Growing up in Chicago, I learned that success is built through perseverance, faith, and the support of a strong community. My parents have always encouraged me to work hard and take advantage of every opportunity, even when finances made those opportunities difficult to reach. Although paying for college is a challenge for my family, that reality has only strengthened my determination to earn a degree and build a future where I can give back to others. This fall, I will attend North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to major in Civil Engineering. My interest in engineering began in third grade through Rainbow PUSH Excel, where I was introduced to STEMM education. I became fascinated by how roads, bridges, and buildings are designed and how infrastructure can improve people's lives. Over time, I realized that Civil Engineering combines my passion for problem-solving with my desire to serve communities. Throughout high school, I worked hard to prepare myself for this path. I maintained Honor Roll status while participating in organizations that challenged me to grow as both a student and a leader. I served as captain of my school's water polo team, participated in STEM Club, Chess Club, French Club, and the International Thespian Society, and developed my public speaking skills through Rainbow PUSH Excel's oratorical program. These experiences taught me confidence, teamwork, discipline, and the importance of leading by example. Service has also shaped who I am. Since 2016, I have been an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, serving in both the Youth Ministry and Music Ministry. I have helped organize Thanksgiving fellowship events for youth in care by collecting coats, hygiene products, meals, and gift cards so every child could feel supported during the holidays. Through programs like I Am A Gentleman and Midtown Educational Foundation, I learned that true leadership means using your talents to make life better for someone else. One of my greatest strengths is perseverance. When I face obstacles, I do not quit. Instead, I continue working until I find a solution. I also believe communication is one of my strengths. Public speaking has allowed me to become comfortable sharing ideas and connecting with people from different backgrounds. These skills will help me collaborate with future engineers, clients, and community leaders. One area I continue to improve is learning not to put too much pressure on myself. I often want everything to be perfect and sometimes try to solve every problem on my own. As I prepare for college, I am learning that asking for help is not a weakness. Working with mentors and teammates is an important part of becoming both a better student and a better leader. My dream is to become a civil engineer who helps strengthen underserved communities through safer infrastructure and sustainable development. I hope to return to cities like Chicago and contribute to projects that improve transportation, neighborhoods, and public spaces while mentoring young people who are interested in STEM careers. Receiving this scholarship would help make that vision possible. Although I have worked hard academically and applied for many scholarships, there is still a financial gap that my family cannot easily afford. This scholarship would reduce that burden and allow me to focus on my education, leadership, and service instead of worrying about how I will pay for college. I believe education is more than a personal achievement. It is an opportunity to create lasting change. My goal is to use the education I receive at North Carolina A&T State University to build stronger communities, inspire future engineers, and continue serving others. This scholarship would not only invest in my future, but also in the many lives I hope to impact throughout my career.

I have intentionally chosen to pursue Civil Engineering at North Carolina A&T State University, despite the financial challenges my family faces. Rather than allowing those challenges to discourage me, they have motivated me to work harder and remain committed to academic excellence. For the past twelve years, I have maintained Honor Roll status while seeking opportunities that would prepare me to become both an engineer and a leader in my community. My interest in Civil Engineering began in third grade through Rainbow PUSH Excel, where I was introduced to STEMM education. That early exposure sparked my curiosity about how infrastructure is designed and how engineering can solve real-world problems. PUSH Excel also developed my public speaking skills through its oratorical program. What once intimidated me became one of my greatest strengths, teaching me how to communicate effectively and lead with confidence. Service has always been central to my life. Since 2016, I have served in the Youth and Music Ministries at Calvary Baptist Church. Through our Thanksgiving fellowship for youth in care, I have helped provide coats, home-cooked meals, hygiene products, and gift cards while creating an environment where young people feel valued and supported. Leadership programs such as Midtown for Boys and I Am A Gentleman, Inc. also helped shape my character. Although I once questioned why my mother enrolled me in these summer programs, I now realize they exposed me to positive mentors and ambitious young men who inspired me to pursue excellence. In 2022, I was honored as Student of the Year for demonstrating discipline, respect, and accountability. As a Daniel Murphy Scholar, I attended De La Salle Institute and later participated in the Creating Pathways and Access for Student Success (CPASS) program at Lewis University. Through a product-based engineering project, I helped design a greenhouse model using engineering principles. That experience confirmed that Civil Engineering was the right path for me because I enjoy solving problems and creating practical solutions that improve people's lives. My goal is to use Civil Engineering to strengthen roads, bridges, and public infrastructure while promoting sustainable development in underserved communities. I want to help ensure that every neighborhood, regardless of its economic status, has access to safe, reliable, and well-designed infrastructure. I believe engineering is one of the most powerful ways to create lasting, visible change. Every opportunity I have embraced through church, scholarship programs, leadership organizations, and academic challenges has prepared me for this next step. This scholarship would help ease the financial burden of earning my degree while allowing me to focus on becoming the engineer and community leader I aspire to be. I am committed to using my education to build not only stronger infrastructure, but also stronger communities for future generations.

Growing up, I learned early that success is not always determined by talent alone. Many students have the ability and motivation to achieve great things, but financial hardships, family challenges, and limited access to resources can create obstacles that make the journey much harder. That is why scholarships and grants are so important. They help level the playing field and give hardworking students the opportunity to turn their goals into reality. I believe motivated and high-achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds deserve support because they have already shown that they are willing to work for their future despite the challenges they face. When students continue striving for excellence even when circumstances are difficult, they demonstrate resilience, determination, and character. Investing in those students benefits not only them, but also the communities they will one day serve. Throughout my life, I have faced challenges that required me to grow up quickly. In 2019, my mother suffered a severe ankle injury that left her unable to work for an extended period of time. During her recovery, I took on additional responsibilities at home to help keep things running smoothly. That experience taught me the importance of responsibility, perseverance, and supporting others during difficult times. Despite obstacles, I remained focused on my education and personal development. I graduated from De La Salle Institute on the honor roll and will attend North Carolina A&T State University this fall to study Civil Engineering. Beyond academics, I have sought opportunities to grow as a leader and serve my community. I am the captain of my school’s water polo team, an active member of my church, and have participated in organizations such as Rainbow PUSH Excel, I Am A Gentleman, and I am a Daniel Murphy scholar. These experiences have helped me develop confidence, leadership skills, and a commitment to giving back. My goal is to become a civil engineer and help design and improve transportation systems and infrastructure in communities that need them most. I want to contribute to projects that make neighborhoods safer, more accessible, and more connected. I see engineering as a way to create lasting change that improves people’s everyday lives. Receiving this grant would help reduce the financial burden of college and allow me to focus more fully on my education and professional development. It would provide support for tuition, books, supplies, and other expenses that come with earning a degree. More importantly, it would represent an investment in a student who is committed to working hard, overcoming challenges, and using his education to make a positive impact on others. I have learned that obstacles do not have to define a person’s future. With determination, support, and opportunity, they can become the motivation to achieve even greater success. This grant would help me continue that journey and move one step closer to achieving my goals.

Throughout my childhood, I have witnessed the difference between having a job and having a career. Many people say you should choose a career that you truly enjoy, but when I was younger, I did not fully understand what that meant. As I grew older and began paying closer attention to the people around me, especially my parents, I started to understand the difference. Their experiences showed me what it looks like to simply work for a paycheck versus working toward something that brings you purpose and fulfillment. My dad is a laborer who works extremely hard. He works twelve hours a day, six days a week, doing physically demanding work. I have always respected his work ethic and the sacrifices he makes for our family. However, I also hear him say almost every day that he does not like his job. He often talks about wanting to quit or wishing he could do something different. Watching him come home exhausted and frustrated helped me realize that working hard alone does not always mean you are happy with what you do. His experience taught me that a job can provide stability, but it does not always provide satisfaction. My mom, on the other hand, has shown me what it looks like to truly love what you do. She is a social worker who spends her days helping children and families who are going through difficult situations. Her job is not easy, and she also works very long days. However, the difference is that she does not complain about the work. Instead, she talks about the children she helps and the positive changes she is able to make in their lives. I have seen the joy on her face when she knows she made a difference for someone who needed support. Watching her made me realize that a career is something that gives you purpose, not just a paycheck. At the same time, I began to reflect on my own interests. When I was younger, I spent hours building with Legos. I loved designing structures, experimenting with different ideas, and figuring out how pieces fit together to make something strong and stable. At the time, it just felt like a fun hobby. As I got older, I realized that the same curiosity and creativity I used with Legos connects directly to the field of civil engineering. Civil engineers design the infrastructure that communities depend on every day, from bridges and roads to buildings and transportation systems. Because of my parents’ experiences and my own interests, I have learned that I do not just want a job—I want a career that challenges me and allows me to create something meaningful. Civil engineering will allow me to turn my childhood passion for building into a profession that improves communities and helps people. Just like my mom finds purpose in helping others through social work, I hope to find purpose in designing and building structures that make people’s lives safer and better.