My name is John Daniels IV, and service has always been central to how I understand leadership and community. I was raised in Milwaukee at Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ, a Pentecostal congregation deeply rooted in serving the city. Our church approaches ministry through what we call a seven fold ministry schematic, which focuses on caring for the whole person through spiritual guidance, education, health services, housing support, youth development, community outreach, and economic empowerment. Growing up in that environment shaped my understanding that faith should always be active in the life of the community. At Holy Redeemer, I assist our senior pastor with various administrative and community engagement responsibilities. This includes serving as scribe for leadership meetings, preparing materials for church and community initiatives, and assisting with special projects for our senior pastor that bring together civic leaders, nonprofit partners, and members of our congregation. Because Holy Redeemer often serves as a gathering place for conversations about the future of Milwaukee, I have also had the opportunity to work with our religious and corporate affairs pastor. I've been privileged to welcome community leaders, support the organization of forums, and observe how faith institutions can help convene meaningful dialogue across sectors. I serve my community at home by working with jack and Jill of America, Inc - Milwaukee Charter for literacy projects and teen civic programming. I also serve my community abroad by volunteering with Kenya East Africa First Jurisdiction COGIC, working with our sister churches and educational programs on 2 mission trips in 2023 and 2025. Beyond direct service, I have also learned how important thoughtful leadership and administration are to sustaining community impact. Working alongside our senior pastor has allowed me to see the careful planning required to support ministries, maintain partnerships, and steward resources responsibly. Those experiences have strengthened my desire to pursue leadership that combines faith, strategy, and service. This fall, I will begin the next chapter of my life at Pepperdine University in Malibu, a Christian institution that shares my commitment to integrating faith with learning and leadership. As I prepare to leave Milwaukee for the West Coast, I carry with me the lessons of my Pentecostal upbringing. The faith community that raised me instilled in me the belief that our calling is to be a light wherever we are placed. If awarded this scholarship, I would use the support to help continue my education at Pepperdine while remaining committed to service. My goal is to expand the leadership skills I developed in Milwaukee and apply them in new communities. I hope to build bridges between faith communities, nonprofit organizations, and civic institutions in ways that promote opportunity and compassion. Wherever my journey leads, I intend to carry the spirit of Holy Redeemer with me. The church taught me that service is not limited by geography. Whether in Milwaukee or Malibu, I hope to shine brightly with the love of Christ and continue building communities grounded in faith, dignity, and hope. *My attached photo is from a May 2024 visit with Vice President Kamala Harris, dialoguing about economic opportunities as a representative for Jack and Jill of America, Inc. in my capacity as then-Teen President

My name is John Daniels IV, I am a senior and Ignatian Global Scholar at Marquette University High School. Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of visiting many different countries and learning their traditions. At the Great Wall of China, we were greeted with a small bow and the phrase, Ni Hao, which is Mandarin for hello. At the Palace of Versailles, we were greeted with the word bonjour, and at the Burj Khalifa at the top of the world's largest building, simply welcome. And in each and every single one of these places, I have had the distinct opportunity to connect with natives of the region. My favorite experience however was interacting with the locals of the beautiful nation of Kenya. In Swahili their native language, jambo, means hello. On that particular trip, we had the chance to visit Amboseli National Park, a nature reserve sitting on the border of Tanzania and at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. To embark on this journey, we were required to wake up at 3am and make a hour and a half hour drive. When we arrived, I woke up and saw the amazing sunrise in a small market village. As we drove by, we saw a row of people stretching for miles right in front of the shops. We asked our tour guide what they were doing, and he informed us that they were peacefully waiting. He told us that every morning, the children had to walk to five miles to school, but, in order to arrive on time, they needed to run. So all the members of the community would patiently wait along the road to cheer them on and provide a space of peace so they could safely get to school. The entire community banded together so a few kids could have a peaceful environment despite everything that was going on in their lives. This experience reminded me how important the value of education is. As someone whose only major education issue was asking to not switch schools for high school, I often took for granted my experience before Kenya. While the morning driver was early, I never had to wake up that early, let alone run for miles to get to school on time. Now, as I complete high school and prepare for higher education, i am not only keenly aware of my unique position, but also committed to give back. I look forward to continuing my travels, support for students in foreign countries, and never forgetting the privilege of education i have. This scholarship will help advance my education as I prepare for college by easing the financial burden of my mother who has been personally paying for my grandmother's chemotherapy. I am excited for college as one last proof for my grandmother that her zest for live, travel, and love of people will permeate my college experience as I study abroad and seek to build bridges across cultures.

My name is John Daniels IV, I am a senior and Ignatian Global Scholar at Marquette University High School. Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of visiting many different countries and learning their traditions. At the Great Wall of China, we were greeted with a small bow and the phrase, Ni Hao, which is Mandarin for hello. At the Palace of Versailles, we were greeted with the word bonjour, and at the Burj Khalifa at the top of the worlds largest building, simply welcome. And in each and every single one of these places, I have had the distinct opportunity to connect with natives of the region. My favorite experience however was interacting with the locals of the beautiful nation of Kenya. In Swahili their native language, jambo, means hello. On that particular trip, we had the chance to visit Amboseli National Park, a nature reserve sitting on the border of Tanzania and at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. To embark on this journey, we were required to wake up at 3am and make a hour and a half hour drive. When we arrived, I woke up and saw the amazing sunrise in a small market village. As we drove by, we saw a row of people stretching for miles right in front of the shops. We asked our tour guide what they were doing, and he informed us that they were peacefully waiting. He told us that every morning, the children had to walk to five miles to school, but, in order to arrive on time, they needed to run. So all the members of the community would patiently wait along the road to cheer them on and provide a space of peace so they could safely get to school. The entire community banded together so a few kids could have a peaceful environment despite everything that was going on in their lives. This experience reminded me how important the value of education is. As someone whose only major education issue was asking to not switch schools for high school, I often took for granted my experience before Kenya. While the morning driver was early, I never had to wake up that early, let alone run for miles to get to school on time. Now, as I complete high school and prepare for higher education, i am not only keenly aware of my unique position, but also committed to give back. I look forward to continuing my travels, support for students in foreign countries, and never forgetting the privilege of education i have.

A black leader who has inspired me is my late great-uncle, the Bishop Dr. Sedgwick Daniels. A leader who empowered until his passing. For background, he was the establishmentarian and senior pastor of Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ in Milwaukee. He founded the church as a small 8-family congregation in the basement of a Lutheran school in 1986 and grew the church into a holistic campus designed to advance societal transformation. The church now is at the center of a 40 acre campus on the North side of Milwaukee that supports three schools, collegiate and biblical education, a health clinic, economic empowerment, low-cost housing and many more ministries. He also was consecrated as Jurisdictional Prelate for the Wisconsin First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ, serving as a spiritual leader for over 100 churches across Wisconsin and Illinois. He grew the diocese from the original 60 churches and encouraged pastors in the jurisdiction to enhance quality-of-life programs to advance education, civic engagement and wellness. One key reason why I celebrate Bishop Daniels is because of his resilience and pioneering spirit. As an expansion to Holy Redeemer, Bishop Daniels founded Holy Redeemer Christian Academy shorty after forming the congregation. Affectionately known as HRCA, the academy is the first African American Pentecostal school in the state of Wisconsin and continues today to provide quality education to students from Kindergarten to 8th grade. Later, the church would go on to found an educational consortium that educates students through high school with offered concentrations in STEM and the arts and collegiate and Biblical education opportunities for adults. He also founded a community credit union, recognized as the first of Pentecostals of any race in the State of Wisconsin. A capstone highlight to these change making initiatives was a Presidential visit to the HR Campus by former president George W. Bush, a true, official, first class recognition of the work Bishop Daniels led at Holy Redeemer. A second key reason is his continued perseverance against challenge. During the first expansion of the campus to develop the centerpiece community center, numerous issues began to pop up. City officials left paperwork unfilled past deadlines and funding began to dry up mid-construction. His mother, Mother Kathryn Daniels, transitioned to Glory in 2000 during building. However, Bishop Daniels did not quit and continued to persevere. Using his life savings and an unprecedented million-dollar donation from a private Milwaukee foundation, the center opened just four years after her passing named in her honor. This spirit of resilience continued until the day he passed. 3 months before his passing, state administration pulled voucher funding for at-need students at Holy Redeemer Christian Academy; following numerous denied requests of HRCA to talk with state administration, leaving students in the dust. In crisis, Bishop Daniels stepped in. He launched a capital campaign for education at the church and in addition, privately funded students out of his own pocket. He also authored a second book titled "Storms that Change our Lives". The book serves as a testament to overcoming, even as he wrote the book from his hospital bed. In closing, he inspired me in all that he did. From personally funding societal transformation to remembering to keep God first at all that he did, I have been personally impacted by his lessons. Some of my fondest memories come from learning at his side at his Spruce residence, whether through exegesis or research. The lessons I learned have immense impact and unquantifiable value. I am forever proud of the legacy great-uncle, the Bishop Dr. Sedgwick Daniels.