My name is Katelan LoCascio, I will continue my academic studies this fall at the University of Wyoming. I will graduate in 2024 with two majors in business management and entrepreneurship as well as a minor in sales. I have been very blessed throughout my life, although challenges have never been easy. I am an only child of a single mother, who is on Social Security Disability due to a critical accident that left her with lifelong ailments. This has been an issue-bearing situation in our life. I remember times, I wanted things that my friends had, but I knew that I could not have it based on my mother’s financial income and not receiving child support did not help our situation. I knew that this would eventually affect me and my educational goals. I knew that I would have to work extra hard to earn the scholarships and achieve the goals I have always wanted to achieve. Volleyball was always a huge passion in my life, and I was determined to play at the collegiate level. With our unique financial situation, I was not able to play for a traveling team which minimized my chances of being seen by college coaches. Although, this did not discourage my goal. I was offered to play collegiate volleyball at Central Wyoming College while pursuing a business and communications associate degree. I am so grateful for the people and experiences I gained at Central Wyoming College and I am glad that I get to continue my education in Wyoming. As a young person, I was always very eager to earn money and find jobs around my neighborhood such as babysitting, dog walking, and house sitting. Making money and helping others have always been important to me. At the age of 16, I started working as a server at Red Rocks Country Club. This position provided me with a lot of experience in customer service and proper service etiquette in the business. After working at the Country Club, I earned a serving position at Longhorn Steakhouse. I have enjoyed the connections and opportunities that have come with working there. They allow me to come back and work on my winter, spring, and summer breaks when I am back home in Colorado. While pursuing my studies in Laramie, I maintain a job at Chili’s working four days a week. I enjoy having the ability to connect and serve others. Giving back to my community holds a significant place in my heart, especially being a former student at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. I have worked with the challenge program throughout my high school years; it became a place of comfort and individuality. I transferred my love for people with disabilities when working on my Big Idea Project in Business Leadership class. The main point of the project was to bring forth a problem in our society and fix it. Well, I found a need to help people with any sort of disability search for employment. To make this happen my group and I hosted a job fair that was specifically for disabled people. Our project was extraordinarily successful which provided two participants with jobs in the local area. I plan to continue my love for the community this August in Laramie. I will be volunteering with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Program, being a mentor for a young child. I am looking forward to being a part of such an amazing and impactful program. I would like to thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Katelan LoCascio

Most of my friends have grown up with both parents in their life. Even though the parents may be divorced, their kids still move from house to house every week. Along with this, some children have siblings, or as some like to call it "a built-in best friend.” Well, this was not the case for me. Hi, my name is Katelan LoCascio and I am an only child with a single mother, and believe me, it hasn’t been an easy go, but would I change any of it? No. Not for the world. Due to a critical accident, my mother was left with lifelong ailments, she is on Social Security Disability, and this has been an issue-bearing situation in our life. Many times in my life I wanted things that my friends had, but I knew that I couldn’t have it based on my mother’s financial income and the lack of no child support did not help our situation. I knew that this would eventually affect me and my educational goals. Although, I never went without. I do believe that growing up this way has helped me become a better student and a better hard worker. As my mother is my role model, I have watched her work hard to get bills paid, mow the lawn, own a home, and keep the house spotlessly clean, all while maintaining a part-time job at Arapahoe Community College. But most importantly she did all of these things by being the best mother that any child could ask for. I have learned how to be a strong woman when times get tough, to empathize with others, and to not judge others so quickly. Throughout watching her all my life, she has taught me how to be an independent woman and to show no signs of weakness in some of the darkest moments. Continuously, my mom has shown her determination and resilience in life, inspiring me in my educational and athletic goals. Thus far, I have earned two associate degrees in business and communications at Central Wyoming College, while playing collegiate volleyball. I am currently in my junior year at the University of Wyoming, looking to double major in business management, and entrepreneurship with a minor in sales. I have always been intentionally driven with my education so that I can be a great asset to my family. Do not feel bad for me in any way. None of this is sad by any means. Being raised in such a unique way has made me become an independent woman. I grew up with strength. In closing, if I am selected to be a recipient of the scholarship I would want the contributors to know that I am a self-driven individual, dedicated to my education and have maintained a 3.7 grade point average. Obtaining this scholarship will allow me to maximize my time by completing internships and service learning opportunities which will help me to broaden my network in my chosen field. I hope to travel after achieving my bachelor's in business management and utilize my skills and humanitarian desires to improve my life skills, to gain knowledge of other cultures and customs. I would like to thank you for your time and consideration of my application. Sincerely, Katelan LoCascio