing instability. We did not have a permanent place to call home. Instead, home became a constantly shifting concept, usually defined by a couple of duffel bags and trash bags sitting in the trunk of a car, waiting for the next place we could stay. We went from house to house, sleeping on relatives’ couches, staying in spare rooms, and relying on the generosity of anyone willing to give us a roof over our heads for a few weeks. Trying to care for a newborn baby while living out of bags and constantly worrying about where we were going to sleep next month was exhausting beyond measure. The pressure of trying to balance young parenthood, high academic standards, housing instability, and financial survival eventually caught up to my mind and body. I spent years suppressing my stress, keeping my head down, and trying to be strong for my son and my family. I wanted so badly to prove that I could handle it all on my own, but carrying that heavy burden in silence slowly broke me down inside. That overwhelming emotional weight eventually culminated in two separate stays in a mental health facility during my absolute lowest points. Being hospitalized twice was terrifying, but looking back, those moments saved my life. Sitting in those quiet rooms stripped away the noise of the outside world and forced me to confront the deep trauma of our living situation, the fear of failing my son, and the exhaustion of pretending to be okay. Those hospital stays taught me that seeking help is not a sign of weakness; it is a vital step toward survival and healing. Most importantly, looking at my son’s face reminded me that I had a reason to fight back, heal my mind, and rebuild a stable life for us. The combination of being a full time student and a single parent is easily the most challenging reality I have ever faced. The hardest part is the relentless, daily conflict between time, energy, and resources. As a student, my academic responsibilities require hours of intense focus, late night studying, writing papers, and preparing for exams. As a single father, my heart wants to be present for every single second of my son's growth. The struggle comes in the quiet moments of guilt, like when I have to ask him to play quietly by himself so I can finish a reading assignment, or when I have to put him to bed early so I can study for a mid-term exam instead of reading him an extra bedtime story. There is also an overwhelming financial hardship that comes with raising a child on a single income while trying to stay enrolled in school. Every dollar has to be stretched, and the constant stress of choosing between textbook costs, household necessities, childcare, and basic survival can make even the simplest days feel like an uphill battle. Trying to keep your mind focused on complex academic material when you are quietly wondering how you will pay for the next month of living expenses requires a level of mental fortitude that few people truly understand. Despite all of these intense challenges, my son is not a barrier to my education; he is the absolute center of my purpose. Having him at seventeen forced me to grow up overnight and instilled in me a relentless work ethic that I might never have discovered otherwise. I quickly realized that my success was no longer optional. Every lecture I attend, every assignment I complete, and every good grade I earn is a direct investment in my son's future. I am determined to show him that circumstances do not define your destiny. I want him to grow up knowing that his parent faced homelessness, mental health struggles, and overwhelming poverty, but refused to give up on building a better life for our family. This scholarship represents far more than just financial assistance to me; it is a critical bridge toward long term stability and security. Receiving this financial support will directly alleviate the crushing stress of balancing educational costs with the daily expenses of raising my son. By removing that heavy financial burden, this award will allow me to redirect my energy where it matters most: excelling in my classes, maintaining my mental health, and being the attentive, present, and loving father my child deserves. It provides the breathing room I need to focus on my education without the constant fear of falling behind financially. Ultimately, this scholarship will help me pave a clear path toward a bright future for both myself and my son. It ensures that I can finish my degree, graduate, and enter a meaningful career that allows me to provide a permanent, stable home where my son never has to wonder where he is going to sleep.

Growing up without residential stability and carrying the heavy stress of single parenthood and financial hardship eventually caught up to my mind and body. Being forced to move from house to house, sleeping on couches, and packing my life into duffel bags created a constant state of survival. As a student, I tried to mask the stress by throwing myself into my schoolwork and pretending everything was fine. However, trying to maintain perfect grades while my home life was constantly shifting built up an overwhelming weight that I could no longer carry alone. That silent pressure eventually led to two separate stays in a mental health facility during my lowest points. Those hospitalizations were the scariest moments of my life, but looking back, they were also the moments that saved me. Being admitted twice forced me to stop running from my pain and face the reality of my emotional state. In those quiet hospital rooms, stripped away from the noise of the outside world, I had to confront the trauma of housing instability, the fear of failure, and the exhaustion of trying to be strong for everyone else. Those stays completely reshaped how I view mental health as a student. I used to believe that asking for help was a sign of weakness, or that going through a crisis meant I had failed. Being hospitalized taught me that mental health is just as critical as physical health, and that seeking treatment is an act of courage. I realized that academic success means nothing if your mind is crumbling underneath the surface. Mental health is important to me as a student because I have lived through the absolute lowest depths of exhaustion and silent suffering. I know firsthand what it feels like to sit in a classroom, completely invisible, while fighting a terrifying battle inside your own head. Because of the pain I survived, I am deeply committed to advocating for mental health in my school and community. I actively work to break the toxic stigma that tells people to keep their struggles hidden. I speak openly with my peers about my hospital stays to show them that a mental health crisis does not mean your life is over. In my everyday life, I advocate by creating safe, judgment free spaces for friends and classmates who are going through tough times. I make a conscious effort to check in on people who seem quiet or overwhelmed, reminding them that they do not have to carry their burdens by themselves and encouraging them to use professional counseling resources before reaching a breaking point. Right now, I am dedicated to prioritizing my emotional well-being while pursuing my degree. My stays in the hospital were not the end of my journey; they were the turning point that transformed my pain into purpose. Moving from house to house taught me how to endure tough situations, but receiving mental health care taught me how to truly heal. I am using my story to show others that reaching rock bottom is not a permanent state, that seeking help is powerful, and that prioritizing your mental health allows you to rebuild a future far stronger than your past.

Growing up, home was never a place with a key in the door or a bedroom of my own. Home was a couple of duffel bags sitting in the trunk of a car, waiting for the next place we could stay. Because of single parenthood and financial hardship, there was a long period where we went from house to house, sleeping on couches and relying on anyone willing to take us in. I remember the quiet shame of moving my things in the dark, trying not to take up space, and watching my mother carry the crushing weight of keeping us safe with nothing left to give. Seeing her cry in private broke my heart, but it built something unbreakable inside me. I realized early that I could not afford to break. Doing schoolwork became my survival strategy. I finished assignments under dim lamps, on floorboards, and in the backseat of cars. School was the one place where I had control over my outcome. While everything around me was falling apart, my education was the single thing no one could take from me. I swore that every sacrifice made for me would count for something. That season changed how I see the world. It gave me a heart for families holding on by a thread and kids who feel invisible in their own lives. My purpose is to use my degree to create real resources and stability for communities left behind, making sure fewer families face that kind of uncertainty.Right now, I am putting every ounce of energy into my classes and keeping that promise to myself. Moving house to house taught me how to survive, but my ambition will allow me to thrive. I am using my past as fuel to honor where I came from and do better.

Growing up in a low income household taught me that relying on chance is not a strategy. When resources are limited, success requires intentionality, thorough preparation, and the discipline to execute every step of a vision. As an Electrical Engineering student at Jackson State University, my overarching goal is to graduate debt free, secure a career in power systems engineering, and establish community based STEM mentorship programs in underserved neighborhoods. Achieving this requires a clear, strategic plan mapped across timing, financial management, and risk mitigation. Phase 1: Academic and Financial Foundation (Years 1 to 2) My immediate goal is maintaining a strong GPA while managing the financial cost of my degree. Coming from a low income background, tuition, books, and living expenses represent significant hurdles. Timeline: Fall 2026 – Spring 2028 Required Resources: University academic advising, campus study groups, financial aid, and external scholarship support. Budget Breakdown: Tuition and Fees: Offset through federal grants, departmental aid, and competitive scholarships. Books and Equipment: $600 per semester, funded through part time employment and scholarship awards. Living Expenses: Reduced by residing in university housing and utilizing meal plans carefully. Risk Mitigation: To account for potential financial gaps, I maintain a strict monthly personal budget, tracking every expense to avoid unexpected debt. If a funding shortfall occurs, my backup plan involves applying for campus work study and applying to local emergency grant funds. Phase 2: Technical Mastery and Industry Placement (Years 3 to 4) The next phase focuses on transforming classroom knowledge into real world application to secure post graduation employment. Timeline: Summer 2028 – Spring 2029 Required Resources: JSU career placement services, engineering industry conferences, professional networking, and summer internships. Budget Breakdown: Professional Development and Certifications: $500 for Fundamentals of Engineering exam preparation materials and registration fees. Travel and Networking: $400 for attending regional engineering conferences and career expos. Execution Plan: I am actively applying for summer internships with utility and technology companies. Gaining hands on experience during summers will provide the industry credentials required to secure a full time engineering position prior to graduation. Phase 3: Long Term Community Impact My long term vision is to build an outreach initiative that provides hands on electronics and coding workshops to youth in low income communities. Timeline: 2029 and Beyond Required Resources: Personal capital, community center partnerships, and mentorship networks built through my HBCU background. Budget Breakdown: Initial seed funding of $3,000 sourced from personal savings once working full time, supplemented by local community grants to purchase starter circuit kits and equipment. Conclusion

To build something means to start with raw, often limited materials and construct something durable, functional, and transformative. Growing up in a low income household, resources were rarely abundant, but resourcefulness was a requirement. I learned early on that when things break, you do not just replace them. You learn how they work, adapt, and fix them yourself. That mindset pushed me to pursue Electrical Engineering at Jackson State University. Beyond earning a degree, what I truly want to build is a bridge: a physical and economic pathway that connects technical innovation with underserved communities. On a technical level, I am working to build systems and infrastructure that solve real world problems. Whether it is mastering circuit design, understanding power distribution, or working on hardware solutions, my goal is to create sustainable, accessible engineering solutions. Too often, marginalized communities are the last to receive modern infrastructure improvements, reliable energy solutions, or technological investments. By building my expertise in electrical engineering, I aim to design and implement technology that directly addresses infrastructure gaps in historically neglected neighborhoods. However, the physical product is only half of the equation. What I am hoping to build for my future is financial independence and generational security. Coming from a low income background, breaking the cycle of financial hardship is a personal commitment. Securing a strong future in STEM allows me to redefine what is possible for my family, turning past struggles into a blueprint for long term stability. The positive impact of this work extends far beyond my own career. As a Black student at an HBCU, I recognize the importance of representation in fields where we are historically underrepresented. By building a successful engineering career, I plan to build a mentorship pipeline for the next generation of youth who look like me, showing them that engineering and technology are not distant fields, but tools they can master to reshape their own communities. I want to establish community workshops and hands on STEM programs that expose students from low income backgrounds to robotics, electronics, and problem solving early in their lives. Ultimately, building my future is not just about personal achievement; it is about foundation. By connecting technical expertise with community activism, I am building a career that lifts as it climbs, ensuring that every circuit I design and every opportunity I secure contributes to a stronger, more resilient community.

Growing up, my life was shaped by an environment that felt entirely out of my control. Much of my family struggled with severe drug addiction, a reality that brought a chaotic cycle of abuse and neglect into our home. For a long time, the weight of my surroundings felt overwhelming, and I knew early on that I desperately needed to find a way to escape the problems that threatened to pull me under. However, when you are surrounded by dependency daily, the pressure can become consuming. In my search for an escape, I unfortunately fell into that very same loop and began using drugs myself. It was not a temporary phase; that battle stayed with me for years, experiencing firsthand how deeply the cycle of addiction traps an individual over time. Hitting the end of those years was a terrifying realization, but it also became my turning point. I looked at the abuse and neglect around me and realized that if I did not make a radical change, the environment would permanently claim my future. I decided that the ultimate escape was not hiding from reality through substances, but rising above my circumstances mentally and professionally. I found my path to recovery and purpose by throwing myself into hard work and academics. Pursuing my education became my shield against the cravings and the neglect I experienced, and working hard gave me a sense of control over my own destiny that addiction had stripped away. This lived experience completely transformed my perspective and ultimately guided me toward pursuing sociology. Experiencing firsthand how substance abuse can fracture minds, households, and communities sparked a deep desire to understand the systemic roots of these issues. Through my studies, I am gaining the tools to analyze how cycles of trauma and addiction form, and more importantly, how they can be broken. My goal is to use my education to develop community outreach initiatives and support systems that help individuals who are currently trapped in the same volatile loops I survived. Moving forward, I am determined to turn the pain of my past into a blueprint for advocacy and leadership. Breaking a multi generational cycle of addiction requires an immense amount of grit, but every step I take in my academic journey proves that recovery and change are possible. Winning the Max Bungard Memorial Scholarship would provide the critical financial foundation I need to stay focused on my education and continue working toward these goals. This scholarship represents an investment in resilience. It is an acknowledgment that our origins do not define our destinations. With your support, I will continue to prove that out of hardship can come a lifelong commitment to healing, hard work, and meaningful social impact.

If I could start a business with my late brother, Christopher, we would open a premier, heavy duty automotive and mechanical customization shop. Growing up, we shared an unbreakable bond fueled by a mutual fascination with how things worked. Our shared dream truly crystallized when we took a technical class together. Sitting side by side in that classroom, working through the same projects, we realized that our individual interests combined into a massive shared passion. We spent countless hours after that dreaming of the day we would both become mechanical engineers and build a legacy together from the ground up. Christopher had the brilliant mind and the spirit of a true creator. When he passed away in 2025, a part of that shared dream felt out of reach, but my determination to honor his memory only grew stronger. As I began pursuing the path to engineering, I hit a difficult reality: the advanced, abstract mathematics required for the degree became a major roadblock for me. It was a frustrating and humbling realization. For a while, I worried that struggling with calculus meant I was failing Christopher and abandoning the future we had envisioned in that classroom together. However, I realized that while the specific academic route had to change, the core of our dream did not. Engineering was not just about formulas on a chalkboard; it was about problem solving, grit, and keeping things moving forward. Instead of letting that obstacle defeat me, I chose to pivot my focus and pursue sociology. While studying human behavior and social structures seems a world away from engineering, it has provided me with invaluable insights into leadership, team dynamics, and organizational management. My passion for mechanics never wavered, but sociology equips me with the foundational skills needed to manage a workforce, understand consumer needs, and build an enterprise that truly serves its community. By merging my technical interests with a deep understanding of people, I found a path that fits my strengths while keeping our shared dream alive. The business we would have started, and the business I still plan to build in his honor, would be a reflection of that resilience. It would be a shop dedicated to high level customization and mechanical repair. Christopher would have been the visionary designer behind the technical builds, and I would be the driving force managing the operations, organizational structure, and team coordination. Winning the Arin Kel Memorial Scholarship would provide the critical financial support I need to complete my education. This scholarship is more than just financial aid; it is an investment in a promise I made to myself and to my brother. Christopher’s time was cut tragically short, but his impact on my life is permanent. Every day I face a tough challenge, I carry his memory with me. By investing in my education, you are helping me build the foundation for a business that will keep Christopher’s name, passion, and legacy alive for decades to come.

I have always believed that where you start in life does not have to determine where you finish. My journey has been filled with challenges, responsibilities, and moments that tested my strength, but each experience has shaped me into the person I am today. I am currently a sociology student at Jackson State University because I want to understand people, help communities, and create positive change. More importantly, I want to build a future that my family can be proud of and create opportunities that I did not always have growing up. One of the biggest challenges I face is the financial responsibility of attending college. I have to think about paying rent, buying groceries, covering school supplies, and managing everyday expenses while trying to stay focused on my education. There are days when the stress feels overwhelming, but giving up has never been an option. Every sacrifice I make today is an investment in the future I am working hard to build. Growing up, I learned the value of hard work and perseverance. I have never expected life to be easy, but I have always believed that determination can take you further than excuses ever will. Throughout school, I stayed involved and took on leadership opportunities, including serving as a section leader in my band’s percussion section. That experience taught me how to lead by example, encourage others, communicate effectively, and remain dependable even when people were counting on me. Choosing sociology was an easy decision because I have always been interested in understanding why people think, act, and experience life differently. I want to use my education to advocate for people whose voices are often overlooked and help strengthen communities. My long-term goal is to continue my education after earning my bachelor’s degree so I can have an even greater impact through my career. My biggest strength is my resilience. No matter how difficult life becomes, I continue pushing forward. I have learned how to adapt, solve problems, and stay focused on my goals even when obstacles stand in my way. At the same time, one of my weaknesses is that I often place too much pressure on myself. I want to succeed so badly that I sometimes try to handle everything on my own. Over time, I have learned that asking for help and accepting support does not make me weak it makes me stronger. Beyond my career goals, my biggest dream is to create a better life for my future family. I want my future children to grow up seeing what hard work, education, and perseverance can accomplish. I want to give them opportunities that will allow them to dream even bigger than I have. I also want to be someone who gives back by mentoring young people, serving my community, and helping others overcome challenges similar to those I have faced. Receiving this scholarship would mean more than financial assistance. It would relieve some of the stress that comes with paying for college and allow me to focus more fully on my education and personal growth. Instead of worrying about how I will cover another expense, I can spend that energy preparing for my future and becoming the best version of myself. I know my journey is still just beginning, but I am determined to make every opportunity count. I am not defined by the obstacles I face but by the effort I put into overcoming them. With the support of this scholarship, I will continue pursuing my education at Jackson State University, working toward a career in sociology, serving my community, and building a future that reflects the values of hard work, compassion, leadership, and perseverance. I hope to leave a lasting impact not only on my family but also on the lives of the people and communities I will one day serve

Being a first generation college student means carrying a dream that started long before I ever stepped onto Jackson State University’s campus. It means knowing that every class I attend, every exam I take, and every obstacle I overcome is bigger than me. I’m not only earning a degree for myself, I’m creating a path that no one in my family has had the opportunity to walk before. That responsibility is heavy, but it also motivates me every single day.As a sophomore at Jackson State University majoring in Sociology, I’ve learned that college is about much more than academics. It’s about perseverance, sacrifice, and believing in yourself even when life feels overwhelming. One of my biggest challenges has been the financial burden of college. There have been countless moments when I wasn’t just stressed about assignments or exams. I was stressed about how I was going to pay for tuition, books, housing, meals, transportation, and other everyday expenses. It’s hard to fully focus on your education when you’re constantly worried about whether you’ll have enough money to make it through the semester.Being first generation also means learning everything on your own. I don’t have parents who can tell me what college is supposed to be like or guide me through every decision. I’ve had to ask questions, make mistakes, and figure things out one step at a time. There have been moments when I doubted myself and wondered if I belonged, especially when it seemed like everyone else already knew how college worked. But every challenge has taught me resilience. Instead of giving up, I’ve continued to push forward because I know my education has the power to change my family’s future.I chose Sociology because I want to understand people, advocate for communities, and become someone who creates positive change. I want to use my education to help individuals and families overcome challenges while being a voice for those who often go unheard. My dream is to build a career that not only provides financial stability for my future family but also allows me to give back to my community and inspire other first generation students to believe in themselves. Receiving this scholarship would mean more than financial assistance. It would lift a weight off my shoulders and allow me to focus more on becoming the best student I can be instead of constantly worrying about how I’m going to afford college. It would remind me that my hard work, determination, and dreams are worth investing in. I know this journey won’t always be easy, but I’ve never expected it to be. Every obstacle I’ve faced has strengthened my determination to finish what I started. I want my future children to grow up knowing that higher education is possible because someone in our family had the courage to go first. Being a first generation college student is not just part of my story. It is the foundation of the legacy I am determined to build.

Grief has a way of completely stopping time. When you lose someone to suicide, the world doesn't just get quiet; it feels like the ground beneath you completely shifts. For me, that loss was my brother, the person I grew up with and the one who basically raised me. He was my blueprint, my protector, and the person who taught me how to navigate the world. Suddenly, he was gone, and I was left with a million questions that didn't have answers. Trying to figure out how to live a normal day without the person who always guided me felt completely impossible. The silence he left behind in our home was deafening. As a suicide loss survivor, my journey hasn't been about trying to forget him or the tragedy. It has been about learning how to carry his memory and his love with me every day, and finding the strength to keep moving when it would be much easier to give up. In the beginning, the hardest part was dealing with how lonely and heavy the grief felt. Suicide carries a heavy stigma, and people often don't know what to say, so they say nothing at all. For a long time, I felt incredibly isolated and abandoned, drowning in the details of a tragedy I couldn't rewrite. But things started to change when I focused on how to channel that pain into something meaningful, drawing on the strength and resilience he always showed me. That outlet became music and community. Being a drumline captain taught me how to keep everyone in sync, how to find a pulse in the dark, and how to keep people moving forward together. But when things went completely dark for me personally, it was that same sense of rhythm and the support of the band around me that kept me grounded. Music became the one place where I didn't have to explain my broken heart; I could just play, process the raw emotion I was feeling, and let it out. Going through this heartbreak taught me a lot about real empathy and what it actually means to be strong. My brother was the one who taught me how to stand tall, but his loss showed me that true resilience is also about being vulnerable enough to ask for help when you are drowning. It taught me to be observant enough to notice when someone else is silently struggling behind a smile. It completely changed how I view leadership. Leading isn't just about standing out in front and counting the beat when things are going great; it’s about holding people together, looking out for the forgotten, and keeping hope alive when everything feels like it's falling apart. Now, as I look toward the future, I feel a deep, burning sense of purpose. I am going to Jackson State University this fall. Choosing Jackson State is deeply emotional and non-negotiable for me because that is exactly where my brother went. Walking the very same campus paths he walked, seeing the same buildings, and learning in the same environment is my way of keeping his spirit alive and honoring his legacy. I don't look at the loss of my brother as a weight holding me back. Instead, it is a profound reminder of just how important it is to love loudly and look out for one another, the exact way he always looked out for me. I am stepping onto that campus to build a future where I can lift others up, ensuring that nobody else has to feel like they are walking through the dark alone.