I won the Prevention Champion Award from Prevention Works Vermont in spring 2023 for my work on creating a more positive and healthy environment in both the middle and high school students. I have spent a lot of time volunteering in many places, including my school and local food shelves, to help those less fortunate than me. I have gone to volunteer at the local food shelf to ensure those less fortunate in my community receive enough food to sustain themselves and their families for the week. I made a bunch of Christmas cards for students who did not have much of a family to go home to. I handwrote over 200 kind notes for struggling students to let them know that they are recognized, appreciated, and loved by their fellow students and teachers. I reminded them that their work and dedication do not go unnoticed and they should keep being their best selves. Throughout high school, I was the lead in working on creating awareness of the use of drugs and alcohol. I visited my local elementary school a couple times to educate the young students on the dangers of substance use. I took time out of my busy high school life to create an interactive presentation and worksheet that the kids loved and were very receptive to. This is why I won the Prevention Champion Award in 2023. My work here reminded students to keep their bodies at their best. I've also helped unload and organize medical supply shipments at my local dental clinic, which helps those with no insurance receive the dental care they need. The bright pearly whites of the people who are no longer scared to smile are fulfilling, as it allows them to be less self-conscious of themselves. More recently, I helped put together 2 murder mystery dinners that would help fund my church. I also put together small gifts to appreciate our pastor and many of the others who help keep our church going. An appreciation reminder of someone reminds them that their dedication and inspiration do not go unnoticed. I also currently work at my local thrift store, which helps fund the community. I ensure a clean and safe environment for the shoppers as they buy their newly loved clothing. Helping customers who cannot afford retail prices get what they need is always a way to push someone to be their best selves. Also, the money that the store makes goes back to those who need it. As you can see, I dedicate a lot of my time to helping those of all ages, whether they "deserve" it or not. I have learned that a simple act of kindness can push them to do their best. I prefer to work silently and keep myself anonymous whenever possible because I don't want others to feel like they have to do something for me. That's not why I help others. As I am becoming older, I still dedicate myself to continuing to help those in need wherever I can. I am putting together Valentine's baskets for the children at the church to show my appreciation to the younger generation. The young ones also need to feel recognized and supported to be the best. I love nothing more than to take time out of my busy college days and support anyone who needs it while still maintaining a 3.9 GPA. This scholarship will help support me further in college so I can keep spreading kindness and appreciation and push others to be their best selves further than I ever have before.

God has done nothing but wonderful things to a young woman in a small rural town in Vermont, also known as me. I have always had a belief in a higher power, but it wasn't until I was saved that I realized what power He has over guiding me and my life as I march toward an uncertain future. My mom grew up baptist but switched to Christianity when I was young. She took young and wide-eyed me to church with her every Sunday, where I learned about our Lord. We were unfortunately pulled away from church when the pastor and youth pastor moved to Colorado. I still never failed to pray every night. It wasn't until the passing of my grandmother a couple years later that I had my faith shaken. In December of 2020, my mom got the dreaded call that my grandmother had passed away suddenly. I was only 14, but I was very angry, sad, and upset, especially to the God who was supposed to protect good and in faith people like she was. I slowly drifted away from my Lord because I couldn't believe what he had done. I felt that he had ripped away a part of me I could never live without. Life after that for me went downhill. I became depressed and lonely, and I developed an eating problem. In 2022, my mom found a church where she got baptized for the first time in a long time and where God led her to become a pastor. Still reluctant to pray to a God that "let" bad things happen, I sat in the back by myself and refused to let the Lord in. My dad, sister, and brother all got saved not long after my mother and they have done nothing but prosper and praise God for everything he had done. It wasn't until May 5, 2023, that I was saved. God spoke to me, picked me up, and has helped guide me ever since. I have been healed and no longer struggle as much with the hard stuff because I give it all to him. He has provided me with the perseverance I needed to keep going. He pushed me to keep going through one of the hardest college semesters I have ever had. Next fall I will be starting at a new college with new people and new places. My faith has helped me find my potential and purpose. I've always known that I am resilient, but he gave me the energy I needed to power through the adversity I had been facing. I was healed of my eating disorder, I got out of unhealthy friendships and relationships, and I have held a 3.8-3.9 GPA through high school and college. He has helped me grow closer to the friends and family who care the most about me as well. As I continue to go through life, I pray to God to guide me in the right direction, as he has never failed to do. I am still so unsure about the life ahead of me, especially my career, but I know he will guide me to the right one in the right place. He will show me a job that I will prosper in. I also know He will also support me no matter what troubles I face with my career and the rest of my life.

God has done nothing but wonderful things to a young woman in a small rural town in Vermont, also known as me. I have always had a belief in a higher power, but it wasn't until I was saved that I realized what power He really has over guiding me and my life as I march toward an uncertain future. My mom grew up baptist but switched to Christianity when I was young. She took young and wide-eyed me to church with her every Sunday, where I learned about our Lord. We were unfortunately pulled away from church when the pastor and youth pastor moved to Colorado. I still never failed to pray every night. It wasn't until the passing of my grandmother a couple years later that I had my faith shaken. In December of 2020, my mom got the dreaded call that my grandmother had passed away suddenly. I was only 14, but I was very angry, sad, and upset, especially to the God who was supposed to protect good and in faith people like she was. I slowly drifted away from my Lord because I couldn't believe what he had "done."I felt that he had ripped away a part of me I could never live without. Life after that for me went downhill. I became depressed and lonely, and I developed an eating problem. In 2022, my mom was led to a church where she got baptized for the first time in a long time and where God led her to become a pastor. Still reluctant to pray to a God that "let" bad things happen, I sat in the back by myself and refused to let the Lord in. My dad, sister, and brother all got saved not long after my mother and they have done nothing but prosper and praise God for everything he had done. It wasn't until May 5, 2023, that I was saved. God spoke to me, picked me up, and has helped guide me ever since. I have been healed and no longer struggle as much with the hard stuff because I give it all to him. He has provided me with the perseverance I needed to keep going. He pushed me to keep going through one of the hardest college semesters I have ever had. Next fall I will be starting at a new college with new people and new places. My faith has helped me find my potential and purpose. I've always known that I am resilient, but he gave me the energy I needed to power through the adversity I had been facing. I was healed of my eating disorder, I got out of unhealthy friendships and relationships, and I have held a 3.8-3.9 GPA through high school and college. He has helped me grow closer to the friends and family who care the most about me as well. As I continue to go through life, I pray to God to guide me in the right direction, as he has never failed to do. I am still so unsure about the life ahead of me, especially my career, but I know he will guide me to the right one in the right place. He will show me a job that I will prosper in. He will also support me no matter what troubles I face with my career and the rest of my life.

I won the Prevention Champion Award from Prevention Works Vermont in spring 2023 for my work on creating a more positive and healthy environment in both the middle and high school students. I have spent a lot of time volunteering in many places, including my school and local food shelves, to help those less fortunate than me. I have gone to volunteer at the local food shelf to ensure those less fortunate in my community receive enough food to sustain themselves and their families for the week. I made a bunch of Christmas cards for students who did not have much of a family to go home to. I handwrote over 200 kind notes for struggling students to let them know that they are recognized, appreciated, and loved by their fellow students and teachers. I reminded them that their work and dedication do not go unnoticed and they should keep being their best selves. Throughout high school, I was the lead in working on creating awareness of the use of drugs and alcohol. I visited my local elementary school a couple times to educate the young students on the dangers of substance use. I took time out of my busy high school life to create an interactive presentation and worksheet that the kids loved and were very receptive to. This is why I won the Prevention Champion Award in 2023. My work here reminded students to keep their bodies at their best. I've also helped unload and organize medical supply shipments at my local dental clinic, which helps those with no insurance receive the dental care they need. The bright pearly whites of the people who are no longer scared to smile are fulfilling, as it allows them to be less self-conscious of themselves. More recently, I helped put together 2 murder mystery dinners that would help fund my church. I also put together small gifts to appreciate our pastor and many of the others who help keep our church going. An appreciation reminder of someone reminds them that their dedication does not go unnoticed. I also work at my local thrift store, which helps fund the community. I ensure a clean and safe environment for the shoppers as they buy their newly loved clothing. Helping customers who cannot afford retail prices get what they need is always a way to push someone to be their best selves. Also, the money that the store makes goes back to those who need it. As you can see, I dedicate a lot of my time to helping those of all ages, whether they "deserve" it or not. I have learned that a simple act of kindness can push them to do their best. I prefer to work silently and keep myself anonymous whenever possible because I don't want others to feel like they have to do something for me. That's not why I help others. As I am becoming older, I still dedicate myself to continuing to help those in need wherever I can. I am putting together Valentine's baskets for the children at the church to show my appreciation to the younger generation. The young ones also need to feel recognized and supported to be the best. I love nothing more than to take time out of my busy college days and support anyone who needs it while still maintaining a 3.9 GPA. This scholarship will help support me further in college so I can keep spreading kindness and appreciation and push others to be their best selves further than I ever have before.

I won the Prevention Champion Award from Prevention Works Vermont in spring 2023 for my work on creating a more positive and healthy environment in both the middle and high school students. I have spent a lot of time volunteering in many places to help those less fortunate than me. I have gone to volunteer at the local food shelf to ensure those less fortunate in my community receive enough food to sustain themselves and their families for the week. I made a bunch of Christmas cards for students who did not have much of a family to go home to. I handwrote over 200 kind notes for struggling students to let them know that they are recognized, appreciated, and loved by their fellow students and teachers. Throughout high school, I was the lead in working on creating awareness of the use of drugs and alcohol. I visited my local elementary school a couple times to educate the young students on the dangers of substance use. I took time out of my busy high school life to create an interactive presentation and worksheet that the kids loved and were very receptive to. This is why I won the Prevention Champion Award in 2023. I helped unload and organize medical supply shipments, and my local dental clinic helps those with no insurance receive the dental care they need. I put together lunches for the elderly with the local Lions Club. More recently, I helped put together 2 murder mystery dinners that would help fund my church. I also put together small gifts to appreciate our pastor and many of the others who help keep our church going. I also work at my local thrift store, which helps fund the community. My work there helps keep products moving from the donation center to the sales floor into the next customer's arms. I ensure a clean and safe environment for the shoppers as they buy their newly loved clothing. As you can see, I dedicate a lot of my time to helping those of all ages, whether they "deserve" it or not. I have learned that a simple act of kindness can make a person's day, but being the one to do those kind acts lights up my world. I prefer to work silently and keep myself anonymous whenever possible because I don't want others to feel like they have to do something for me. That's not why I do acts of kindness. As I am becoming older, I still dedicate myself to continuing to spread kindness wherever I can. I am going to put together Valentine's baskets for the children at the church to show my appreciation to the younger generation. This scholarship will help support me in college so I can keep spreading kindness and appreciation further than I ever have before.

My passion to become a vet started when I adopted my parrot Danny Boy. He needed to be rehomed because the owners had allergies to him. He stole my heart. Not really knowing anything about taking care of a bird I started with doing as much research as I could. I found some videos of bird owners and used any resources that I could. Recently Danny Boy had gotten sick. I live in Vermont and there are very few vets that can work with birds. It was hard to find someone who could help my bird in an emergency situation. I had to drive almost two hours to a clinic where there happened to be a avian doctor available. I was able to talk to the doctor about my future career and assist with the exam with Danny Boy. It just affirmed the fact that I wanted to work like this doctor. It is far too often that bird owners are left with nowhere to turn for medical help. It is far too often that it is too late when the bird is sick and owners can't help their feathery friends. I want to be a part of taking care of all kinds of birds. I want to train them. I want to heal them. I envision a clinic with many aviaries and a place for birds to play. I dream of a clinic where people can come and visit all kids of species of birds. I can hold classes to help educate people before they consider adopting a bird. I can teach people to learn about what type of bird may be best for them. Birds are my passion and my future. I do not have any training with any other animals other then the cats and dogs that I grew up with. I did not grow up on a farm or have a chance to work with any other animals. I do hope that in the future I will be able to work my local veterinary office and learn about another side of taking care of animals. Until then I do all that I can for Danny Boy. He has two cages and multiple levels to the one that he gets to play on around all the family. Though he is not the most loving to everyone in the house, he is still the one that rules my heart.

My passion to become a vet started when I adopted my parrot Danny Boy. He needed to be rehomed because the owners had allergies to him. He stole my heart. Not really knowing anything about taking care of a bird I started with doing as much research as I could. I found some videos of bird owners and used any resources that I could. Recently Danny Boy had gotten sick. I live in Vermont and there are very few vets that can work with birds. It was hard to find someone who could help my bird in an emergency situation. I had to drive almost two hours to a clinic where there happened to be a avian doctor available. I was able to talk to the doctor about my future career and assist with the exam with Danny Boy. It just affirmed the fact that I wanted to work like this doctor. It is far too often that bird owners are left with nowhere to turn for medical help. It is far too often that it is too late when the bird is sick and owners can't help their feathery friends. I want to be a part of taking care of all kinds of birds. I want to train them. I want to heal them. I envision a clinic with many aviaries and a place for birds to play. I dream of a clinic where people can come and visit all kids of species of birds. I can hold classes to help educate people before they consider adopting a bird. I can teach people to learn about what type of bird may be best for them. Birds are my passion and my future. I do not have any training with any other animals other then the cats and dogs that I grew up with. I did not grow up on a farm or have a chance to work with any other animals. I do hope that in the future I will be able to work my local veterinary office and learn about another side of taking care of animals. Until then I do all that I can for Danny Boy. He has two cages and multiple levels to the one that he gets to play on around all the family. Though he is not the most loving to everyone in the house, he is still the one that rules my heart.