Many STEM fields rely on calculus as a foundational building block. It provides a mathematical structure for understanding and analyzing complex relationships and dynamic systems across various scientific areas of study. For example, in physics, calculus helps analyze energy, force and motion. In biology, it helps to project population growth, model enzyme kinetics and decipher blood flow in an organism. In engineering, it helps to develop circuits, design bridges and investigate fluid dynamics. As a student of computer science and software engineering, I am going to focus on the importance and benefits of calculus to these specific fields. Calculus serves as a cornerstone of computer science, providing the mathematical basis for analyzing, optimizing, modeling and understanding complex systems and algorithms. Many of its concepts, particularly derivatives and integrals, are essential for solving problems involving change, optimization, and continuous processes. Calculus equips computer scientists with tools to innovate and tackle real-world challenges. For example, it enables the minimization or maximization of functions, which is vital for improving the efficiency of algorithms, for example, gradient descent, a cornerstone of machine learning. This technique engages derivatives to adjust model parameters, minimizing a loss function to improve predictions in neural networks, regression models, or recommendation systems. Computer scientists fine-tune algorithms by calculating gradients to optimize their performance. In machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), neural networks rely on backpropagation, which enables models to learn patterns from vast datasets, powering applications like image recognition, natural language processing, and autonomous systems. Calculus-based methods also allow AI systems to make accurate predictions and handle uncertainty, driving advancements in fields like healthcare and finance. Beyond this, computer graphics rely on calculus to create realistic visual representations. Derivatives calculate tangents and normals for rendering smooth curves and surfaces in 3D modeling for enhanced images. This process is used in both video game design and animated film production. Integrals are also used to compute lighting effects, such as shadows and reflections, by calculating areas and volumes of virtual objects. These techniques enable the creation of immersive virtual environments and realistic simulations. Calculus helps data science by providing techniques for analyzing and interpreting vast volumes of complex data. Integrals are used to compute probabilities for statistical modeling and hypothesis testing. Regression and clustering optimization techniques rely on calculus to improve model accuracy. These help data scientists to extract meaningful insights from complex datasets, driving decision-making in business and science. Robotics is another computer science field that relies on calculus by modeling dynamic systems through differential equations. These equations translate motion, stability and signal processing, allowing robots to navigate environments, maintain balance and enhance operational efficiency. Calculus delivers precise control and responsiveness in applications like autonomous vehicles and automated industrial robotics. While calculus is essential to many science-based fields like physics, engineering and biology, it is particularly important to innovation across computer science, serving as the language of precision and dynamics in STEM. It serves as a critical tool in computer science, enabling advancements in algorithm enhancement, artificial intelligence development, graphic design, data science and robotic operations. Its ability to model change, optimize systems, and solve complex problems makes it invaluable for problem-solving and advancements in these fields. Calculus empowers computer scientists and software engineers to push the boundaries of technology and address real-world challenges through advancing innovations that otherwise would not be possible without its mathematical foundation.

Mental health is vital as a building block for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being, including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen firsthand how these impact my friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. I cope with ADHD and anxiety, so I understand the burden mental illness places on many kids and families. Fortunately, my parents are incredibly supportive of my mental health, providing therapy, medications and opportunities to cope through theater, music and sports. I also understand the financial stress sports place on families, so I deeply appreciate my family's sacrifices to provide these mental health outlets. I understand how family financial challenges can create mental health issues. My soccer teammate, Sara, was struggling socially and emotionally with our teammates. She didn’t have the right equipment; her shin guards were old, her ball was one size too small for our age level, and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in some of the other players making comments and even shunning her in practices in games. Seeing this, I started partnering with her for drills. Although shy, she was funny, kind, and engaging. I had some gear that I had outgrown, so I discreetly gave her a pair of cleats, shin guards and a size five official ball. Sara was beyond excited. Her confidence grew and her playing improved so much that she became a starter. The impact was particularly clear when Sara’s mom thanked me for helping Sara enjoy soccer again. I could tell Sara’s challenges were also wearing on her mom’s mental health. I realized the viral role sports play for so many kids, which I unintentionally took for granted. I knew unneeded sports gear must be scattered in garages and sheds across my community and that I could build a bridge between this equipment and local kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Since 2018, I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Over eight years, Play It Forward has collected over 11,300 items, equipping over 1,800 kids across 10 communities. The Play It Forward model has been adopted by a variety of sports organizations in the area. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the best validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids and their families, but it’s also transformed my life and mental health, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, an Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions at the intersection of innovation and empathy to elevate mental health and enhance the lives of people in need.

Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being, including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen firsthand how these impact myself and others, particularly kids. While technology often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it can also connect and unite communities in unique ways to help those in need. The fundamental connectivity of this technology inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my own mental well-being. I have seen how family financial challenges can create further mental health issues for kids. One example of this was with my soccer teammate, Sara, who was in a time of need at a critical social and emotional point in her young life. At 12 years old, she was struggling mentally and socially with our teammates. She didn’t have the right gear; her shin guards were too small and didn’t protect her well, her ball was old and one size too small for our age level, and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in some of the other players making comments and even shunning her in practices and games. Seeing this, I started partnering with her for drills. Although shy, she was funny, kind, and engaging. We had outgrown and unneeded equipment in my garage, so I found out her shoe size and discreetly gave her a pair of cleats, shinguards and a size five ball. Sara was excited, and you could see her confidence grow and her playing improve over the coming weeks, so much so that she eventually became a starter. The impact of this became clear when Sara’s mom thanked me for helping her enjoy soccer again. I could tell Sara’s challenges were also wearing on her mom’s mental health. I started to realize the vital role sports play for many kids, and also their families. Playing sports was something I took for granted, but it is a luxury for too many kids. I realized how unneeded sports gear must be scattered in garages and sheds across my community and how I could build a bridge between this equipment and local kids to keep them playing sports. It’s no secret that, beyond boosting mental health, playing sports can be crucial in helping kids improve their physical fitness, social skills and emotional wellness, allowing them to grow into responsible adults. Unfortunately, our communities are facing a sports accessibility crisis for too many kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Since 2018, I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me, which we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology. Using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids, Play It Forward connects and motivates people to donate their unneeded sports gear to young athletes to elevate their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. Over nearly eight years, Play It Forward has collected over 11,200 items, equipping over 1,800 kids across 10 communities. The Play It Forward model has also helped a variety of sports organizations in the area build their own similar programs. These programs provide young athletes with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles, like Sara, when they receive their own sports gear and realize they can keep playing sports. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids and their families, but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. It’s also motivating me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental health of others, particularly kids, via sports, elevates my own mental well-being by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar. I am also a student experimenter with Villanova’s Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship’s Idea Lab. I am using my classroom, laboratory and workplace experience to focus on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions at the intersection of innovation and empathy. I look to use these to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need, much like Play It Forward continues to do for so many kids and their families. So, while technology advancements will be able to scale these types of solutions, connecting communities to help kids play sports, the foundation is already in place with Play It Forward, proving the concept that aligning technology with empathy becomes an unstoppable force.

Integrity, commitment and empathy are three of the most important pillars of the Christian faith. They are also values that guide strong leaders. With both faith and leadership, these traits can be fundamental in elevating our neighborhoods and communities to help those in need. These characteristics serve as a foundation of every aspect of my life as both a leader and a Christian. As a devout Christian, the honesty and morality of faith serve as the roots of integrity that help leaders commit themselves to doing what is right. This includes helping others, whether a friend or a stranger. Commitment is built on dedication to one’s neighborhood and community and helping to provide support that strengthens and elevates those within these groups. Empathy is perhaps the most important trait a strong leader can have. The ability to understand the point of view of others and sympathize with their feelings allows individuals to embrace compassion and make decisions that focus on the needs of those individuals. My faith has set a foundation for my leadership, particularly in leading to help those in need across my community. One significant challenge facing my community that I have taken head-on is decreasing youth sports participation. Sports can be a valuable experience for kids, teaching life lessons while delivering physical health and mental well-being en route to becoming a contributing member of society. Unfortunately, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008, with about 75 percent of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. In addition, the Rand Study says families earning below $50,000 say that cost is the top reason their kids stop playing. To counter this negative trend, I started ‘Play It Forward’ in 2018, collecting donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment. Over the past seven years, ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 10,600 equipment items, equipping over 1,600 kids across 10 communities. My faith and desire to elevate my community have motivated me to rally hundreds of people to help those in need. These efforts have been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year honor, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. Yet, seeing the kids’ smiles when they receive their gear is the greatest validation and reward I could receive. Play It Forward has strengthened my integrity, deepened my commitment, and cultivated my empathy. It’s also fortified my strength seeing hundreds of my neighbors and classmates answer the call to help area kids by donating thousands of sports equipment items, something I believe God takes great joy in. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s accelerated 5-year computer science BS-MS program, I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to continue making meaningful impacts that solve societal challenges through faith-driven leadership. My abilities as a computer science student have been honored with national STEM awards, including the Amie Dansby Women in Technology Award, and as a McCann National STEM Scholar, Endeavor Tech Scholar and VIP Women in Technology Scholar. Each of these experiences continues to elevate my integrity, commitment and empathy as I work to enhance my leadership skills and strengthen my faith in and connection with God. The Build and Bless Leadership Scholarship would be a tremendous resource in helping me to accomplish the goal of becoming a faith-driven leader focused on elevating my community by addressing pressing issues and helping others in need by blending technology with empathy.

Mental health is vital as a building block for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being, including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen firsthand how these impact my friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. I cope with ADHD and anxiety, so I understand the burden mental illness places on many kids and families. Fortunately, my parents are incredibly supportive of my mental health, providing therapy, medications and opportunities to cope through theater, music and sports. I also understand the financial stress sports place on families, so I deeply appreciate my family's sacrifices to provide these mental health outlets. I understand how family financial challenges can create mental health issues. My soccer teammate, Sara, was struggling socially and emotionally with our teammates. She didn’t have the right equipment; her shin guards were old, her ball was one size too small for our age level, and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in some of the other players making comments and even shunning her in practices in games. Seeing this, I started partnering with her for drills. Although shy, she was funny, kind, and engaging. I had some gear that I had outgrown, so I discreetly gave her a pair of cleats, shin guards and a size five official ball. Sara was beyond excited. Her confidence grew and her playing improved so much that she became a starter. The impact was particularly clear when Sara’s mom thanked me for helping Sara enjoy soccer again. I could tell Sara’s challenges were also wearing on her mom’s mental health. I realized the viral role sports play for so many kids, which I unintentionally took for granted. I knew unneeded sports gear must be scattered in garages and sheds across my community and that I could build a bridge between this equipment and local kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Since 2018, I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Over eight years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,800 items, equipping over 1,600 kids across 10 communities. The Play It Forward model has been adopted by a variety of sports organizations in the area. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the best validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids and their families, but it’s also transformed my life and mental health, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, an Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions at the intersection of innovation and empathy to elevate mental health and enhance the lives of people in need.

Mental health is vital as a building block for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being, including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen firsthand how these impact my friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. I cope with ADHD and anxiety, so I understand the burden mental illness places on many kids and families. Fortunately, my parents are incredibly supportive of my mental health, providing therapy, medications and opportunities to cope through theater, music and sports. I also understand the financial stress sports place on families, so I deeply appreciate my family's sacrifices to provide these mental health outlets. I understand how family financial challenges can create mental health issues. My soccer teammate, Sara, was struggling socially and emotionally with our teammates. She didn’t have the right equipment; her shin guards were old, her ball was one size too small for our age level, and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in some of the other players making comments and even shunning her in practices in games. Seeing this, I started partnering with her for drills. Although shy, she was funny, kind, and engaging. I had some gear that I had outgrown, so I discreetly gave her a pair of cleats, shin guards and a size five official ball. Sara was beyond excited. Her confidence grew and her playing improved so much that she became a starter. The impact was particularly clear when Sara’s mom thanked me for helping Sara enjoy soccer again. I could tell Sara’s challenges were also wearing on her mom’s mental health. I realized the vital role sports play for so many kids, which I unintentionally took for granted. I knew unneeded sports gear must be scattered in garages and sheds across my community and that I could build a bridge between this equipment and local kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Since 2018, I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Over eight years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,800 items, equipping over 1,600 kids across 10 communities. The Play It Forward model has been adopted by a variety of sports organizations in the area. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the best validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids and their families, but it’s also transformed my life and mental health, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, an Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions at the intersection of innovation and empathy to elevate mental health and enhance the lives of people in need.

For me, education is not just about the knowledge I receive in school but rather the learnings and lessons I receive from people - neighbors, coaches, classmates, and teammates. Given its diverse residents, my community is one of my best classrooms for this. I have learned that today’s world tends to create chaos for people of all ages and backgrounds, so I try to bring peace of mind to people near and far through various service and support initiatives I run to contribute to building a better world. In our current collegiate education system, while I certainly see value in classroom time, I find that open discussions in a Socratic seminar format are much more engaging and valuable for learning than the traditional lecture approach. Straight lectures where the teacher is reciting information and stating facts often lack an interactive dimension, removing the insight and experiences of the students from the learning process. Conversely, Socratic seminars allow students to engage, discuss, debate and challenge different ideas and opinions, providing more information and perspectives which often deliver increased insight on topics. As a computer science major, many of my classes are designed around hands-on learning, teaching concepts and providing education through experience. These types of hands-on classes should be adopted across subjects to make the topics more interesting and engaging to increase student participation and experience. Aside from this, there are a tremendous number of lessons that can be learned outside the classroom through an array of experiences with the surrounding community. Fortunately, my college strongly encourages students to engage in these types of service initiatives to provide another unique dimension of hands-on education. I personally have had this type of experience running two nationally renowned service initiatives. A few years ago, I had a teammate on my club soccer team who was in 8th grade with me, but I didn’t know too well. She practiced in sneakers and didn’t have cleats or shin guards, which resulted in some unkind reactions from some teammates. This seemingly caused her to play tentatively. I learned that she had just started playing soccer, and her mom couldn’t get her own equipment. I went home, grabbed a pair of cleats and shinguards I had outgrown and gave them to her at the next practice. Her attitude and confidence quickly improved, and so did her play, so much so that she became one of our best defenders. After some digging, I learned that only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play organized team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. At the same time, the average American family spends approximately $700 per year on their child's sports activities, according to Project Play. Further research shows that approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop out of youth sports activities annually. Simply put, costs are sidelining too many kids from experiencing the benefits of sports. My family had a garage filled with outgrown sports gear from my sister and me, that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) was born in 2018. The initiative collects donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to provide free to kids. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It leverages social platforms and communication tools to educate and engage supporters and inventory management systems to track and distribute donated equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects, engages, and motivates residents to participate in and promote the program. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,600 items, equipping over 1,600 kids from ten communities. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, U.S. Congressional commendation, and Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own gear. The experience of Play It Forward over the last eight years has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and empathy while helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I am a better friend, sister, daughter, and person for it. As a third-year Villanova University computer science major with a 3.93 GPA, I am studying topics like ‘Algorithms & Data Structures,’ ‘Discrete Structures,’ ‘Calculus,’ ‘Computing Seminar,’ and ‘Ancient Studies’ while also learning ancient Greek. I enjoy studying the old and the new, from historical cultures and languages to cutting-edge innovation and technology. I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, a Study.com Women in Computer Science National Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am now focusing on advancing my technology education to deliver other advanced solutions to problems facing our communities. The goal of this is to improve the mental health and quality of life for residents so that they are motivated to help improve their own community.

My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the United States Air Force out of high school. There, he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays worldwide, from US military bases across Europe to the Pentagon, protecting American military bases and our nation. He then used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in mainframe and computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell Soup, and DuPont. The conversations I had over the years with him ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum at my high school. I am now focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to continue to address challenging issues within cybersecurity. Given my skills and interests in technology, problem-solving, and helping people, my commitment to productivity and accountability, and being thorough, well-prepared, and well-organized, cybersecurity will undoubtedly be my ideal career path. Unfortunately, as a female it can be easy to be stereotyped and difficult to be accepted in some technology realms. I work harder to prove myself, raise my hand more, conduct extra experiments to gain wider acceptance. This has become easier over time as my confidence increases, but I empathize what female technologiest often go through, and will remember this as I become a Teaching Assistant. As a junior in Villanova's accelerated 5-year BS-MS Computer Science & Software Engineering Program, I have taken a spectrum of classes focused on fundamental topics including database architecture, software engineering, application development, data algorithms with cynersecurity focuses on areas like social engineering, network security and encryption. I have also had the opportunity to attend cybersecurity discussions and symposiums outside of the classroom, providing exposure and perspectives on intriguing topics. For example, Villanova's Women in Technology Conference features female technology experts from the public and private realm from Deloitte, NASA, McKinsey, Bank of America and SAP, sharing perspectives on different dimensions of cybersecurity. I have also had the opportunity to take graduate courses as a junior which has increased the depth of learning in topics across programming, computability theory and agentic AI. I look forward to more of these rigorous classes. I am also a member of Villanova's Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation which explores different aspects of technology applications across different fields and disciplines. As I advance into my snior year I will have the opportunity to study cybersecurity aspects in more specific depth to gain a wider and deeper understanding of the opportunities, advancements and challenges facing cybersecurity. Beyond this, my internship with Turn 14 last summer immersed me in the Web Development and Information Technology teams, gaining exposure on mitigating threats against online applications and distribution and logistic systems for the company nationwide. This summer, I am interning with Aegis Software, which provides manufacturing execution system software that tracks, monitors, and manages the production process from raw materials to finished goods. These digital factory foundations require enhaced cybersecurity that will expose me to security dimensions related to operations, data manufacturing and inventroy management. This will provide invaluable exposure to additonal security around networks, applications, cloud computing, endpoints and mobile systems. I look to write an assessment on this for my advisor when I complete the internship. So overall, despite the challenges, my workplace, classroom and laboratory experience has given me diverse exposure to an array of cybcersecurity skills and applications to build my career on.

Mental health is a major issue facing us all. While it is vital because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life, it's particulary critical for kids. Unfortunately, there are increasing challenges to our mental well-being including stress, isolation, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen first-hand how these impact myself and others across my community. While technology, specifically social media, receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on the mental health of kids, it also can connect and unite communities to help those in need. The fundamental connectivity of this technology inspires me and serves as a foundation for my ongoing efforts to elevate kids' mental and physical health across my community. Uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my mental well-being. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing free sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through the Facebook app. Over nearly eight years Play It Forward has collected over 10,700 items, equipping over 1,600 kids across 10 communities. As it expands at an impressive rate, the program provides young athletes with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, happier lives and improved mental health. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. It has not only impacted hundreds of kids but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness and motivates me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a third-year Villanova University Dean’s List BS-MS computer science student with a 3.93 GPA, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people.

“Sit still and listen.” These words echoed in my ears throughout my early school years. You see, I struggled to focus in my earlier classes. My creative mind and active imagination made managing my thoughts and directing my attention difficult. Some teachers quickly labeled me as a disruptive kid, but I was trying hard to focus and pay attention. This led to underestimating my abilities, ignoring my exceptional testing results by placing me in mid-track courses and regularly scolding me for failing to always conform to the classroo structure. I was soon diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety, which didn’t necessarily help me with interacting with some of my teachers. Still, it helped my parents coach me to channel my energy and creativity in the classroom. Over the years, I have worked intently on proving myself in all subjects to overcome this stigma and achieve in the classroom. Today, as a high school senior, I hold a 4.0 on a 4.0 scale, taking 20 advanced placement and honors courses over my high school career. I say this not for praise but to illustrate that kids who learn differently have the capabilities to excel. Beyond this, my energy and creativity have served me incredibly well as a martial artist. I began studying karate during the early part of COVID isolation to provide me with physical and mental exercise. I quickly advanced, earning my black belt in under three years. My creativity, energy, and strength earned me eight regional tournament gold medals. I also became a lead instructor, mentoring young kids with similar ADHD challenges to mine. I also used these skills to start a Self Defense Club at my high school to train students in every grade to build their confidence and protect themselves. Today, I compete with Villanova’s Taekwondo Club Team in the Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference. Although it’s a new martial arts style, my expertise in karate, energy, and determination are serving me well in starting to master this new martial art. Although it was considered a weakness early on, today, my imagination and energy are now seen as an asset, helping to build my students' and teammates' confidence and commitment. The lesson I share with others as an instructor is that people have different ways of learning, so tailoring the teaching method can be critical. Some students are visual learners and need to see demonstrations of the lessons. Others are auditory learners and need to hear the task spoken. And some students need to listen to stories or metaphors to understand the lesson we are reviewing. The bottom line is that learning is not a “one size fits all.” And although some of my early teachers didn’t practice this, my experience has made me a better instructor for my students. Reflecting on my learning challenges, I am focusing on expanding my technology insight as a third-year computer science student in Villanova University’s revered 5-year accelerated BS-MS Computer Science Program. I hold a 4.93 GPA, ranking at thetop of my class, which would likely suprise many of my former teachers who questioned my future success back then. Conducting research with Villanova's Insititure for Innovation & Entrepreneurship in emerging technologies like #D printing, laser cuting and machine learning, I am focused on developing solutions that address the challenges facing communities. Technological innovation has tremendous potential to inform, educate, and uplift people in unique ways that help them learn and understanding rather simply having to “sit still and listen.”

Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being, including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen firsthand how these impact myself and others, including friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. I cope with ADHD and anxiety, so I understand the type of burden mental illness places on so many kids and families. While technology often receives criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it can also unite communities to help those in need. The fundamental connectivity of this technology inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health. Uniting my community to help kids improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my own mental well-being. I have seen how family financial challenges can create mental health issues for kids. One example of this was with my soccer teammate, Sara, who was in a time of need at a critical social and emotional point in her young life. At 12 years old, she was struggling mentally and socially with our teammates. She didn’t have the right soccer equipment; her shin guards were too small, her ball was one size too small, and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in teammates making comments and even shunning her. Seeing this, I started partnering with her for drills. Although shy, she was funny, kind, and engaging. We had outgrown and unneeded equipment in my garage, so I found out her shoe size and discreetly gave her a pair of cleats, shinguards and a size five ball. Sara was very excited, and you could see her confidence grow and her playing improve, so much so that she eventually became a starter. The impact of this was clear when Sara’s mom came up to me after a game to thank me for helping Sara enjoy soccer again. I could tell Sara’s challenges were also wearing on her mom’s mental health. It’s no secret that, beyond boosting mental health, playing sports can be crucial in helping kids improve physical fitness, social skills and emotional wellness, allowing them to grow into responsible adults. Unfortunately, communities are facing a sports accessibility crisis for many kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Since 2018, I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Over nearly seven years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,300 items, equipping over 1,500 kids across 10 communities. The Play It Forward model has also helped a variety of sports organizations in the area build their own similar programs. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles, like Sara, when they receive their own sports gear and realize they can keep playing sports. Impacting the mental health of others, particularly kids, via sports, elevates my own mental well-being by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions at the intersection of innovation and empathy to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need, much like Play It Forward continues to do for so many kids and their families.

Mental health is vital as a building block for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being, including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen firsthand how these impact my friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. I cope with ADHD and anxiety, so I understand the burden mental illness places on many kids and families. Fortunately, my parents are incredibly supportive of my mental health, providing therapy, medications and opportunities to cope through theater, music and sports. I also understand the financial stress sports place on families, so I deeply appreciate my family's sacrifices to provide these mental health outlets. I understand how family financial challenges can create mental health issues. My soccer teammate, Sara, was struggling socially and emotionally with our teammates. She didn’t have the right equipment; her shin guards were old, her ball was one size too small for our age level, and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in some of the other players making comments and even shunning her in practices in games. Seeing this, I started partnering with her for drills. Although shy, she was funny, kind, and engaging. I had some gear that I had outgrown, so I discreetly gave her a pair of cleats, shin guards and a size five official ball. Sara was beyond excited. Her confidence grew and her playing improved so much that she became a starter. The impact was particularly clear when Sara’s mom thanked me for helping Sara enjoy soccer again. I could tell Sara’s challenges were also wearing on her mom’s mental health. I realized the viral role sports play for so many kids, which I unintentionally took for granted. I knew unneeded sports gear must be scattered in garages and sheds across my community and that I could build a bridge between this equipment and local kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Since 2018, I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Over seven years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,800 items, equipping over 1,500 kids across 10 communities. The Play It Forward model has been adopted by a variety of sports organizations in the area. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the best validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids and their families, but it’s also transformed my life and mental health, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, an Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions at the intersection of innovation and empathy to elevate mental health and enhance and the lives of people in need.

Cancer has impacted my life in a way I’ll never truly understand. While my Dad was a senior at Penn State, nine years before I was born, his Mom was taken by ovarian cancer. She was only 48 years old. My Dad regularly speaks about his fond memories of his Mom, Andrea, playing the violin, volunteering for her community and making people laugh, all traits that are essential to who I am. Aside from family members regularly saying how they see her in me, my middle name, Andreanna, is even a tribute to her. She was also a big Penn State fan, since my parents met there in the Blue Band. I have missed out greatly on having my grandmother here to see me sing on stage, perform in martial arts tournaments, attend college and impact others, just as she did, and just to experience life with her. She is clearly a core element of who I am. She continually gave to people across her community, as a Boy Scout leader, PTA volunteer, youth coach and rescuer of greyhounds. That spirit drives me to help others across my community. I have tried to reflect her spirit by doing the same. Over the past seven years, I have committed to increasing youth sports participation, helping kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had garage shelves filled with outgrown gear. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with these sidelined kids who needed it. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,800 equipment items, equipping over 1,300 kids across 10 communities. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment is the most significant validation. My dad says my commitment comes from my grandmother, who built a program to rescue retired greyhounds. If not for her, these dogs would have been executed. “She completely invested herself in the cause, just like you,” my Dad says. As a third-year Dean's List student in Villanova University's accelerated 5-year BS/MS Computer Science Program, I hold a 3.93 GPA. I have been honored as the VIP Women in Technology Scholar and the Endeavour Women in Tech Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology talents to deliver meaningful solutions to challenges facing our community. My Dad tells me that my unbridled spirit and drive to help others come from my Grandmother, who ran the PTA, was always the ‘homeroom mom,’ served as his scout leader, marching band booster and rescued all those greyhounds. He says she would have loved watching and supporting me help so many kids. While it pains me that cancer took the opportunity for me to know her and develop our connection, I am blessed that she is essential to who I am.

As a lifelong athlete who’s competed in soccer, softball, basketball, and martial arts, I understand and have benefited firsthand from the empowerment that sports offer. Competing teaches lifelong skills such as discipline, commitment, teamwork, and confidence. It also cultivates vital traits including selflessness and empathy. Simply said, playing sports can be crucial to helping kids have a healthy childhood to grow into responsible adults. Tragically, too many kids today are facing tremendous adversity when sidelined by the increasing cost of youth sports, particularly from the exorbitant cost of equipment that kids outgrow regularly. This is contributing to only 38% of kids ages 6-12 playing organized sports today, down from 45% in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research shows that upwards of 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. This sports participation crisis is hitting many communities, which I witnessed firsthand with some teammates. They had to use outgrown or unsafe gear to play, so some players simply had to quit because their families could not afford the increased equipment expenses. This created a lot of anguish for me as an athlete. This was different from sustaining an injury or not making a team. While I had experienced these types of setbacks, they didn't impact me like seeing teammates sidelined because they didn’t have the right gear. Much like Priscilla Shireen Luke, I have focused on delivering hope across my community, particularly among kids and teens. Initially, I helped some teammates by giving them my unneeded gear. I knew there had to be outgrown equipment scattered in garages, sheds and basements across my community. So, started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) to address this issue in 2018. Some classmates and neighbors said the initiative to collect donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey was too cumbersome to succeed. Yet, thanks to my amazing community, the program has united hundreds of neighbors to equip over 1,000 young athletes with free gear to play the sports they love. Over seven years, hundreds of neighbors have donated over 10,800 equipment items, equipping over 1,300 kids across 10 communities, providing them a level playing field to access sports. This has elevated the confidence and given hope of so many kids who get to play sports and receive the immeasurable physical, mental, social and emotional benefits they provide. It’s also helped these kids overcome adversity to excel and thrive on and off the field. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated so many skills that my sports experience instilled within me, including leadership, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better person. I use these to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who oversees Play It Forward while I am in college. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s accelerated 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am now focusing on advancing my technical skills to make a positive impact on communities driven by entrepreneurship through a combination of innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and artificial intelligence will allow me to develop unique solutions to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond. I am looking to further innovate and integrate technology and empathy to achieve this.

To me, legacy means building a sustainable impact. As a lifelong athlete who’s competed in soccer, softball, basketball and martial arts, I understand and have benefited first-hand from the empowerment of sports. Much of this came through the support of my parents who continuously encourage and inspire me through their selfless empathy. Competing teaches life skills like discipline, commitment, teamwork and confidence. It cultivates vital traits including selflessness, generosity and empathy. The bottom line is that playing sports can be crucial to helping kids have a healthy childhood to grow into responsible adults. Tragically, too many kids face adversity when sidelined by the increasing cost of youth sports, particularly from the growing cost of equipment that's regularly outgrow. This contributes to only 38% of kids ages 6-12 playing organized sports today, down from 45% in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research shows that upwards of 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. There is a sports participation crisis in many communities, which I witnessed firsthand with some teammates. They had to use outgrown or unsafe gear to play. And some players simply had to quit because their families could not afford the increased equipment expenses. This created a lot of anguish and conflict for me as an athlete. This was different from sustaining an injury or not making a team. These were aspects I have experienced, but nothing impacted me like seeing teammates sidelined simply because they didn’t have the right gear. Initially, I was able to help some teammates by giving them my unneeded gear, and I knew there had to be outgrown equipment scattered in garages, sheds and basements across my community. I was determined to do more, so I organized this effort, starting Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), to address this issue in 2018. The backbone of Play It Forward is technology innovation. It combines social media platforms, inventory management systems, syndication applications and communication channels to educate the community, generate equipment donations and track and distribute gear to kids in need across the region. Over seven years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors to donate over 10,800 equipment pieces, equipping over 1,300 kids across 10 communities, providing them a level playing field to access sports. This has elevated the confidence and enhanced the outlook of so many kids who get to play organized sports and receive the immeasurable physical, mental, social and emotional benefits to excel and thrive on and off the field. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated so many skills that my sports experience instilled within me, including leadership, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better neighbor. Aside from Play It Forward continuing to help kids play for years to come, I hope my legacy includes encouraging others to spread kindness to others. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s accelerated 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am now focusing on advancing my technical skills to make a positive impact on communities driven by entrepreneurship through a combination of innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and artificial intelligence will allow me to develop unique solutions to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond to expand the impact of my legacy on others.

Mental health is vital as a building block for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being, including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen firsthand how these impact my friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. I cope with ADHD and anxiety, so I understand the burden mental illness places on many kids and families. Fortunately, my parents are incredibly supportive of my mental health, providing therapy, medications and opportunities to cope through theater, music and sports. I also understand the financial stress sports place on families, so I deeply appreciate my family's sacrifices to provide these mental health outlets. I understand how family financial challenges can create mental health issues. My soccer teammate, Sara, was struggling socially and emotionally with our teammates. She didn’t have the right equipment; her shin guards were old, her ball was one size too small for our age level, and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in some of the other players making comments and even shunning her in practices in games. Seeing this, I started partnering with her for drills. Although shy, she was funny, kind, and engaging. I had some gear that I had outgrown, so I discreetly gave her a pair of cleats, shin guards and a size five official ball. Sara was beyond excited. Her confidence grew and her playing improved so much that she became a starter. The impact was particularly clear when Sara’s mom thanked me for helping Sara enjoy soccer again. I could tell Sara’s challenges were also wearing on her mom’s mental health. I realized the viral role sports play for so many kids, which I unintentionally took for granted. I knew unneeded sports gear must be scattered in garages and sheds across my community and that I could build a bridge between this equipment and local kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Since 2018, I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Over seven years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,800 items, equipping over 1,500 kids across 10 communities. The Play It Forward model has been adopted by a variety of sports organizations in the area. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the best validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids and their families, but it’s also transformed my life and mental health, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, an Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions at the intersection of innovation and empathy to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of people in need.

Mental health is vital as a building block for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being, including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen firsthand how these impact my friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. I cope with ADHD and anxiety, so I understand the burden mental illness places on many kids and families. Fortunately, my parents are incredibly supportive of my mental health, providing therapy, medications and opportunities to cope through theater, music and sports. I also understand the financial stress sports place on families, so I deeply appreciate my family's sacrifices to provide these mental health outlets. I understand how family financial challenges can create mental health issues. My soccer teammate, Sara, was struggling socially and emotionally with our teammates. She didn’t have the right equipment; her shin guards were old, her ball was one size too small for our age level, and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in some of the other players making comments and even shunning her in practices in games. Seeing this, I started partnering with her for drills. Although shy, she was funny, kind, and engaging. I had some gear that I had outgrown, so I discreetly gave her a pair of cleats, shin guards and a size five official ball. Sara was beyond excited. Her confidence grew and her playing improved so much that she became a starter. The impact was particularly clear when Sara’s mom thanked me for helping Sara enjoy soccer again. I could tell Sara’s challenges were also wearing on her mom’s mental health. I realized the viral role sports play for so many kids, which I unintentionally took for granted. I knew unneeded sports gear must be scattered in garages and sheds across my community and that I could build a bridge between this equipment and local kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Since 2018, I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Over seven years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,800 items, equipping over 1,500 kids across 10 communities. The Play It Forward model has been adopted by a variety of sports organizations in the area. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the best validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids and their families, but it’s also transformed my life and mental health, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, an Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions at the intersection of innovation and empathy to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of people in need.

The stories that grace the pages of the famous book of Genesis contain well-known details, passages, moments, images, and terms that have become ingrained in the minds of countless people. As children, many become familiar with the iconic lines of the text, from the opening statement, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," to His mighty command, "Let there be light," as well as the powerful tales of Cain and Abel, as well as Noah's ark. Yet, one such name, found in the sixth chapter of this holy text, is often overlooked despite holding profound importance. In Genesis 6:4, an unassuming word reveals an aspect of the legend that radiates immense value and knowledge: "The Nephilim" (Genesis 6:4, Page 27). Although this term bears a certain subtlety, when studied and understood, it can reshape the reader's interpretations of several chapters, raise new theological ideas buried within the text, and uncover the theme regarding God's love for His children. Many people hear the story of Noah's ark at a young age and learn how God became angry with the wickedness of humanity, flooding the Earth as a result. This event is often received with confusion and anger as it presents God in a dark and unfamiliar way. Readers will typically question God's reaction and ask why He would kill His creations. This tale leaves a sour and bitter taste in many mouths as readers search for answers to why God would turn on His beloved children. Although Genesis is a human interpretation of God's acts in the form of parables, many value the messages and lessons they hold and believe there is truth to them. With this in mind, it is understandable that some readers would feel pained and betrayed by God's willingness to murder His creations. Some interpret God as a 'control freak' or a 'toxic parent' who wants His children to grow as He envisioned them and will ensure success no matter the cost. Whether you believe this or not, this action taken by God raises several burning questions. Why would God kill all of humanity over the mistakes of a few? Why did He not start over from scratch, erasing and replacing His creations? Why did He not use His power to cleanse the souls stained with evil? All of these questions are reasonable to ask and will leave most readers scratching their heads in confusion. Except the answer was staring them in the face, hiding in plain sight: the Nephilim. Although many argue the identity of the Nephilim, the term in Hebrew translates to "fallen ones," likely referencing beings who have come down from where God dwells. A widely accepted theory is that they are the offspring of fallen angels and women. To fully understand the Nephilim, one must explore the fallen angels from which they came. The fallen angels, who are also commonly referred to as demons, are those who once served God but sinned and turned against him in support of Satan. As punishment for their betrayal, God exiled them from Heaven to Earth and Hell, where they became servants of Satan and dwelled amongst humanity. According to the book of Genesis, "the sons of God [came] to bed with the daughters of man who bore them children" (Genesis 6:4, Page 27). The differences in the origin of the men and women in this passage indicate that human women, who were born from man, did have children with fallen angels, who are consistently called "sons of God." Considering the identity of the fallen angels, one can reasonably assume that they are individuals bearing evil and sinful intentions, intentions they could pass on to their offspring. The identity of the Nephilim is a topic readers could skim over, easily ignoring the weight and importance they hold and leading them to misinterpret God's actions and motivations to flood the Earth. Some may argue that God was cruel in His punishment of banishing the angels who disagreed with him. However, the deeper meaning behind God's reasoning can be found long before the flood, back to the rise of Satan. One reason God's decision to flood the Earth is so perplexing and frustrating to so many is due to His sudden change in character. Genesis establishes God as a loving and caring Father who loves His children, humans and angels alike, which results in quite a shock when He decides to destroy nearly all He created. However, God is not the controlling or toxic parent many have come to believe He is, but the complete opposite. The Creator gives His children complete freedom over their choices, as seen in Adam and Eve's tale, as they choose to betray God and listen to Satan. All humans and angels have the decision to join Him in Heaven or to go with Satan to hell, yet the choice made by the angels is far more permanent. When angels made their choice to follow God, some freely chose to serve Satan, who, at the time, was an angel who craved power. These angels openly turned against God and would not be welcomed home, as was made clear to them beforehand. Humans, on the other hand, live their lives and will face God in the end, but will have the same choice as the angels who came before: to stand with Him and repent or to turn against Him and join Satan. God's decision to give His children free will and choose to leave or stay with Him in Heaven emphasizes His love for His children, something readers might miss without knowledge of the fallen angels and the Nephilim. God's decision goes deeper when looking at Noah, who "found favor in the eyes of the Lord" (Genesis 6:5, Page 28). It was not God's intention to completely destroy the Earth, as shown through His request that Noah, "two of each thing you shall bring to the ark to keep alive with you, male and female they shall be (...) two of each thing shall come to you to be kept alive" (Genesis 6:13, Page 29). God had the power to destroy His creations and start again, but He chose to place His faith in one of His children to give the mortal life He created another chance and allowed them to live on after the flood removed the Nephilim. This effort on God's part highlights His love for His children, something readers could easily miss or misinterpret without fully understanding the Nephilim. Looking at the combined information, one can gather that the Nephilim are the product of human women and fallen angels who chose to follow Satan and embrace evil and sin. The Nephilim are beings who lived amongst humanity, spread wickedness, and posed a threat, corrupting many humans and damning them for eternity. With this in mind, God's choice to destroy what He had created holds a greater weight and sorrow. The flood was not a frantic act of control, nor one driven by rage, but a pained and solemn choice made out of love. God's decision was an attempt to spare the lives of His children who dwelled on the Earth, as well as those to come. He wanted to save their souls from a fate of torture and sin and sacrificed their mortal lives in exchange for their eternal ones. The importance of the Nephilim in Genesis is something too many readers gloss over, as it results in misinterpretations and false assumptions that change the intended meaning of tales like Noah's ark. Through this misunderstanding, many readers may feel pity for the Nephilim and humanity as a whole or ignore their existence altogether while feeling anger and confusion toward God's actions to flood the world He created. The understanding of the Nephilim changes the entirety of the tale, through which one can discover the meaning, power, and extent of God's love for His children and how far He is willing to go to save them.

While failure is often seen by many as one of life's most challenging aspects, it can also be one of its most valuable lessons. When I was younger and less mature and observant, I failed my teammate, which still impacts me to this day, years later. As a 12-year-old, she was struggling mentally and socially with her teammates. She didn’t have the right soccer equipment - her shin guards were old and flimsy, she didn’t have her own ball for drills, and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in some of the other girls shunning her. I befriended her and was often her partner in drills. Although she was shy, she was funny, kind and engaging. I didn’t notice at the time that her equipment issues were largely the cause of her social issues. Unfortunately, she soon gave up soccer and moved away. I eventually realized I should have helped her by giving her some of the equipment I had outgrown in my garage. This may have elevated her self-confidence and comfort with the team and kept her playing the sport. I know that I failed to be a good friend in this situation. The following year, I played softball. I noticed one of my teammates did not have her own helmet or cleats. This time, I recognized the issue immediately and casually asked her what size shoe she wore (an admittedly odd question for 13-year-old girls). I discreetly brought her one of my outgrown helmets and cleats at the next practice. I will forever remember her look of excitement and words of appreciation. It’s no secret that playing sports can be crucial in helping kids live healthy, develop confidence and grow into responsible adults. Unfortunately, today only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. This is a growing challenge facing our nation generally and my community specifically. According to Project Play, the average American family spends approximately $700 yearly on their child's sports. Further, roughly 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Simply put, sports equipment is expensive, and with kids outgrowing it regularly, it can place a financial burden on families. To address the issue and provide kids with valuable sports experiences so they can thrive, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, and field hockey. The program provides players with free gear to play and enjoy the benefits of sports, including better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, dedication and leadership. The lynchpin to ‘Play It Forward’s success is technology. While technology often receives a lot of appropriate criticism, it can also deliver fantastic positivity. Innovative technology applications can unite communities around an issue and help deliver equality to our neighbors, classmates, and teammates. With the power to connect, engage, and motivate, technology can increase the equity, accessibility, and inclusivity of our world. ‘Play It Forward’ leverages technology, social platforms and communication tools to educate and engage supporters, as well as inventory management systems to track and distribute the incoming donated equipment to youth athletes. ‘Play It Forward’ uses technology to connect, engage, and motivate residents to participate and promote the program. Creating a technology ‘bridge’ between this unneeded sports gear scattered in garages and sheds across my community and the kids who can benefit from the equipment has motivated me to study technology innovation and computer science as a sophomore at Villanova University. My focus is to elevate my tech talents to develop other technology solutions that address community issues in innovative ways. Over the past seven years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,500 donated equipment items, equipping over 1,500 kids in need across 10 communities, providing a level playing field for equal access to organized sports. While I sincerely appreciate that my efforts with ‘Play It Forward’ have been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and the Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their own sports gear. The experience of 'Play It Forward' has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country, and also a better friend, sister, daughter, and neighbor. As a third-year Dean's List student in Villanova University’s 5-year accelerated BS-MS computer science program, I am now focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to make more meaningful engagements and profound impacts on people through the combination of science and service. I look to create impactful solutions to complex problems people are facing. Through all of this, it’s vital to remember that our greatest successes can come from our worst failures when we choose to learn from them to create positivity. We should never forget that, while failure in a moment is often one of life's most challenging aspects, it can also be one of its most valuable lessons. Much like Andrea (which was my grandmother's name and the inspiration for my middle name Andreanna), I have a gift for seeing the good in people and how their willingness to spread kindness and compassion can elevate communities. Experiencing hundreds of neighbors donate thousands of sports items to equip so kids in need over the years has only strengthened perseverance and belief in the power of unifying people to lift up those in need around us. It also drives me to continue making deep investments in others.

Many don’t see technology as a benefit to individuals' physical and mental health. Instead, most people would likely say that technology diminishes kids' mental well-being and physical fitness. However, I use technology applications, including video production, data management, and social media syndication, to enhance individuals' mental and physical health across my community and worldwide to perpetuate the spirit of giving. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, a community service program director, a martial arts black belt instructor, a news broadcast anchor, and a leader in several school organizations, I strive to contribute to my school community in diverse ways as the Founder and Lead Instructor for the school’s Self-Defense Club and a Section Leader for both premier vocal groups, The Madrigals, and Women’s Ensemble. Academics have always been essential to setting a solid foundation for my future. As a Distinguished Honor Student and National Honor Society Member, I hold a 4.0 on a 4.0 scale and have taken 20 advanced placement and honors courses over my high school career. Beyond this, I focus on solving physical and mental health issues plaguing my community, some of which have expanded nationally and globally. I leverage technology to organize efforts and engage individuals to elevate efficient and effective solutions. One of the significant challenges facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that ~75 percent of 12-year-olds drop youth sports annually. According to The Rand Study, families earning below $50,000 say that cost is the top reason their kids stop playing sports since the average family spends approximately $700 per year on their child's sports, according to Project Play. To counter this negative trend, I founded ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018. This initiative uses social engagement and data management tools to generate community donations of soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment. This gear is provided free to kids so they can keep playing sports. Over seven years, ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 10,300 gear items, equipping over 1,500 kids from 10 surrounding communities. As a result, my efforts with Play It Forward have been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional and Pennsylvania Legislative citations for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment, knowing they can play. I saw mental health deteriorating across my neighborhood and community, worsened by COVID isolation. So in the early days of the pandemic in March 2020, I started a network called ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to counter this mental health crisis by promoting worldwide good. The University of Australia reports that simply smiling can shift the mind into a state of joy. In addition, MIT research reveals that hearing positive news can improve mental state. So, I now use video production and online social syndication to distribute a weekly global broadcast to elevate viewers’ mental health to stream positivity to ~100,000 viewers across six continents in over 65 countries across six continents. Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC News, FOX News, UPtv, and InspireMore are just a few outlets that have highlighted GNN, among many others. GNN spreads positivity, elevating the mental state of viewers while motivating them to do good. My efforts have been featured in two children's books, Young Change Makers by Stacy Bauer and What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19 by Erin Silver. My involvement in these initiatives has shown me first-hand the vital importance of communities and how residents mutually supporting one another drives its stability and health. These experiences have made me a better citizen, student, neighbor, friend, and family member to those around me, showing me the importance of commitment, compassion, and connections with others. As a third-year computer science major at Villanova University, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann STEM National Scholar and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I am focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to deliver further meaningful engagements that solve societal challenges. I aim to become an expert in technology innovation to develop solutions to address my community’s and society's most pressing problems.

Technology can be an incredible equalizer for the less fortunate when used to unite people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. I use tech in this very way to innovate solutions for people in need. One significant issue facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with, from cleats and bags to bats and gloves. I realized unused equipment must be scattered across our community's garages, basements, and sheds. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward was born. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with a healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It uses social platforms and communication tools to educate, inform, and engage our residents and inventory management systems to help track and distribute donated equipment to youth athletes across our community. This technology connects, engages, and motivates residents to participate. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,800 equipment items, equipping over 1,500 kids across 10 communities. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, Stack Sports Volunteer of the Year Award and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment is the most significant validation. As a third-year computer science major in Villanova University’s accelerated BS-MS program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, McCann National STEM Scholar and Endeavour Women in Technology Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents, specifically in cybersecurity, to help combat the negative uses of technology that exploit people and organizations and damage the capabilities and reputation of the IT industry.

Financial literacy is a fundamental building block to long-term prosperity. It sets a lifelong foundation for economical, social, financial and residential success. Everyone should understand and embrace the importance of earning, spending, saving, and investing and how each can propel or derail one’s success. This understanding empowers individuals to control their decisions to achieve their goals. Unfortunately, too many students nationwide graduate without this basic financial understanding. Building credit early is particularly important since it begins to establish your financial reputation for getting an apartment, employment screenings, a car loan and eventually a mortgage. Establishing credit early can help establish a better credit score for a lower interest rate, which can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. I am a strong proponent of spreading the importance of financial literacy in our community. In 2023, I won Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth-wide financial literacy contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Auditor General and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. When I was interviewed by a local newspaper (https://www.thereporteronline.com/2023/04/27/hatboro-horsham-high-school-senior-wins-statewide-financial-literacy-competition/) for this honor, I explained, “I think it would be incredibly beneficial for high schools to teach financial literacy to every student so they can get an early understanding of how money works with bank accounts, credit cards, bills, and taxes. These skills we use throughout our lives, so learning them early can provide a significant advantage.” I was thrilled to learn that my home state of Pennsylvania became the 25th state to guarantee a personal finance course for high school students. This will help teach students, including my younger sister, the essential aspects of managing money effectively. One of the smartest money moves I have made was to set up a strong financial foundation early, including a checking account, savings account and a credit card, which I make small purchases with and make immediate payments to build my credit. Each of these tools are helping me develop strong money management skills. A strong understanding of money management help students learn to make a budget to manage expenses, contribute to savings, and invest in their future. Too many students lack this understanding and get trapped financially by overspending and misusing credit. They think retirement is so distant that savings accounts and 401Ks are an unnecessary burden. They don’t see investments as necessary due to the financial burdens of rent, groceries, car payments, utilities, and so many other expenses that grow out of control without a budget. However, students can get on the right path when they understand money management basics. I am incredibly fortunate to have parents who taught me these types of lessons about earning, budgeting, saving, and investing. While it requires work and discipline, it also reduces stress and frustration and increases confidence and satisfaction. Getting into the habits of keeping expenses manageable and making money “work” through savings and investments will set a strong foundation for lifelong financial responsibility and economic independence. This freedom empowers individuals to have greater control over their lives, reducing stress and frustration while increasing confidence and happiness. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova’s 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, an Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need. My financial management habits will be critical in every step towards my success.

Communication, resilience, selflessness and determination are some of the most important values that serve as the foundation for strong leadership. These traits can also elevate the connections we have in neighborhoods and communities. I strive to embody each of these characteristics in every aspect of my life, from school and service to relationships and role modeling. The honesty and morality that serve as the roots of these traits help leaders commit themselves to doing what is right. This includes helping others, whether they are a friend or a stranger. Beyond these, empathy is perhaps the most important trait a strong leader can have. The ability to understand the point of view of others and share their feelings allows individuals to adopt a compassionate perspective and make decisions that focus on the needs of those individuals. Academically, as a Dean’s List junior with a 3.98, I use these traits in helping others with campus community service projects, like St. Thomas of Villanova Service Initiative, where we provide support and service to Philadelphia area churches. I also oversee different study groups and tutoring sessions to help my classmates in different subjects, particularly fellow female computer science students who are competing in a male-dominated realm. Beyond academics, I use my leadership foundation to help others across my community. One challenge facing kids is the decrease in youth sports participation due to exorbitant costs. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008, with about 75 percent of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. This is causing kids to miss out on a spectrum of benefits from sports, including better physical fitness, enhanced mental health, elevated motor and social skills, and improved confidence. To counter this negative trend, I started ‘Play It Forward’ in 2018, collecting donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment. Over seven years, ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 10,800 equipment items, equipping over 1,500 kids from 10 surrounding communities. My efforts have been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. This experience has strengthened my leadership, enhanced my communication, hardened my resilience and determination and cultivated my work ethic, because I have experienced the power of making a difference right where you are. There are those in your own neighborhood who need help, so starting at home can make a tremendously positive impact on your own community, helping classmates, teammates, and neighbors. As a third-year student in Villanova University’s accelerated 5-year BS-MS Computer Science Program, I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to continue making meaningful impacts that solve societal challenges. My abilities as a computer science student have been honored with national STEM awards, including the Amie Dansby Women in Technology Award, as a McCann National STEM Scholar, a VIP Women in Technology Scholar and an Endeavour Women in Technology Scholar. Each of these experiences continues to elevate my integrity, commitment and empathy as I work to enhance my leadership skills. These skills are reflected in the selfless life of Antoine “Tony” Bernard Thomas, both in how he served his nation as a Boatswain’s Mate Third Class and his community as a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Police officer. This scholarship would be a tremendous resource in helping me to accomplish the goal of becoming a leader focused on blending technology and empathy to address pressing community issues that help neighbors in need.

Although I have a Red Cross certified sitting business, my most impactful caregiving experience has not been with a person, but rather for a horse. Working with Luci has changed my life. The first time I met the skittish 27-year-old rescue horse, she was terrified to even leave the barn or her male companion, Ben, for a moment. Luci has been found wandering in the woods with fresh wounds that indicated that she was abused. It was unclear if she was abandoned or had run away, but it was clear that she needed help. She had already been at the stables when I began assisting there. I first encountered her ‘clinging’ to the far wall of her stall, very apprehensive of my presence. I had to take her out to muck her stall, but I had to show her that she was safe with me. This took some time just talking with her and easing towards her step by step. After about 20 minutes she sighed and seemed to accept that things were OK. So she cautiously sauntered out of her stall so I could get to work. I made it my mission to help her so she could live unafraid once again. I began by walking with her through the field to strengthen our connection and build her trust in me. Initially, she only made it about 10 yards out to the massive open field. Every time we would go slightly further. As the summer passed, I realized that not only was I helping her, but she was helping me. No matter how frustrating or chaotic my day was, I always left Luci smiling and high-spirited. She showed how patience and empathy can impact one another and simple kindness can build comfort and confidence for anyone, especially a horse. I will never forget the day I arrived and saw Ben and Luci grazing way out in the field. She has built up the confidence to travel farther than she ever. She started galloping around with periodic bucks which showed utter joy, as if she had shed the bridle of abuse which was holding her back. It made me teary-eyed to see how far she had come. As the summer went on, she finally started allowing me to brush her, as I took deep care to avoid her scars. Over several days I was able to groom her until her once shaggy coat became clean and soft. She also allowed me to finally bathe her. As she got more comfortable, the horse who would not let anyone near her face would greet me by nudging me with her nose and shaking her lip whenever she saw me, something that shows relaxation and affection, of which I have a tremendous amount for her. Luci has made me a more empathetic, patient person who understands the impact this can have on others. For this, I will forever love her for what she has done for me, and look forward to time together again.

As a Dean's List student in Villanova University's accelerated 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I would use my cybersecurity knowledge to uplift my community by establishing free digital literacy and security workshops for vulnerable community members, like seniors and small local non-profits focused on community issues. I would focus on general education to protect them from common digital scams and phishing schemes. I would also work with local businesses and police to establish a 'Neighborhood Cyber-Watch Group' with an online social media group accessible community-wide where people can share cyber scams and malware threats they come across to help protect and empower our neighbors against these types of growing digital threats.

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word “community” is derived from the Latin term “communis,” which combines the Latin prefix “con,” meaning “together,” and “munis,” meaning “to perform services.” So the very word “community” is built on performing service together. I have found that there is perhaps no greater force than when a community unites for good. Playing sports can be crucial to helping kids have a healthy childhood to grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research shows that upwards of 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) to address this issue in 2018. Several classmates and neighbors said this initiative to collect donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey was too complex and cumbersome to succeed. Yet, thanks to my strong work ethic rooted in relentless determination, deep commitment and unrivaled effort, the program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to play the sports they love. The backbone of Play It Forward is technology innovation. It combines social media platforms, inventory management systems, syndication applications and communication channels to educate the community, generate equipment donations and track and distribute gear to kids in need across the region. Over seven years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors to donate over 10,600 equipment pieces, equipping over 1,300 kids across 10 communities, providing them a level playing field to access sports. This has elevated the confidence and enhanced the outlook of so many kids who get to play organized sports and receive the immeasurable physical, mental, social and emotional benefits they provide. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is running Play It Forward while I am in college. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s accelerated 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am now focusing on advancing my technical skills to make a positive impact on communities driven by entrepreneurship through a combination of innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and artificial intelligence will allow me to develop unique solutions to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond. I am looking to further innovate and integrate technology and empathy to achieve this.

Technology can be an incredible equalizer for the less fortunate when used to unite people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more accessible and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. I use tech in this very way to innovate solutions for people in need. One significant issue facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had garage shelves filled with outgrown gear that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered across our community's garages and sheds. I decided to hack together a solution building a technology bridge connecting unused gear with the sidelined kids. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It uses social platforms and communication tools to educate, inform, and engage our residents and inventory management systems to help track and distribute donated equipment to youth athletes across our community. Over the past seven years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,800 equipment items, equipping nearly 1,200 kids across 10 communities. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, Stack Sports Volunteer of the Year Award and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment is the most significant validation. Beyond this, when COVID struck, I saw isolation impact the mental health of many individuals around me, including myself. I wanted to find a way to help elevate the mental well-being of connections and strangers alike. I learned that MIT research reveals that hearing about positive news can significantly elevate mental health. Yet, with the media focused on negative stories, there had to be a way to accentuate the positive around us. So, I recruited my younger sister, Molly, to hack together our own positivity broadcast called Good News Now (GNN—fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews). Since March 2020, GNN has streamed news reports online featuring good news worldwide. GNN reveals the valuable benefits technology can provide through video apps, social media platforms, and syndication tools to distribute its good news to over 20 social group channels, reaching an audience of upwards of 100,000 across all 50 states and 64 nations, spanning six continents. We’ve produced nearly 240 episodes featuring over 1,000 good news stories, been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, UPtv, ABC, and FOX stations, and even appear in two children’s books: Stacy Bauer's award-winning Young Change Makers series and Erin Silver's What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19. As a third-year computer science major in Villanova University’s accelerated BS-MS program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, McCann National STEM Scholar and Endeavour Women in Technology Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to design and develop solutions that engage and rally communities to address issues facing our most vulnerable neighbors.

Technology can be an incredible equalizer for the less fortunate when used to unite people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more accessible and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. I use tech in this very way to innovate solutions for people in need. One significant issue facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had garage shelves filled with outgrown gear that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered across our community's garages and sheds. I decided to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It uses social platforms and communication tools to educate, inform, and engage our residents and inventory management systems to help track and distribute donated equipment to youth athletes across our community. Over the past seven years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,800 equipment items, equipping nearly 1200 kids across 10 communities. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, Stack Sports Volunteer of the Year Award and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment is the most significant validation. Beyond this, when COVID struck, I saw isolation impact the mental health of many individuals around me, including myself. I wanted to find a way to help elevate the mental well-being of connections and strangers alike. I learned that MIT research reveals that hearing about positive news can significantly elevate mental health. Yet, with the media focused on negative stories, there had to be a way to accentuate the positive around us. So, I recruited my younger sister, Molly, to create our own positivity broadcast called Good News Now (GNN—fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews). Since March 2020, GNN has streamed news reports online featuring good news worldwide. GNN reveals the valuable benefits technology can provide through video apps, social media platforms, and syndication tools to distribute its good news to over 20 social group channels, reaching an audience of upwards of 100,000 across all 50 states and 64 nations, spanning six continents. We’ve produced nearly 240 episodes featuring over 1000 good news stories, been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, UPtv, ABC, and FOX stations, and even appear in two children’s books: Stacy Bauer's award-winning Young Change Makers series and Erin Silver's What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19. As a third-year computer science major in Villanova University’s accelerated BS-MS program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, McCann National STEM Scholar and Endeavour Women in Technology Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents, specifically in cybersecurity, to help combat the negative uses of technology that exploit people and organizations and damage the capabilities and reputation of the IT industry.

Technology can be an incredible equalizer for the less fortunate when used to unite people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more accessible and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. I use tech in this very way to innovate solutions for people in need. One significant issue facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had garage shelves filled with outgrown gear that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered across our community's garages and sheds. I decided to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It uses social platforms and communication tools to educate, inform, and engage our residents and inventory management systems to help track and distribute donated equipment to youth athletes across our community. Over the past seven years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,800 equipment items, equipping nearly 1200 kids across 10 communities. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, Stack Sports Volunteer of the Year Award and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment is the most significant validation. Beyond this, when COVID struck, I saw isolation impact the mental health of many individuals around me, including myself. I wanted to find a way to help elevate the mental well-being of connections and strangers alike. I learned that MIT research reveals that hearing about positive news can significantly elevate mental health. Yet, with the media focused on negative stories, there had to be a way to accentuate the positive around us. So, I recruited my younger sister, Molly, to create our own positivity broadcast called Good News Now (GNN—fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews). Since March 2020, GNN has streamed news reports online featuring good news worldwide. GNN reveals the valuable benefits technology can provide through video apps, social media platforms, and syndication tools to distribute its good news to over 20 social group channels, reaching an audience of upwards of 100,000 across all 50 states and 64 nations, spanning six continents. We’ve produced nearly 240 episodes featuring over 1000 good news stories, been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, UPtv, ABC, and FOX stations, and even appear in two children’s books: Stacy Bauer's award-winning Young Change Makers series and Erin Silver's What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19. As a third-year computer science major in Villanova University’s accelerated BS-MS program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, McCann National STEM Scholar and Endeavour Women in Technology Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents, specifically in cybersecurity, to help combat the negative uses of technology that exploit people and organizations and damage the capabilities and reputation of the IT industry.

The benefits of playing sports as a kid are immeasurable. They help develop physical fitness, social engagement, emotional wellness and mental health skills and habits. Stanford University research shows that playing youth sports provides kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. Sports also teach lifelong skills to help kids develop into productive adults, including teamwork, commitment, empathy, perseverance and leadership. Unfortunately, increasing costs put sports out of reach for too many kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids, ages 6-12, play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research reveals that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. I saw this issue first-hand with some of my own teammates having to drop sports because their families could no longer afford equipment as they outgrew it. I started giving my outgrown and unneeded equipment to others to help keep them in the game. I knew there had to be a way to help connect more kids with the unused gear collecting dust in sheds and garages around our town. So, in 2018, I started the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) to collect and provide free sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. I built a technology bridge with social media apps, inventory management platforms and communication tools to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. Over seven years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,800 items, equipping over 1100 kids across 10 communities. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids, but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment, selflessness and the power of sports. It’s also motivating me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental health is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova’s 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, an Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need, like the hundreds of kids who benefit from Play It Forward.

My grandfather didn’t have the opportunity to attend college, so he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he built radar arrays, learning technology skills. Our discussions about his 30-year technology career as a network engineer ignited my passion for technical problem-solving, motivating me to max out my high school’s computer science curriculum and to study technology in college. While technology today receives appropriate criticism, my career in computer science will allow me to develop innovative solutions that unite communities around issues to enhance accessibility to opportunities, as I have accomplished over the past several years. The benefits of playing sports as a kid are immeasurable. They help develop physical fitness, social engagement, emotional wellness and mental health skills and habits. Stanford University research shows that playing youth sports provides kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. Sports also teach lifelong skills to help kids develop into productive adults, including teamwork, commitment, empathy, perseverance and leadership. Unfortunately, increasing costs put sports out of reach for too many kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids, ages 6-12, play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research reveals that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. I saw this issue with some of my own teammates having to drop sports because their families could no longer afford new equipment as they outgrew it. I started giving my outgrown equipment to others to help them keep playing. I knew there had to be a way to help connect more kids with the unused gear collecting dust in sheds and garages around our town. So, in 2018, I started the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) to collect and provide free sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. The program collects donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to provide free to kids. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology, leveraging social platforms and communication tools to educate and engage supporters and inventory management systems to track and distribute equipment. It serves as a bridge connecting young athletes with unneeded gear to help them keep playing. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,800, equipping over 640 kids from nine communities. My service leadership has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, Trophy Central Sportsmanship Award and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, the greatest validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s 5-year BS-MS program, I am an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann National STEM Scholar, Endeavour Women in Tech Scholar and VIP Women in Technology National Scholar. My dream is to elevate my technology skills to integrate innovation with empathy, delivering more advanced solutions like Play It Forward to address pressing challenges facing our communities.

Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen firsthand how these impact myself and others, including friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. While technology, and specifically social media, often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it can also connect and unite communities to help those in need. The fundamental connectivity of this technology inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my mental well-being. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through the Facebook app. Over nearly seven years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,500 items, equipping over 790 kids across 10 communities. The program provides these young athletes with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids, but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. It’s also motivating me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova’s 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need.

Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen firsthand how these impact myself and others, including friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. While technology, and specifically social media, often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it can also connect and unite communities to help those in need. The fundamental connectivity of this technology inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my mental well-being. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through the Facebook app. Over nearly seven years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,500 items, equipping over 790 kids across 10 communities. The program provides these young athletes with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids, but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. It’s also motivating me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova’s 5-year BS-MS computer science program, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need.

The most important way an individual can serve their community is by spreading awareness and empathy to others to motivate them to help their neighbors in need. Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word “community” is derived from the Latin term “communis,” which combines the Latin prefix “con,” meaning “together,” and “munis,” meaning “to perform services.” So the very word “community” is built on performing service together. I have seen that there is perhaps no greater force than when a community unites for good. Tragically, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research reveals that upwards of 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually, largely due to increasing costs. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) to address this issue in 2018. For the past seven years, I have united my community to help provide a level playing field for kids with organized sports. Playing sports can often be crucial to helping kids have a healthy childhood and grow up to be responsible adults. The backbone of Play It Forward is technology innovation. It combines social media platforms, inventory management systems, syndication applications and communication channels to educate the community, generate equipment donations and track and distribute gear to kids in need across the region. My initial interest in technology innovation began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the US Air Force. There, he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays at US military bases worldwide. He used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell’s Soup, and DuPont. The conversations we’ve had over the years ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum in high school. I developed a passion for technical problem-solving that motivated me to continue these studies in college. I leverage these technology skills to build technology-driven solutions, like Play It Forward, to spread awareness and empathy to others and motivate them to help their neighbors in need simply by donating their unneeded sports gear or spreading the word to others. Over the past seven years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 10,600 sports gear items, equipping over 1,300 kids across 10 communities, providing them a level playing field to access sports. In fact, I have helped other local Little League clubs start their own programs to do the same for kids in their communities. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova’s 5-year BS-MS program and seven-time national STEM scholar, I am learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and artificial intelligence will allow me to develop more technology-driven, innovative solutions to address pressing problems facing the most vulnerable in communities.

In the 20 years I have been blessed to live in this world, I have come to accept that questioning one's faith in God is far more natural and normal than most realize. Having lost my uncle at a young age, I believe I am familiar with the experience of doubting God's intentions and even questioning his existence. My grief created a rift between God and me, and it would not heal for many years. Before I hit double-digits, I lay awake most nights fearing what came after death, wondering if my uncle was at peace. Anger burrowed within my heart each Sunday as my parents dragged me to church, where I would do my best to ignore every word spoken. Worst of all, the conversations and prayers I would share with God began to dwindle until they vanished altogether. While my grief strangled my faith, my mother used the pain from her brother's loss to strengthen her relationship with God. However, there were days when my uncle's absence stung more than most. One of those days, my mom had been driving home, the silence leading her thoughts to linger on her grief. Attempting to quiet them, she switched on the radio. Several years before his passing, my uncle had been in the hospital. To cheer him up, my mom handed the phone to my younger sister, who cheerfully sang him "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley and the Wailers. The very song that came on the radio as my mom drove home. A few minutes after the song concluded, my mom glanced up at the truck in front of her, swiftly grabbed her phone, and snapped a picture of the license plate. I will never forget my utter shock after she revealed the license plate: ANTHONY - my uncle's name. The "sign" my mother experienced that day sparked something in me. My eyes opened, and I began recognizing these "signs." Over time, I began to associate two occurrences with my uncle: seeing a cardinal or a mourning dove. A cardinal would never be far when I grieved his absence, and a mourning dove was almost always perched on the bench dedicated to my uncle. My faith and relationship with God slowly began to heal. I started listening to the sermons at church and began praying to Him again. While these moments of unexplained coincidences assisted in the return of my faith, one moment stands out from the others. Why, you may ask? Because it did not come when I was struggling or grieving. In terms of academics, my Grandfather was the inspiration for me to study computer science and cybersecurity. As one of nine kids growing up poor in inner-city Philadelphia, he didn't have the opportunity to go to college. So he enlisted in the Air Force, where he learned to build and operate radar systems to protect bases around the world for the US. He always said his faith gave him a purpose to protect others and our nation. His faithful approach motivates me to use my God-given skills to become a technology expert, which I why I chose to study at Villanova University, a Catholic school specializing in technology. Some say that studying a science-based discipline creates a conflict with God. For me, it's the opposite; God has created science to help us innovate towards a better society and life, and my studies have only grown my faith in God, particularly as a student of STEM.

Integrity, commitment and empathy are three of the most important pillars of the Christian faith. They are also values that guide strong leaders. With both faith and leadership, these traits can be fundamental in elevating our neighborhoods and communities to help those in need. These characteristics serve as a foundation of every aspect of my life as both a leader and a Christian. As a devout Christian, the honesty and morality of faith serve as the roots of integrity that help leaders commit themselves to doing what is right. This includes helping others, whether a friend or a stranger. Commitment is built on dedication to one’s neighborhood and community and helping to provide support that strengthens and elevates those within these groups. Empathy is perhaps the most important trait a strong leader can have. The ability to understand the point of view of others and sympathize with their feelings allows individuals to embrace compassion and make decisions that focus on the needs of those individuals. My faith has set a foundation for my leadership, particularly in leading to help those in need across my community. One significant challenge facing my community that I have taken head-on is decreasing youth sports participation. Sports can be a valuable experience for kids, teaching life lessons while delivering physical health and mental well-being en route to becoming a contributing member of society. Unfortunately, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008, with about 75 percent of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. In addition, the Rand Study says families earning below $50,000 say that cost is the top reason their kids stop playing. To counter this negative trend, I started ‘Play It Forward’ in 2018, collecting donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment. Over the past seven years, ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 10,300 equipment items, equipping over 930 kids across 10 communities. My faith and desire to elevate my community have motivated me to rally hundreds of people to help those in need. These efforts have been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year honor, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. Yet, seeing the kids’ smiles when they receive their gear is the greatest validation and reward I could receive. Play It Forward has strengthened my integrity, deepened my commitment, and cultivated my empathy. It’s also fortified my strength seeing hundreds of my neighbors and classmates answer the call to help area kids by donating thousands of sports equipment items, something I believe God takes great joy in. As a third-year Dean’s List student in Villanova University’s accelerated 5-year computer science BS-MS program, I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to continue making meaningful impacts that solve societal challenges through faith-driven leadership. My abilities as a computer science student have been honored with national STEM awards, including the Amie Dansby Women in Technology Award, and as a McCann National STEM Scholar, Endeavor Tech Scholar and VIP Women in Technology Scholar. Each of these experiences continues to elevate my integrity, commitment and empathy as I work to enhance my leadership skills and strengthen my faith in and connection with God. The Build and Bless Leadership Scholarship would be a tremendous resource in helping me to accomplish the goal of becoming a faith-driven leader focused on elevating my community by addressing pressing issues and helping others in need by blending technology with empathy.

Health, both physical and mental, is the backbone of a fulfilling life. For many kids their mental, emotional and physical health revolves around playing sports. However, for too many kids, sports equipment has become too expensive, forcing th m out of the game which impacts their overall health and well-being. Fortunately, I am using technology to address this issue for hundreds of young athletes. My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the US Air Force. There, he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays at US military bases worldwide. He used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell’s Soup, and DuPont. The conversations we’ve had over the years ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum in high school. I developed a passion for technical problem-solving that motivated me to continue these studies in college. I leverage these technology skills to address community issues to help people in need, using social media, communication platforms, inventory systems, video applications, and syndication networks to address issues impacting their physical fitness and mental health. Playing sports can be crucial to helping kids have a healthy childhood to grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research shows that upwards of 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) to address this issue in 2018. Several classmates and neighbors said this initiative to collect donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey was too complex and cumbersome to succeed. Yet, thanks to my strong work ethic rooted in relentless determination, deep commitment and unrivaled effort, the program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to play the sports they love. The backbone of Play It Forward is technology innovation. It combines social media platforms, inventory management systems, syndication applications and communication channels to educate the community, generate equipment donations and track and distribute gear to kids in need across the region. Over seven years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors to donate over 10,200 equipment pieces, equipping over 930 kids across 10 communities, providing them a level playing field to access sports. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear and hearing the stories of how playing sports has elevated their overall health. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better person. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is running Play It Forward while I am in college. I am now focusing on advancing my technical skills to make a positive impact on people through a combination of innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and artificial intelligence will allow me to develop innovative solutions to address pressing physical, mental and emotional health problems facing our society and beyond.

Storytelling can change the world because it doesn’t just share facts it makes people feel them. It connects us emotionally, opening the door for empathy and action. My storytelling has motivated my community to help hundreds of kids in need by donating their unused sports equipment to help them keep playing. I've done this by telling the stories of these kids and the impact sports have made on their lives. My own story of a soccer teammate was shunned for not having the right equipment, sparked my empathy to discreetly give her my unneeded cleats, shinguards and a ball. According to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, with 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. I knew there must be countless outgrown gear items scattered in homes across our community. Through this Play It Forward (fb com/PlayItForwardGear) was born and through its expanding stories of young athletes benefitting from our community's generosity over 10,200 donated equipment items have been collected, equipping over 930 kids for free. The program has been honored with the Stack Sports Volunteer of the Year Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Media, Trophy Central Community Impact Award and President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award. Yet, it's the kids' smiles when they receive their gear that is the greatest validation. And their stories help the program to keep growing. So, as you can see, storytelling is more than entertainment, it’s a catalyst for ideas to make an impact. It’s helped me rally hundreds of neighbors to an incredible cause, impacting kids across 10 communities, elevating the lives of hundreds of kids while making world just a little bit better along the way.

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word “community” is derived from the Latin term “communis,” which combines the Latin prefix “con,” meaning “together,” and “munis,” meaning “to perform services.” So the very word “community” is built on performing service together. I have found that there is perhaps no greater force than when a community unites for good. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, a community service program director, a martial arts black belt instructor, a good news broadcast anchor, and a leader in several school organizations, I am committed to supporting my school and town in various ways, particularly with educating young people. The education I focus on facilitating doesn't come from a classroom, but rather a playing field. Sports teach kids foundational skills for lifelong success, including teamwork, commitment, perseverance, focus, drive and positivity. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer kids have the opportunity play organized sports because the increasing cost of equipment puts it out reach. Today, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play organized team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. At the same time, the average American family has to spend approximately $700 per year on their child's sports activities, according to Project Play. According to The Rand Study, families earning $50,000 or less say cost is the top reason their kids stop participating in sports. Further research shows that approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports activities annually. Simply put, costs exclude too many kids from experiencing the benefits of playing team sports. To help address this growing issue, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. The program provides free gear to kids in surrounding communities to get the benefits of sports. Over the past four years, Play It Forward has collected over 10,200 donated gear items, equipping over 930 kids across 10 surrounding communities with free gear. My efforts with ‘Play It Forward’ have been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, the Stack Sports Volunteer of the Year Award, a United States Congressional commendation, and a Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, seeing the kid's smiles is the greatest validation I could ever receive. The kids impacted by Play It Forward are happier, healthier, more social, confident and committed, having learned teamwork, commitment, perseverance, focus, drive and positivity. Having the opportunity to play sports teaches them skills that are aren't taught in a classroom, but are vital to becoming productive adults in our community. As a rising third-year Dean's List student in Villanova University's accelerated student, I am focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people through a combination of innovation and empathy. I hope to 5-year BS/MS Computer Science Program I aim to continue delivering engaging solutions to alleviate suffering from pressing problems, like elevating physical fitness to enhancing mental health. Learning advanced skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and even artificial intelligence will allow me to devise and develop more advanced innovations to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond. Through all of this, my community commitment has made me a stronger student, a reliable resident, and an innovative individual.

Many STEM fields rely on calculus as a foundational building block. It provides a mathematical structure for understanding and analyzing complex relationships and dynamic systems across various scientific areas of study. For example, in physics, calculus helps analyze energy, force and motion. In biology, it helps to project population growth, model enzyme kinetics and decipher blood flow in an organism. In engineering, it helps to develop circuits, design bridges and investigate fluid dynamics. As a student of computer science and software engineering, I am going to focus on the importance and benefits of calculus to these specific fields. Calculus serves as a cornerstone of computer science, providing the mathematical basis for analyzing, optimizing, modeling and understanding complex systems and algorithms. Many of its concepts, particularly derivatives and integrals, are essential for solving problems involving change, optimization, and continuous processes. Calculus equips computer scientists with tools to innovate and tackle real-world challenges. For example, it enables the minimization or maximization of functions, which is vital for improving the efficiency of algorithms, for example, gradient descent, a cornerstone of machine learning. This technique engages derivatives to adjust model parameters, minimizing a loss function to improve predictions in neural networks, regression models, or recommendation systems. Computer scientists fine-tune algorithms by calculating gradients to optimize their performance. In machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), neural networks rely on backpropagation, which enables models to learn patterns from vast datasets, powering applications like image recognition, natural language processing, and autonomous systems. Calculus-based methods also allow AI systems to make accurate predictions and handle uncertainty, driving advancements in fields like healthcare and finance. Beyond this, computer graphics rely on calculus to create realistic visual representations. Derivatives calculate tangents and normals for rendering smooth curves and surfaces in 3D modeling for enhanced images. This process is used in both video game design and animated film production. Integrals are also used to compute lighting effects, such as shadows and reflections, by calculating areas and volumes of virtual objects. These techniques enable the creation of immersive virtual environments and realistic simulations. Calculus helps data science by providing techniques for analyzing and interpreting vast volumes of complex data. Integrals are used to compute probabilities for statistical modeling and hypothesis testing. Regression and clustering optimization techniques rely on calculus to improve model accuracy. These help data scientists to extract meaningful insights from complex datasets, driving decision-making in business and science. Robotics is another computer science field that relies on calculus by modeling dynamic systems through differential equations. These equations translate motion, stability and signal processing, allowing robots to navigate environments, maintain balance and enhance operational efficiency. Calculus delivers precise control and responsiveness in applications like autonomous vehicles and automated industrial robotics. While calculus is essential to many science-based fields like physics, engineering and biology, it is particularly important to innovation across computer science, serving as the language of precision and dynamics in STEM. It serves as a critical tool in computer science, enabling advancements in algorithm enhancement, artificial intelligence development, graphic design, data science and robotic operations. Its ability to model change, optimize systems, and solve complex problems makes it invaluable for problem-solving and advancements in these fields. Calculus empowers computer scientists and software engineers to push the boundaries of technology and address real-world challenges through advancing innovations that otherwise would not be possible without its mathematical foundation.

As I ran to keep up with Pop-Pop’s long stride, my excitement overcame the exhaustion of my little legs. He grasped my tiny hand to keep me focused on our journey rather than the passing butterfly. Finally, he coaxed me with a smile, saying, “Come on, we’re almost there.” When I saw the creek, my three-year-old worries washed away like its cool dancing currents. It was like venturing to Oz, Neverland, or countless other enchanting worlds. Little did I know that this creek’s magic would reappear for many of my life’s most influential moments. The early conversations between Pop-Pop and me at the creek’s edge covered lessons on everything from clouds and crawfish. I would toss him questions as I would throw pebbles into the ripples. He would respond to each irrespective of whether all the facts were accurate. The walks became easier as my legs grew, and our conversations became more engaging. At eight years old, I listened to Pop-Pop retell stories of distant literary lands like Hogwarts and Narnia. Conversely, he listened to my imagined tales of dragons and warriors. As the first audience to my storytelling, Pop-Pop encouraged my love of reading and writing as I began flipping through the pages of countless novels and penning my own tales. These moments together cultivated my desire to create worlds where readers could get lost. At 13 years old, you’d think my interest in walking to the creek with Pop-Pop would have long washed away. Actually, it was a time for me to share my plots and characters while he shared the trials he faced as a kid. As I listened to his tales of growing up in poverty as one of seven children in inner-city Philadelphia, my long-time traveling sidekick was evolving into my greatest hero. Despite his early hardships, Pop-Pop always wrapped his despondent tales in humor, like when he returned home from school at 10, only to find his family had moved a block away - but forgot to tell him. At 15, I learned about his Air Force enlistment, where he built radar systems. He transformed these skills into a 30-year computer career. These conversations intrigued me to take every high school computer science course available. This cultivated a passion for technical problem-solving that, no doubt, originated from him and has motivated me to continue these studies in college. Today, with his weakened back and battling a fading memory, our creek trips are less frequent, which make them even more special. Regardless, I deeply enjoy our time at the water’s edge, where our conversations now revolve around his past stories and my future dreams. When I think about this place, it amazes me how these creek chats have developed my values, passions, and goals. I am grateful for Pop-Pop’s inspiration and guidance and adore his longtime influence on my life. I cherish that this creek has been the setting for so many milestone moments. Our journey there takes longer now, but I don’t mind the extra time as I coax him with a smile, saying, “Come on, we’re almost there.”

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word “community” is derived from the Latin term “communis,” which combines the Latin prefix “con,” meaning “together,” and “munis,” meaning “to perform services.” So the very word “community” is built on performing service together. I have found that there is perhaps no greater force than when a community unites for good. My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the US Air Force. There, he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays at US military bases worldwide. He used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell’s Soup, and DuPont. The conversations we’ve had over the years ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum in high school. I developed a passion for technical problem-solving that motivated me to continue these studies in college. I leverage these technology skills to address community issues to help people in need, using social media, communication platforms, inventory systems, video applications, and syndication networks to address issues impacting their physical fitness and mental health. Playing sports can be crucial to helping kids have a healthy childhood to grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research shows that upwards of 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) to address this issue in 2018. Several classmates and neighbors said this initiative to collect donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey was too complex and cumbersome to succeed. Yet, thanks to my strong work ethic rooted in relentless determination, deep commitment and unrivaled effort, the program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to play the sports they love. The backbone of Play It Forward is technology innovation. It combines social media platforms, inventory management systems, syndication applications and communication channels to educate the community, generate equipment donations and track and distribute gear to kids in need across the region. Over seven years, I have used leadership to motivate hundreds of neighbors to donate over 8,900 equipment pieces, equipping over 860 kids across 10 communities, providing them a level playing field to access sports. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is running Play It Forward while I am in college. I am now focusing on advancing my technical skills to make a positive impact on people through a combination of innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and artificial intelligence will allow me to develop innovative solutions to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond. The Future Leaders Scholarship would be incredibly supportive in helping me achieve this.

Cancer has impacted my life in a way I’ll never truly understand. While my Dad was a senior at Penn State, nine years before I was born, his Mom was taken by ovarian cancer - she was only 48. My Dad regularly speaks about his fond memories of his Mom, Andrea, playing music, reading books, and making people laugh, all traits that are essential to who I am. Aside from family members regularly saying how they see her in me, my middle name, Andreanna, is even a tribute to her. I have missed out greatly on having my grandmother here to see me sing on stage, perform in martial arts tournaments, and impact others, just as she did. And just to experience life with her. However, she is a core element of who I am. She continually gave to her community, as a Boy Scout leader, PTA volunteer, youth coach and rescuer of greyhounds. That spirit drives me to help others. For example, I am committed to increasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had garage shelves filled with outgrown gear. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with these sidelined kids who needed it. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected 9,100+ equipment items, equipping 870+ kids from eight communities. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment is the most significant validation. My dad says my commitment comes from my grandmother, who built a program to rescue retired greyhounds. If not for her, these dogs would have been executed. “She completely invested herself in the cause, just like you,” my Dad says. Aside from this commitment to others, I view academics as an essential building block to set a solid foundation for my future. As a Distinguished Honor Student, National Honor Society Member, I held a 4.0 and took 20 advanced placement and honors courses throughout high school, earning the school’s Champion of Learning Medal. As a second-year Dean's List student in Villanova University's accelerated 5-year BS/MS Computer Science Program, I hold a 3.98 GPA. I also received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award, VIP Women in Technology National Scholarship, and Study.com Computer Science Scholarship. I am focusing on advancing my technology talents to deliver meaningful engagements that solve societal challenges. My Dad tells me unbridled spirit and drive to help others comes from my Grandmother, who ran the PTA, was always the ‘homeroom mom,’ served as his scout leader, marching band booster and rescued all those greyhounds. He says she would have loved watching and supporting me helping so many kids. While it pains me that cancer took the opportunity for me to know her, I am blessed that she is essential to who I am.

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, which means “together” and “munis,” which means “performing services.” So the very word “community” is built on performing service together. I have found that there is perhaps no greater force than when a community unites for good. My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the US Air Force. There, he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays at US military bases worldwide. He used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell’s Soup, and DuPont. The conversations we’ve had over the years ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum in high school. I developed a passion for technical problem-solving that motivated me to continue these studies in college. I leverage these technology skills to address community issues to help people in need, using social media, communication platforms, inventory systems, video applications, and syndication networks to address issues impacting their physical fitness and mental health. Playing sports can be crucial to helping kids have a healthy childhood to grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research shows that upwards of 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) to address this issue in 2018. Several classmates and neighbors said this initiative to collect donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey was too complex and cumbersome to succeed. Yet, thanks to my strong work ethic rooted in relentless determination, deep commitment and unrivaled effort, the program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to play the sports they love. The backbone of Play It Forward is technology innovation. It combines social media platforms, inventory management systems, syndication applications and communication channels to educate the community, generate equipment donations and track and distribute gear to kids in need across the region. Over seven years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors to donate over 9,100 equipment pieces, equipping over 870 kids across 10 communities, providing them a level playing field to access sports. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is running Play It Forward while I am in college. As a 5-year BS/MS computer science student I am focusing on advancing my technology talents to make impacts on people through innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and artificial intelligence will allow me to develop innovative solutions to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond. The William Griggs Memorial Scholarship would be incredibly supportive in helping me achieve this.

My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the United States Air Force out of high school. There, he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays worldwide, from US military bases across Europe to the Pentagon, protecting American military bases and our nation. He then used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in mainframe and computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell Soup, and DuPont. The conversations I had over the years with him ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum at my high school. Beyond this, I leverage technology to address community, national, and global issues, using social media, communication platforms, inventory systems, video applications, and syndication networks to address issues ranging from physical fitness to mental health. One significant challenge facing my community is decreasing youth sports participation. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. According to the Rand Study families earning below $50,000 say that cost is the top reason their kids stop playing sports. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. Further research shows 75 percent of 12-year-olds are dropping youth sports annually. To counter this negative trend, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018 using inventory management technology and engagement platforms to collect donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to provide free to kids. Over the past seven years ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 6,800 equipment items worth an estimated $361,000, equipping over 810 kids from 10 surrounding communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, Stack Sports Volunteer of the Year Award, a United States Congressional commemoration, a Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership, and was featured as one of my community’s top service initiatives of 2020. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment, knowing they can play. Beyond ‘Play It Forward,’ I started a network called ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to counter the mental health crisis I have witnessed in my community by promoting the good all around us. Over the past five years, as a global syndicated broadcast, GNN has produced over 225 episodes seen in over 68 countries to spotlight positivity and elevate the mental health of viewers. The show has been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, and UPtv. GNN has also been featured in Amazon 5-star rated children's book series "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and the book "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. As a second-year Dean’s List student at Villanova University, I hold a 3.96 GPA. I was recently accepted as one of five students into the Department of Computing’s accelerated 5-year BS/MS computer science & software engineering program. I am studying various evolving areas, including machine learning, data structures, application development, and computational strategies focusing on advancing my technology talents to continue to make meaningful impacts. In addition, I look to tap into the positivity and potential of technology to enhance lives and elevate communities. The Endeavor Public Service Scholarship would be tremendously supportive in helping me to achieve these goals.

My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the United States Air Force out of high school. There, he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays worldwide, from US military bases across Europe to the Pentagon, protecting American military bases and our nation. He then used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in mainframe and computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell Soup, and DuPont. The conversations I had over the years with him ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum at my high school. Beyond this, I leverage technology to address community, national, and global issues, using social media, communication platforms, inventory management systems, video production applications, and syndication networks to address issues ranging from physical fitness to mental health. One significant challenge facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. According to the Rand Study families earning below $50,000 say that cost is the top reason their kids stop playing sports. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. Further research shows 75 percent of 12-year-olds are dropping youth sports annually. To counter this negative trend, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018 using inventory management technology and engagement platforms to collect donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to provide free to kids. Over the past seven years ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 6,800 equipment items worth an estimated $361,000, equipping over 810 kids from 10 surrounding communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, Stack Sports Volunteer of the Year Award, a United States Congressional commemoration, a Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership, and was featured as one of my community’s top service initiatives of 2020. Beyond ‘Play It Forward,’ I started a network called ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to counter the mental health crisis I have witnessed in my community by promoting the good all around us. Over the past four years, as a global syndicated broadcast, GNN has produced over 225 episodes seen in over 65 countries to spotlight positivity and elevate the mental health of viewers. The show has been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, and UPtv. GNN has also been featured in Amazon 5-star rated children's book series "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and the book "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. As a second-year Dean’s List student at Villanova University, I hold a 3.96 GPA. I was recently accepted as one of five students into the Department of Computing’s accelerated 5-year BS/MS computer science & software engineering program. I am studying various evolving areas, including machine learning, data structures, application development, and computational strategies focusing on advancing my technology talents to continue to make meaningful impacts. In addition, I look to tap into the positivity and potential of technology to enhance lives and elevate communities. The CH2M HILL Alumni Association Legacy Gift Fund Scholarship would be tremendously supportive in helping me to achieve these goals.

In the nineteen years I have been blessed to live in this world, I have come to accept that questioning one's faith in God is far more natural and normal than most realize. Having lost my uncle at a young age, I believe I am familiar with the experience of doubting God's intentions and even questioning his existence. My grief created a rift between God and me and was one that would not heal for many years. Before I hit double-digits, I lay awake most nights fearing what came after death, wondering if my uncle was at peace. Anger burrowed within my heart each Sunday as my parents dragged me to church, where I would do my best to ignore every word spoken. Worst of all, the conversations and prayers I would share with God began to dwindle until they vanished altogether. While my grief strangled my faith, my mother used the pain from her brother's loss to strengthen her relationship with God. However, there were days when my uncle's absence stung more than most. One of those days, my mom had been driving home, the silence leading her thoughts to linger on her grief. Attempting to quiet them, she switched on the radio. Several years before his passing, my uncle had been in the hospital. To cheer him up, my mom handed the phone to my younger sister, who cheerfully sang him "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley and the Wailers. The very song that came on the radio as my mom drove home. A few minutes after the song concluded, my mom glanced up at the truck in front of her, swiftly grabbed her phone, and snapped a picture of the license plate. I will never forget my utter shock after she revealed the license plate: ANTHONY - my uncle's name. The "sign" my mother experienced that day sparked something in me. My eyes opened, and I began recognizing these "signs." Over time, I began to associate two occurrences with my uncle: seeing a cardinal or a mourning dove. A cardinal would never be far when I grieved his absence, and a mourning dove was almost always perched on the bench dedicated to my uncle. My faith and relationship with God slowly began to heal. I started listening to the sermons at church and began praying to Him again. While these moments of unexplained coincidences assisted in the return of my faith, one moment stands out from the others. Why, you may ask? Because it did not come when I was struggling or grieving. One Sunday in late Winter, I was kneeling in a church pew reciting my prayers when a name appeared in my mind. One I had not thought of for years. Javin. The son of one of my father's closest friends. We had met a handful of times in our youth, but due to living on opposite sides of the country, it had been years since we saw each other. And yet, my mind continued muttering his name in my ear. So, without a second thought, I prayed for Javin and his family. Two days later, my mom asked me if I remembered the son of my dad's close friend. After I nodded, she informed me that Javin was in the hospital. I believe coincidences can happen, but after experiencing an event tied to God, my faith has only grown. In terms of academics, my Grandfather was the inspiration for me to study computer science and cybersecurity. As one of nine kids growing up poor in inner-city Philadelphia, he didn't have the opportunity to go to college. So he enlisted in the Air Force where he learned to build and operate radar systems to protect bases around the world for the US. He always said his faith gave him a purpose to protect others and our nation. His faithful approach motivates me to use my God-given skills to become an expert in technology, which I why I chose to study at Villanova University, a Catholic school specializing in technology. My skills have earned the Amie Dansby Women in Technology Award, VIP Women in Tech Scholarship, Endeavour Women in Technology Scholarship and McCann National STEM Scholarship. Some say that studying a scientific-based discipline creates a conflict with God. For me it's the opposite, God has created science to help us innovate towards a better society and life, and my studies have only grown my faith in God, particularly as a student of STEM.

The simple idea I regularly share with others to live in harmony with our surroundings is to find ways to make a positive impact on others. Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, meaning “together” and “munis,” meaning “performing services.” So the very word “community” is built on the idea of performing service together. Beyond this, communication is vital to successful service, particularly in connecting and rallying communities to address pressing issues. Motivating individuals to help others is essential to improving one’s community. Many don’t see technology as a benefit to individuals' physical and mental health. Instead, most people would likely say that technology diminishes kids' mental well-being and physical fitness. However, using various applications, including video production, data management, and social media syndication, I have shown that technology can rally communities to deliver valuable mental and physical health benefits to individuals. Playing sports can be crucial to a healthy childhood and growing into a responsible adult, providing invaluable mental, physical and emotional benefits. Tragically, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports today, down from 45% in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beyond this, 75% of 12-year-olds are dropping sports annually largely due to the burdensome costs. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in the summer of 2018. The initiative collects donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. Through effective communication, the program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. Over six years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 8,200 sports items, equipping over 780 kids across 10 communities, providing a level playing field for sports access to kids. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my communication, leadership, organization, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward for our community while I am in college. Although I help run it when I am back home on breaks. As a Dean’s List computer science sophomore at Villanova University, I am now focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on others through innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and even artificial intelligence will allow me to devise and develop more advanced innovations to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond.

Ancient Greece, although a civilization buried centuries in the past, remains a staple of modern society through its relevance across politics, mathematics, education, and literature with no clear sign of ceasing. This relevance is evident through familiarity with works such as The Odyssey, The Iliad, and Sophocles' Oedipus the King. This famous piece follows Oedipus, the King of Thebes, as his life falls into chaos after the unveiling of past mistakes, and long-awaited Fate arrives to collect her due. To quote French fabulist Jean De La Fontaine, "A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it," a message that certainly rings true within this Greek tragedy. Throughout the play, the characters desperately attempt to outrun their prophesized destinies, but their efforts are collectively in vain. The analysis of Oedipus' fall from grace requires the consideration of other contributing factors, primarily the characters and events within the play, as well as the historical and cultural context in which Sophocles crafted this piece. The prophecy at the center of this tragedy proves that fate is inescapable, a lesson central to Ancient Greek culture, despite the characters' desperate attempts to avoid it because of their flawed decisions, hubris, and the impossibility of defying the gods’ will, as shown by Oedipus' fateful encounter at the crossroads, his arrogance in dismissing repeated warnings, and the gods' omnipotent control over mortal lives. The theme of fate is crucial to the narrative of this tragedy, as it catalyzes the primary events and actions made by each character. The desire to escape destiny is the key motive behind the decisions made by Jocasta, Laius, and Oedipus throughout the story. Ironically, each decision only inches them closer to the prophecy until its ultimate fulfillment. This pattern begins after Laius and Jocasta hear the prophecy foretelling that their son will kill his father and wed his mother. Horrified by this omen, the pair make the fateful decision to abandon their newborn son. Jocasta recollects how Laius "fastened his ankles, had a henchman fling him away on a barren, trackless mountain" (ll. 792-793). This illustrates the brutal treatment and complete disregard for their child because of the paramount importance of the prophecy. In the years following this desperate choice, Jocasta loses her belief in prophecies after thieves reportedly killed Laius at a crossroads rather than her son, and she remarries, unafraid. However, although the prophecy seemed thwarted, as the story progresses, it is revealed that Jocasta and Laius' son survived. The servant tasked with abandoning the infant could not bring himself to kill the child. Instead, he gave the baby to a shepherd, who delivered him to the king and queen of Corinth. They decided to raise the boy as their own and named him Oedipus. Years later, when Oedipus was a grown man, he heard the same prophecy claiming he would bed his mother and murder his father. In an attempt to protect himself and his presumed parents, Oedipus fled Corinth. He claims that he is "always running toward some place where [he] would never see the shame of all those oracles come true" (ll. 878-880). It is this decision to leave Corinth that brought Oedipus to a crossroads. At this crossroads, Oedipus murders a man who nearly ran him down with his carriage. Unbeknownst to Oedipus at the time, that man was Laius, his father, fulfilling the first half of the prophecy. Following this event, Oedipus defeats the Sphinx and is crowned king of Thebes as a reward, wedding the previous queen, Jocasta, his mother. The irony of this situation continues past the point of the prophecy's fulfillment, as its fruition remains unknown to the characters who continue trying to escape a fate that has already come to pass. The futile attempts of the characters to escape their fates highlight the irony of this tragedy: every action taken in defiance of the prophecy only ensures its occurrence. Interestingly, Oedipus' fall from grace was not caused purely by the realization of prophecy but also by his hubris. Oedipus and Jocasta reigned happily over Thebes for many years, having four children together, unaware of her maternal relationship to him. This joy promptly ceases when the gods send a plague to run rampant in Thebes as punishment for the murder of Laius. This conflict leads Oedipus to search restlessly for the culprit, but in doing so, he slowly uncovers the truth. Throughout this venture, characters frantically warn him to abandon his hunt, yet his arrogance and hubris drive him to dismiss their pleas. For example, when Oedipus summons the blind prophet Tiresias to tell him who murdered Laius, Tiresias begs to be dismissed, warning that Oedipus should not discover the truth, "Just send me home. You bear your burdens, I'll bear mine. It's better that way, please believe me" (ll. 364-366). Tiresias is desperate to keep Oedipus from the truth to preserve his well-being. Yet, undeterred, Oedipus continues interrogating Tiresias through mouthfuls of insults and threats until the prophet finally answers: "You are the curse, the corruption of the land!" (ll. 401). Despite Tiresias finally revealing the truth to Oedipus, the king of Thebes refuses to accept it, continuing his verbal assault on the blind prophet until he departs. Another instance of Oedipus' damaging hubris is when Jocasta realizes Oedipus is her son and tries to stop him before he discovers the truth for himself. She implores him, "Stop - in the name of god, if you love your own life, call off this search! My suffering is enough!" (ll. 1163-1165). Oedipus' arrogant desire to be all-knowing and his fear of withheld information compels him to disregard her, "listen to you? No more. I must know it all, must see the truth at last" (ll. 1168-1169). This demonstration of ignorance and hubris not only leads to his discovery of his parentage but also drives Jocasta to commit suicide. Additionally, when he finds her, Oedipus gouges his eyes and pleads with Creon to banish him for the sake of Thebes. Ultimately, Oedipus' refusal to heed warnings and his relentless pursuit of the truth exemplify how hubris can blind individuals to caution and reason, resulting in their ruin. To fully grasp the inevitability of Oedipus' fate, one must consider the impact of Ancient Greek culture on the play's narrative. The lives of the Ancient Greeks revolved around their gods, believing that every event, whether a blessing or misfortune, was considered a reward or punishment from their deities. As a result, the depiction of this divine power was frequently included within their literature and plays, with Oedipus the King being no exception. This Greek tragedy consistently acknowledges the gods' power over fate, as the chorus claims, "Zeus and Apollo know, they know the great masters of all the dark and depth of human life" (ll. 561-562). In this instance, the chorus references Zeus, the god of the sky, thunder, lightning, and the ruler of the gods, as well as Apollo, the god of the sun, music, healing, and prophecy. The mention of these two divinities reminds the audience of the gods' omniscience and authority over mortals. The chorus' words suggest the gods determine life's course, making any attempt to escape fate foolish. This belief in prophecy was deeply rooted in Ancient Greece, with esteemed prophets and oracles believed to commune with the gods. In Oedipus the King, Tiresias, the blind prophet, stresses this divine power when he tells Oedipus, "True, it is not your fate to fall at my hands. Apollo is quite enough, and he will take some pains to work this out" (ll. 428-430). Tiresias reminds Oedipus that while it is true that he has no power over Oedipus' fate, Apollo is the puppeteer pulling the strings that determine his future. Despite Oedipus' defiance and attempts to avoid his destiny, the play demonstrates that the gods' will cannot be outrun. In addition to prophecy, the concept of hubris is another revered value of Ancient Greece expressed in this play. To the Greeks, hubris was deeply frowned upon and considered offensive to the gods. This culture regarded hubris as a fatal flaw and expected the gods to respond with punishment. As previously established, Oedipus' arrogance and defiance of the prophecy only seal his tragic fate. This conclusion reinforces the values of Greek culture and serves as a reminder that those who dare disobey the gods will face the repercussions. The fulfillment of the prophecy foretelling that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother is essential for both the narrative and the message intended for the Ancient Greek audience. The characters' desperate efforts to outwit fate serve to ensure the outcome they seek to escape. Through Oedipus' tragic fall from grace, Sophocles evaluates the futility of defying destiny and the consequences of arrogance. The cultural backdrop of this play asserts these themes, as the gods' omnipotence and the condemnation of hubris were central to the values of the Ancient Greeks. The inescapable and inevitable nature of the prophecy crafts timeless lessons regarding the importance of humility and the everlasting authority fate has over our lives. As the audience grapples with the questions of destiny and choice, this tragedy continues to stand as an insightful reminder of the enduring relevance of ancient wisdom.

Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen first-hand how these impact myself and others, including friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. While technology, and specifically social media, often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it also can connect and unite communities to help those in need. The fundamental connectivity of this technology inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my mental well-being. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through the Facebook app. Over nearly seven years Play It Forward has collected over 8,600 items, equipping over 790 kids across 10 communities. The program provides these young athletes with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives. Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. It’s also motivating me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a second-year Villanova University Dean’s List computer science major with a 3.97 GPA, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need.

Working with Luci has changed my life. The first time I met the skittish 27-year-old rescue horse, she was terrified to even leave the barn or her male companion, Ben, for a moment. Luci has been found wandering in the woods with fresh wounds that indicated that she was abused. It was unclear if she was abandoned or had run away, but it was clear that she needed help. She had already been at the stables when I began assisting there. I first encountered her ‘clinging’ to the far wall of her stall, very apprehensive of my presence. I had to take her out to muck her stall, but I had to show her that she was safe with me. This took some time just talking with her and easing towards her step by step. After about 20 minutes she sighed and seemed to accept that things were OK. So she cautiously sauntered out of her stall so I could get to work. I made it my mission to help her so she could live unafraid once again. I began by walking with her through the field to strengthen our connection and build her trust in me. Initially, she only made it about 10 yards out to the massive open field. Every time we would go slightly further. As the summer passed, I realized that not only was I helping her, but she was helping me. No matter how frustrating or chaotic my day was, I always left Luci smiling and high-spirited. She showed how patience and empathy can impact one another and simple kindness can build comfort and confidence for anyone, especially a horse. I will never forget the day I arrived and saw Ben and Luci grazing way out in the field. She has built up the confidence to travel farther than she ever. She started galloping around with periodic bucks which showed utter joy, as if she had shed the bridle of abuse which was holding her back. It made me teary-eyed to see how far she had come. As the summer went on, she finally started allowing me to brush her, as I took deep care to avoid her scars. Over several days I was able to groom her until her once shaggy coat became clean and soft. She also allowed me to finally bathe her. As she got more comfortable, the horse who would not let anyone near her face would greet me by nudging me with her nose and shaking her lip whenever she saw me, something that shows relaxation and affection, of which I have a tremendous amount for her. Luci has made me a more empathetic, patient person who understands the impact this can have on others. For this, I will forever love her for what she has done for me, and look forward to time together again.

Failure is often seen by many as one of life's most challenging aspects, yet it can also deliver some of its most valuable lessons. When I was younger and less observant, I failed my teammate, which still motivates me today. As a 12-year-old, she was struggling socially with her teammates. She didn’t have the right soccer equipment - her shin guards were old and flimsy and she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in some of our teammates shunning her. I didn't realize that this was a major cause of her social challenges. Next year, I noticed a softball teammate who did not have a helmet or cleats. This time I recognized the issue and discreetly gave her some outgrown gear. I will forever remember her look of appreciation. It’s no secret that playing sports can be crucial in helping kids live healthy, develop confidence and grow into responsible adults. Unfortunately, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45% in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further, roughly 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. To address this, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey equipment. The program provides players with free gear to enjoy the benefits of sports, including better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. The lynchpin to ‘Play It Forward’ is technology, connecting and motivating residents to participate while bridging unneeded sports gear scattered in garages and sheds with kids who can benefit from it. Over six years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,400 donated equipment items, equipping over 780 kids in need across 10 communities, providing a level playing field for equal sports access. While I sincerely appreciate ‘Play It Forward’ being honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and the Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. As a Dean's List computer science major at Villanova University, I am focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people through science and service. It’s vital to remember that our greatest successes can come from our worst failures when we choose to learn from them to create positivity.

Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen first-hand how these impact myself and others, including friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. While technology often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it also can connect communities to help those in need. The fundamental connectivity of this technology inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my mental well-being. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through the Facebook app. Over five years Play It Forward has collected over 8,400 items, equipping over 780 kids across 10 communities. The program provides these young athletes with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids but also transformed my life. It has shown me the power of empathy, commitment, and selflessness and motivated me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a second-year Villanova University Dean’s List computer science major with a 3.97 GPA, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to innovatively address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need.

Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen first-hand how these impact myself and others, including friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. While social media often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it also can connect communities to help those in need. The fundamental connectivity of this technology inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my mental well-being. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through the Facebook app. Over five years Play It Forward has collected over 8,400 items, equipping over 780 kids across 10 communities. The program provides these young athletes with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. It’s also motivating me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a second-year Villanova University Dean’s List computer science major with a 3.97 GPA, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need.

As a second-year Dean's List computer science student at Villanova University, I develop solutions to community issues at the crossroads of empathy and technology. My technology talents have received several national STEM honors, including the Dansby Women in Tech Award, Endeavour Women in Tech Scholar, McCann National STEM Scholar, Study.com Computer Science Scholar and VIP Women in Tech Scholar. Beyond this, my service leadership has received the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal and Union League Good Citizenship Award. Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen how these impact friends, classmates, teammates, neighbors and myself. While technology receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it also can connect communities to help those in need. Technology can be a bridge connecting us. It inspires me to elevate people's mental and physical health by uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness. When I was 12 I had a soccer teammate who was struggling mentally and socially with our teammates. She didn’t have the right soccer equipment - her shin guards were old and flimsy and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in some of the other girls shunning her. Unfortunately, she soon gave up soccer and moved away - I failed to be a supportive friend to her. After some research, I learned that, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research reveals that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Too many kids are missing out on the social, emotional and physical benefits of sports. I realized I could have helped my teammate. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. So, I designed a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. In 2018 I launched Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program. Over six years Play It Forward has collected over 8,400 items, equipping over 790 kids across 10 communities. The program provides kids with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives. While it's been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, Trophy Central Sportsmanship Service Award and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. Play It Forward has made me more empathetic, committed, outgoing and innovative. As a computer science student, I am advancing my technology skills to deliver other innovative solutions to address pressing community challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need. The Dream Valley Landscaping Scholarship would provide a foundation for me to elevate my skills and education to achieve these goals for my community and beyond.

Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen how these impact friends, classmates, teammates, neighbors and myself. While technology receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it can also connect communities to help neighbors in need. Technology can be a bridge connecting us. It inspires me to elevate people's mental and physical health by uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental and physical fitness. When I was 12 I had a soccer teammate who was struggling mentally and socially with our teammates. She didn’t have the right soccer equipment - her shin guards were old and flimsy and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in some of the other girls shunning her. Unfortunately, she soon gave up soccer and moved away - I failed to be a supportive friend to her. After some research, I learned that, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research reveals that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Too many kids are missing out on the social, emotional and physical benefits of sports. I realized I should have helped my teammate. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, just collecting dust. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. So, I designed a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. In 2018 I launched Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program. Over six years Play It Forward has collected over 8,400 items, equipping over 790 kids across 10 communities. The program provides kids with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives. While it's been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, Trophy Central Sportsmanship Service Award and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. Play It Forward has made me more empathetic, committed, outgoing and innovative. As a Dean's List computer science student at Villanova University, I am advancing my technology skills to deliver other innovative solutions to address pressing community challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need. The John Young 'Pursue Your Passion' Scholarship would provide a foundation for me to elevate my skills and education to achieve these goals for my community and beyond.

As a second-year Dean's List computer science student at Villanova University, I develop solutions to community issues at the crossroads of empathy and technology. My technology talents have received several national STEM honors, including the Dansby Women in Tech Award, Endeavour Women in Tech Scholar, McCann National STEM Scholar, Study.com Computer Science Scholar and VIP Women in Tech Scholar. Beyond this, my service leadership has received the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal and Union League Good Citizenship Award. Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen how these impact friends, classmates, teammates, neighbors and myself. While technology receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it also can connect communities to help those in need. Technology can be a bridge connecting us. It inspires me to elevate people's mental and physical health by uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness. When I was 12 I had a soccer teammate who was struggling mentally and socially with our teammates. She didn’t have the right soccer equipment - her shin guards were old and flimsy and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. This resulted in some of the other girls shunning her. Unfortunately, she soon gave up soccer and moved away - I failed to be a supportive friend to her. After some research, I learned that, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research reveals that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Too many kids are missing out on the social, emotional and physical benefits of sports. I realized I could have helped my teammate. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. So, I designed a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. In 2018 I launched Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program. Over six years Play It Forward has collected over 8,400 items, equipping over 790 kids across 10 communities. The program provides kids with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives. While it's been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, Trophy Central Sportsmanship Service Award and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. Play It Forward has made me more empathetic, committed, outgoing and innovative. As a computer science student, I am advancing my technology skills to deliver other innovative solutions to address pressing community challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need. The Team ROX Scholarship would help provide a foundation for me to elevate my skills and education to achieve these goals for my community and beyond.

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, which means “together” and “munis,” which means “performing services.” So the very world community is built on the idea of performing service together, providing stronger, safer neighborhoods. Given this, I strive to contribute meaningfully to my community. I do this as a member of service groups like Works of Mercy and the St. Thomas of Villanova Service Initiative which conduct food and clothing drives, orphanage holiday toy collections, and help support inner-city churches. I have been a volunteer self-defense instructor, soccer coach for 3-4 year olds, and mentor to younger Girl Scouts. Sharing your talents to help others is essential to improving one’s community. In this spirit, I volunteer to sing the national anthem for local events. People should experience the national anthem live to feel its essence to elevate one’s patriotism. I perform for VFW Veterans’ Day ceremonies, Little League Opening Day ceremonies and district games, Rotary Club meetings, Soldiers’ Christmas, charity 5K races and our Gold Star Garden dedication, honoring Gold Star Families and their fallen loved ones. My most cherished initiative focuses on local kids. Playing sports can be crucial in helping kids grow into responsible, confident adults, which I have experienced first-hand by playing soccer and softball, and competing in Karate and Taekwondo. Only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research shows approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. So this crisis continues to grow, shutting more and more kids in need from playing the sports they love. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. The program provides players with free gear to keep playing. Play It Forward has collected over 6,800 donated items, equipping over 630 kids across nine communities, providing a level playing field for sports access. While I deeply appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. As a rising Dean’s List sophomore at Villanova University, I aim to expand my technology talents to continue delivering advanced innovations to address more pressing problems to make our communities safer and more inclusive, especially for those vulnerable neighbors who are the most in need. The Kalia D. Davis Memorial Scholarship would be tremendously supportive in achieving this. Kalia must have been a tremendous person as a genuine scholar-athlete who wanted to serve our nation. As a fellow scholar-athlete, I truly appreciate these aspects that motivated her. This scholarship is a tremendous way to honor her contribution to so many who were blessed to know her and preserve her "living, loving, laughing, learning legacy," each of which is a foundational building block of my own life.

With financial education so limited for young people, too many fall into money management traps that can take a lifetime to get out of. I've written a poem to educate and encourage my generation to learn about money and embrace financial responsibility by saving, investing, using credit wisely, and planning early retirement. Understanding and embracing these lessons will provide a solid financial position throughout life. Credit and crypto, dollars and sense, Managing money can be so intense. Spending too much and credit abuse, Makes managing money like chasing a goose. Start early and smart with budgets and saving, Or to financial security, goodbye you'll be waving. Be wise with your funds and spend with a cap, And soon that wild money goose can fall into your trap. Understanding money seems simple enough, Yet as we grow older, it can really get rough. Expenses, bills, savings, and credit, It can get out of hand if we step back and let it. Car payments, utilities, rent, groceries, and gas, Your earnings can vanish incredibly fast. Having a money plan is the key to success, In order to save and to spend money less. Start with a budget; this is the key, So you know what to spend with savings, you’ll see. Cut out the expenses you simply don’t need, Go with necessities to just plant the seed. Every expense needs a budget to map, Ignoring this amount can result in a trap. It’s not always easy and can easily offend, But the discipline now can pay off in the end. The money left over should be safely put away, In a bank account, investment, or 401K. This builds up a nest egg, so when there's a rare urge, You can take out some cash and enjoy a small splurge. Don’t fall into the trap with your slick credit card, If you don’t pay off the bill, the debt can be hard. Use credit smart so you can pay the whole bill, It will make life much easier by avoiding the debt hill. Plan for the future and what’s up ahead. When the unexpected happens, you’ll be ready instead. Control your expenses and just stay the course, Financial stability will grow from this source. Follow these ideas and your money can grow, Just shrug them off and the growth will be slow. So look for you financial future to be bright, And grab that wild money goose and hold on real tight. *honk*

In the nineteen years I have been blessed to live in this world, I have come to accept that questioning one's faith in God is far more natural and normal than most realize. Having lost my uncle at a young age, I believe I am familiar with the experience of doubting God's intentions and even questioning his existence. My grief created a rift between God and me and was one that would not heal for many years. Before I hit double-digits, I lay awake most nights fearing what came after death, wondering if my uncle was at peace. Anger burrowed within my heart each Sunday as my parents dragged me to church, where I would do my best to ignore every word spoken. Worst of all, the conversations and prayers I would share with God began to dwindle until they vanished altogether. While my grief strangled my faith, my mother used the pain from her brother's loss to strengthen her relationship with God. However, there were days when my uncle's absence stung more than most. One of those days, my mom had been driving home, the silence leading her thoughts to linger on her grief. Attempting to quiet them, she switched on the radio. Several years before his passing, my uncle had been in the hospital. To cheer him up, my mom handed the phone to my younger sister, who cheerfully sang him "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley and the Wailers. The very song that came on the radio as my mom drove home. A few minutes after the song concluded, my mom glanced up at the truck in front of her, swiftly grabbed her phone, and snapped a picture of the license plate. I will never forget my utter shock after she revealed the license plate: ANTHONY - my uncle's name. The "sign" my mother experienced that day sparked something in me. My eyes opened, and I began recognizing these "signs." Over time, I began to associate two occurrences with my uncle: seeing a cardinal or a mourning dove. A cardinal would never be far when I grieved his absence, and a mourning dove was almost always perched on the bench dedicated to my uncle. My faith and relationship with God slowly began to heal as time passed. I started listening to the sermons at church and began praying and speaking to Him again. One Sunday in late winter, I was kneeling in a church pew reciting my prayers when a name appeared in my mind. One I had not thought of for years - Javin. The son of one of my father's closest friends. We had met a handful of times in our youth, but due to living on opposite sides of the country, it had been years since we saw each other. And yet, my mind continued muttering his name in my ear. So, without a second thought, I prayed for Javin and his family. Two days later, my mom asked me if I remembered the son of my dad's close friend. After I nodded, she informed me that Javin was in the hospital. Thankfully, after countless prayers, I learned that Javin was finally recovered and released from the hospital after a few weeks. My faith is a deep driving force in my life. This is largely why I chose to attend Villanova University, the nation's only Catholic Augustinian university. As a national STEM scholar, my experience here provides a faithful foundation for my collegiate experience. Studying in this faith-based community has given me enhanced exposure to the glory of God.

Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen first-hand how these impact myself and others, including friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. While social media often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it also can connect communities to help those in need. The fundamental connectivity of this technology inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my mental well-being. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through social platforms. Over five years Play It Forward has collected over 8,400 items, equipping over 780 kids across 10 communities. The program provides these young athletes with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. It’s also motivating me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a second-year Villanova University Dean’s List computer science major with a 3.97 GPA, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need.

While technology appropriately receives tremendous criticism for its impact on mental health, it can also be an equalizer for the less fortunate when used to unite and rally people around a problem. It can connect, engage, and motivate individuals to effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. Many of my most significant STEM experiences use technology in this way, to develop innovative solutions to pressing community problems. One significant issue facing kids today is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts their physical, mental, social, and emotional health. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-to-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008, with about 75 percent of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear. I realized unused equipment must be scattered across our community's garages, basements, and sheds. I realized we needed a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who need it. From this, the idea of 'Play It Forward' was born. Since 2018 ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) has collected donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play, providing them healthier lifestyles, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. The program leverages social platforms to promote the program, communication tools to educate and motivate donors, and inventory management systems to track and distribute donated equipment to youth athletes across our region. Play It Forward relies on technology to connect, engage, and motivate thousands of residents to participate, donate and spread the word. Over the past six years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,500 equipment items, equipping over 790 kids across ten communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year Award and TrophyCentral Service MVP Award. Yet, seeing kids' smiles when getting their gear is the program’s greatest validation. As a second-year Dean’s List computer science student at Villanova University, I am studying a spectrum of innovative areas, including platform computing, application development and machine learning. I am also a member of Villanova’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Idea Lab. My technology skills have been honored with the Dansby Women in Technology National Award, and as a McCann STEM National Scholar, VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and Endeavour Women in Tech National Scholar. I am now focusing on advancing my computer science skills to solve more pressing challenges that face our vulnerable neighbors and show that technology can be a force for good, uniting communities and elevating those in need all around us.

While technology appropriately receives tremendous criticism for its impact on mental health, it can also be an equalizer for the less fortunate when used to unite and rally people around a problem. It can connect, engage, and motivate individuals to effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. Many of my most significant STEM experiences use technology in this way, to develop innovative solutions to pressing community problems. One significant issue facing kids today is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts their physical, mental, social, and emotional health. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-to-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008, with about 75 percent of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear. I realized unused equipment must be scattered across our community's garages, basements, and sheds. I realized we needed a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who need it. From this, the idea of 'Play It Forward' was born. Since 2018 ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) has collected donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play, providing them healthier lifestyles, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. The program leverages social platforms to promote the program, communication tools to educate and motivate donors, and inventory management systems to track and distribute donated equipment to youth athletes across our region. Play It Forward relies on technology to connect, engage, and motivate thousands of residents to participate, donate and spread the word. Over the past six years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,500 equipment items, equipping over 790 kids across ten communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year Award and TrophyCentral Service MVP Award. Yet, seeing kids' smiles when getting their gear is the program’s greatest validation. As a second-year Dean’s List computer science student at Villanova University, I am studying a spectrum of innovative areas, including platform computing, application development and machine learning. I am also a member of Villanova’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Idea Lab. My technology skills have been honored with the Dansby Women in Technology National Award, and as a McCann STEM National Scholar, VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and Endeavour Women in Tech National Scholar. I am now focusing on advancing my computer science skills to solve more pressing challenges that face the vulnerable in our society and show that technology can be a force for good, uniting communities and elevating our neighbors in need.

Gaining a deeper understanding of our universe is perhaps the most profound and inspiring pursuit we can have as a species. Humans have always had a deep internal desire to understand the world around us while seeking to learn about the ‘world beyond,’ whether new lands, deep oceans or expansive space. This fundamental curiosity drives our progress and innovation which has led to countless advancements that have impacted our existence. This curiosity about the universe is largely driven by some key basic questions. How did the universe begin? What’s happening to it? What’s our purpose? Are we alone in the cosmos? The pursuit of the answers to these questions is a driving force for our continual exploration, which began across the seas and expands across the stars. It’s also a motivation for us to elevate our sense of well-being as a species. Few initiatives have driven technology innovation in our society like our pursuit of understanding the universe. Advancements in exploration tools like telescopes, space probes and rocketry continue to push the boundaries of engineering, computing and science. However, our daily lives also benefit from these innovations. We see life enhancements with advancements like GPS, microwave ovens, insulation and countless other products we use regularly which were developed through our space program. Beyond this, studying to understand the universe gives us an important sense of perspective and our role in the ever-expanding cosmos. Aside from providing us with a sense of wonder and adventure, this also provides our species with humility and appreciation for our planet and our connection with life across our world, fostering a desire to preserve our home and protect its natural ecosystems. As a student who studies philosophy and ethics, I believe that a deeper understanding of the universe helps to answer and raise questions about dimensions like our role, responsibility, existence, morals and consciousness in a broader universal context. Again, this provides invaluable perspective for us to move forward as a species with a deeper view of our role and our impact beyond our backyard. The study of our galaxy informs us on important topics ranging from cosmic radiation, gravitational fields, asteroid impacts, and climate change to help us develop enhanced safeguards for Earth. We’re also seeing advancements in science pursuits around mathematics, astrophysics, quantum mechanics, chemistry, biology, and computer science as our space program drives innovations with artificial intelligence, machine learning and ‘big data’ analysis to understand space experiments, tests and missions. We’re also seeing an elevation in the development of robotics and rocketry, with enhanced capabilities, like SpaceX’s ability to ‘catch’ a rocket booster after launch. This makes these boosters reusable, making exploration more efficient, safer and cost-effective. Like the early explorers centuries ago, our upcoming exploration will require intense drive and incredible courage. Our next set of explorers will be heading into dangerous, unknown territories as they head to Mars and beyond, leaving the comfort and security of Earth. My interest in these questions motivated me to go to Florida recently to witness the launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket for its Astranis mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The midnight launch was an incredible experience that gave me a front-row seat to witness the incredible innovation our world is experiencing. As a second-year computer science major, seeing this innovation first-hand has further inspired me to continue advancing my technology talents around the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, platform development and data analysis to play a role in this ever-expanding innovation. Gaining a deeper understanding of our universe drives our innovation and inspiration resulting in enhancements and advancements of our technology and approach to how we live our lives, treat each other and care for our world and beyond.

Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen first-hand how these impact myself and others, including friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. While social media often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it also can connect communities to help those in need. The fundamental connectivity of this technology inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my mental well-being. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through the Facebook app. Over five years Play It Forward has collected over 8,400 items, equipping over 780 kids across 10 communities. The program provides these young athletes with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. It’s also motivating me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a second-year Villanova University Dean’s List computer science major with a 3.97 GPA, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need.

Mental health is vital to all of us because it’s the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today there are many challenges to our mental well-being including stress, isolation, social media, negative news and financial difficulties. I have seen first-hand how these impact myself and others, including friends, classmates, teammates and neighbors. While social media often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health, it also can connect communities to help those in need. The fundamental connectivity of this technology inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my mental well-being. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through the Facebook app. Over five years Play It Forward has collected over 8,400 items, equipping over 780 kids across 10 communities. The program provides these young athletes with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. It’s also motivating me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a second-year Villanova University Dean’s List computer science major with a 3.97 GPA, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need.

Mental health is the foundation for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, today many challenges to kids' mental are beyond their control. While social media often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact, it also can connect communities to help others. This community connectivity inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate the mental and physical health of kids. Since 2018 I have run Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community and a technology bridge could connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology that connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program. Over six years Play It Forward has collected over 8,400 items, equipping over 780 kids across 10 communities. This provides these young athletes with increased physical fitness, enhanced motor and social skills, improved self-confidence and happier lives Play It Forward’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award and Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year honor. However, the true validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and the impact of kindness. As an second-year Villanova University Dean’s List computer science major with a 3.97 GPA, I am an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to unite communities to elevate the lives of more people in need.

While technology appropriately receives tremendous criticism for its impact on mental health, it can also be an equalizer for the less fortunate when used to unite and rally people around a problem. It can connect, engage, and motivate individuals to effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. Many of my most significant STEM experiences use technology in this way, to develop innovative solutions to pressing community problems. One significant issue facing kids today is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts their physical, mental, social, and emotional health. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-to-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008, with about 75 percent of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear. I realized unused equipment must be scattered across our community's garages, basements, and sheds. I realized we needed a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who need it. From this, the idea of 'Play It Forward' was born. Since 2018 ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) has collected donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play, providing them healthier lifestyles, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. The program leverages social platforms to promote the program, communication tools to educate and motivate donors, and inventory management systems to track and distribute donated equipment to youth athletes across our region. Play It Forward relies on technology to connect, engage, and motivate thousands of residents to participate, donate and spread the word. Over the past six years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,500 equipment items, equipping over 790 kids across ten communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year Award and TrophyCentral Service MVP Award. Yet, seeing kids' smiles when getting their gear is the program’s greatest validation. As a second-year Dean’s List computer science student at Villanova University, I am studying a spectrum of innovative areas, including platform computing, application development and machine learning. I am also a member of Villanova’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Idea Lab. My technology skills have been honored with the Dansby Women in Technology National Award, and as a McCann STEM National Scholar, VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and Endeavour Women in Tech National Scholar. I am now focusing on advancing my computer science skills to solve more pressing challenges that face our society to illustrate that technology can be a force for good to unite communities and elevate the most vulnerable around us.

Technology is an equalizer for the less fortunate when used to unite people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the US Air Force out of high school. There, he learned to build radar arrays protecting military bases worldwide. He used these skills to build a 30-year computer network career, working for companies like Mars, Campbell Soup, and DuPont. Our conversations ignited my technology interest, fueling me to max out my school’s computer science curriculum. However, his use of technology to protect our military troops worldwide inspired my initial interest in cybersecurity and motivated me to focus my studies in the field. Beyond security, technology can be a force for good. I use it in this very way to innovate solutions to significant issues facing my community. One issue is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with, from cleats and bags to bats and gloves. I realized unused equipment must be scattered across our community's garages, basements, and sheds. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward was born. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It uses social platforms and communication tools to educate, inform, and engage our residents and inventory management systems to help track and distribute donated equipment to youth athletes across our community. This technology connects, engages, and motivates residents to participate. Over the past six years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,300 equipment items, equipping over 750 kids from 10 communities. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment. As a second-year Dean's List computer science major at Villanova University, I have been honored as the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award Recipient, VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, McCann National STEM Scholar and Endeavour Women in Tech Scholar. As a member of Villanova's Institute for Innovation Idea Lab I am advancing STEM skills while refining my technology talents, specifically in areas related to cybersecurity, including platform architecture, encryption and AI integration, to counter the negative applications of technology that exploit people and organizations by providing security to areas that are vital to our way of life.

While technology appropriately receives tremendous criticism for its impact on mental health, it can also be an equalizer for the less fortunate when used to unite and rally people around a problem. It can connect, engage, and motivate individuals to effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. Many of my most significant STEM experiences use technology in this way, to develop innovative solutions to pressing community problems. One significant issue facing kids today is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts their physical, mental, social, and emotional health. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-to-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008, with about 75 percent of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear. I realized unused equipment must be scattered across our community's garages, basements, and sheds. I realized we needed a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who need it. From this, the idea of 'Play It Forward' was born. Since 2018 ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) has collected donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play, providing them healthier lifestyles, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. The program leverages social platforms to promote the program, communication tools to educate and motivate donors, and inventory management systems to track and distribute donated equipment to youth athletes across our region. Play It Forward relies on technology to connect, engage, and motivate thousands of residents to participate, donate and spread the word. Over the past six years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,500 equipment items, equipping over 790 kids across ten communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, Stack Sports MVP Volunteer of the Year Award and TrophyCentral Service MVP Award. Yet, seeing kids' smiles when getting their gear is the program’s greatest validation. As a second-year Dean’s List computer science student at Villanova University, I am studying a spectrum of innovative areas, including platform computing, application development and machine learning. I am also a member of Villanova’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Idea Lab. My technology skills have been honored with the Dansby Women in Technology National Award, and as a McCann STEM National Scholar, VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and Endeavour Women in Tech National Scholar. I am now advancing my computer science skills to solve more pressing challenges that face our society to show that technology can be a force for good to unite communities and elevate the most vulnerable around us, helping others to overcome adversity to achieve in spectacular ways like Mark Green did.

While failure in a moment is often one of life's most challenging aspects, it can also be one of its most valuable lessons. When I was younger and less mature and observant, I failed my teammate. As a 12-year-old, she was struggling mentally and socially because she didn’t have the right soccer equipment - her shin guards were old and flimsy, she didn’t have her own ball for drills, and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. I befriended her, often being her drill partner since many other girls on our team shunned her. I didn’t realize at the time that her lack of equipment and socio-economic situation caused this. She soon gave up soccer and eventually moved away. I eventually realized I could have helped her by giving her some of the equipment I had outgrown, which may have kept her in sports and elevated her confidence. I failed to be a good friend and person in this situation. The following year, I played softball with a teammate who did not have their own helmet or cleats. I recognized the issue and casually asked her about her shoes and what size she wore. I discreetly brought her one of my outgrown helmets and cleats at the next practice. I will always remember her look of appreciation. Playing sports can be crucial in helping kids grow into responsible adults. Unfortunately, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play organized team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. This is a growing challenge facing our nation and my community, particularly with the impact of COVID and inflation on many families. According to Project Play, the average American family spends approximately $700 yearly on their child's sports. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. To address the issue for more kids and provide them with valuable sports experiences so they can thrive, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, and field hockey. The program provides players free gear to play and enjoy the benefits of sports. Over the past four years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,400 donated equipment items, equipping 780+ kids in need across 10 communities providing a level playing field for equal access to organized sports. While I sincerely appreciate that my efforts with ‘Play It Forward’ have been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and the Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their own sports gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country, and also a better friend, sister, daughter, and neighbor. As a Dean's List computer science major at Villanova University, I am now focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to make more meaningful engagements and profound impacts on people through the combination of science and service. I look to create impactful solutions to complex problems people are facing. Through all of this, it’s vital to remember that our greatest successes can come from our worst failures. We should never forget that while failure in a moment is often one of life's most challenging aspects, it can also be one of its most valuable lessons.

When I was a kid I was always tinkering and building - Legos, blocks, Play-Dough. I wanted to create new things. As I grew up my blocks and clay became code and technology, trying to create solutions to help those across my community in need. While technology appropriately receives tremendous criticism for its impact on mental health, it can also be an equalizer for the less fortunate when used to unite and rally people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. Many of my most significant STEM experiences use technology in this way, to develop innovative solutions to pressing community problems. One significant issue facing kids today is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts their physical, mental, social, and emotional health. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-to-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008, with about 75 percent of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in garages, basements, and sheds across our community. I thought about building a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of 'Play It Forward' was born. I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. I leverage social platforms to promote the program, communication tools to educate and motivate donors, and inventory management systems to track and distribute donated equipment to youth athletes across our region. Play It Forward relies on technology to connect, engage, and motivate hundreds of residents to participate and spread the word, donating thousands of equipment pieces to help hundreds of kids. Over the past six years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,500 equipment items, equipping over 790 kids across ten communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal and TrophyCentral Service MVP Award. Yet, the greatest validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment. As a second-year Dean’s List computer science student at Villanova University, I am a member of Villanova’s Institute for Innovation Idea Lab. I am also a Dansby Women in Technology National Award Winner, McCann STEM National Scholar, VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and Endeavour Women in Technology National Scholar. Studying a spectrum of areas, including platform computing, application development, machine meaning and data structures, I am focusing on advancing my computer science skills further to solve more pressing challenges that face our society to show that technology can be a force for good. So, I guess my tinkering as a kid has motivated me to innovate as an adult to unite my community to spread positivity to help others.

While technology appropriately receives tremendous criticism for its impact on mental health, it can also be an equalizer for the less fortunate when used to unite and rally people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. Many of my most significant STEM experiences use technology in this way, to develop innovative solutions to pressing community problems. One significant issue facing kids today is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts their physical, mental, social, and emotional health. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-to-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008, with about 75 percent of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in garages, basements, and sheds across our community. I thought about building a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of 'Play It Forward' was born. I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. I leverage social platforms to promote the program, communication tools to educate and motivate donors, and inventory management systems to track and distribute donated equipment to youth athletes across our region. Play It Forward relies on technology to connect, engage, and motivate thousands of residents to participate and spread the word. Over the past six years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,500 equipment items, equipping over 790 kids across ten communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal and TrophyCentral Service MVP Award. Yet, the greatest validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment. As a second-year Dean’s List computer science student at Villanova University, I am a member of Villanova’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Idea Lab. I am also a Dansby Women in Technology National Award Winner, McCann STEM National Scholar, VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and Endeavour Women in Technology National Scholar. Studying a spectrum of areas, including platform computing, application development, machine meaning and data structures, I am focusing on advancing my computer science skills to solve more pressing challenges that face our society to show that technology can be a force for good.

I am passionate about standing up for others across my community and beyond by motivating people to unite to spread positivity through service. This has elevated my community in a variety of ways and also taught me lifelong skills that have made me a better daughter, sister, friend and neighbor to those around me. Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, which means “together” and “munis,” which means “performing services.” So the very word “community” is built on the idea of performing service together. I have found that there is perhaps no greater force than when a community is united for good. My community is an ideal example of this, rallying to donate thousands of equipment items to help hundreds of local kids play sports. Sharing your skills and talents to help others is essential to improving one’s community. One unique example is that I volunteer to sing the national anthem for local community events. People need to experience the national anthem live to feel its essence to elevate one’s patriotism and love of community and country. I perform for Veterans’ Day ceremonies at our local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and my school. I sing for Little League Opening Day and district games, Rotary Club meetings, and events like Soldiers’ Christmas and charity 5K races. Yet, my most cherished vocal experience was singing for our Gold Star Garden dedication, honoring and thanking Gold Star Families and their fallen loved ones for their incredible sacrifice. My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the United States Air Force out of high school. There, he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays at US military bases worldwide. He then used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell Soup, and DuPont. The conversations we’ve had over the years ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum in high school. I developed a passion for technical problem-solving that motivated me to continue these studies in college. I graduated as a Champion of Learning, AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society Member, and Honors with Distinction recipient, holding a 4.0 and taking over 20 advanced placement and honors courses. I refined my programming skills to the point that I won my school’s Java Programming Challenge and earned the Girl Scout / Raytheon Technologies Computer Science Programmer Journey Award. As a second-year computer science Dean’s List student with a 3.96, I have received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, McCann National STEM Scholar and Endeavour Women in Tech National Scholar. Beyond this, I leverage technology to address community issues impacting my neighbors. I incorporate social media, communication platforms, inventory systems, video applications, and syndication networks to address physical fitness and mental health issues. It’s no secret that playing sports can be crucial in helping kids have a healthy childhood and grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research shows that upwards of 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Much of this issue is caused by the increasing costs of sports. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. The program rallies our community to unite and provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. Over six years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 8,200 equipment pieces, equipping over 780 kids across 10 communities to provide a level playing field for sports access for kids. While I appreciate the program receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. Beyond this, my sister and I wanted to help friends, neighbors and classmates impacted by the mental toll of COVID isolation. In March 2020 we started broadcasting Good News Now (GNN) (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews), reporting on the positivity the media ignores around our community and across the world. Four years and over 225 episodes later, GNN has impacted 100,000+ viewers in over 65 countries across six continents by sharing positivity worldwide. GNN has been showcased on ABC News, FOX, UPtv, Kindness Kids, Inspire More, and Live with Kelly & Ryan. We’ve even been featured in two children's books "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and "What Kids Did" by Erin Silver. As a second-year Villanova University Dean’s List computer science student and member of the university’s Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Idea Lab, I am focusing on delivering engaging solutions to address pressing problems facing communities, like elevating physical fitness and enhancing mental health. Learning advanced skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and even artificial intelligence will allow me to devise and develop more advanced innovations to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond. Through all of this, my community commitment has made me a stronger student, a reliable resident, and an innovative individual.

As I ran to keep up with Pop-Pop’s long stride, my excitement for our destination overcame the exhaustion of my little legs. He grasped my tiny hand to keep me focused on our journey rather than the passing butterfly. Finally, he looked down to coax me with a smile, saying, “Come on, we’re almost there.” As we passed through the grove of pines shielding the hidden hill, my three-year-old worries washed away like the cool dancing currents of our journey’s end. Visiting ‘the creek’ was like venturing to Oz, Neverland, or countless other enchanting worlds. Little did I know that this creek’s magic would appear over the coming years as the setting for many influential moments in my life. The journey to the creek is not long, but in my younger years, it was adventurous. The early conversations between Pop-Pop and I covered lessons on everything from clouds and crawfish to currents and caterpillars. As I would throw pebbles into the rippling water, I would toss him whatever questions crossed my mind. He would respond to each irrespective of whether all the facts were accurate. As the stream changed, so did I. The walks became easier as my legs grew, and our conversations became more engaging. At eight years old, I listened to Pop-Pop retell stories of distant literary lands like Hogwarts, Narnia, and Middle-Earth. Conversely, he listened intently to my imagined tales of dragons and warriors. As the first audience to my storytelling, Pop-Pop encouraged my love of reading and writing as I began flipping voraciously through the pages of countless novels and penning my own tales. These moments together cultivated my desire to create written worlds where readers could get lost. As a 13-year-old, you’d think my interest in walking to the creek with Pop-Pop would have long washed away. But it was a time for me to explain the plots and characters I was developing while he shared the trials he faced as a kid. As I listened to his tales of growing up in poverty as one of seven children in inner-city Philadelphia, my long-time traveling sidekick was evolving into my greatest hero. Despite his early hardships, Pop-Pop always wore a smile and wrapped his despondent tales in humor, like when he was ten and returned home from school, only to find his family had moved a block away - but forgot to tell him. While I was never sure of the balance of truth in his stories, Pop-Pop had lived a difficult early life but was full of happiness and gratitude. His perseverance inspired me to start initiatives where I support kids, some of whom reflect that ten-year-old version of him. At 15, I learned about his Air Force enlistment, where he built radar systems. He then transformed these skills into a 30-year mainframe computer career. These conversations intrigued me to take every high school computer science course I could. This cultivated a passion for technical problem-solving that, no doubt, originated from him and has motivated me to continue these studies in college. Today, our creek trips are less frequent because of nagging back pain and a hip replacement. Regardless, I deeply enjoy our time at the water’s edge, where conversations now revolve around dreams and the road ahead. I am grateful for Pop-Pop’s inspiration and adore his influence on my life. I cherish that this creek has been the setting for so many milestone moments. Our journey there takes longer now, but I don’t mind the extra time as I coax with a smile, saying, “Come on, we’re almost there.”

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, meaning “together” and “munis,” meaning “performing services.” So the very word “community” is built on the idea of performing service together. Beyond this, communication is vital to successful service, particularly in connecting and rallying communities to address pressing issues. Motivating individuals to help others is essential to improving one’s community. This is a major reason I am studying computer science at Villanova University, to advance my technology talents to impact people through innovation and empathy. Many don’t see technology as a benefit to individuals' physical and mental health. Instead, most people would likely say that technology diminishes kids' mental well-being and physical fitness. However, using various applications, including video production, data management, and social media syndication, I have shown that technology can rally communities to deliver valuable mental and physical health benefits to individuals. Playing sports can be crucial to a healthy childhood and growing into a responsible adult, providing invaluable mental, physical and emotional benefits. Tragically, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports today, down from 45% in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beyond this, 75% of 12-year-olds are dropping sports annually largely due to the burdensome costs. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in the summer of 2018. The initiative collects donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. Through effective communication, the program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. Over six years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 8,200 sports items, equipping over 780 kids across 10 communities, providing a level playing field for sports access to kids. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my communication, leadership, organization, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward for our community while I am in college. As a Dean’s List computer science sophomore at Villanova University, I am now focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people through innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and even artificial intelligence will allow me to devise and develop more advanced innovations to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond. I am also studying creative writing, ancient and modern literature and the Greek culture and language given my passion for ancient civilizations, writing and literary works. Having an education balanced between technology innovation and cultural humanities will fulfill my deepest passions and provide me a foundation to build upon throughout my life.

“The world needs GNN,” exclaimed Ryan Seacrest. As he said these four simple words, wrapping up his live interview with my sister and me, they struck me. It was an incredible moment to be on Live with Kelly & Ryan discussing our breakout broadcast, Good News Now, and how it impacted individuals' mental health worldwide. Still, this simple phrase illustrated the impact spreading positivity had on thousands of people across the globe. Leadership and empathy are two of the most important values that guide our lives. I strive to accomplish these in every aspect of my life. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, St. Thomas of Villanova Service Initiative volunteer, National Honor Society student, Works of Mercy youth group member, and certified black belt martial arts instructor I volunteer for church events, food pantry collections, giving tree gift drives, student mentoring, and teaching self-defense classes. However, elevating mental health is a particular passion of mine. My sister, Molly, and I started Good News Now (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) at the outset of COVID in March 2020. We simply wanted to show our friends, neighbors, and family members that there is so much good and positivity around us, despite the negativity the media is incessantly focused on, particularly during COVID. It’s not a difficult or complex concept, but a passionate dedication to regularly sharing good. We started our weekly GNN broadcast to counter the growing mental health crisis. We initially reported on local heroes making masks for hospitals and delivering baked goods to frontline workers. There was also some good nature news and good science news we shared. Kids in our community were starting their own service projects helping their neighborhoods with food drives and coat collections, but no one was sharing these stories and spotlighting the good around us. So, we decided to. Now, four years and over 225 episodes later, GNN impacts over 100,000 viewers in over 65 countries across six continents simply by sharing positivity and good news from all over the world. My sister and I have been featured on ABC News, FOX, UPtv, Reddit Uplifting News, Kindness Kids, Inspire More, and Live with Kelly and Ryan, among many other outlets. We’ve even been honored as 'Inspirational Icons' by Indie Today’s Best Children's Book Series "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. I cherish that the efforts behind GNN have received honors like the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year honor, and the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, GNN has shown me how vital compassion, attention, love, and empathy are to the lives and mental well-being of others. GNN requires technical skills in video production and social distribution to reach around the world. As a sophomore Dean’s List computer science major at Villanova University, I am focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to make more meaningful impacts through technology innovations that help solve societal challenges around mental health for people near and far. Through all of this, my community commitment through Good News Now has made me a stronger student, a reliable resident, and an insightful individual. It’s also cultivated a deeper empathy for and advocate of elevated mental health.

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, meaning “together” and “munis,” meaning “performing services.” So the very word “community” is built on the idea of performing service together. Beyond this, communication is vital to successful service, particularly in connecting and rallying communities to address pressing issues. Motivating individuals to help others is essential to improving one’s community. The size of these acts doesn’t necessarily define their significance. Yet a commitment to service sets a foundation of empathy that others can build from with their own kind acts. Many don’t see technology as a benefit to individuals' physical and mental health. Instead, most people would likely say that technology diminishes kids' mental well-being and physical fitness. However, using various applications, including video production, data management, and social media syndication, I have shown that technology can rally communities to deliver valuable mental and physical health benefits to individuals. Playing sports can be crucial to a healthy childhood and growing into a responsible adult, providing invaluable mental, physical and emotional benefits. Tragically, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports today, down from 45% in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beyond this, 75% of 12-year-olds are dropping sports annually largely due to the burdensome costs. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in the summer of 2018. The initiative collects donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. Through effective communication, the program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. To do this, I "hacked" together a series of technologies to build the sports equipment donation initiative, including social media platforms to engage and educate donors, graphic design tools to create interesting promotions, spreadsheet macros for inventory management to track the donated gear and a website to receive donor and beneficiary inquiries. Over six years, Play It Forward has motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents from across the region to donate over 8,200 sports items, equipping over 780 kids across 10 communities, providing a level playing field for sports access to kids. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my communication, leadership, organization, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward for our community while I am in college. Although I help run it when I am back home on breaks. As a Dean’s List computer science sophomore at Villanova University, I am now focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people through innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and even artificial intelligence will allow me to devise, develop and even "hack" more advanced innovations to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond.

“The world needs GNN,” exclaimed Ryan Seacrest. As he said these four simple words, wrapping up his live interview with my sister and me, they struck me. It was an incredible moment to be on Live with Kelly & Ryan discussing our breakout broadcast, Good News Now, and how it impacted individuals' mental health worldwide. Still, this simple phrase illustrated the impact spreading positivity had on thousands of people across the globe. Leadership and empathy are two of the most important values that guide our lives. I strive to accomplish these in every aspect of my life. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, St. Thomas of Villanova Service Initiative volunteer, National Honor Society student, Works of Mercy youth group member, and certified black belt martial arts instructor I volunteer for church events, food pantry collections, giving tree gift drives, student mentoring, and teaching self-defense classes. However, elevating mental health is a particular passion of mine. My sister, Molly, and I started Good News Now (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) at the outset of COVID in March 2020. We simply wanted to show our friends, neighbors, and family members that there is so much good and positivity around us, despite the negativity the media is incessantly focused on, particularly during COVID. It’s not a difficult or complex concept, but a passionate dedication to regularly sharing good. We started our weekly GNN broadcast to counter the growing mental health crisis. We initially reported on local heroes making masks for hospitals and delivering baked goods to frontline workers. There was also some good nature news and good science news we shared. Kids in our community were starting their own service projects helping their neighborhoods with food drives and coat collections, but no one was sharing these stories and spotlighting the good around us. So, we decided to. Now, four years and over 225 episodes later, GNN impacts over 100,000 viewers in over 65 countries across six continents simply by sharing positivity and good news from all over the world. My sister and I have been featured on ABC News, FOX, UPtv, Reddit Uplifting News, Kindness Kids, Inspire More, and Live with Kelly and Ryan, among many other outlets. We’ve even been honored as 'Inspirational Icons' by Indie Today’s Best Children's Book Series "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. I cherish that the efforts behind GNN have received honors like the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year honor, and the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, GNN has shown me how vital compassion, attention, love, and empathy are to the lives and mental well-being of others. GNN requires technical skills in video production and social distribution to reach around the world. As a rising sophomore Dean’s List computer science major at Villanova University, I am focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to make more meaningful impacts through technology innovations that help solve societal challenges around mental health for people near and far. Through all of this, my community commitment through Good News Now has made me a stronger student, a reliable resident, and an insightful individual. It’s also cultivated a deeper empathy for and advocate of elevated mental health for myself, friends, classmates, teammates, family, neighbors and even strangers worldwide.

“The world needs GNN,” exclaimed Ryan Seacrest. As he said these four simple words, wrapping up his live interview with my sister and me, they struck me. It was an incredible moment to be on Live with Kelly & Ryan discussing our breakout broadcast, Good News Now, and how it impacted individuals' mental health worldwide. Still, this simple phrase illustrated the impact spreading positivity had on thousands of people across the globe. Leadership and empathy are two of the most important values that guide our lives. I strive to accomplish these in every aspect of my life. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, St. Thomas of Villanova Service Initiative volunteer, National Honor Society student, Works of Mercy youth group member, and certified black belt martial arts instructor I volunteer for church events, food pantry collections, giving tree gift drives, student mentoring, and teaching self-defense classes. However, elevating mental health is a particular passion of mine. My sister, Molly, and I started Good News Now (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) at the outset of COVID in March 2020. We simply wanted to show our friends, neighbors, and family members that there is so much good and positivity around us, despite the negativity the media is incessantly focused on, particularly during COVID. It’s not a difficult or complex concept, but a passionate dedication to regularly sharing good. We started our weekly GNN broadcast to counter the growing mental health crisis. We initially reported on local heroes making masks for hospitals and delivering baked goods to frontline workers. There was also some good nature news and good science news we shared. Kids in our community were starting their own service projects helping their neighborhoods with food drives and coat collections, but no one was sharing these stories and spotlighting the good around us. So, we decided to. Now, four years and over 225 episodes later, GNN impacts over 100,000 viewers in over 65 countries across six continents simply by sharing positivity and good news from all over the world. My sister and I have been featured on ABC News, FOX, UPtv, Reddit Uplifting News, Kindness Kids, Inspire More, and Live with Kelly and Ryan, among many other outlets. We’ve even been honored as 'Inspirational Icons' by Indie Today’s Best Children's Book Series "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. I cherish that the efforts behind GNN have received honors like the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year honor, and the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, GNN has shown me how vital compassion, attention, love, and empathy are to the lives and mental well-being of others. GNN requires technical skills in video production and social distribution to reach around the world. As a rising sophomore Dean’s List computer science major at Villanova University, I am focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to make more meaningful impacts through technology innovations that help solve societal challenges around mental health for people near and far. Through all of this, my community commitment through Good News Now has made me a stronger student, a reliable resident, and an insightful individual. It’s also cultivated a deeper empathy for and advocate of elevated mental health for myself, friends, family, neighbors and even strangers worldwide.

My grandfather didn’t have the opportunity to attend college, so he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he built radar arrays protecting military bases worldwide. Our discussions about his 30-year technology career ignited my passion for technical problem-solving, motivating me to max out my high school’s computer science curriculum and to study technology in college. While technology today receives appropriate criticism, my career in computer science will allow me to develop innovative solutions that unite communities around issues to enhance accessibility to opportunities, as I have accomplished over the past several years. For example, I have built a technology-based initiative to increase youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 37% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports, down from 45% in 2008, with 75% of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually (Project Play: State of Play Report, 2022). My family had a garage full of outgrown sports gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community, so I built a technology bridge to connect gear donations with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) was born in 2018 This initiative collects donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to provide free to kids. Stanford University research shows that playing sports gives kids better vision, a healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. These are just a few benefits Play It Forward delivers to kids, along with enhanced mental health and emotional well-being. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology, leveraging social platforms and communication tools to educate and engage supporters and inventory management systems to track and distribute equipment. Technology helps engage and motivate residents to participate in and promote the program. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,800, equipping over 640 kids from nine communities. My service leadership has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, TrophyCentral Sportsmanship Award and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, the greatest validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. The service initiatives I run, like Play It Forward, motivate me to blend technology and empathy to develop solutions addressing community issues with a focus on helping those in need. There are tremendous technological advancements from artificial intelligence to engagement platforms that can inform and unite communities to address issues impacting at-risk individuals. As a rising second-year Villanova University computer science Dean’s List student with a 3.96 GPA, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann National STEM Scholar and VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, my dream is to elevate my technology skills to design and deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing societal challenges.

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, which means “together” and “munis,” which means “performing services.” So the very word “community” is built on the idea of performing service together. I have found that there is perhaps no greater force than when a community unites for good. The photo I provided reveals the incredible impact our community makes uniting to help kids play sports. My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the United States Air Force out of high school. There, he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays at US military bases worldwide. He then used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell’s Soup, and DuPont. The conversations we’ve had over the years ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum in high school. I developed a passion for technical problem-solving that motivated me to continue these studies in college. I graduated as a Champion of Learning, AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society Member, and Honors with Distinction recipient, holding a 4.0 and taking over 20 advanced placement and honors courses. I leverage these technology skills to address community issues to help alleviate human suffering. I incorporate social media, communication platforms, inventory systems, video applications, and syndication networks to address issues impacting the physical fitness and mental health of others. Playing sports can be crucial to helping kids have a healthy childhood to grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research shows that upwards of 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. To address this issue, I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018. Over six years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 8,200 equipment pieces, equipping over 780 kids across 10 communities, providing them a level playing field to access to soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is running Play It Forward while I am in college. As a second-year computer science Dean’s List student at Villanova University with a 3.96, I have received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and have been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and McCann National STEM Scholar. I am now focusing on advancing my technology talents to make profound impacts on people through a combination of innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and artificial intelligence will allow me to develop more advanced innovations to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond.

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, meaning “together” and “munis,” meaning “performing services.” So the very word “community” is built on the idea of performing service together. Selflessly sharing one’s skills and talents to help others is essential to improving one’s community. The size of these acts doesn’t necessarily define their significance. Yet a commitment to service sets a foundation of empathy that others can build from with their own kind acts. This is a primary focus of mine, blending technology innovation with selfless empathy to help those in need around my community and beyond. Many don’t see technology as a benefit to individuals' physical and mental health. Instead, most people would likely say that technology diminishes kids' mental well-being and physical fitness. However, using various applications, including video production, data management, and social media syndication, I have shown that technology can rally communities to deliver valuable mental and physical health benefits to individuals. Playing sports can be crucial to a healthy childhood and growing into a responsible adult, providing invaluable mental, physical and emotional benefits. Tragically, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports today, down from 45% in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beyond this, 75% of 12-year-olds are dropping sports annually largely due to the burdensome costs. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in the summer of 2018. The initiative collects donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. Through a tremendous amount of effort, the program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. Over six years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 8,100 sports gear items, equipping over 780 kids across ten communities. This provides these young athletes with a level playing field to access and participate in the sports they love, while receiving the invaluable benefits. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, TrophyCentral Service Sportsmanship Award and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear and realize they can keep playing. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward for our community while I am in college. However, I help manage it when I return home for the semester and summer breaks. As a sophomore Dean’s List computer science student at Villanova University, I am now focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people by combining innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and even artificial intelligence will allow me to devise and develop more advanced innovations to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond. My goal is that this selflessness will continue to make lasting impacts on kids and families.

My Pop-Pop didn’t have the opportunity to attend college, so he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he built radar arrays protecting military bases around the world. Our discussions about his ensuing 30-year technology career ignited my passion for technical problem-solving, motivating me to max out my high school’s computer science curriculum and to study technology in college. While technology today receives appropriate criticism it can also deliver tremendous positivity. My technology skills will allow me to develop solutions that unite communities around issues to enhance accessibility to opportunities, as I have already been accomplishing. For example, I have built a technology-based initiative to increase youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 37% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports, down from 45% in 2008, with 75% of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had a garage full of outgrown sports gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community, so I built a technology bridge to connect gear donations with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) was born in 2018. This initiative collects donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to provide free to kids. Stanford University research shows that playing sports gives kids better vision, a healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. These are just a few benefits Play It Forward delivers to kids, along with enhanced mental health and emotional well-being. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology, leveraging social platforms and communication tools to educate and engage supporters and inventory management systems to track and distribute donated equipment. Technology helps engage and motivate residents to participate, promote and embrace the program. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,100 gear items, equipping over 780 kids across ten communities. My service leadership has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, TrophyCentral Sportsmanship Service Award and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, the greatest validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. The service initiatives I run, like Play It Forward, motivate me to blend technology and empathy to develop engaging solutions addressing community issues with a focus on helping those in need. There are tremendous technological advancements from artificial intelligence systems to engagement platforms that can further inform and unite communities to address growing issues impacting their at-risk neighbors. As a second-year Villanova University computer science Dean’s List student with a 3.96 GPA, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, Endeavour Nation Technology Scholar, McCann National STEM Scholar and VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, my dream is to elevate my technology skills to deliver innovative solutions that address more pressing societal challenges.

My Pop-Pop didn’t have the opportunity to attend college, so he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he built radar arrays protecting military bases around the world. Learning these technical skills allowed him to transition into a mainframe and network career supporting companies like Campbell's Soup, Mars and Nabisco, to name a few. Our discussions about his ensuing 30-year technology career ignited my passion for technical problem-solving. I loved hearing about the problems he would solve for the Air Force and major corporations, so much so that it motivated me to max out my high school’s computer science curriculum and to study computer science in college. While technology today receives appropriate criticism it can also deliver tremendous positivity. My technology skills will allow me to develop solutions that unite communities around issues to enhance accessibility to opportunities, as I have already been accomplishing. For example, I have built a technology-based initiative to increase youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 37% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports, down from 45% in 2008, with 75% of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had a garage full of outgrown sports gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community, so I built a technology bridge to connect gear donations with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) was born in 2018. This initiative collects donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to provide free to kids. Stanford University research shows that playing sports gives kids better vision, a healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. These are just a few benefits Play It Forward delivers to kids, along with enhanced mental health and emotional well-being. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology, leveraging social platforms and communication tools to educate and engage supporters and inventory management systems to track and distribute equipment. Technology helps engage and motivate residents to participate in and promote and embrace the program. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 8,100 gear items, equipping over 780 kids across ten communities. My service leadership has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, TrophyCentral Sportsmanship Award and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, the greatest validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. The service initiatives I run, like Play It Forward, motivate me to blend technology and empathy to develop solutions addressing community issues with a focus on helping those in need. There are tremendous technological advancements from artificial intelligence to engagement platforms that can further inform and unite communities to address issues impacting their at-risk neighbors. As a second-year Villanova University computer science Dean’s List student with a 3.96 GPA, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann National STEM Scholar and VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, my dream is to elevate my technology skills to design and deliver innovative solutions to address more pressing societal challenges. I owe my commitment to service through technology to my Pop-Pop who showed me the incredible possibilities you can create when you blend technology with empathy.

My Pop-Pop didn’t attend college, so he enlisted in the Air Force where he built radar arrays protecting military bases. Our discussions about his 30-year technology career ignited my passion for technical problem-solving, motivating me to max out my high school’s computer science curriculum. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, I hold myself accountable by consistently contributing my time and talents to others to ensure I am being the best version of myself through empathy and selflessness. For example, I mentor younger scouts with their Gold Award projects, programming badges and technology journeys to cultivate their STEM interests. In college, I oversee several computer science study groups and review sessions, supporting fellow female technology majors. I also look to continue serving as a mentor to young girls interested in STEM once I graduate. While technology receives appropriate criticism for its negative applications, my computer science career will allow me to develop technology solutions that unite and inspire communities around issues to enhance equity and accessibility, as I have accomplished over the past several years. I have built an innovative initiative to increase youth sports participation, impacting kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, with 75 percent of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. Stanford University research shows that playing sports gives kids better vision, a healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. Yet too many kids are missing out on these critical health benefits in their early lives. My family had a garage full of outgrown sports gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered across our community, so I built a technology bridge with social platforms, communication systems and inventory tools to connect soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey gear donations with the sidelined kids. From this, Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) was born in 2018. Over the past six years, Play It Forward has collected over 7,500 items, equipping over 730 kids from ten communities. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, TrophyCentral Sportsmanship Award and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. Yet, seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear is the program's greatest validation. In March 2020, as COVID isolation deteriorated the mental health of friends and neighbors, my sister, Molly, and I started broadcasting positive stories the media ignores. Four years and over 230 episodes later, Good News Now (GNN) (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) has impacted 100,000+ viewers in over 68 countries across six continents by sharing positivity. GNN has been showcased on ABC News, FOX, UPtv, Inspire More, and Live with Kelly & Ryan, and has been featured in two children's books "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and "What Kids Did" by Erin Silver. As a second-year computer science major with a 3.96 GPA, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann National STEM Scholar, Endeavour National Women in Technology Scholar and VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I am elevating my technology skills to design and deliver new advanced solutions to resolve other pressing societal challenges. My perseverance, integrity, dedication and empathy have all greatly contributed to my success to this point and I am confident they will continue to elevate me throughout my life's journey.

Social media often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health. However, its ability to connect communities to help those in need inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my mental well-being. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. The Rand Study reveals that families earning below $50,000 say that cost is largely why their kids stop playing. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media, like Facebook, to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through the Facebook app. Over five years Play It Forward has collected over 7,500 items, equipping nearly 740 kids across ten communities. It validates Stanford University’s research showing that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. The beneficiaries of Play It Forward are both happier and healthier when playing sports. The program’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and a US Congressional commendation. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their sports gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. It’s also motivating me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As an second-year Villanova University Dean’s List computer science major with a 3.96 GPA, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, Endeavour Narional Women in Technology Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am now focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to societal challenges. I am looking to use technology to unite communities to address pressing challenges related to mental health to elevate the lives of more people in need.

Music creates powerful connections and dynamic experiences for people. Research reveals that simply hearing lyrical notes can not only elevate one's mental state but also provide greater focus and increased emotions within people. This is largely why I have such a deep passion for music, particularly as a performer. While most people's favorite concert memory likely revolves around listening to a performance as an audience member, mine is focused on creating music as a performer. For over a decade I have performed with a spectrum of musical groups and ensembles both as an instrumentalist and a vocalist. While I love playing the piano and flute, singing is my favorite method of creating music. I have performed on stage in over 20 musicals, including "The Lion King," "The Wizard of Oz," "Oklahoma," "Beauty and the Beast," "Bye Bye Birdie," and many others. I have also sung with a variety of church choirs for events like Easter and Christmas. Beyond this, I have performed with the Concert Choir, Women's Ensemble and Madrigals for an array of concerts and community events. This has evolved in me volunteering as a national anthem performer for my community, singing for Little League baseball and softball games, Veterans of Foreign Wars Veterans Day ceremonies, Rotary Club meetings, and ceremonies and even our town's Gold Star Family Garden dedication, built for Gold Star Families as a tribute to their military family members lost while service our nation. I cherish performing the national anthem to a live audience because it creates a personal connection to one's patriotism, increasing their appreciation of how special it is to be an American. It also allows listeners to reflect on the beauty of the song and its meaning. As a sophomore at Villanova University, I now sing as a soprano one soloist with the Villanova Voices Women's Choir, one of the premier university treble choirs in the nation. I perform with the Voices at basketball and football games, university events, alumni gatherings and various concerts. We also tour periodically. This past fall we toured across Boston singing at The Old North Church and The Julliard School, Boston University and Saint Cecilia Church among other locations. This coming spring we will be touring across Italy, performing in cathedrals across Florence, Pisa, Rome and The Vatican. Putting all of these cherished performances aside, my favorite concert memory is when I had the fabulous opportunity to perform with the Villanova Voices in the "Broadway Sings" concert. This incredible evening featured the talents of Broadway stars Mandy Gonzalez and Javier Muñoz who have performed as leads in Broadway shows like "Hamilton," "Wicked," and "In the Heights." While singing backup to songs like "Seasons of Love," "My Shot," "Just Breathe," and "Satisfied" with these marquee Broadway performers was the opportunity of a lifetime, my core memory of this concert is built on the impact it has made on the children cared for by Amigos de Jesus. This organization cares for and educates orphans in Honduras and was the beneficiary of this charity concert. Incredibly, this one-night performance raised $273,000 for this wonderful organization. I feel beyond blessed for the opportunity to contribute my voice to make an impact on so many children, and I look forward to continuing this type of charitable work with the Villanova Voices. You can watch a performance selection of the "Broadway Sings" concert here: https://youtu.be/mdlX5i7cb58?si=PbKRFdsqPDDyv7Nj

I have been blessed with so many mentors over my life. My parents have mentored me with my confidence in engaging others, while I have had teachers, neighbors, and family members provide me invaluable guidance across other different dimensions of my life. However, several of my coaches habe played particulalry special roles in who I have become as an indivdual, shaping my skills, talents and values. As multi-sport athlete, when I saw teammates who didn’t have the proper equipment impacting their play and confidence one of my coaches encouraged to help. So I discreetly gave her my outgrown cleats, helmet and glove. Her confidence and performance soared after that. I wanted to help even more kids in need since playing sports can be crucial to a healthy childhood, helping kids grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 37 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research shows that upwards of 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Much of this issue is created by the increasing costs of sports and especially equipment, which kids regularly outgrow. To address this issue, I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018. The initiative collects donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. Thanks to my relentless determination, deep commitment, and a few fantastic mentors, including that coach, the program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports. Over six years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 7,800 equipment pieces, equipping over 720 kids across ten communities to provide a level playing field for sports access to kids. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, Girl Scout Gold Award and TrophyCentral Sportsmanship Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. My Play It Forward experience has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward while I am in college. However, I have also mentored other sports clubs in creating their own equipment donation programs for their communities. I am now focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people through a combination of innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and even artificial intelligence will allow me to devise and develop more advanced innovations to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond. I look to develop powerful initiatives that unite citizens to elevate communities helping their neighbors, similar to what Play It Forward continues to do for kids today across my community.

Growing up as one of 10 kids in inner-city Philadelphia, my grandfather didn’t have the opportunity to attend college, so he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, building radar arrays protecting military bases worldwide. Our discussions about his 30-year technology career ignited my passion for technical problem-solving, motivating me to max out my high school’s computer science curriculum and to study technology in college. While technology today receives appropriate criticism, my career in computer science will allow me to develop innovative solutions that unite communities around issues to enhance accessibility to opportunities, as I have accomplished over the past several years. For example, I have built a technology-based initiative to increase youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports, down from 45% in 2008, with 75% of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had a garage full of outgrown sports gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community, so I built a technology bridge to connect gear donations with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) was born in 2018. This initiative collects donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to provide free to kids. Stanford University research shows that playing sports gives kids better vision, a healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. These are just a few of the benefits Play It Forward delivers to kids, along with enhanced mental health and emotional well-being. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology, leveraging social platforms and communication tools to educate and engage supporters and inventory management systems to track and distribute equipment. Technology helps engage and motivate residents to participate in and promote the program. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 7,200, equipping over 720 kids from 10 communities. My service leadership has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, the greatest validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. In terms of advancing women in technology, as a Gold Award Girl Scout, I mentor young scouts with their programming badges and technology journeys to cultivate their STEM interests. In college, I coordinate computer science study groups to support and encourage fellow female technology majors. I also look to continue to mentor young girls interested in STEM upon graduation. As a rising second-year Villanova University computer science Dean’s List student with a 3.96 GPA, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann National STEM Scholar and VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, my dream is to elevate my technology skills to design and deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing societal challenges.

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, meaning “together” and “munis,” meaning “performing services.” So the very word “community” is built on the idea of performing service together. Sharing one’s skills and talents to help others is essential to improving one’s community. The size of these acts doesn’t necessarily define their significance. Yet a commitment to service sets a foundation of empathy that others can build from with their own kind acts. Many don’t see technology as a benefit to individuals' physical and mental health. Instead, most people would likely say that technology diminishes kids' mental well-being and physical fitness. However, using various applications, including video production, data management, and social media syndication, I have shown that technology can rally communities to deliver valuable mental and physical health benefits to individuals. Beyond this, strong leadership, communication, resilience, determination and work ethic have all been vital components in my efforts to help hundreds of kids stay in sports by rallying my community to donate thousands of equipment items. I use this gear to equip kids for free, leveling the sports playing field and allowing them to enjoy and grow from the spectrum of benefits that sports provide. Playing sports can be crucial to a healthy childhood and growing into a responsible adult, providing invaluable mental, physical and emotional benefits. Tragically, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports today, down from 45% in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beyond this, 75% of 12-year-olds are dropping sports annually largely due to the burdensome costs. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in the summer of 2018. The initiative collects donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. Through a tremendous amount of effort, the program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. Over six years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 7,200 sports items, equipping over 750 kids across 10 communities, providing a level playing field for sports access to kids. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward for our community while I am in college. Although I help run it when I am back home for the summer. As a rising sophomore Dean’s List computer science student at Villanova University I am now focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people through a combination of innovation and empathy. Learning advanced technology skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and even artificial intelligence will allow me to devise and develop more advanced innovations to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond.

While technology appropriately receives tremendous criticism for its impact on mental health, it can also be an equalizer for the less fortunate in our world when it is used to unite and rally people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. I use technology in this very way to innovate solutions. One significant issue facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Project Play reports that families spend approximately $700 yearly on their children's sports. The Rand Study reveals that families earning below $50,000 say that cost is why their kids stop playing sports. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with, from cleats and bags to bats and gloves. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in garages, basements, and sheds across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of 'Play It Forward' was born. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It uses social platforms and communication tools to educate, inform, and engage our residents, as well as inventory management systems to help track and distribute the incoming donated equipment to youth athletes across our community. This technology connects, engages, and motivates residents to participate and spread the word. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 7,200 gear items, equipping over 750 kids across ten communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional commendation, and Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment, knowing they can play with their friends. Play It Forward is just one example of how technology serves as an equalizer for those in need around us. The connection, engagement, and motivation it provides to individuals unite communities to resolve issues, which results in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world. As a first-year computer science major at Villanova University, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann STEM National Scholar, Endeavour Women in Tech Scholar and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I focus on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to deliver further meaningful engagements that solve societal challenges. I aim to become an expert in technology innovation to develop solutions to address more of society's pressing problems. The Justin Moeller Memorial Scholarship would be tremendously supportive in helping me to achieve this.

My grandfather didn’t have the opportunity to attend college, so he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he built radar arrays protecting military bases worldwide. Our discussions about his 30-year technology career ignited my passion for technical problem-solving, motivating me to max out my high school’s computer science curriculum and to study technology in college. While technology today receives appropriate criticism, my career in computer science will allow me to develop innovative solutions that unite communities around issues to enhance accessibility to opportunities, as I have accomplished over the past several years. For example, I have built a technology-based initiative to increase youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports, down from 45% in 2008, with 75% of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had a garage full of outgrown sports gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community, so I built a technology bridge to connect gear donations with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) was born in 2018. This initiative collects donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to provide free to kids. Stanford University research shows that playing sports gives kids better vision, a healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. These are just a few of the benefits Play It Forward delivers to kids, along with enhanced mental health and emotional well-being. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology, leveraging social platforms and communication tools to educate and engage supporters and inventory management systems to track and distribute equipment. Technology helps engage and motivate residents to participate in and promote the program. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,800, equipping over 640 kids from nine communities. My service leadership has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, the greatest validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. In terms of advancing women in technology, as a Gold Award Girl Scout, I mentor young scouts with their programming badges and technology journeys to cultivate their STEM interests. In college, I coordinate computer science study groups to support and encourage fellow female technology majors. I also look to continue to mentor young girls interested in STEM upon graduation. As a rising second-year Villanova University computer science Dean’s List student with a 3.96 GPA, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann National STEM Scholar and VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, my dream is to elevate my technology skills to design and deliver more advanced solutions to address more pressing societal challenges to help those in need.

The stories that grace the pages of the famous book of Genesis contain well-known details, passages, moments, images, and terms that have become ingrained in the minds of countless people. As children, many become familiar with the iconic lines of the text, from the opening statement, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," to His mighty command, "Let there be light," as well as the powerful tales of Cain and Abel, as well as Noah's ark. Yet, one such name, found in the sixth chapter of this holy text, is often overlooked despite holding profound importance. In Genesis 6:4, an unassuming word reveals an aspect of the legend that radiates immense value and knowledge: "The Nephilim" (Genesis 6:4, Page 27). Although this term bears a certain subtlety, when studied and understood, it can reshape the reader's interpretations of several chapters, raise new theological ideas buried within the text, and uncover the theme regarding God's love for His children. Many people hear the story of Noah's ark at a young age and learn how God became angry with the wickedness of humanity, flooding the Earth as a result. This event is often received with confusion and anger as it presents God in a dark and unfamiliar way. Readers will typically question God's reaction and ask why He would kill His creations. This tale leaves a sour and bitter taste in many mouths as readers search for answers to why God would turn on His beloved children. Although Genesis is a human interpretation of God's acts in the form of parables, many value the messages and lessons they hold and believe there is truth to them. With this in mind, it is understandable that some readers would feel pained and betrayed by God's willingness to murder His creations. Some interpret God as a 'control freak' or a 'toxic parent' who wants His children to grow as He envisioned them and will ensure success no matter the cost. Whether you believe this or not, this action taken by God raises several burning questions. Why would God kill all of humanity over the mistakes of a few? Why did He not start over from scratch, erasing and replacing His creations? Why did He not use His power to cleanse the souls stained with evil? All of these questions are reasonable to ask and will leave most readers scratching their heads in confusion. Except the answer was staring them in the face, hiding in plain sight: the Nephilim. Although many argue the identity of the Nephilim, the term in Hebrew translates to "fallen ones," likely referencing beings who have come down from where God dwells. A widely accepted theory is that they are the offspring of fallen angels and women. To fully understand the Nephilim, one must explore the fallen angels from which they came. The fallen angels, who are also commonly referred to as demons, are those who once served God but sinned and turned against him in support of Satan. As punishment for their betrayal, God exiled them from Heaven to Earth and Hell, where they became servants of Satan and dwelled amongst humanity. According to the book of Genesis, "the sons of God [came] to bed with the daughters of man who bore them children" (Genesis 6:4, Page 27). The differences in the origin of the men and women in this passage indicate that human women, who were born from man, did have children with fallen angels, who are consistently called "sons of God." Considering the identity of the fallen angels, one can reasonably assume that they are individuals bearing evil and sinful intentions, intentions they could pass on to their offspring. The identity of the Nephilim is a topic readers could skim over, easily ignoring the weight and importance they hold and leading them to misinterpret God's actions and motivations to flood the Earth. Some may argue that God was cruel in His punishment of banishing the angels who disagreed with him. However, the deeper meaning behind God's reasoning can be found long before the flood, back to the rise of Satan. One reason God's decision to flood the Earth is so perplexing and frustrating to so many is due to His sudden change in character. Genesis establishes God as a loving and caring Father who loves His children, humans and angels alike, which results in quite a shock when He decides to destroy nearly all He created. However, God is not the controlling or toxic parent many have come to believe He is, but the complete opposite. The Creator gives His children complete freedom over their choices, as seen in Adam and Eve's tale, as they choose to betray God and listen to Satan. All humans and angels have the decision to join Him in Heaven or to go with Satan to hell, yet the choice made by the angels is far more permanent. When angels made their choice to follow God, some freely chose to serve Satan, who, at the time, was an angel who craved power. These angels openly turned against God and would not be welcomed home, as was made clear to them beforehand. Humans, on the other hand, live their lives and will face God in the end, but will have the same choice as the angels who came before: to stand with Him and repent or to turn against Him and join Satan. God's decision to give His children free will and choose to leave or stay with Him in Heaven emphasizes His love for His children, something readers might miss without knowledge of the fallen angels and the Nephilim. God's decision goes deeper when looking at Noah, who "found favor in the eyes of the Lord" (Genesis 6:5, Page 28). It was not God's intention to completely destroy the Earth, as shown through His request that Noah, "two of each thing you shall bring to the ark to keep alive with you, male and female they shall be (...) two of each thing shall come to you to be kept alive" (Genesis 6:13, Page 29). God had the power to destroy His creations and start again, but He chose to place His faith in one of His children to give the mortal life He created another chance and allowed them to live on after the flood removed the Nephilim. This effort on God's part highlights His love for His children, something readers could easily miss or misinterpret without fully understanding the Nephilim. Looking at the combined information, one can gather that the Nephilim are the product of human women and fallen angels who chose to follow Satan and embrace evil and sin. The Nephilim are beings who lived amongst humanity, spread wickedness, and posed a threat, corrupting many humans and damning them for eternity. With this in mind, God's choice to destroy what He had created holds a greater weight and sorrow. The flood was not a frantic act of control, nor one driven by rage, but a pained and solemn choice made out of love. God's decision was an attempt to spare the lives of His children who dwelled on the Earth, as well as those to come. He wanted to save their souls from a fate of torture and sin and sacrificed their mortal lives in exchange for their eternal ones. The importance of the Nephilim in Genesis is something too many readers gloss over, as it results in misinterpretations and false assumptions that change the intended meaning of tales like Noah's ark. Through this misunderstanding, many readers may feel pity for the Nephilim and humanity as a whole or ignore their existence altogether while feeling anger and confusion toward God's actions to flood the world He created. The understanding of the Nephilim changes the entirety of the tale, through which one can discover the meaning, power, and extent of God's love for His children and how far He is willing to go to save them.

Social media often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health. However, its ability to connect communities to help those in need inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Uniting my community to help kids in need improve their mental health and physical fitness elevates my mental well-being. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. The Rand Study reveals that families earning below $50,000 say that cost is largely why their kids stop playing. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media, like Facebook, to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through the Facebook app. Over five years Play It Forward has collected over 7,000 items, equipping nearly 700 kids across nine communities. It validates Stanford University’s research showing that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. The beneficiaries of Play It Forward are both happier and healthier when playing sports. The program’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and a US Congressional commendation. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. It’s also motivating me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As an upcoming second-year Villanova University Dean’s List computer science major with a 3.97 GPA, I am also an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and a McCann National STEM Scholar. I am now focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to societal challenges. I am looking to use technology to unite communities to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need.

While technology appropriately receives tremendous criticism for its impact on mental health, it can also be an equalizer for the less fortunate in our world when it is used to unite and rally people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. I use technology in this very way to innovate solutions. One significant issue facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with, from cleats and bags to bats and gloves. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in garages, basements, and sheds across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of 'Play It Forward' was born. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 7,000 equipment items, equipping over 690 kids across nine communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional commendation, and Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment, knowing they can play with their friends. Play It Forward is just one example of how technology serves as an equalizer for those in need around us. The connection, engagement, and motivation it provides to individuals unite communities to resolve issues, which results in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world. As a second-year computer science major at Villanova University, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann STEM National Scholar and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I am focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to deliver further engagements that solve societal challenges. I aim to become an expert in technology innovation to develop solutions to address some of my community’s and society's most significant pressing problems. The Schmid Memorial Scholarship would be tremendously supportive in helping me to achieve this.

"What could go wrong?" I had to ask myself this repeatedly to counter the naysayers who said that starting a sports equipment donation program for area kids wouldn't work. "People won't donate their expensive gear." "It's too complicated to manage." "Where will you store it all?" "It's too much work." These were just some of the objections I heard as I shared the idea with some area youth sports clubs. Fortunately, Horsham Little League understood my vision and wanted to also get more kids on the field, and my community responded with incredible support. From there, six other youth sports clubs joined the effort, including Hatboro Little League, Plymouth Little League, Horsham Soccer, Horsham Lacrosse, Upper Dublin Little League and Horsham Field Hockey. I have seen first-hand that service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, which means “together” and “munis,” which means “performing services.” So the very word “community” is built on the idea of performing service together. I have found that there is perhaps no greater force than when a community is united for good, but it takes dedication. My community is an ideal example of this, rallying to donate thousands of equipment items for hundreds of local kids in need to play sports. It’s no secret that playing sports can be crucial in helping kids have a healthy childhood and grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research shows that upwards of 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. Much of this issue is caused by the increasing costs of sports. Sharing your skills and talents to help others is essential to improving one’s community. My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the United States Air Force out of high school. There, he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays at US military bases worldwide. He then used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell Soup, and DuPont. The conversations we’ve had over the years ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum in high school. I developed a passion for technical problem-solving and took every computer science class my high school offered. I refined my programming skills to the point that I won my school’s Java Programming Challenge and earned the Girl Scout / Raytheon Technologies Computer Science Programmer Journey Award. This has motivated me to continue these studies in college. I have leveraged these technology skills to address community, to alleviate human suffering. I incorporate social media, communication platforms, inventory systems, video applications, and syndication networks to address issues with physical fitness to mental health. To address the issue of declining sports participation for kids, I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. The program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. Over six years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 7,000 equipment pieces, equipping over 680 kids across nine communities to provide a level playing field for sports access for kids. It’s also kept thousands of pounds of equipment out of landfills. While I appreciate the program receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward for our community while I am in college. As a second-year Villanova University Dean's List computer science student, I am focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people through a combination of innovation and empathy. I hope to develop powerful solutions to complex problems people are facing. I aim to continue delivering engaging solutions to alleviate suffering from pressing problems, like elevating physical fitness to enhancing mental health. Learning advanced skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and even artificial intelligence will allow me to devise and develop more advanced innovations to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond. Through all of this, my community commitment has made me a kinder citizen and a stronger student. So through it all with Play It Forward, although I initially asked "what could go wrong," I saw exactly what went right when a community unites to help others in need, like the hundreds of local kids who get the social, emotional, physical and mental benefits of playing sports.

Elevating mental helath is a passion of mine. Today, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play organized team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. At the same time, the average American family spends approximately $700 per year on their child's sports activities, according to Project Play. Further research shows that approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports activities annually. Simply put, rising costs are excluding too many kids from experiencing the benefits of playing team sports, which is eroding their physical and mental health. To help address this growing issue, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey equipment. The program provides free gear to kids to enjoy the benefits of sports. Over the past four years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,800 donated items, equipping 700+ kids from nine surrounding communities. Although my efforts with ‘Play It Forward’ have been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, seeing kids' smiles when the receive their gear is the program's truest validation. Beyind this, tcounter the growing mental health crisis impacting our communities and country, my sister and I started a broadcast network called ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to promote the good around us. The University of Australia reports that smiling can shift the mind into a state of joy. In addition, MIT research reveals that hearing positivity immediately improves one's mental state. However, the constant exposure to negativity, especially during COVID, heavily burdens our mental health. My sister and I have been spreading good news for over four years with over 225 episodes. GNN is now a global syndicated broadcast elevating viewers' mental health in over 68 countries by spotlighting positivity and good news. It’s been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, and UPtv. It’s also been showcased in two children's books, "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. Much of my efforts revolve around bettering my community and supporting my neighbors. As a second-year computer science student, I am focusing on combining technology innovation with empathy to help solve growing issues facing my community and our country.

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, which means “together” and “munis,” which means “performing services.” So the very world community is built on the idea of performing service together. I have found that there is perhaps no greater force than when a community unites for good. Given the impact of service, I strive to contribute meaningfully to my community. I do this as a member of service groups like Works of Mercy and the St. Thomas of Villanova Service Initiative which conduct food and clothing drives, orphanage holiday toy collections, and help support inner-city churches. I have been a volunteer self-defense instructor, soccer coach for 3-4 year olds, and mentor to younger Girl Scouts. Sharing your skills and talents to help others is essential to improving one’s community. One unique example is that I volunteer to sing the national anthem for local community events. People need to experience the national anthem live to feel its essence to elevate one’s patriotism and love of community and country. I perform for Veterans’ Day ceremonies at our local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and my school. Plus, I sing for Little League Opening Day and district games, Rotary Club meetings, and events like Soldiers’ Christmas and charity 5K races. Yet, my most cherished vocal experience was singing for our Gold Star Garden dedication, honoring and thanking Gold Star Families and their fallen loved ones for their incredible sacrifice for us all. My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the United States Air Force out of high school. There he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays at US military bases worldwide. He then used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in mainframe and computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell Soup, and DuPont. The conversations I had over the years with him ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum at my high school. I developed a passion for technical problem-solving that motivated me to continue these studies in college. I graduated as a Champion of Learning, AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society Member, and Honors with Distinction recipient, holding a 4.0 and taking over 20 advanced placement and honors courses over my high school career. Refining my programming skills, I won my high school’s Java Programming Challenge and earned the Girl Scout / Raytheon Technologies Computer Science Programmer Journey Award. As a first-year computer science Dean’s List student with a 3.96, I have received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and have been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and Study.com Women in Computer Science National Scholar. Beyond this, I leverage technology to address community, national, and global issues, using social media, communication platforms, inventory systems, video applications, and syndication networks to address issues ranging from physical fitness to mental health. However, my ongoing focus on delivering kindness and positivity to others is rooted in failure. Failure is among the most challenging aspects of life, yet it can also be one of its most valuable lessons. I failed my teammate as a younger, less mature, and observant kid. At 12 she was struggling mentally and socially because she didn’t have the right soccer equipment - her shin guards were too small, she didn’t have her own ball for drills, and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. I was her drill partner since many teammates shunned her. I didn’t realize that her equipment issues and socio-economic situation were the cause. She soon gave up soccer and moved. I realized I could have helped her more by giving her my unneeded gear, which may have elevated her confidence and kept her playing. I failed to be a good friend and teammate. The following year, I noticed a softball teammate didn’t have a helmet and glove that didn’t fit her correctly. I recognized the issue immediately and discreetly brought her one of my unneeded helmets and softball gloves at the next practice. I will forever remember her look of appreciation. This elevated her comfort and confidence with the team and her performance on the field. Playing sports can be crucial in helping kids grow into responsible adults. Only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Further research shows approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. The program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. Over seven years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 6,800 sports equipment items to Play It Forward, equipping over 640 kids across nine communities and providing a level playing field for sports access to kids. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I am a better friend, sister, daughter, and person for it. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward for our community while I am in college. Overall, I use technology to help solve community issues. Technology has allowed me to impact hundreds of kids by helping to unite our community to provide thousands of donated sports equipment pieces, elevating their mental health, physical fitness and emotional well-being. As a rising sophomore Villanova University computer science student, I am now focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people through innovation and empathy. I hope to develop powerful solutions to complex problems people are facing. I aim to continue delivering engaging solutions to society's pressing problems, from elevating physical fitness to enhancing mental health. Learning advanced skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and even artificial intelligence will allow me to devise and develop more advanced innovations to address pressing problems facing our society and beyond. Through this, uniting my community has made me a stronger student, a reliable resident, and an insightful individual. Play It Forward has shown me there is a tremendous amount of good all around us and no greater force for positivity than when a community unites together.

My community, both at the town and school levels, has always been important to me and something I have focused on supporting and improving in everything I do. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, a community service program director, a martial arts black belt instructor, a good news broadcast anchor, and a leader in several school organizations, I am committed to supporting my school and town in various ways. Academics have always been essential to setting a solid foundation for my future. As a Distinguished Honor Student and National Honor Society Member, I graduated with a 4.0 on a 4.0 scale, having taken 20 advanced placement and honors courses over my high school career. I have been honored as a Dansby Women in Technology Scholar, McCann National STEM Scholar and VIP Women in Technology Scholar. Beyond this, I focus on addressing issues facing the youth of our community. Today, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play organized team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. At the same time, the average American family spends approximately $700 per year on their child's sports activities, according to Project Play. According to The Rand Study, families earning $50,000 or less say cost is the top reason their kids stop participating in sports. Further research shows that approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports activities annually. Simply put, costs exclude too many kids from experiencing the benefits of playing team sports. To help address this growing issue, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, and field hockey. The program provides free gear to kids in surrounding communities to get the benefits of sports. Over the past four years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,000 donated equipment items worth an estimated $204,000 and equipped 550+ kids from eight surrounding communities with free gear. My efforts with ‘Play It Forward’ have been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, a United States Congressional commendation, and a Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. To counter the growing mental health crisis impacting our communities and country, I started a broadcast network called ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to promote the good around us. The University of Australia reports that smiling can shift the mind into a state of joy. In addition, MIT research reveals that hearing positive news can improve mental state. However, the constant exposure to negativity, especially with COVID, heavily burdens our mental health. My sister and I have been spreading global good news for nearly three years with over 200 episodes. GNN is now a weekly global syndicated broadcast elevating viewers' mental health in over 65 countries by spotlighting positivity and good news. It’s been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, and UPtv. It’s also been showcased in two children's books, "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. Many of my life's unique aspects revolve around bettering my community and supporting my neighbors. As a second-year computer science student, I am focusing on applying technology innovation with empathy to help solve growing issues facing my community and beyond.

In the nineteen years I have been blessed to live in this world, I have come to accept that questioning one's faith in God is far more natural and normal than most realize. Having lost my uncle at a young age, I believe I am familiar with the experience of doubting God's intentions and even questioning his existence. My grief created a rift between God and me and was one that would not heal for many years. Before I hit double-digits, I lay awake most nights fearing what came after death, wondering if my uncle was at peace. Anger burrowed within my heart each Sunday as my parents dragged me to church, where I would do my best to ignore every word spoken. Worst of all, the conversations and prayers I would share with God began to dwindle until they vanished altogether. While my grief strangled my faith, my mother used the pain from her brother's loss to strengthen her relationship with God. However, there were days when my uncle's absence stung more than most. One of those days, my mom had been driving home, the silence leading her thoughts to linger on her grief. Attempting to quiet them, she switched on the radio. Several years before his passing, my uncle had been in the hospital. To cheer him up, my mom handed the phone to my younger sister, who cheerfully sang him "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley and the Wailers. The very song that came on the radio as my mom drove home. A few minutes after the song concluded, my mom glanced up at the truck in front of her, swiftly grabbed her phone, and snapped a picture of the license plate. I will never forget my utter shock after she revealed the license plate: ANTHONY - my uncle's name. The "sign" my mother experienced that day sparked something in me. My eyes opened, and I began recognizing these "signs." Over time, I began to associate two occurrences with my uncle: seeing a cardinal or a mourning dove. A cardinal would never be far when I grieved his absence, and a mourning dove was almost always perched on the bench dedicated to my uncle. My faith and relationship with God slowly began to heal as time passed. I started listening to the sermons at church and began praying and speaking to Him again. While these moments of unexplained coincidences assisted in the return of my faith, one moment stands out from the others. Why, you may ask? Because it did not come when I was struggling or grieving. One Sunday in late Winter or early Spring, I was kneeling in a church pew reciting my prayers when a name appeared in my mind. One I had not thought of for years. Javin. The son of one of my father's closest friends. We had met a handful of times in our youth, but due to living on opposite sides of the country, it had been years since we saw each other. And yet, my mind continued muttering his name in my ear. So, without a second thought, I prayed for Javin and his family. Two days later, my mom asked me if I remembered the son of my dad's close friend. After I nodded, she informed me that Javin was in the hospital. I believe coincidences can happen, but after experiencing an event such as the one I described, my faith has only grown. As a woman studying STEM, I have no doubt there is a creator: God.

“The world needs GNN,” exclaimed Ryan Seacrest. As he said these four simple words, wrapping up his live interview with my sister and me, they struck me. It was an incredible moment to be on Live with Kelly & Ryan discussing our breakout broadcast, Good News Now, and how it impacted individuals' mental health worldwide. Still, this simple phrase illustrated the impact spreading positivity had on thousands of people across the globe. Leadership and empathy are two of the most important values that guide our lives. I strive to accomplish these in every aspect of my life. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, St. Thomas of Villanova Service Initiative volunteer, National Honor Society student, Works of Mercy youth group member, and certified black belt martial arts instructor I volunteer for church events, food pantry collections, giving tree gift drives, student mentoring, and teaching self-defense classes. However, elevating mental health is a particular passion of mine. My sister, Molly, and I started Good News Now (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) at the outset of COVID in March 2020. We simply wanted to show our friends, neighbors, and family members that there is so much good and positivity around us, despite the negativity the media is incessantly focused on, particularly during COVID. It’s not a difficult or complex concept, but a passionate dedication to regularly sharing good. We started our weekly GNN broadcast to counter the growing mental health crisis. We initially reported on local heroes making masks for hospitals and delivering baked goods to frontline workers. There was also some good nature news and good science news we shared. Kids in our community were starting their own service projects helping their neighborhoods with food drives and coat collections, but no one was sharing these stories and spotlighting the good around us. So, we decided to. Now, four years and over 225 episodes later, GNN impacts over 100,000 viewers in over 65 countries across six continents simply by sharing positivity and good news from all over the world. My sister and I have been featured on ABC News, FOX, UPtv, Reddit Uplifting News, Kindness Kids, Inspire More, and Live with Kelly and Ryan, among many other outlets. We’ve even been honored as 'Inspirational Icons' by Indie Today’s Best Children's Book Series "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. I cherish that the efforts behind GNN have received honors like the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year honor, and the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, GNN has shown me how vital compassion, attention, love, and empathy are to the lives and mental well-being of others. GNN requires technical skills in video production and social distribution to reach around the world. As a rising sophomore Dean’s List computer science major at Villanova University, I am focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to make more meaningful impacts through technology innovations that help solve societal challenges around mental health for people near and far. Through all of this, my community commitment through Good News Now has made me a stronger student, a reliable resident, and an insightful individual. It’s also cultivated a deeper empathy and stronger advocate for mental health, which I have seen first-hand is an issue impacting individuals around the world.

“The world needs GNN,” exclaimed Ryan Seacrest. As he said these four simple words, wrapping up his live interview with my sister and me, they struck me. It was an incredible moment to be on Live with Kelly & Ryan discussing our breakout broadcast, Good News Now, and how it impacted individuals' mental health worldwide. Still, this simple phrase illustrated the impact spreading positivity had on thousands of people across the globe. Leadership and empathy are two of the most important values that guide our lives. I strive to accomplish these in every aspect of my life. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, St. Thomas of Villanova Service Initiative volunteer, National Honor Society student, Works of Mercy youth group member, and certified black belt martial arts instructor I volunteer for church events, food pantry collections, giving tree gift drives, student mentoring, and teaching self-defense classes. However, elevating mental health is a particular passion of mine. My sister, Molly, and I started Good News Now (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) at the outset of COVID in March 2020. We simply wanted to show our friends, neighbors, and family members that there is so much good and positivity around us, despite the negativity the media is incessantly focused on, particularly during COVID. It’s not a difficult or complex concept, but a passionate dedication to regularly sharing good. We started our weekly GNN broadcast to counter the growing mental health crisis. We initially reported on local heroes making masks for hospitals and delivering baked goods to frontline workers. There was also some good nature news and good science news we shared. Kids in our community were starting their own service projects helping their neighborhoods with food drives and coat collections, but no one was sharing these stories and spotlighting the good around us. So, we decided to. Now, four years and over 225 episodes later, GNN impacts over 100,000 viewers in over 65 countries across six continents simply by sharing positivity and good news from all over the world. My sister and I have been featured on ABC News, FOX, UPtv, Reddit Uplifting News, Kindness Kids, Inspire More, and Live with Kelly and Ryan, among many other outlets. We’ve even been honored as 'Inspirational Icons' by Indie Today’s Best Children's Book Series "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. I cherish that the efforts behind GNN have received honors like the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year honor, and the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, GNN has shown me how vital compassion, attention, love, and empathy are to the lives and mental well-being of others. GNN requires technical skills in video production and social distribution to reach around the world. As a rising sophomore Dean’s List computer science major at Villanova University, I am focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to make more meaningful impacts through technology innovations that help solve societal challenges around mental health for people near and far.

My grandfather didn’t have the opportunity to attend college, so he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he built radar arrays protecting military bases worldwide. Our discussions about his 30-year technology career ignited my passion for technical problem-solving, motivating me to max out my high school’s computer science curriculum and to study technology in college. While technology today receives appropriate criticism, my career in computer science will allow me to develop innovative solutions that unite communities around issues to enhance accessibility to opportunities, as I have accomplished over the past several years. For example, I have built a technology-based initiative to increase youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports, down from 45% in 2008, with 75% of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had a garage full of outgrown sports gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community, so I built a technology bridge to connect gear donations with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) was born in 2018. This initiative collects donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to provide free to kids. Stanford University research shows that playing sports gives kids better vision, a healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. These are just a few of the benefits Play It Forward delivers to kids, along with enhanced mental health and emotional well-being. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology, leveraging social platforms and communication tools to educate and engage supporters and inventory management systems to track and distribute equipment. Technology helps engage and motivate residents to participate in and promote the program. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,800, equipping over 640 kids from nine communities. My service leadership has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, the greatest validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. In terms of advancing women in technology, as a Gold Award Girl Scout, I mentor young scouts with their programming badges and technology journeys to cultivate their STEM interests. In college, I coordinate computer science study groups to support and encourage fellow female technology majors. I also look to continue to mentor young girls interested in STEM upon graduation. As a rising second-year Villanova University computer science Dean’s List student with a 3.96 GPA, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann National STEM Scholar and VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, my dream is to elevate my technology skills to design and deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing societal challenges.

My grandfather didn’t have the opportunity to attend college, so he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he built radar arrays protecting military bases worldwide. Our discussions about his 30-year technology career ignited my passion for technical problem-solving, motivating me to max out my high school’s computer science curriculum and to study technology in college. While technology today receives appropriate criticism, my career in computer science will allow me to develop innovative solutions that unite communities around issues to enhance accessibility to opportunities, as I have accomplished over the past several years. For example, I have built a technology-based initiative to increase youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports, down from 45% in 2008, with 75% of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had a garage full of outgrown sports gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community, so I built a technology bridge to connect gear donations with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) was born in 2018. This initiative collects donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to provide free to kids. Stanford University research shows that playing sports gives kids better vision, a healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. These are just a few of the benefits Play It Forward delivers to kids, along with enhanced mental health and emotional well-being. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology, leveraging social platforms and communication tools to educate and engage supporters and inventory management systems to track and distribute equipment. Technology helps engage and motivate residents to participate in and promote the program. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,800, equipping over 640 kids from nine communities. My service leadership has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, the greatest validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. In terms of advancing women in technology, as a Gold Award Girl Scout, I mentor young scouts with their programming badges and technology journeys to cultivate their STEM interests. In college, I coordinate computer science study groups to support and encourage fellow female technology majors. I also look to continue to mentor young girls interested in STEM upon graduation. As a rising second-year Villanova University computer science Dean’s List student with a 3.96 GPA, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann National STEM Scholar and VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, my dream is to elevate my technology skills to design and deliver more advanced solutions to address pressing societal challenges.

Leadership should be rooted in helping others, and service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The very word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, which means “together” and “munis,” which means “performing services.” So the very world community is built on the idea of performing service together. There is no greater force than when a community is united for good. Sharing your skills and talents to help others is essential to this. One way I lead by example is by volunteering to sing the national anthem for local events. People should experience the national anthem live to feel its essence to elevate one’s patriotism and appreciation of our country. I perform for Veterans’ Day ceremonies at our local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and my school. I sing for Little League Opening Day and district games, Rotary Club meetings, and events like Soldiers’ Christmas and charity 5K races. And while this is a relatively small act, the words of appreciation I receive after a performance convey a deep meaning to many who hear it. My most cherished vocal experience was singing for our Gold Star Garden dedication, honoring their fallen loved ones for their incredible sacrifice. As an AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society Member, and Honors with Distinction recipient in high school, I held a 4.0, taking over 20 advanced placement and honors courses. I refined my programming skills to win my school’s Java Programming Challenge and earned the Girl Scout / Raytheon Technologies Computer Science Programmer Journey Award. As a rising second-year computer science Dean’s List student at Villanova University with a 3.96, I have received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and have been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and McCann National STEM Scholar. I leverage these technology skills to address community issues related to physical fitness and mental health. Sports can be crucial in helping kids have a healthy childhood and grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45% in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beyond this, 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually, largely due to the increasing costs of sports. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. The program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. Over seven years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 6,800 equipment pieces, equipping over 640 kids across nine communities to level the playing field for sports access for kids. While I appreciate service leadership receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I use this to lead by example for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward while I am in college. I am now advancing my technology talents and leadership skills to make more profound impacts on people by combining innovation and empathy. I look to develop more powerful solutions to complex problems communities are facing.

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, which means “together” and “munis,” which means “performing services.” So the very world community is built on the idea of performing service together. There is perhaps no greater force than when a community is united for good. Sharing your skills and talents to help others is essential to this. One unique example is that I volunteer to sing the national anthem for local events. People should experience the national anthem live to feel its essence to elevate one’s patriotism and appreciation of our country. I perform for Veterans’ Day ceremonies at our local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and my school. I sing for Little League Opening Day and district games, Rotary Club meetings, and events like Soldiers’ Christmas and charity 5K races. And while this is a relatively small act, the words of appreciation I receive after a performance convey a deep meaning to many who hear it. My most cherished vocal experience was singing for our Gold Star Garden dedication, honoring their fallen loved ones for their incredible sacrifice. As an AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society Member, and Honors with Distinction recipient in high school, I held a 4.0, taking over 20 advanced placement and honors courses. I refined my programming skills to win my school’s Java Programming Challenge and earned the Girl Scout / Raytheon Technologies Computer Science Programmer Journey Award. As a rising second-year computer science Dean’s List student at Villanova University with a 3.96, I have received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and have been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and McCann National STEM Scholar. I leverage these technology skills to address community issues related to physical fitness and mental health. Sports can be crucial in helping kids have a healthy childhood and grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45% in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beyond this, 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually, largely due to the increasing costs of sports. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. The program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. Over seven years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 6,800 equipment pieces, equipping over 640 kids across nine communities, and leveling the playing field for sports access for kids. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I use this to lead by example for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward while I am in college. I am now advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people by combining innovation and empathy. I look to develop powerful solutions to complex problems people are facing.

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, which means “together” and “munis,” which means “performing services.” So the very world community is built on the idea of performing service together. There is perhaps no greater force than when a community is united for good. Sharing your skills and talents to help others is essential to this. One unique example is that I volunteer to sing the national anthem for local events. People should experience the national anthem live to feel its essence to elevate one’s patriotism and appreciation of our country. I perform for Veterans’ Day ceremonies at our local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and my school. I sing for Little League Opening Day and district games, Rotary Club meetings, and events like Soldiers’ Christmas and charity 5K races. And while this is a relatively small act, the words of appreciation I receive after a performance convey a deep meaning to many who hear it. My most cherished vocal experience was singing for our Gold Star Garden dedication, honoring their fallen loved ones for their incredible sacrifice. As an AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society Member, and Honors with Distinction recipient in high school, I held a 4.0, taking over 20 advanced placement and honors courses. I refined my programming skills to win my school’s Java Programming Challenge and earned the Girl Scout / Raytheon Technologies Computer Science Programmer Journey Award. As a rising second-year computer science Dean’s List student at Villanova University with a 3.96, I have received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and have been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and McCann National STEM Scholar. I leverage these technology skills to address community issues related to physical fitness and mental health. Sports can be crucial in helping kids have a healthy childhood and grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45% in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beyond this, 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually, largely due to the increasing costs of sports. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. The program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. Over seven years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 6,800 equipment pieces, equipping over 640 kids across nine communities, and leveling the playing field for sports access for kids. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I use this to lead by example for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward while I am in college. I am now advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people by combining innovation and empathy. I look to develop powerful solutions to complex problems people are facing. I am working to build on the foundation of success to help better the lives of others.

While failure in a moment is often one of life's most challenging aspects, it can also be one of its most valuable lessons. When I was younger and less mature and observant, I failed my teammate. As a 12-year-old, she was struggling mentally and socially because she didn’t have the right soccer equipment - her shin guards were old and flimsy, she didn’t have her own ball for drills, and she wore sneakers since she didn’t have cleats. I befriended her, often being her drill partner since many other girls on our team shunned her. I didn’t realize at the time that her lack of equipment and socio-economic situation was the cause of this. She soon gave up soccer and eventually moved away. I realized I could have helped her by giving her some of the equipment I had outgrown, which may have kept her in sports and elevated her confidence. I failed to be a good friend and person in this situation. The following year, I played softball with a teammate who did not have their own helmet or cleats. I recognized the issue and casually asked her about her shoes and what size she wore. I discreetly brought her one of my outgrown helmets and cleats at the next practice. I will always remember her look of appreciation. Playing sports can be crucial in helping kids grow into responsible adults. Unfortunately, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play organized team sports, down from 45% 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association, with 75% of 12-year-old athletes dropping sports annually. To provide more kids with valuable sports experiences, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, and field hockey. The program has collected over 6,800 donated items, equipping over 640 kids across nine communities and providing more equal access to sports. While I sincerely appreciate that my efforts with ‘Play It Forward’ have been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and the Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I am a better friend, sister, daughter, and person for it. I use this to lead by example, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward for our community while I am in college. As a computer science major at Villanova University, I am now focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to make more meaningful engagements and profound impacts on people through the combination of science and service. I hope to find elegant solutions to complex problems people are facing. I aim to deliver engaging solutions to society's pressing problems, from elevating physical fitness to enhancing mental health. Learning advanced skills across data structures, machine learning, application development, and even artificial intelligence will allow me to devise and develop technology-driven innovations to address more pressing problems facing our society and beyond. Through all of this, it’s vital to remember that our greatest successes can come from our worst failures. We should never forget that while failure in a moment is often one of life's most challenging aspects, it can also be one of its most valuable lessons.

To me, success is elevating one's community by improving the lives of neighbors, friends, classmates, and fellow citizens in both small and significant ways. Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, which means “together” and “munis,” which means “performing services.” So the very world community is built on the idea of performing service together. I have seen no greater force than when a community is united for good. Sharing our skills and talents to help others is essential to improving one’s community. One unique example is that I volunteer to sing the national anthem for local community events. People need to experience the national anthem live to feel its essence to elevate one’s patriotism. I perform for Veterans’ Day ceremonies at our local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and my school. I sing for Little League Opening Day and district games, Rotary Club meetings, Soldiers’ Christmas and charity 5K races. And while this is a relatively small act, the words of appreciation I receive after a performance convey a deep meaning to many who hear it. My most cherished vocal experience was singing for our Gold Star Garden dedication, honoring their fallen loved ones for their incredible sacrifice. As an AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society Member, and Honors with Distinction recipient in high school with a 4.0, I refined my programming skills to win my school’s Java Programming Challenge and earned the Girl Scout / Raytheon Technologies Computer Science Programmer Journey Award. As a rising second-year computer science Dean’s List student at Villanova University with a 3.96, I have received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and have been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and McCann National STEM Scholar. I engage these technology skills to address community issues related to physical fitness and mental health. Playing sports can be crucial to kids having a healthy childhood and growing into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45% in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beyond this, 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually, largely due to the increasing costs of sports. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. The program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 6,800 equipment pieces, equipping over 640 kids across nine communities and providing a level playing field for sports access for kids. It’s also kept thousands of pounds of equipment out of landfills. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. This experience has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I am now focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people through a combination of innovation and empathy. I hope to develop powerful solutions to complex problems people are facing. So, I am working to build on the foundation of success to help better the lives of both nearby friends and faraway strangers.

For me, success is elevating one's community by improving the lives of neighbors, friends, classmates, and fellow citizens in both small and significant ways. Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, which means “together” and “munis,” which means “performing services.” So the very world community is built on the idea of performing service together. There is perhaps no greater force than when a community is united for good. Sharing your skills and talents to help others is essential to improving one’s community. One unique example is that I volunteer to sing the national anthem for local community events. People need to experience the national anthem live to feel its essence to elevate one’s patriotism and love of community and country. I perform for Veterans’ Day ceremonies at our local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and my school. I sing for Little League Opening Day and district games, Rotary Club meetings, and events like Soldiers’ Christmas and charity 5K races. And while this is a relatively small act, the words of appreciation I receive after a performance convey a deep meaning to many who hear it. My most cherished vocal experience was singing for our Gold Star Garden dedication, honoring their fallen loved ones for their incredible sacrifice. As an AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society Member, and Honors with Distinction recipient in high school, I held a 4.0, taking over 20 advanced placement and honors courses. I refined my programming skills to win my school’s Java Programming Challenge and earned the Girl Scout / Raytheon Technologies Computer Science Programmer Journey Award. As a rising second-year computer science Dean’s List student at Villanova University with a 3.96, I have received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and have been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and McCann National STEM Scholar. I leverage these technology skills to address community issues related to physical fitness and mental health. It’s no secret that playing sports can be crucial in helping kids have a healthy childhood and grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beyond this, 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually, largely due to the increasing costs of sports. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. The program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. Over seven years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 6,800 equipment pieces, equipping over 640 kids across nine communities and providing a level playing field for sports access for kids. It’s also kept thousands of pounds of equipment out of landfills. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now overseeing Play It Forward for our community while I am in college, adding donation dropboxes around town. I am now focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people through a combination of innovation and empathy. I hope to develop powerful solutions to complex problems people are facing. So, I am working to build on the foundation of success to help better the lives of both nearby friends and faraway strangers.

Service is the backbone of a strong community. It unites neighbors and elevates those in need. The word community is derived from the Latin term communis, which combines the Latin prefix “con”, which means “together” and “munis,” which means “performing services.” So the very world community is built on the idea of performing service together. I have found that there is perhaps no greater force than when a community is united for good. Sharing your skills and talents to help others is essential to improving one’s community. One unique example is that I volunteer to sing the national anthem for local community events. People need to experience the national anthem live to feel its essence to elevate one’s patriotism and love of community and country. I perform for Veterans’ Day ceremonies at our local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and my school. I sing for Little League Opening Day and district games, Rotary Club meetings, and events like Soldiers’ Christmas and charity 5K races. Yet, my most cherished vocal experience was singing for our Gold Star Garden dedication, honoring their fallen loved ones for their incredible sacrifice. As an AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society Member, and Honors with Distinction recipient in high school, I held a 4.0, taking over 20 advanced placement and honors courses. I refined my programming skills to win my school’s Java Programming Challenge and earned the Girl Scout / Raytheon Technologies Computer Science Programmer Journey Award. As a rising second-year computer science Dean’s List student at Villanova University with a 3.96, I have received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and have been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and McCann National STEM Scholar. I leverage these technology skils to address community issues related to physical fitness and mental health. It’s no secret that playing sports can be crucial in helping kids have a healthy childhood and grow into responsible adults. Tragically, only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play organized sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Beyond this, 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually, largely due to the increasing costs of sports. To address this issue I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and field hockey. The program has rallied our community, uniting to provide players with free gear to keep playing the sports they love. Over seven years, I have motivated hundreds of neighbors and residents to donate over 6,800 equipment pieces, equipping over 630 kids across nine communities and providing a level playing field for sports access for kids. It’s also kept thousands of pounds of equipment out of landfills. While I appreciate receiving the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the most significant validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear. The experience of Play It Forward has cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and, most of all, empathy, helping me become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. I use this to lead by example and be a role model for others, particularly my younger sister, Molly, who is now running Play It Forward for our community while I am in college. I am now focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more profound impacts on people through a combination of innovation and empathy. I hope to develop powerful solutions to complex problems people are facing.

My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the US Air Force out of high school. There, he learned to build radar arrays for military bases worldwide. He used these skills to build a 30-year computer network career, working for companies like Mars, Campbell Soup, and DuPont. Our conversations ignited my technology interest, fueling me to max out my school’s computer science curriculum. These discussions sparked my technical problem-solving passion, motivating me to continue these studies in college. I have received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and have been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and McCann National STEM Scholar. My passion for technology has driven me to address specific issues around physical fitness and mental health. For example, I’ve built a technology-driven solution to address decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community, so I developed a technology bridge using social engagement, inventory management and digital syndication connecting unused gear with sidelined kids called Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018. The initiative collects donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. The foundation of the equipment donation program is technology spanning communication channels, social media platforms, an inventory management system and syndication networks. Play It Forward uses this technology to spread the word and motivate my neighbors, classmates and teammates to donate gear and support the program. Over five years, Play It Forward has collected 6,900+ items, equipping 640+ kids from nine communities, receiving the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, the true validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. As a first-year computer science student at Villanova University holding a 3.96, I am studying machine learning, data structures, discrete mathematics, and computational strategies to develop more solutions to pressing societal issues. I owe this future focus on technology to my grandfather who sparked my interest and encourages me every step of the way.

My grandfather has shared our Lithuanian culture for as long as I can recall. He told us about how his surname Gable was changed from Gabalis when our family ancestors immigrated from Lithuania to the United States, and how he grew up in an inner-city Philadelphia Lithuanian community as one of seven kids with tales that would make a fantastic screenplay. When Pop-Pop took us to visit his old Port Richmond neighborhood, he’d show us important Lithuanian heritage sites, including the Lithuanian Music Hall, Lithuanian National Hall and St. George Lithuanian Church. He would explain how Philadelphia is the ideal city in America to see Lithuanian communities and its preserved heritage. Pop-Pop would share how incredible Lithuania’s global impact has been from architecture and art to culture and churches. He emphasized how incredible this is considering Lithuania’s relatively small population of three million citizens and its incredible perseverance through genocide. Given the impoverished state he lived in, Pop-Pop wasn’t able to attend college, so he enlisted in the Air Force where he built radar arrays protecting military bases worldwide. He transformed these skills into a 30-year technology career. Our discussions always came back to the work ethic and determination of our Lithuanian heritage. These conversations ignited my passion for technical problem-solving, motivating me to max out my high school’s computer science curriculum and study it in college. While technology receives appropriate criticism, my career in computer science will allow me to develop innovative solutions that unite communities around issues to enhance equity, accessibility, and inclusivity, as I have accomplished over the past several years. For example, I have built a technology initiative to increase youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports, down from 45% in 2008, with 75% of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. My family had a garage full of outgrown sports gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community, so I built a technology bridge to connect gear donations with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) was born in 2018. The initiative collects donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids. Stanford University research shows that playing sports gives kids better vision, a healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, improved self-confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected 6,800+ donations, equipping over 630 kids from nine communities. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and U.S. Congressional commendation for service leadership. However, the greatest validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. As a first-year Villanova University computer science student with a 3.96 GPA, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann National STEM Scholar and VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, my dream is to elevate my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to resolve more pressing societal challenges. My goal is to align empathy and technology to help communities persevere, much like the Lithuanian community has over the ages. Through all of this, my success has been deeply impacted by my Pop-Pop and influenced by my Lithuanian roots, particularly the unrivaled work ethic and perseverance it has given me.

Integrity, commitment and empathy are three of the most important values that guide strong leaders. These traits can also elevate the connections we have in neighborhoods and communities. I strive to embrace these characteristics in every aspect of my life; in my school, organizations, relationships and beyond. The honesty and morality that serve as the roots of integrity help leaders commit themselves to doing what is right. This includes helping others, whether a friend or stranger. Commitment is built on dedication to one’s neighborhood and community and helping to provide support that strengthens and elevates those within these groups. Empathy is perhaps the most important trait a strong leader can have. The ability to understand the point of view of others and share their feelings allows individuals to perspective of compassion, and make decisions that focus on the needs of those individuals. Academically, as a Dean’s List student holding a 3.96, I use these traits in helping others with campus community service projects, like St. Thomas of Villanova Service Initiative, where we provide support and service to Philadelphia area churches. I also oversee different study groups and tutoring sessions to help my classmates in different subjects, particularly fellow female computer science students who are competing in a male-dominated realm. Beyond school, I also look to address issues facing my town. For example, one significant challenge facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that only 38 percent of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008, with about 75 percent of 12-year-olds dropping sports annually. In addition, the Rand Study says families earning below $50,000 say that cost is the top reason their kids stop playing. This is causing kids to miss out on a spectrum of benefits from sports. As Stanford University research shows, playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved confidence. Playing also instills leadership, conveys teamwork and teaches commitment. To counter this negative trend, I started ‘Play It Forward’ in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment for soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey. Over five years, ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 6,800 equipment items, equipping over 630 kids from nine surrounding communities. My efforts have been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, a United States Congressional commemoration, a Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership, and a Pennsylvania VFW Scout of the Year honor. This initiative has helped strengthen my integrity, deepen my commitment, and cultivate my empathy. As such, I have also been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year honor, and the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. As a rising second-year computer science major at Villanova University, I am focusing on advancing my technology skills to continue making meaningful impacts and delivering entertaining and educational experiences that solve societal challenges. My abilities as a computer science student have been honored with national STEM awards including the Amie Dansby Women in Technology Award and as a McCann National STEM Scholar and VIP Women in Technology Scholar. Each of these experiences continues to elevate my integrity, commitment and empathy as I work to enhance my leadership skills. The Strong Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship would be a tremendous resource in helping me to accomplish the goal of becoming a leader focused on elevating my community by addressing pressing issues and helping others in need.

My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the US Air Force out of high school. There, he learned to build radar arrays for military bases worldwide. He used these skills to build a 30-year computer network career, working for companies like Mars, Campbell Soup, and DuPont. Our conversations ignited my technology interest, fueling me to max out my school’s computer science curriculum. These discussions sparked my technical problem-solving passion, motivating me to continue these studies in college. I have received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and have been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and McCann National STEM Scholar. My passion for technology has driven me to address specific issues around physical fitness and mental health. For example, I’ve built a technology-driven solution to address decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community, so I developed a technology bridge using social engagement, inventory management and digital syndication connecting unused gear with sidelined kids called Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018. The initiative collects donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Over five years, Play It Forward has collected 6,900+ items, equipping 630+ kids from nine communities, receiving the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, the true validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their gear. As a first-year computer science student at Villanova University holding a 4.0, I am studying machine learning, data structures, discrete mathematics, and computational strategies to develop more solutions to pressing societal issues. I owe this future focus on technology to my grandfather who sparked my interest and encourages me every step of the way.

As I ran to keep up with Pop-Pop’s long stride, my excitement for our destination overcame the exhaustion of my little legs. He grasped my tiny hand in a futile effort to keep me focused on our journey rather than the passing butterfly. Finally, he looked down to coax me with a smile, saying, “Come on, we’re almost there.” As we passed through the grove of pines shielding the hidden hill, my three-year-old worries washed away like the cool dancing currents of our journey’s end. Visiting ‘the creek,’ as it is simply known, was like venturing to Oz, Neverland, or countless other enchanting worlds. Little did I know that this creek’s magic would be revealed as the setting for many influential moments of my life over the coming years. The journey to the creek is not long, but in my younger years, it was adventurous. The early conversations between Pop-Pop and I consisted of lessons on everything from clouds and crawfish to currents and caterpillars. As I would throw pebbles into the rippling water, I would toss him whatever questions were crossing my mind. In turn, he would respond to each irrespective of whether all the facts were accurate. As the stream changed, so did I. The walks became easier as my legs grew, and our conversations became more engaging. At eight years old, I listened to Pop-Pop retell stories of distant literary lands like Hogwarts, Narnia, and Middle-Earth. Conversely, he listened intently to my imagined tales of dragons and warriors. At 13 years old, you’d probably think my interest in walking to the creek with Pop-Pop would have long disappeared. Actually, it was a time for me to explain the evolving plots and characters I was developing while he shared the trials he faced as a kid. As I listened to his tales of growing up in poverty as one of seven children in inner-city Philadelphia, the man who had long been my traveling sidekick was evolving into my greatest hero. Despite his early hardships, Pop-Pop always wore a smile and wrapped his despondent tales in humor, like when he was 10 and returned home, only to find his family had moved a block away - but forgot to tell him. While I was never sure of the balance of truth in his stories, it was clear that Pop-Pop had lived a difficult early life but was full of happiness and gratitude. His perseverance inspired me to start initiatives where I support kids, some even who reflect that 10-year-old version of him. At 15, I learned about him enlisting in the Air Force, where he learned to build radar systems. He transformed these skills into a 30-year mainframe computer and network career. These conversations intrigued me enough to take every high school computer science course I could, sparking an interest to continue these studies in college. Today, our creek trips are less frequent due to nagging back pain and a hip replacement. Regardless, I deeply enjoy our time together at the water’s edge, where conversations now revolve around plans, dreams, and the road ahead. When I think about this place, it amazes me how these progressive creek chats have built a foundation for my values, interests, passions, and goals. I am grateful for Pop-Pop’s inspiration and adore his influence on my life. I cherish that this creek has been the setting for so many milestone moments. Our journey there takes a bit longer now, but I don’t mind the extra time as I find myself coaxing him with a smile and saying, “Come on, we’re almost there.”

My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the United States Air Force out of high school. There, he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays around the world, from US military bases across Germany to the Pentagon. He then used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in mainframe and computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell Soup, and DuPont. The conversations I had over the years with him ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum at my high school. I developed a passion for technical problem-solving that motivated me to continue these studies in college. I graduated as a Champion of Learning, AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society Member, and Honors with Distinction recipient, holding a 4.0 and taking over 20 advanced placement and honors courses over my high school career. Refining my programming skills, I’ve won my school’s Java Programming Challenge and earned the Girl Scout / Raytheon Technologies Computer Science Programmer Journey Award. As a first-year computer science Dean’s List student with a 4.0, I have received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and have been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar and Study.com Women in Computer Science National Scholar. Beyond this, I leverage technology to address community, national, and global issues, using social media, communication platforms, inventory systems, video applications, and syndication networks to address issues ranging from physical fitness to mental health. For example, I have built a technology-driven solution to address decreasing youth sports participation in my community, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community, so I developed a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with sidelined kids, which became Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018. The initiative collects donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology. It leverages social platforms and communication tools to educate and engage supporters and inventory management systems to track and distribute donated equipment to kids. Play It Forward engages and motivates residents to participate in and promote the program. Over five years, Play It Forward has collected 6,900+ items worth ~$323,000, equipping 630+ kids from nine communities, and been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, the genuine validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own gear. As a first-year computer science student at Villanova University, I am studying evolving areas, including machine learning, data structures, discrete mathematics, and computational strategies. I aim to use these advanced technology talents to address more challenging community issues by delivering engaging and effective technology solutions that help elevate others.

While technology appropriately receives tremendous criticism for its impact on mental health, it can also be an equalizer for the less fortunate in our world when it is used to unite and rally people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. I use technology in this very way to innovate solutions. One significant issue facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Project Play reports that families spend approximately $700 yearly on their children's sports. The Rand Study reveals that families earning below $50,000 say that cost is why their kids stop playing sports. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with, from cleats and bags to bats and gloves. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in garages, basements, and sheds across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of 'Play It Forward' was born. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. However, the initiative has also cultivated my determination, commitment, innovation, and above all else, my empathy. The program also serves as a model in our community that encourages others to elevate their own compassion and commitment to others around them. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,900 equipment items worth an estimated $293,000 and equipped over 590 kids from eight communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional commendation, and Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment, knowing they can play with their friends. Play It Forward is just one example of how technology serves as an equalizer for those in need around us. The connection, engagement, and motivation it provides to individuals unite communities to resolve issues, which results in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world. As a first-year computer science major at Villanova University, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann STEM National Scholar and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I focus on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to deliver further meaningful engagements that solve societal challenges. I aim to become an expert in technology innovation to develop solutions to address some of society's pressing problems. The TEAM ROX Scholarship would be tremendously supportive in helping me to achieve this.

While technology appropriately receives tremendous criticism for its impact on mental health, it can also be an equalizer for the less fortunate in our world when it is used to unite and rally people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. I use technology in this very way to innovate solutions. One significant issue facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Project Play reports that families spend approximately $700 yearly on their children's sports. The Rand Study reveals that families earning below $50,000 say that cost is why their kids stop playing sports. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with, from cleats and bags to bats and gloves. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in garages, basements, and sheds across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of 'Play It Forward' was born. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It uses social platforms and communication tools to educate, inform, and engage our residents, as well as inventory management systems to help track and distribute the incoming donated equipment to youth athletes across our community. This technology connects, engages, and motivates residents to participate and spread the word. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,900 equipment items worth an estimated $293,000 and equipped over 590 kids from eight communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional commendation, and Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment, knowing they can play with their friends. Play It Forward is just one example of how technology serves as an equalizer for those in need around us. The connection, engagement, and motivation it provides to individuals unite communities to resolve issues, which results in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world. As a first-year computer science major at Villanova University, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, McCann STEM National Scholar and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I focus on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to deliver further meaningful engagements that solve societal challenges. I aim to become an expert in technology innovation to develop solutions to address some of society's pressing problems. The Morgan Levine Dolan Community Service Scholarship would be tremendously supportive in helping me to achieve this.

Social media often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health. However, its ability to connect communities to help those in need inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. The Rand Study reveals that families earning below $50,000 say that cost is largely why their kids stop playing. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media, like Facebook, to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through the Facebook app. Over five years Play It Forward has collected over 6,800 items worth about $293,000, equipping nearly 600 kids across nine communities. It validates Stanford University’s research showing that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. The beneficiaries of Play It Forward are both happier and healthier when playing sports. The program’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and a US Congressional commendation. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own sports gear. Play It Forward has not only impacted hundreds of kids, but it’s also transformed my life, showing me the power of empathy, commitment and selflessness. It’s also motivating me to want to help more people in more impactful ways. Impacting the mental well-being of others, particularly kids, elevates my own mental health by providing me a sense of purpose in helping others and elevating my community. This has shown me first-hand how vital preserving one’s mental fitness is and how consistent acts of kindness can boost the state of mind of others around you. As a first-year Villanova University computer science major with a 4.0 GPA, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I am now focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more advanced solutions to societal challenges. I am looking to use technology to unite communities to address pressing challenges and elevate the lives of more people in need.

Technology is an equalizer for the less fortunate in our world when it is used to unite people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. I use technology in this very way to innovate solutions. One significant issue facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Project Play reports that families spend approximately $700 yearly on their children's sports. The Rand Study reveals that families earning below $50,000 say that cost is why their kids stop playing sports. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with, from cleats and bags to bats and gloves. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in garages, basements, and sheds across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of 'Play It Forward' was born. I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It uses social platforms and communication tools to educate, inform, and engage our residents, as well as inventory management systems to help track and distribute the incoming donated equipment to youth athletes across our community. This technology connects, engages, and motivates residents to participate and spread the word. Over the past five years, ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 6,900 equipment items worth an estimated $293,000 and equipped over 590 kids from eight communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional commendation, and Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment, knowing they can play with their friends. As a first-year computer science major at Villanova University, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I focus on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to deliver further meaningful engagements that solve societal challenges. I aim to become an expert in technology innovation to develop solutions to address some of society's pressing problems. 'Play It Forward' is just one example of how technology serves as an equalizer for those in need around us. The connection, engagement, and motivation it provides to individuals unite communities to resolve issues, which results in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world.

Technology is an equalizer for the less fortunate in our world when it is used to unite people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. I use technology in this very way to innovate solutions. One significant issue facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Project Play reports that families spend approximately $700 yearly on their children's sports. The Rand Study reveals that families earning below $50,000 say that cost is why their kids stop playing sports. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with, from cleats and bags to bats and gloves. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in garages, basements, and sheds across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward was born. I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It uses social platforms and communication tools to educate, inform, and engage our residents, as well as inventory management systems to help track and distribute the incoming donated equipment to youth athletes across our community. This technology connects, engages, and motivates residents to participate and spread the word. Over the past five years, ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 6,800 equipment items worth an estimated $293,000 and equipped over 590 kids from eight communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional commendation, and Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment, knowing they can play with their friends. As a first-year computer science major at Villanova University, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I focus on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to deliver further meaningful engagements that solve societal challenges. I aim to become an expert in technology innovation to develop solutions to address some of society's pressing problems. 'Play It Forward' is just one example of how technology serves as an equalizer for those in need around us. The connection, engagement, and motivation it provides to individuals unite communities to resolve issues, which results in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world.

One of the values I appreciate most in others is selflessness because it often requires empathy, generosity, compassion, and attentiveness. My Mom is my constant example of this as a volunteer, coach, daughter, pediatrician, and parent. She continuously gives her time and talents to others in need across our community in a variety of roles. Given this continuous generosity for others I have focused on combining selflessness with my technology talents to devise solutions to elevate the health and welfare of others. Academically, I graduated high school earlier this past year as a 4.0 Distinguished Honor Student and National Honor Society Member. I also currently carry a 4.0 in my first college semester as a computer science major. Aside from singing in the Villanova University Women’s Choir and competing for the school’s Taekwondo Team, I also volunteer for a variety of programs helping organizations around Philadelphia. My commitment to academic excellence and extracurricular performance also comes from my Mom, who volunteers for community health programs, teaches medical students, and serves our local soccer program as a coach and board member. Regarding technology, I am an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, a McCann STEM Scholar and a Study.com Women in Computer Science National Scholar. I am studying various evolving areas, including machine learning, data structures, and computational strategies. For years, I’ve engaged technology, from video production and data management to communication tools and social media syndication, to better the lives of friends, family, neighbors, classmates, teammates, and strangers. For example, playing sports can help kids to grow into responsible adults. Unfortunately, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play organized team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. In short, high equipment costs are often sidelining them. To counter this, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, and field hockey. The program delivers free gear to players to enjoy sports. ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 6,800 donated equipment items worth an estimated $287,000, equipping nearly 600 kids in need across eight communities, providing a level playing field for kids. While I appreciate that my ‘Play It Forward’ efforts have been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award, the true validation is seeing kids’ smiles when they receive their own gear. Overall, I leverage technology to help solve community issues. This allows me to impact others by improving their physical health, social engagement, and emotional well-being. As a first-year computer science major at Villanova University, I am now focusing on advancing my technology talents to make more meaningful engagements and profound impacts on others. The desire to help others largely comes from my Mom, who daily helps guide children and their families through health issues as a pediatrician. While I don’t have the aptitude for a medical career like my Mom, I am focused on using my technology talents to help others improve their mental and physical well-being.

Social media often receives appropriate criticism for its detrimental impact on mental health. However, its ability to connect communities to help those in need inspires me and serves as a foundation for my efforts to elevate people's mental and physical health across my community. Since 2018 I have run the donation initiative Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), providing sports equipment to youth athletes across my community. It’s built on a technology foundation with a social media backbone that addresses decreasing youth sports participation, impacting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of kids. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. The Rand Study reveals that families earning below $50,000 say that cost is largely why their kids stop playing. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. The lynchpin to Play It Forward is technology, using social media, like Facebook, to educate and engage supporters, with inventory management systems to distribute donated soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects and motivates people to participate in and promote the program largely through the Facebook app. Over five years Play It Forward has collected 6,800+ items worth ~$273,000, equipping 580+ kids from eight communities. The program’s impact has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and a US Congressional commendation. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own gear. As a first-year Villanova University computer science major with a 4.0 GPA, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I am now focusing on advancing my technology skills to deliver more impactful solutions to societal challenges.

My initial interest in technology began with stories my grandfather told me of his career building and maintaining networks and mainframes for major corporations. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, so he enlisted in the United States Air Force out of high school. There, he learned to build the technical systems for radar arrays worldwide, from US military bases across Europe to the Pentagon, protecting American military bases and our nation. He then used these skills as the foundation for a 30-year career in mainframe and computer network technology, where he worked for companies like Mars, Campbell Soup, and DuPont. The conversations I had over the years with him ignited an interest in me that burned brightly, fueling me to max out the computer science curriculum at my high school. I developed a passion for technical problem-solving that motivated me to continue these studies in college. I graduated as a Champion of Learning, AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society Member, and Honors with Distinction recipient, holding a 4.0 and taking over 20 advanced placement and honors courses over my high school career. With refined programming skills, I won my school’s Java Programming Challenge and earned the Girl Scout / Raytheon Technologies Computer Science Programmer Journey Award. I have also received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award and have been honored as a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, McCann STEM National Scholar, and Study.com Women in Computer Science National Scholar. Beyond this, I leverage technology to address community, national, and global issues, using social media, communication platforms, inventory systems, video applications, and syndication networks to address issues ranging from physical fitness to mental health. As a first-year student at Villanova University, I am studying various evolving areas, including machine learning, data structures, discrete mathematics, and computational strategies. I hold a 4.0 GPA and have received Dean’s List honors. I am also considering applying for Villanova’s select combined Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Science in either Computer Science or Software Engineering, an accelerated five-year program. I am focused on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to continue to make meaningful engagements and impacts. Additionally, my goal is to address challenging issues within cybersecurity. Given my skills and interests in technology, problem-solving, and helping people, my commitment to productivity and accountability, and being thorough, well-prepared, and well-organized, cybersecurity will undoubtedly be my ideal career path. The William A. Stuart Dream Scholarship would provide tremendous support to helping me achieve this goal.

Technology is an equalizer for the less fortunate in our world when it is used to unite people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. I use technology in this very way to innovate solutions. One significant issue facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Project Play reports that families spend approximately $700 yearly on their children's sports. The Rand Study reveals that families earning below $50,000 say that cost is why their kids stop playing sports. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with, from cleats and bags to bats and gloves. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in garages, basements, and sheds across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward was born. I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It uses social platforms and communication tools to educate, inform, and engage our residents, as well as inventory management systems to help track and distribute the incoming donated equipment to youth athletes across our community. This technology connects, engages, and motivates residents to participate and spread the word. Over the past five years, ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 6,600 equipment items worth an estimated $233,000 and equipped over 570 kids from eight communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional commendation, and Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment, knowing they can play with their friends. As a first-year computer science major at Villanova University, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I focus on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to deliver further meaningful engagements that solve societal challenges. I aim to become an expert in technology innovation to develop solutions to address some of society's pressing problems. Play It Forward is just one example of how technology serves as an equalizer for those in need around us. The connection, engagement, and motivation it provides to individuals unite communities to resolve issues, which results in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world.

Technology is an equalizer for the less fortunate in our world when it is used to unite people around a problem. How it connects, engages, and motivates individuals can effectively bring communities together to address and resolve issues. This can result in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world where technology serves as the bridge to solutions. I use technology in this very way to innovate solutions. One significant issue facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Project Play reports that families spend approximately $700 yearly on their children's sports. The Rand Study reveals that families earning below $50,000 say that cost is why their kids stop playing sports. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had shelves in our garage filled with outgrown gear from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with, from cleats and bags to bats and gloves. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in garages, basements, and sheds across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward was born. I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It uses social platforms and communication tools to educate, inform, and engage our residents, as well as inventory management systems to help track and distribute the incoming donated equipment to youth athletes across our community. This technology connects, engages, and motivates residents to participate and spread the word. Over the past five years, ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 6,800 equipment items worth an estimated $270,000 and equipped over 570 kids from eight communities. As a result, the program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional commendation, and Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment, knowing they can play with their friends. As a first-year computer science major at Villanova University, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I focus on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to deliver further meaningful engagements that solve societal challenges. I aim to become an expert in technology innovation to develop solutions to address some of society's pressing problems. Play It Forward is just one example of how technology serves as an equalizer for those in need around us. The connection, engagement, and motivation it provides to individuals unite communities to resolve issues, which results in a more fair, accessible, and inclusive world.

While technology often receives appropriate criticism, as a STEM major, my career in computer science will allow me to develop fantastic solutions that unite communities around issues to help deliver equity, accessibility, and inclusivity in our communities, as I have over the past several years. For example, I have built a technology foundation for decreasing youth sports participation in my community, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Project Play reports that families spend about $700 yearly on their kids’ sports, while The Rand Study reveals that families earning below $50,000 say that cost is largely why their kids stop playing. Further research shows that 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had a garage filled with outgrown gear, from cleats and bats to gloves and bags, from my sister and me that we didn't know what to do with. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with the sidelined kids who needed it. From this, the idea of Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) was born in 2018. The initiative collects donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids so they can play. Stanford University research shows that simply playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The lynchpin to Play It Forward’s success is technology. It leverages social platforms and communication tools to educate and engage supporters and inventory management systems to track and distribute donated equipment to kids. Play It Forward connects, engages, and motivates residents to participate in and promote the program. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected 6,800+ items worth ~$273,000, equipping 570+ kids from eight surrounding communities. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, a U.S. Congressional commendation, and a Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own gear. As a first-year Villanova University computer science major with a 4.0 GPA, an Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award recipient, and a VIP Women in Technology National Scholar, I am now focusing on advancing my technology skills and programming talents to deliver more advanced elegant solutions to address growing societal challenges. Play It Forward is just one example of how my STEM education can help improve the world by using technology solutions that connect, engage, and motivate communities to help those in need around us, creating a more equitable, accessible, and inclusive society for us all.

My Pop Pop sparked my interest in studying computer science. Since I was two years old, I have been walking to the neighborhood creek with him. Early on, our conversations evolved from lessons on clouds and crawfish to discussions about his childhood growing up in poverty as one of seven children in inner-city Philadelphia. Then, as I got older, we'd talk about his Air Force enlistment, where he built radar systems around the world, and how he transformed these skills into a 30-year computer career. He would tell me stories of how he was always solving challenging technical issues for companies. These conversations intrigued me, so I started taking every computer science course my school offered and eventually maxed out the curriculum. This cultivated my passion for technology and motivated me to continue these studies in college. I have used my technology skills to create Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), helping kids in need play sports by organizing equipment drives for soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey. Unfortunately, this gear can be so expensive that only 38 percent of kids (6 to 12) are playing sports, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association, with 75% of 12-year-olds quitting sports annually. Leveraging spreadsheet macros, social media engagement, and communication tools to rally and organize my community, we’ve collected over 6,700 equipment pieces worth nearly $265,000, equipping over 570 kids with free gear across eight area towns. Play It Forward has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional commendation, and Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own gear. Beyond this, I founded Good News Now (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to counter the growing mental health crisis by spotlighting worldwide good. GNN is a weekly global broadcast that uses video applications, social media platforms, and syndication systems to elevate viewers' mental health in over 65 countries by promoting positivity and good news. It’s been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, UPtv, and Inspire More, among other outlets. GNN spreads positivity, elevating the mental state of viewers while motivating them to do good. My efforts have been honored as an 'Inspirational Icon' by the award-winning children's book series "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and featured in the book "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. As a computer science major at Villanova University, I am now focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to deliver solutions that address societal challenges. I owe my initiative, innovation, compassion, and commitment to using technology to help others to the influence of my Pop-Pop. These traits also seem to reflect the spirit of Ben Brock and this Memorial Scholarship, honoring his legacy.

My Pop Pop sparked my interest in studying computer science. Since I was two years old, I have been walking to the neighborhood creek with him. Early on, our conversations evolved from lessons on clouds and crawfish to discussions about his childhood growing up in poverty as one of seven children in inner-city Philadelphia. As I got older, we'd talk about his Air Force enlistment, where he built radar systems, and how he transformed these skills into a 30-year computer career. He would tell me stories of how he was always solving challenging technical issues for companies. These conversations intrigued me, so I started taking every computer science course my school offered and eventually maxed out the curriculum. This cultivated my passion for technology and motivated me to continue these studies in college. I have used my technology skills to create Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), helping kids in need play sports by organizing equipment drives for soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey. Unfortunately, this gear can be so expensive that only 38 percent of kids (6 to 12) are playing sports, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association, with 75% of 12-year-olds quitting sports annually. Leveraging spreadsheet macros, social media engagement, and communication tools to rally and organize my community, we’ve collected over 6,700 equipment pieces worth nearly $265,000, equipping over 570 kids with free gear across eight area towns. Play It Forward has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional commendation, and Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their own gear. Beyond this, I founded Good News Now (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to counter the growing mental health crisis by spotlighting worldwide good. GNN is a weekly global broadcast that uses video applications, social media platforms, and syndication systems to elevate viewers' mental health in over 65 countries by promoting positivity and good news. It’s been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, UPtv, and Inspire More, among other outlets. GNN spreads positivity, elevating the mental state of viewers while motivating them to do good. My efforts have been honored as an 'Inspirational Icon' by the award-winning children's book series "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and featured in the book "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. As a first-year computer science major at Villanova University with a 4.0 GPA, I am now focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to deliver solutions that address more complex societal challenges. My initiative, innovation, compassion, and commitment to using technology to help others reflect the spirit of Chris Jackson and make me an ideal candidate for the Computer Science Education Scholarship, which honors his legacy.

Cancer has impacted my life in a way I’ll never truly understand. While my Dad was a senior at Penn State nine years before I was born, his Mom was taken by ovarian cancer - she was only 48. My Dad regularly speaks about his fond memories of his Mom, Andrea, playing music, reading books, and making people laugh, all traits that are essential to who I am. Aside from family members regularly saying how they see her in me, my middle name, Andreanna, is even a tribute to her. I have missed out greatly on having my grandmother here to see me sing on stage, perform in martial arts tournaments, and impact others, just as she did. And just to experience life with her. However, she is a core element of who I am. For several years, I have built a solution to decreasing youth sports participation, which impacts kids physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. The Rand Study reveals most families earning below $50,000 say cost is why their kids stop playing. Further research shows that 75% of 12-year-olds drop sports annually. My family had garage shelves filled with outgrown gear. I realized unused equipment must be scattered in homes across our community. I thought about how to build a technology bridge to connect this unused gear with these sidelined kids who needed it. I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey to provide free to kids. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. It also teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. Over the past five years, Play It Forward has collected 6,600+ equipment items, equipping 570+ kids from eight communities. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, and National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. However, seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment is the most significant validation. My dad says my commitment comes from my grandmother, who built a program to rescue retired greyhounds. If not for her, these dogs would have been executed. “She completely invested herself in the cause, just like you,” my Dad says. Aside from this commitment to others, I view academics as an essential building block to set a solid foundation for my future. As a Distinguished Honor Student, National Honor Society, and Tri-M Honors Society Member, I held a 4.0 on a 4.0 scale and took 20 advanced placement and honors courses throughout high school, earning the school’s Champion of Learning Medal. As a first-year computer science major at Villanova University, I earned a 4.0 during my first semester. I also received the Amie Dansby Women in Technology National Award, VIP Women in Technology National Scholarship, and Study.com Computer Science Scholarship. I am focusing on advancing my technology talents to deliver meaningful engagements that solve societal challenges. My Dad tells me my drive to help others comes from his Mom, who sat on his school’s PTA and was always a ‘homeroom mom,’ served as his scout den mother, and rescued all those greyhounds. He says she would have loved watching and supporting me. While I can be angry at what cancer took from me, I love that she is essential to who I am.

As I ran to keep up with Pop-Pop’s long stride, my excitement overcame the exhaustion of my little legs. He grasped my tiny hand to keep me focused on our journey rather than the passing butterfly. Finally, he coaxed me with a smile, saying, “Come on, we’re almost there.” When I saw the creek, my three-year-old worries washed away like its cool dancing currents. It was like venturing to Oz, Neverland, or countless other enchanting worlds. Little did I know that this creek’s magic would reappear for many of my life’s most influential moments. The early conversations between Pop-Pop and me at the creek’s edge covered lessons on everything from clouds and crawfish. I would toss him questions as I would throw pebbles into the ripples. He would respond to each irrespective of whether all the facts were accurate. The walks became easier as my legs grew, and our conversations became more engaging. At eight years old, I listened to Pop-Pop retell stories of distant literary lands like Hogwarts and Narnia. Conversely, he listened to my imagined tales of dragons and warriors. As the first audience to my storytelling, Pop-Pop encouraged my love of reading and writing as I began flipping through the pages of countless novels and penning my own tales. These moments together cultivated my desire to create worlds where readers could get lost. At 13 years old, you’d think my interest in walking to the creek with Pop-Pop would have long washed away. Actually, it was a time for me to share my plots and characters while he shared the trials he faced as a kid. As I listened to his tales of growing up in poverty as one of seven children in inner-city Philadelphia, my long-time traveling sidekick was evolving into my greatest hero. Despite his early hardships, Pop-Pop always wrapped his despondent tales in humor, like when he returned home from school at 10, only to find his family had moved a block away - but forgot to tell him. At 15, I learned about his Air Force enlistment, where he built radar systems. He transformed these skills into a 30-year computer career. These conversations intrigued me to take every high school computer science course available. This cultivated a passion for technical problem-solving that, no doubt, originated from him and has motivated me to continue these studies in college. Today, our creek trips are less frequent because of nagging back pain and a hip replacement. Regardless, I deeply enjoy our time at the water’s edge, where conversations now revolve around dreams and the future. When I think about this place, it amazes me how these creek chats have developed my values, passions, and goals. I am grateful for Pop-Pop’s inspiration and adore his influence on my life. I cherish that this creek has been the setting for so many milestone moments. Our journey there takes longer now, but I don’t mind the extra time as I coax with a smile, saying, “Come on, we’re almost there.”

Many don’t see technology as a benefit to individuals' physical and mental health. Instead, most people would likely say that technology diminishes kids' mental well-being and physical fitness, and regarding social media, they may be correct. However, I have leveraged technology applications for years to enhance individuals' mental and physical health across my community and worldwide, highlighting the value of technology to do good. In other words, I spotlight the positivity and potential of technology and how it can better our lives and enhance our communities. I have applied this approach to adapt different apps, systems, and platforms to help solve problems that impact my neighborhood, nation, and beyond. One of the significant challenges facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. Further research shows that ~75 percent of 12-year-olds drop youth sports annually. According to The Rand Study, families earning below $50,000 say that cost is the top reason their kids stop playing sports. I founded ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018 to counter this declining participation trend. This initiative uses social engagement and data management tools to generate community donations of soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment. This gear is provided free to kids so they can keep playing sports. Over four years, ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 6,500 equipment items worth an estimated $232,000 and equipped over 560 kids from eight surrounding communities. As a result, my efforts with Play It Forward have been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional and Pennsylvania Legislative citations for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment, knowing they can play. Beyond this, I saw mental health deteriorating across my neighborhood and community, worsened by COVID isolation. So, in the early days of the pandemic in March 2020, I started a network called ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to counter this mental health crisis by promoting worldwide good. For example, the University of Australia reports that simply smiling can shift the mind into a state of joy. In addition, MIT research reveals that hearing positive news can improve mental state. So, I use video production and online social syndication to distribute a weekly global broadcast to elevate viewers’ mental health in over 65 countries across six continents. Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC News, FOX News, UPtv, and InspireMore are just a few outlets that have highlighted GNN, among many others. My efforts have also been featured in two children's books, Young Change Makers by Stacy Bauer and What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19 by Erin Silver. Now, as a computer science major and creative writing minor at Villanova University, I am focusing on advancing my technology skills while refining my storytelling talents. I look to build a career that reflects this approach and expands my experience developing technology-based innovations that help solve pressing issues facing our communities, nation, and beyond. In addition, I look to tap into the positivity and potential of technology to enhance our lives and elevate our communities.

Mental health is vastly becoming an aspect of personal fitness that more people understand and pay attention to, thanks to increased education and empathy. The mental health impact of isolation from the pandemic has also been far-reaching to many individuals of all ages, increasing attention on the issue. Aside from coping with ADHD and anxiety, this isolation also placed tremendous pressure on my mental health. I noticed this was also wreaking havoc on many of my classmates and friends since they could not socialize at school and through their extracurricular groups. MIT research reveals that hearing positive news can instantly improve one’s mental state. However, constant exposure to negativity heavily burdens our mental health. I wanted to help others in this regard, so in March 2020, I started a broadcast network called ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to counter this mental health crisis with my sister. We use a video production platform, social media engagement, and syndication technology to reach viewers with local and global news on kindness, positivity, and good all around us. GNN now reaches thousands of viewers in over 65 countries across six continents, elevating their mental health by spotlighting positivity and good news. GNN has been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, UPtv, and InspireMore. It is also syndicated by about 25 social media groups covering positivity and kindness, like #BeKind, Some Good News, Kindness Community, Happy News, and Kindness Kids. GNN’s cadence of positivity elevates viewers' mental states and motivates them to do good in their communities. My sister and I have been named 'Inspirational Icons' by the Amazon 5-star rated children's book series Young Change Makers by Stacy Bauer and featured in the book What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19 by Erin Silver. Beyond hearing positive news, helping kids get involved with organized sports boosts their physical fitness and mental health. Unfortunately, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play organized team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. This is a growing challenge facing our nation and my community, particularly with the impact of COVID isolation and the increasing effect of inflation on many. According to Project Play, the average American family spends approximately $700 yearly on their child's sports. However, as The Rand Study reports, most families earning $50,000 or less say the cost is why their kids stop participating. Further, approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop youth sports annually. Stanford University researchers found that playing sports provides better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved self-confidence. However, sports also teach teamwork, perseverance, effort, commitment, leadership, and overcoming failure. In addition, athletics provide necessary breaks from screens and social media. To help provide sports experiences to kids to gain these physical and mental benefits and learn these lessons, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, and field hockey. The program provides players in surrounding communities free gear to play and enjoy the benefits of sports. Over the past four years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,200 donated equipment items worth an estimated $193,000, equipping 520+ kids in need from eight surrounding communities. Play It Forward's mission is simply to provide a level playing field for equal access to organized sports, which is out of reach for many kids, given the high costs. This helps provide sports' powerful physical, mental, and emotional benefits to kids who otherwise would get sidelined and miss out on the essential team experience. In addition, this helps build an early foundation for success in school and throughout life. The program encourages players to re-donate the gear they have received once they outgrow it so other kids can also benefit from it. This teaches these program’s beneficiaries empathy, providing a unique understanding of the value of helping others. While I sincerely appreciate that my efforts with ‘Play It Forward’ have been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, the Girl Scout Gold Award, a United States Congressional commendation and a Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership, the greatest reward and validation of the program is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their gear and know that they can play sports with their teammates. These experiences have helped cultivate my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and empathy. These efforts have also helped me to become a better citizen for my school, community, country, classmates, and fellow residents. Fortunately, running ‘Good News Now’ and ‘Play It Forward’ has been quite therapeutic to my mental health, which has increased seeing others benefit from both initiatives. This has motivated me to take on more leadership roles within service organizations. Leadership by example and commitment to service are two of the most important values that can guide our lives and better our communities. I strive to accomplish each of these in every aspect of my life; in my school, my organizations, my community, and beyond. While I focused on the academic side of my life as a 4.0 Distinguished Honor Student and National Honor Society Member, I also contributed to my school through vocal performance, service projects, and mentoring fellow students. In addition, I served as a volunteer school ambassador at local events through vocal performances of the national anthem and other songs for the Rotary Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars post, Little League, and Gold Star Garden, to name a few. Now, as a computer science major at Villanova University, I'm advancing my technology talents to continue making meaningful engagements that impact my community. I also continue to elevate my mental health singing with Villanova Voices women's choir and competing with Villanova’s Taekwondo Team. The Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship will be a tremendous resource in helping me to accomplish this.

Many don’t see technology as a benefit to individuals' physical and mental health. Instead, most people would likely say that technology diminishes kids' mental well-being and physical fitness, and regarding social media, they may be correct. However, for years, I have leveraged technology applications, including video production, data management, and social media syndication, to enhance individuals' mental and physical health across my community and worldwide, highlighting the value of technology to do good. While social technology certainly has well-documented downsides, when applied to inspirational initiatives, these applications connect and rally communities to come together to help those neighbors and residents in need. One of the significant challenges facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports only 38% of kids ages 6-12 play team sports today, down from 45% in 2008. Further research shows that ~75% of 12-year-olds drop youth sports annually. Sports are incredibly valuable to kids' physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Stanford University research shows that playing sports helps kids develop better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor skills, enhanced social skills, and improved self-confidence. However, sports also teach social interactions, teamwork, commitment, compromise, and leadership. Each of these is an asset kids will carry with them on the path to becoming valuable community contributors. I founded ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018 to counter this declining participation trend. This initiative uses social engagement and data management tools to generate community donations of soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey equipment provided free to kids so they can keep playing sports. Over five years, ‘Play It Forward’ has collected 6,600+ equipment items worth an estimated $243,000 and equipped 560+ kids from eight surrounding communities. Social networks and communication platforms are at the heart of Play It Forward. As a result, my efforts with Play It Forward have been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional and Pennsylvania Legislative citations for service leadership. However, the most significant validation is seeing kids' smiles when they receive their equipment, knowing they can play. As a computer science major at Villanova University, I am focusing on advancing my technology skills while refining my storytelling talents to develop technology-based innovations that help solve pressing issues facing our communities, nation, and beyond.

Aside from families, communities are the fundamental gathering points that unite us as a society. When everyone invests their time and talents to better different aspects of their community, it elevates the lives of each resident in some way. This is why providing service to those in need is essential to improving where we live. The key is finding a ways to be part of the solution. Leadership by example and commitment to service are two of the most important values that can guide our lives and better our communities. I strive to accomplish each of these in every aspect of my life; in my school, my organizations, my community, and beyond. While I focus on the academic side of my life as a 4.0 Distinguished Honor Student and National Honor Society Member, I also contribute to my school through vocal performance, service projects, teaching self-defense, and mentoring fellow students. When it comes to helping kids grow into responsible adults, playing sports can be a key component. Unfortunately, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play organized team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. This is a growing challenge facing our nation and my community, particularly with the impact of COVID and inflation on many families. According to Project Play, the average American family spends approximately $700 yearly on their child's sports. However, as The Rand Study reports, most families earning $50,000 or less say the cost is why their kids stop participating. Further, approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop youth sports annually. To help provide valuable sports experiences to kids so they can thrive, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, and field hockey. The program provides players with free gear to play and enjoy the benefits of sports. Over the past four years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,400 donated equipment items worth an estimated $205,000, equipping 550+ kids in need, providing a level playing field for equal access to organized sports. While I sincerely appreciate that my efforts with ‘Play It Forward’ have been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, and the Girl Scout Gold Award, the greatest validation is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they receive their own sports gear. Beyond ‘Play It Forward,’ I started a network called ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to counter the mental health crisis I have witnessed in my community by promoting the good all around us. GNN is now a weekly global syndicated broadcast with 200+ episodes elevating viewers' mental health in over 65 countries by spotlighting positivity. GNN has been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, UPtv, InspireMore, and the children's books "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. These experiences have cultivated my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and empathy, while also helping me to become a better citizen for my school, community, and country. Overall, I leverage technology to help solve community issues. Already accepted as a computer science major at Villanova University, I want to focus on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to continue making meaningful engagements and impacts to deliver entertaining and educational experiences that help solve society's pressing problems. The Morgan Levine Dolan Community Service Scholarship will be a tremendous resource in helping me to accomplish this.

I thought about my early school years when I started reflecting on Trever David Clark Memorial Scholarship. I had a difficult time focusing in class as early as first grade. My creative mind and active imagination made managing my thoughts and directing my attention difficult. Some teachers quickly labeled me as a disruptive kid, but I was trying hard to focus and pay attention. This led to underestimating my abilities, ignoring my exceptional testing results by placing me in mid-track courses. I was soon diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety, which didn’t necessarily help me with some of my teachers. Still, it helped my parents coach me to channel my energy and creativity in the classroom. Over the years, I have worked intently on proving myself in all subjects to overcome this stigma and achieve in the classroom. Today, as a high school senior, I hold a 4.0 on a 4.0 scale, taking 20 advanced placement and honors courses over my high school career. I say this not for praise but to illustrate that kids who learn differently have the capabilities to excel. Despite these difficulties, a tremendous amount of good has emerged, motivating me to help improve the lives of others. Sports have been enormous outlets for me to develop focus and connect with teammates and friends. I wanted to provide this sports experience for our community's needy kids. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor skills, enhanced social skills, and improved self-confidence. Unfortunately, participation has declined over the past several years. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. However, according to Project Play, the average American family spends approximately $700 per year on their child's sports activities. In contrast, according to The Rand Study, families earning $50,000 or less say cost is the top reason their kids stop participating in sports. And COVID limitations only made this worse. Further research shows that approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop youth sports activities annually. To counter this trend, I started Play It Forward (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018. This initiative collects donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey. In addition, it provides free gear to kids in surrounding communities so they can play and enjoy the benefits of sports. So far, Play It Forward has collected over 6,000 donated equipment items worth an estimated $204,000, equipping over 550 kids from eight surrounding communities with free gear. The program has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, United States Congressional Commendation, Pennsylvania Legislative Citation for Service Leadership, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, and President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award. However, the greatest testament to this is the excitement from kids when they get equipped and realize they can play with their friends. Reflecting on my experiences, trials, and challenges, I am now focusing on expanding my technology knowledge and expertise by studying computer science at Villanova University to help address the challenges that face communities. Technological innovation has tremendous untapped potential that can inform, educate, uplift, and even entertain our society, motivating it to be more inclusive and empathetic. I am looking to help cultivate this in my career.

My community, both at the town and school levels, has always been important to me and something I have focused on supporting and improving in everything I do. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, a community service program director, a martial arts blackbelt instructor, a good news broadcast anchor, and a leader in several school organizations, I am committed to supporting my school and town in various ways. Academics have always been essential to setting a solid foundation for my future. As a Distinguished Honor Student and National Honor Society Member, I hold a 4.0 on a 4.0 scale and have taken 20 advanced placement and honors courses over my high school career. I have received distinguished honors in seven of seven semesters. In addition, I strive to contribute to my school community in diverse ways as the Founder and Lead Instructor for the school’s Self-Defense Club and a Section Leader for both premier vocal groups, The Madrigals and Women’s Ensemble. Beyond this, I focus on addressing issues facing the youth of our community. Today, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play organized team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. At the same time, the average American family spends approximately $700 per year on their child's sports activities, according to Project Play. According to The Rand Study, families earning $50,000 or less say cost is the top reason their kids stop participating in sports. Further research shows that approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop youth sports activities annually. Simply put, costs exclude too many kids from experiencing the benefits of playing team sports. To help address this growing issue, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, and field hockey. The program provides free gear to kids in surrounding communities to get the benefits of sports. Over the past four years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,000 donated equipment items worth an estimated $204,000 and equipped 550+ kids from eight surrounding communities with free gear. My efforts with ‘Play It Forward’ have been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, a United States Congressional commendation, and a Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. To counter the growing mental health crisis impacting our communities and country, I started a broadcast network called ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to promote the good around us. The University of Australia reports that smiling can shift the mind into a state of joy. In addition, MIT research reveals that hearing positive news can improve mental state. However, the constant exposure to negativity, especially with COVID, heavily burdens our mental health. My sister and I have been spreading global good news for nearly three years with over 200 episodes. GNN is now a weekly global syndicated broadcast elevating viewers' mental health in over 65 countries by spotlighting positivity and good news. It’s been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, and UPtv. It’s also been featured in two children's books, "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. A lot of the unique aspects of my life revolve around bettering my community and supporting my neighbors. My focus now is to study computer science at Villanova University to apply technology innovation to help solve the issues facing my community and beyond.

My community, both at the town and school levels, has always been important to me and something I have focused on supporting and improving in everything I do. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, a community service program director, a martial arts blackbelt instructor, a good news broadcast anchor, and a leader in several school organizations, I am committed to supporting my school and town in various ways. Academics have always been essential to setting a solid foundation for my future. As a Distinguished Honor Student and National Honor Society Member, I hold a 4.0 on a 4.0 scale and have taken 20 advanced placement and honors courses over my high school career. I have received distinguished honors in seven of seven semesters. In addition, I strive to contribute to my school community in diverse ways as the Founder and Lead Instructor for the school’s Self-Defense Club and a Section Leader for both premier vocal groups, The Madrigals and Women’s Ensemble. Beyond this, I focus on addressing issues facing the youth of our community. Today, only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play organized team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. At the same time, the average American family spends approximately $700 per year on their child's sports activities, according to Project Play. According to The Rand Study, families earning $50,000 or less say cost is the top reason their kids stop participating in sports. Further research shows that approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop youth sports activities annually. Simply put, costs exclude too many kids from experiencing the benefits of playing team sports. To help address this growing issue, I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, and field hockey. The program provides free gear to kids in surrounding communities to get the benefits of sports. Over the past four years, Play It Forward has collected over 6,000 donated equipment items worth an estimated $204,000 and equipped 550+ kids from eight surrounding communities with free gear. My efforts with ‘Play It Forward’ have been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, a United States Congressional commendation, and a Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. To counter the growing mental health crisis impacting our communities and country, I started a broadcast network called ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to promote the good around us. The University of Australia reports that smiling can shift the mind into a state of joy. In addition, MIT research reveals that hearing positive news can improve mental state. However, the constant exposure to negativity, especially with COVID, heavily burdens our mental health. My sister and I have been spreading good news globally for over three years with over 200 episodes. GNN is now a weekly global syndicated broadcast elevating viewers' mental health in over 65 countries by spotlighting positivity and good news. It’s been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, and UPtv. It’s also been showcased in two children's books, "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. A lot of the unique aspects of my life revolve around bettering my community and supporting my neighbors. My focus now is to study computer science at Villanova University so I can apply technology innovation to help solve challenges and issues facing my community and beyond.

For years, two of my best friends, who are twins, had been encouraging me to try Karate with them. And while my commitments to soccer, softball, theater, and four choral ensembles didn’t allow it then, that all changed in 2020. During the height of COVID isolation, as so many activities shut down, my mental health was taking a toll. I needed another outlet to focus my energy and better myself, physically and mentally, and Karate seemed like a potential fit. So, I finally opted to take a risk and try something new, joining those two of my friends who had been encouraging me to join their dojo. In September 2020, I took my first class and quickly realized it was the perfect focal point for me physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. The training was outdoors and socially distanced, even during the hotter and colder months, but the coach (known as Sensei Nichols) was incredible. While he continuously preaches balance in one’s life and training, he also provides his students with an outstanding balance of discipline and confidence as a former Marine. Over the past two years, Sensei Nichols’ teachings have elevated the trajectory of my life. He has helped me to build confidence, commitment, and clarity of purpose. I was soon invited to join the Demonstration Team and was quickly promoted to the team’s Captain after helping to lead the group to the regional tournament gold medal. I have never missed or failed a belt test in this span, which is rare. Sensei Nichols has been critical to this level of commitment and success by pushing me to extend my abilities and elevate my efforts. His commitment to me has also been a significant factor in helping me to earn my blackbelt in just over two years of training. It’s also been instrumental in my becoming a five-time regional tournament gold medalist in Kata and defense techniques. Beyond this, Sensei Nichols has also inspired me to help others as he has helped me. As such, I trained to become a Certified Lead Instructor for white to red belt students. In this role, I help kids better themselves physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally, having the ability to play a small part that reflects the massive role Sensei Nichols has played for me. Sensei Nichols’ teachings inspired me to the point that I started my high school’s Self-Defense Club to help build my classmates' physical, social, emotional, and mental health. Many of my students suffer from conditions like ADHD and anxiety, which I also cope with. As their instructor, I am an understanding advocate to help them channel their energy toward something positive and constructive. I see my commitment to my students as very similar to David Sutton’s dedication to his players as a coach, given our passion for helping them better themselves as athletes and individuals. I will continue to study and train in martial arts at Villanova University to elevate further my strength, discipline, commitment, teamwork, focus, and empathy, which I will use throughout my life to support others. And I will always carry Sensei Nichols’ training and lessons as motivation to build my confidence, commitment, and clarity of purpose.

My interest in studying computer science comes from my grandfather, Pop Pop. Since I was two years old, I have been walking to the neighborhood creek with him. Early on, our conversations evolved from lessons on clouds and crawfish to discussions about his childhood growing up in poverty as one of seven children in inner-city Philadelphia. Then, as I got older, we'd talk about his Air Force enlistment, where he built radar systems, and how he transformed these skills into a 30-year computer career. He would tell me stories of how he was always solving challenging technical issues for companies. These conversations intrigued me, so I took every computer science course my school offered and maxed out the curriculum. This cultivated my passion for technology and motivated me to continue these studies in college. I have used my technology skills to run ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayItForwardGear), helping kids in need play sports by organizing equipment drives for soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey. Unfortunately, this gear can be so expensive that only 38 percent of kids (6 to 12) are playing sports, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association, with 75% of 12-year-olds quitting sports annually. Leveraging spreadsheet macros, social media engagement, and communication tools to rally and organize my community, we’ve collected over 6,200 equipment pieces worth nearly $200,000, equipping over 520 kids with free gear across eight area towns. ‘Play It Forward’ has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, United States Congressional commendation, and Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. Beyond this, I founded ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to counter the growing mental health crisis by spotlighting worldwide good. GNN is a weekly global broadcast built that uses video applications, social media platforms, and syndication systems to elevate viewers' mental health in over 65 countries by promoting positivity and good news. It’s been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, UPtv, and Inspire More, among other outlets. GNN spreads positivity, elevating the mental state of viewers while motivating them to do good. My efforts have been honored as an 'Inspirational Icon' by the children's book series Young Change Makers by Stacy Bauer and featured in the book What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19 by Erin Silver. As a computer science major at Villanova University, I am now focusing on advancing my programming skills while refining my technology talents to deliver solutions that address societal challenges. My initiative, innovation, compassion, and commitment to helping others with technology solutions make me an ideal candidate for the Chris Jackson Computer Science Education Scholarship.

My community, both at the town and school levels, has always been important to me and something I have focused on supporting and improving in everything I do. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, a community service program director, a martial arts blackbelt instructor, a broadcast anchor, and a leader in several school organizations, I am committed to supporting my classmates and residents in various ways. Given this, the characteristic I value the most is empathy because it helps me relate to others and motivates me to get involved in addressing issues facing people in need. For example, one of the major issues I have worked to address in my community is the decreasing participation in youth sports. Today, only about 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play organized team sports, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association. At the same time, the average American family spends approximately $700 per year on their child's sports activities, according to Project Play. According to The Rand Study, families earning $50,000 or less say cost is the top reason their kids stop participating in sports. Further research shows that approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop youth sports activities annually. Simply put, costs exclude too many kids from experiencing the myriad benefits of playing team sports. I started ‘Play It Forward’ (fb.com/PlayForwardGear) in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, and field hockey. The program provides kids in surrounding communities free gear to gain the benefits of sports. Over the past four years, Play It Forward has collected nearly 6,200 donated equipment items worth an estimated $192,000 and 520 kids from eight surrounding communities with free gear. I am now supporting similar programs in neighboring communities. Although my efforts with ‘Play It Forward’ have already been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizenship Award, a United States Congressional commendation and a Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership I am continuing to expand this program to more kids, clubs, and communities to help kids enhance their physical fitness, elevate their self-confidence, expand their social engagement, and energize their experiences. It also helps to deliver equal access to organized sports, which are too often out of reach for many kids given the high equipment cost. This helps provide the powerful benefits of sports to kids who otherwise would miss out on the essential experience of being on a team. Empathy provides a unique perspective to understand the point of view of others and respect their experiences, which cultivates compassion and motivates action to spread kindness. It’s a precious quality that brings out the best in individuals and elevates neighborhoods and communities.

While the COVID era was marked by tremendous negativity, it also facilitated incredible positivity. It created an opportunity that elevated the trajectory of my life. Two of my best friends, who are twins, had been encouraging me to try karate for years. And while my schedule didn’t allow for it with soccer, softball, theater, and four choral ensembles, that changed as isolation started shutting down activities. I needed another outlet to focus my energy and better myself, physically and mentally, and karate seemed ideal. In September 2020, I took my first class. I quickly realized it was the perfect focal point for me physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. I was soon invited to join the Demonstration Team and was quickly promoted to Captain after helping to lead my team to the regional tournament gold medal. I recently earned my blackbelt in just over two years of training. I never missed or failed a belt test in this span, which is rare. I am also a five-time regional tournament gold medalist in kata and defense and became a Certified Lead Instructor for white to red belts, helping kids better themselves. Many of my students suffer from conditions like ADHD and anxiety, which I also cope with. As their instructor, I am an understanding advocate to help them channel their energy toward something positive and constructive. I will continue martial arts at Villanova University to further elevate my strength, discipline, commitment, teamwork, focus, and empathy, which I will use throughout my life.

As I ran to keep up with Pop-Pop’s long stride, my excitement overcame the exhaustion of my little legs. He grasped my tiny hand to keep me focused on our journey rather than the passing butterfly. Finally, he coaxed me with a smile, saying, “Come on, we’re almost there.” As we passed through the grove of pines, my three-year-old worries washed away like the cool dancing currents of our journey’s end. Visiting ‘the creek’ was like venturing to Oz, Neverland, or countless other enchanting worlds. Little did I know that this creek’s magic would appear over the coming years as the setting for many influential moments in my life. The early conversations between Pop-Pop and I at the creek’s edge covered lessons on everything from clouds and crawfish to currents and caterpillars. As I would throw pebbles into the rippling water, I would toss him whatever questions crossed my mind. He would respond to each irrespective of whether all the facts were accurate. As the stream changed, so did I. The walks became easier as my legs grew, and our conversations became more engaging. At eight years old, I listened to Pop-Pop retell stories of distant literary lands like Hogwarts, Narnia, and Middle-Earth. Conversely, he listened intently to my imagined tales of dragons and warriors. As the first audience to my storytelling, Pop-Pop encouraged my love of reading and writing as I began flipping voraciously through the pages of countless novels and penning my own tales. These moments spent together cultivated my desire to create written worlds where readers could get lost. As a 13-year-old, you’d think my interest in walking to the creek with Pop-Pop would have long washed away. Actually, it was a time for me to explain the plots and characters I was developing while he shared the trials he faced as a kid. As I listened to his tales of growing up in poverty as one of seven children in inner-city Philadelphia, my long-time traveling sidekick was evolving into my greatest hero. Despite his early hardships, Pop-Pop always wore a smile and wrapped his despondent tales in humor, like when he was ten and returned home from school, only to find his family had moved a block away - but forgot to tell him. While I was never sure of the balance of truth in his stories, Pop-Pop had lived a difficult early life but was full of happiness and gratitude. His perseverance inspired me to start initiatives where I support kids, some of whom reflect that ten-year-old version of him. At 15, I learned about his Air Force enlistment, where he built radar systems. He then transformed these skills into a 30-year mainframe computer career. These conversations intrigued me to take every high school computer science course I could. This cultivated a passion for technical problem-solving that, no doubt, originated from him and has motivated me to continue these studies in college. Today, our creek trips are less frequent because of nagging back pain and a hip replacement. Regardless, I deeply enjoy our time at the water’s edge, where conversations now revolve around dreams and the road ahead. When I think about this place, it amazes me how these progressive creek chats have built a foundation for my values, interests, passions, and goals. I am grateful for Pop-Pop’s inspiration and adore his influence on my life. I cherish that this creek has been the setting for so many milestone moments. Our journey there takes longer now, but I don’t mind the extra time as I coax with a smile, saying, “Come on, we’re almost there.”

As I ran to keep up with Pop-Pop’s long stride, my excitement overcame the exhaustion of my little legs. He grasped my tiny hand to keep me focused on our journey rather than the passing butterfly. Finally, he coaxed me with a smile, saying, “Come on, we’re almost there.” As we passed through the grove of pines, my three-year-old worries washed away like the cool dancing currents of our journey’s end. Visiting ‘the creek’ was like venturing to Oz, Neverland, or countless other enchanting worlds. Little did I know that this creek’s magic would appear over the coming years as the setting for many influential moments in my life. The early conversations between Pop-Pop and I at the creek’s edge covered lessons on everything from clouds and crawfish to currents and caterpillars. As I would throw pebbles into the rippling water, I would toss him whatever questions crossed my mind. He would respond to each irrespective of whether all the facts were accurate. As the stream changed, so did I. The walks became easier as my legs grew, and our conversations became more engaging. At eight years old, I listened to Pop-Pop retell stories of distant literary lands like Hogwarts, Narnia, and Middle-Earth. Conversely, he listened intently to my imagined tales of dragons and warriors. As the first audience to my storytelling, Pop-Pop encouraged my love of reading and writing as I began flipping voraciously through the pages of countless novels and penning my own tales. These moments spent together cultivated my desire to create written worlds where readers could get lost. As a 13-year-old, you’d think my interest in walking to the creek with Pop-Pop would have long washed away. Actually, it was a time for me to explain the plots and characters I was developing while he shared the trials he faced as a kid. As I listened to his tales of growing up in poverty as one of seven children in inner-city Philadelphia, my long-time traveling sidekick was evolving into my greatest hero. Despite his early hardships, Pop-Pop always wore a smile and wrapped his despondent tales in humor, like when he was ten and returned home from school, only to find his family had moved a block away - but forgot to tell him. While I was never sure of the balance of truth in his stories, Pop-Pop had lived a difficult early life but was full of happiness and gratitude. His perseverance inspired me to start initiatives where I support kids, some of whom reflect that ten-year-old version of him. At 15, I learned about his Air Force enlistment, where he built radar systems. He then transformed these skills into a 30-year mainframe computer career. These conversations intrigued me to take every high school computer science course I could. This cultivated a passion for technical problem-solving that, no doubt, originated from him and has motivated me to continue these studies in college. Today, our creek trips are less frequent because of nagging back pain and a hip replacement. Regardless, I deeply enjoy our time at the water’s edge, where conversations now revolve around dreams and the road ahead. When I think about this place, it amazes me how these progressive creek chats have built a foundation for my values, interests, passions, and goals. I am grateful for Pop-Pop’s inspiration and adore his influence on my life. I cherish that this creek has been the setting for so many milestone moments. Our journey there takes longer now, but I don’t mind the extra time as I coax with a smile, saying, “Come on, we’re almost there.”

Leadership and commitment to service are two of the most important values that guide our lives. I strive to accomplish these in every aspect of my life; in my school, organizations, and beyond. I focus on the academic side of my life as a Distinguished Honor Student and National Honor Society Member and contribute to my school through vocal performance, service projects, and mentoring fellow students. In addition, it is tremendously worthwhile to provide service to my community. One significant challenge facing my community and the nation is decreasing youth sports participation. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008, with ~75 percent of 12-year -olds dropping sports annually. In addition, the Rand Study says families earning below $50,000 say that cost is the top reason their kids stop playing. To counter this negative trend, I started ‘Play It Forward’ as my Girl Scout Silver Award project in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment for baseball and softball to provide free to kids so they can play sports. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor and social skills, and improved confidence. I expanded ‘Play It Forward’ for my Girl Scout Gold Award project to include soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and field hockey. Over four years, ‘Play It Forward’ has collected over 6,000 equipment items worth an estimated $188,000 and equipped over 500 kids from eight surrounding communities. My efforts have been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, a United States Congressional commemoration, a Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership, and as an Eastern Pennsylvania regional ‘18 Under 18’ Girl Scout. Beyond ‘Play It Forward,’ I started a network called ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to counter the growing mental health crisis. GNN is a weekly global syndicated broadcast elevating viewers' mental health in over 65 countries by spotlighting positivity and good news. The show has been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, and UPtv. My sister and I have been honored as 'Inspirational Icons' by the Amazon 5-star children's book series "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer and also featured in "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. These initiatives have helped cultivate my leadership, organization, determination, commitment, and empathy. As such, I have also been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, the Union League of Philadelphia Good Citizen Award, the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars Scout of the Year honor, and the National Liberty Museum Young Hero Medal. Already accepted as a computer science major at Villanova University, I am focused on advancing my technology skills to continue making meaningful impacts and delivering entertaining and educational experiences that solve societal challenges. The Larry R. Jones Volunteer for Life Scholarship will be a tremendous resource in helping me to accomplish this.

When I started reflecting on the Act Locally Scholarship essay, I thought about the early years of my education in elementary school. I needed help focusing in class as early as first grade. My creative mind and active imagination made it challenging to manage my thoughts and direct my attention during class instruction. This was not malicious by any means. However, some teachers quickly labeled me as a disruptive kid. They were more focused on continually disciplining me to stay still and be quiet rather than helping to direct my energy and enthusiasm to help me learn more effectively. This led to underestimating my abilities, ignoring my exceptional testing results by placing me in mid-track courses. I was soon diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety, which didn’t necessarily help me with my teachers. Still, it assisted my parents in coaching me to channel my energy and creativity to manage my classroom behavior to learn more effectively. Unfortunately, this underestimation set me on a path where I worked harder to get teachers to take me seriously. At the same time, despite my displayed abilities, it kept me out of early advanced classes like math. Over the years, I have worked intently on proving myself in all subjects to overcome this stigma and achieve in the classroom. Today, as a high school senior, I hold a 4.0 on a 4.0 scale and have taken 20 advanced placement and honors courses over my high school career. I say this not for praise but rather to illustrate that many kids learn differently, and these different ways of learning should be embraced and cultivated rather than labeled and scorned. There is a tremendous amount of good that has come out of this experience since it became a motivator for me to help improve the lives of others. Throughout my life, a lot of my energy has been channeled through sports, including soccer and softball. These have been tremendous outlets for me to develop focus and connect with teammates and friends. Therefore, I wanted to help provide this sports experience for kids of all ages. I want to see all income levels able to receive the diverse benefits from youth sports rather than getting sidelined due to insurmountable costs. Stanford University research shows that playing sports benefits kids with better vision, healthier weight, elevated motor skills, enhanced social skills, and improved self-confidence. Unfortunately, however, participation in sports has been steadily declining over the past several years. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reports that only 38 percent of kids ages 6 to 12 play team sports today, down from 45 percent in 2008. However, according to Project Play, the average American family spends approximately $700 per year on their child's sports activities. In contrast, families earning $50,000 or less say cost is the top reason their kids stop participating in sports, according to The Rand Study. And COVID limitations only made this worse. Further research shows that approximately 75 percent of 12-year-olds drop youth sports activities annually. I started Play It Forward in 2018, collecting donated sports equipment across soccer, baseball, softball, and field hockey. The program provides free gear to kids in surrounding communities to get the benefits of sports. Over the past four years, Play It Forward has collected nearly 6,000 donated equipment items worth an estimated $188,000 and equipped 500 kids from eight surrounding communities with free gear. The program has been honored with the President George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, a United States Congressional commendation, and a Pennsylvania Legislative citation for service leadership. Beyond running ‘the ‘Play It Forward’ sports equipment initiative, I started a news network called ‘Good News Now’ (fb.com/TellUsTheGoodNews) to address the pandemic’s mental health crisis, particularly with kids, by promoting the good surrounding us. GNN is now a weekly global syndicated broadcast elevating the mental health of tens of thousands of viewers in over 65 countries by spotlighting positivity worldwide. GNN has been featured by Live with Kelly and Ryan, ABC, FOX, and UPtv. I inspire and motivate others to do good in everything. I was named an 'Inspirational Icon' and featured in the children's book series "Young Change Makers" by Stacy Bauer. I was also profiled in "What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19" by Erin Silver. Overall, I leverage technology to solve significant community issues. For example, ‘Play It Forward’ uses technology to engage and organize the collection of thousands of donated sports gear items for young athletes. I developed ‘Good News Now’ as an online syndicated network using video and social platforms to broadcast weekly positivity to an audience of ~100,000 across six continents. As a computer science major at Villanova University, I want to advance my programming skills and refine my technology talents to continue making meaningful impacts with technology to deliver entertaining and educational experiences to solve societal challenges. I have maxed out on my high school’s computer science and programming courses, including Advanced Placement. So, I aim to continue studying programming and artificial intelligence to become an expert in technology and innovation to develop solutions to our society's problems. Reflecting on my experiences, the trials and challenges I faced in my younger years have ultimately made me more compassionate and generous, motivated to support others through empathy. So as difficult as it was for me, I wouldn’t change my experience in any way. And now, I look to expand my programming skills and technical knowledge through my collegiate studies to educate, entertain, and inspire people to solve challenges facing their communities and our society. The Act Locally Scholarship will be a tremendous resource in helping me to accomplish this.