Growing up as the youngest of seven children in a low-income family and housing development of New York City, was not an easy road. I experienced bullying, discrimination, and discouragement. Through it all I learned perseverance, strength, and compassion. In high school I ran track, which gave me the ability to release my frustrations, and allowed me to see myself differently than what others were saying. With the wind blowing on my face as I ran, it gave me a sense of freedom and triumph over my circumstances, which I carry with me to this day. Although my time on the field was short lived due to a knee injury, the impact of that journey was powerful. Today, I am a first-generation college and parent student pursuing a B.S. in Finance at the Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte. I am committed to building both knowledge and legacy, and continue my studies through an MBA at UNC Chapel Hill. This personal achievement will serve as a platform for lasting impact. For me, education is not just about degrees, it’s about changing the story from struggle to success. This journey is not only for myself but also for my daughter, who is attending the university alongside me, and for others who may feel it’s too late to pursue their dreams. Currently, I am building a business that empowers entrepreneurs, leaders, small businesses, and nonprofits with seamless operations and financial systems so they can focus on their purpose. This business was born out of my faith and the discouragement after optimizing my resume for today’s hiring systems and applying for countless job opportunities, that resulted only in rejections, no replies, or brief recruiter calls. Instead of giving up, I decided to pursue my academic dreams and birth my vision for a business. This venture is more than a business, it is designed to create opportunities for students, single parents, and members of underserved communities who need flexible and sustainable income. Part of the mission of the business is to serve as a funding engine for a nonprofit initiative that supports children navigating the foster care system, with an emphasis on providing mentorship and resources as they age out. By tying business success directly to nonprofit sustainability, I am building a model where growth fuels greater impact. With partnerships in both North Carolina and Nigeria, my vision is to create pathways of mentorship and support for women and children, locally and globally. At the heart of everything I do is the belief that when we are poured into, we must also pour into others. My journey matters because it is not just about my success, it’s about how many others I can lift up with me along the way, and creating ripple effects of opportunity and hope. This scholarship would help cover the nearly $12,000 out-of-pocket tuition that my daughter and I owe after FAFSA awards. I am a full-time senior expecting to graduate in Fall 2026, and this support would allow us to remain enrolled without interruption. My daughter is a full-time sophomore pursuing her B.S. degree in Earth, Environmental Sciences with a career goal of renewable energy, and food sustainability. This scholarship will ease the financial burden of tuition and give me the stability to continue pursuing my degree, build my business that will help fund the nonprofit, and provide an example for my daughter and others that even after major setbacks, new beginnings are possible.

My mother left her hometown in North Carolina at the age of 16 after years of physical abuse sustained from a boarder her mother took in after her father died. She too lived in a time where resources were not available, nor those situations were talked about. She was a soft spoken and kind woman, that held the secrets of a broken child in her heart. She was uncomfortable with affection and embrace. She loved her children deeply and would not allow us to go on sleepovers, attend summer camps, nor sleep at relative’s homes. I didn't understand it as a child, but came to realize as an adult, that was her way of protection. Growing up as the youngest of seven children in a low-income family and housing development of New York City, shaped me in ways I am still uncovering today. My goals are deeply personal and rooted in faith, perseverance, and excellence in advocating for women. As a first-generation college and parent student pursuing a B.S. in Finance at the Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte, I am committed to building both knowledge and legacy, and continue my studies through an MBA at UNC Chapel Hill. This personal achievement will serve as a platform for lasting impact. For me, education is not just about degrees, it’s about changing the story from struggle to success. This journey is not only for myself but also for my daughter, who is attending the university alongside me, and for others who may feel it’s too late to pursue their dreams. Currently, I am building a business that empowers entrepreneurs, leaders, small businesses, and nonprofits with seamless operations and financial systems so they can focus on their purpose. This business was born out of my faith and the discouragement after optimizing my resume for today’s hiring systems and applying for countless job opportunities, that resulted only in rejections, no replies, or brief recruiter calls. Instead of giving up, I decided to pursue my academic dreams and birth my vision for a business. This venture is more than a business, it is designed to create opportunities for students, single parents, and members in underserved communities who need flexible and sustainable income. Part of the mission of the business is to serve as a funding engine for a nonprofit initiative that supports children navigating the foster care system, with an emphasis on providing mentorship and resources as they age out. By tying business success directly to nonprofit sustainability, I am building a model where growth fuels greater impact. With partnerships in both North Carolina and Nigeria, my vision is to create pathways of mentorship and support for women and children, locally and globally. At the heart of everything I do is the belief that when we are poured into, we must also pour into others. My journey matters because it is not just about my success, it’s about how many others I can lift with me along the way, and creating ripple effects of opportunity and hope. This scholarship would help cover the nearly $12,000 out-of-pocket tuition that my daughter and I owe after FAFSA awards. It will ease the financial burden of tuition and give me the stability to continue pursuing my degree, build my business that will fuel the nonprofit, and provide an example for my daughter and others that even after major setbacks, new beginnings are possible.

My goals are deeply personal and rooted in faith, perseverance, and excellence. For me, education is not just about degrees, it’s about changing the story from struggle to success. This journey is not only for myself but also for my daughter, who is attending the university alongside me, and for others who may feel it’s too late to pursue their dreams. Growing up as the youngest of seven children in a low-income family in a housing development of New York City, shaped me in ways I am still uncovering today. Despite the hardships, my family instilled in me powerful values. From my mother, I learned advocacy and the importance of standing up for women, and from my father, I learned service and the dignity of hard work. My sisters taught me strength and courage, and my brother, I learned the quiet resilience it takes to keep moving forward when life weighs heavily. As a first-generation college and parent student pursuing a B.S. in Finance at the Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte, I am committed to building both knowledge and legacy, and continue my studies through an MBA at UNC Chapel Hill. This personal achievement will be used as a platform for impact. Professionally, I am building a business that empowers entrepreneurs, leaders, small businesses, and nonprofits with seamless operations and financial systems so they can focus on their purpose, not their paperwork. This venture is more than a business, it is designed to create opportunities for students, single parents, and community members who need flexible and sustainable income. Part of the mission of the business is to serve as a funding engine for a nonprofit initiative that supports children navigating the foster care system, with an emphasis on providing mentorship and resources as they age out. By tying business success directly to nonprofit sustainability, I am building a model where growth fuels greater impact. With partnerships in both North Carolina and Nigeria, my vision is to create pathways of mentorship and support for the next generation in underserved communities both locally and globally. At the heart of everything I do is the belief that when we are poured into, we must also pour into others. My journey matters because it is not just about my success, it’s about how many others I can lift with me along the way, and creating ripple effects of opportunity and hope. This scholarship would ease the financial hardship my daughter and I face as we pursue our degrees together. Even with financial aid, we carry a significant out-of-pocket tuition cost, and this support would allow us to remain enrolled without interruption. It would also give me the stability to continue building my business and nonprofit while advancing my education. Ultimately, this scholarship is more than financial relief; it is an investment in a vision of service, resilience, and impact that I intend to carry forward into my community and beyond.

I am deeply moved by Kalia’s story of athletic spirit and commitment to serving others. Her achievements live on as a powerful reminder of the impact one life can have. While my own athletic career was short-lived due to injury, the lessons I gained from track and later from tennis shaped who I am today: resilient, determined, and committed to lifting others as I move forward. When I joined the track team in high school, I found more than a sport; I found a place where I could test myself and discover what it meant to persevere. Each practice was an exercise in pushing past limits, whether running sprints, building endurance, or simply showing up on days when my body was sore and my mind was weary. I will never forget the feeling of the wind blowing across my face as I ran. A moment of freedom and strength that carried me beyond the challenges of my daily life. Growing up as the youngest of seven children in a low-income housing development in New York City, I understood what it meant to face obstacles. In school, I endured bullying and discouragement. Track gave me an outlet, teaching me that my worth was not defined by my circumstances or by the words of others, but by the effort I gave every day. When my knee injury made it impossible to continue running, I was devastated. Watching my teammates train while I sat on the sidelines felt like losing a piece of myself. However, setbacks often become turning points, and I turned to tennis, determined to remain an athlete in some way. Tennis challenged my body in different ways, but both demanded patience, strategy, and focus. Together, track and tennis strengthened my character and taught me the value of adapting with grace and determination. Those same values now guide my academic and professional journey. Today, I am a first-generation college and parent student pursuing a degree in Finance at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. My daughter is also enrolled at the same university, and we encourage one another as we work toward our degrees side by side. For me, education is not just about a degree; it is about rewriting my story and showing my daughter and others who may feel it’s too late, that new beginnings are always possible. Currently, I am building a business that empowers entrepreneurs, leaders, small businesses, and nonprofits with streamlined operations and financial systems. This venture is more than a business; it is designed to create opportunities for students, single parents, and community members who need flexible and sustainable income. Part of the mission is to serve as a funding engine for a nonprofit initiative that supports children navigating the foster care system, with an emphasis on providing mentorship and resources as they age out. By tying business growth directly to nonprofit sustainability, I hope to create lasting impact both locally and globally. This scholarship would ease the financial hardship my daughter and I face as we pursue our degrees together. Even with financial aid, we carry a significant out-of-pocket tuition cost, and this support would allow us to remain enrolled without interruption. It would also give me the stability to continue building my business and nonprofit while advancing my education. Ultimately, this scholarship is more than financial relief; it is an investment in a vision of service, resilience, and impact that I intend to carry forward into my community and beyond.

My involvement in my local church has shaped both my heart of service and the way I engage with my community. Through attending Breakthrough and Discipleship Training, I not only gained deeper insight into my God-given purpose and released mental challenges from past experiences, but I also learned how to uplift others with wisdom and compassion. The lessons I learned from my microchurch, Bible studies, trainings, and fellowships have given me the tools to serve in practical ways. Whether through the services I provide by encouraging individuals to overcome their obstacles, helping others grow in faith, creating spaces where people feel supported and seen, or building my business, transformation becomes the lasting impact of my service. I carry that calling into every part of my community involvement, business, and personal growth. My goals are deeply personal and rooted in faith, perseverance, and excellence. As a first-generation transfer student pursuing a B.S. in Finance at the Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte, I am committed to building both knowledge and legacy, and continue my studies through an MBA at Duke or UNC Chapel Hill. This personal achievement will serve as a platform for lasting impact. For me, education is not just about degrees, it’s about changing the story from struggle to success. This journey is not only for myself but also for my daughter, who is attending the university alongside me, and for others who may feel it’s too late to pursue their dreams. Currently, I am building a business that empowers entrepreneurs, leaders, small businesses, and nonprofits with seamless operations and financial systems so they can focus on their purpose, not their paperwork. This business was born out of my faith and the discouragement after optimizing my resume for today’s hiring systems and applying for countless job opportunities, that resulted only in rejections, no replies, or brief recruiter calls. Instead of giving up, I decided to pursue my academic dreams and birth my vision for a business. This venture is more than a business, it is designed to create opportunities for students, single parents, and community members who need flexible and sustainable income. Part of the mission of the business is to serve as a funding engine for a nonprofit initiative that supports children navigating the foster care system, with an emphasis on providing mentorship and resources as they age out. By tying business success directly to nonprofit sustainability, I am building a model where growth fuels greater impact. With partnerships in both North Carolina and Nigeria, my vision is to create pathways of mentorship and support for the next generation, locally and globally. At the heart of everything I do is the belief that when we are poured into, we must also pour into others. My journey matters because it is not just about my success, it’s about how many others I can lift with me along the way, and creating ripple effects of opportunity and hope. This scholarship would help cover the nearly $12,000 out-of-pocket tuition that my daughter and I owe after FAFSA awards. I am a full-time senior expecting to graduate in Fall 2026, and this support would allow us to remain enrolled without interruption. My daughter is a full-time sophomore pursuing her B.S. degree in Earth, Environmental Sciences with a career goal of renewable energy, and food sustainability. This scholarship will ease the financial burden of tuition and give me the stability to continue pursuing my degree, build my business, and provide an example for my daughter and others that even after major setbacks, new beginnings are possible.