As an aspiring automotive engineer, my goals will fuel me to create, innovate, and make a genuine impact on the world. In my future as an engineer, my first goal is to successfully graduate from Utah Tech University with a degree in automotive engineering. I know this program to be rigorous, learning-rich, and highly hands-on, and I am undoubtedly up for the challenge. It will require hard work, determination, and academic responsibility. Earning this degree proves that I can take on any challenge and see it through, showcasing determination, perseverance, and grit. To reach this goal, I will continue to work hard in school, ensure my graduation from Wheat Ridge High School, and remain curious and open-minded. This leads to my second goal: securing a creative position post-graduation in the automotive industry with a major company like Porsche, BMW, or Ford. In this role, I aim to design, create, test, iterate, and prototype new ideas. This not only demonstrates my ability to provide valuable input and produce meaningful results, but also affirms that I have developed strong industry-level skills, critical thinking, knowledge, and experience. I will achieve this through consistent academic excellence, building connections with reputable industry professionals, and maintaining a strong focus on learning. My third goal is to fully develop and see the implementation of a component or system designed by me. This is the most significant and rewarding goal, as seeing my own design function successfully in the real world fulfills my drive to help people and proves my engineering ability. Though challenging, I have full confidence in my ability to succeed through hard work, innovation, and persistence. Through perseverance, determination, learning, and a constant desire to innovate, I will push myself to each of these goals and beyond, making a real world impact with my immense love for engineering and automobiles. During my senior year of high school, I was graciously given the opportunity to be the Shell Eco-Marathon Team Manager for my engineering program at Warren Tech. The Shell Eco-Marathon is a nationwide competition where high school and college teams compete with their own custom made, often hyrdogen-powered race cars. The competition takes place in March or April of every year, and is held at the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway. Yes, the actual Indy 500. Me and my team took the previous year's car and refurbished, rebuilt, or replaced nearly every component for the race this year. On our trip, several things went wrong all at once. We had only 3 days to perform a massive overhaul of the entire car, and we worked down to the wire in order to pass the inspection and we did it! We were unable to race due to a miscommunication about track hours, but the whole team was incredibly proud and excited to have passed, and we did some driving around the garages where it was possible. Overall, the Shell Eco-Marathon trip set in stone my goal of becoming an automotive engineer; I loved the smell of gasoline from the combustion engine prototypes, using my problem solving skills, and thinking on my feet and making creative solutions in a fast-paced environment. I feel extremely honored and grateful to have had the opportunity to go on this trip, especially as the Team Manager, as very few kids my age get to build their own hydrogen-powered prototype race car and hang out at the Indy 500 for school!

I’ve been in love with cars since I was 2—so obsessed that I wore out my copy of Cars 2 on DVD, built an RC car in a single night at 8, and collected over 300 HotWheels by age 10. My bedroom walls are still covered with car posters, racing signs, artwork, and more HotWheels. By 13, I knew my dream was to own, modify, and care for my own car, so I became a ski instructor at Loveland Ski Area to save up. At 16, after three years of work, I finally drove home my dream: a black 2007 Volvo XC70. The first time I turned the key, the turbo spool, engine whine, and exhaust pops filled me with joy and disbelief. That car became my therapy—quieting my ADHD brain during simple drives, giving me purpose, and connecting me with friends as I carpooled them daily. I loved that car more than anything. Then, on the first day of my senior year, disaster struck. The Volvo’s oil light flashed critically, and we walked miles in the 100-degree heat while it sat lifeless. A mechanic later confirmed it needed a new engine—far beyond our budget. In an instant, my most treasured possession became a 3,600-pound paperweight. I was crushed, battling depression for months, feeling lost and angry. Over time, I adjusted, but the void remained. Every morning walk to the bus stop reminded me of the car I had loved and lost. I even questioned my dream of working with cars. Then, a small Christmas miracle: a family friend sold us a low-mileage 2008 Subaru Forester for $500. Sitting behind the wheel again reignited my passion, though I also carried the trauma of the Volvo’s sudden failure. Even today, I tense up at engine lights or unusual sounds, a lasting reminder of loss and fear. Yet, losing my dream car taught me resilience and gratitude. I became more cautious and proactive about car care, disciplined in schoolwork and chores, and more humble—aware that life’s most valued things can vanish in an instant. I learned to adapt, accept setbacks, and remain generous and considerate, because everyone faces unseen struggles. Most importantly, the experience reinforced perseverance. From the bliss of driving my dream car to long commutes on grimy buses, I never lost hope. I kept working hard, staying committed to my passion for cars, and eventually earned a new vehicle and continued pursuing my dreams. That journey—from obsession to loss to renewal—shaped not just my love for cars, but my approach to life: resilient, grateful, and driven.

From cardboard box cars to custom e-bikes, my passion for engineering has always driven me to build. My standout projects include a hand-wired e-bike, an electric drift kart salvaged from a scooter, a bike frame and a shopping cart, and my senior Capstone project - a Python-coded LEGO RC car with adjustable suspension that operates with an XBOX controller. I love being creative and resourceful by repurposing old and discarded materials into something new. Seeing a project evolve from idea to working prototype, especially a one-of-a-kind build, is what drives me. Engineering is my world, and I know I will take it further with help from the Tim Williams Scholarship. As an aspiring automotive engineer, I have set goals that will fuel me to create, innovate, and make a genuine impact on the world. My first goal is to graduate with a degree in Mechanical Engineering witha focus in automotive. My program will require hard work, determination, and academic responsibility. Earning a degree proves that I can take on any challenge and see it through, showcasing determination, perseverance and grit. This leads to my second goal, which is to secure a creative position post-graduation in an automotive industry role for a major company like Porsche, BMW, or Ford. My intent in this position is to be able to design, create, test, iterate, and prototype new things in the automotive industry. This not only shows that I can provide valuable input and produce substantial results, it also affirms that I have comprehensive industry-level skills, critical thinking, knowledge, and experience. I will achieve this goal through consistent academic integrity and excellence, social networking and making connections with reputable industry members, and maintaining an unwavering focus on maximizing my learning across all courses. My third goal, as a result of achieving my other goals, is to fully develop and see the implementation of a component or system designed by me. This goal is my most significant and rewarding, because witnessing a product of my own design successfully function and make a difference in the real world not only fulfills my internal drive to help people, but also serves as the ultimate proof of my critical thinking abilities, engineering aptitude, perseverance, knowledge, and skills. This will be my hardest and most time-intensive goal to reach, but I have absolute faith in my ability to succeed. I will remain committed to working hard, innovating, critically thinking, problem solving, and most importantly, doing the best I can do as I rise through the industry. Through creativity, perseverance, determination, learning, and a constant desire to innovate, I will push myself to each of these goals and beyond, making a real world impact with my immense love for engineering and automobiles. Over the last five years, I have worked hard to hone my knowledge, skills, and passion for automotive engineering - and this is only the beginning. You can see some of that dedication at my website at keatongirard.com. With the support of this scholarship, I will be able to fully commit to my college education at and take one step closer to making a real-world impact in the automotive industry. I am not just asking for an investment in my tuition — I am asking for an investment in someone who will carry that support all the way to the finish line, and beyond and might even be the creator of something on a future car you buy!

From cardboard box cars to custom e-bikes, my passion for engineering has always driven me to build. Ever since watching “Cars 2” at age four, I have been hooked on cars and gadgets. That spark grew into an obsession with LEGO, motors, and building with anything I could get my hands on. My most recent standout projects include a hand-wired e-bike, an electric drift kart salvaged from a scooter, bike frame and a shopping cart, and my senior Capstone project - a Python-coded LEGO RC car with adjustable suspension that operates with an XBOX controller. I love being creative and resourceful by repurposing old and discarded materials into something new. Seeing a project evolve from idea to working prototype, especially a one-of-a-kind build, is what drives me. Engineering is my world, and I know I will take it further with help from the Hank “McGyver” Anderson Memorial Scholarship. As an aspiring automotive engineer, I have set goals that will fuel me to create, innovate, and make a genuine impact on the world. My first goal is to graduate with a degree in Automotive Engineering. Whether it’s Automotive Engineering from Kettering or Mechatronics from Utah Tech, my program will require hard work, determination, and academic responsibility. Earning a degree proves that I can take on any challenge and see it through, showcasing determination, perseverance and grit. My second goal is to secure a position post-graduation at an automotive industry giant like Porsche, BMW, or Ford where I can design, create, test, iterate, and prototype new concepts. This not only shows that I can provide valuable input and produce substantial results, it also affirms that I have comprehensive industry-level skills, critical thinking, knowledge, and experience. I will achieve this goal through consistent academic integrity and excellence, social networking and making connections with reputable industry members, and maintaining an unwavering focus on maximizing my learning across all courses. My third goal, as a result of achieving my other goals, is to fully develop and see the implementation of a component or system designed by me. This goal is my most significant and rewarding, because witnessing a product of my own design successfully function and make a difference in the real world not only fulfills my internal drive to help people, but also serves as the ultimate proof of my critical thinking abilities, engineering aptitude, perseverance, knowledge, and skills. This will be my hardest and most time-intensive goal to reach, but I have absolute faith in my ability to succeed. I will remain committed to working hard, innovating, critically thinking, problem solving, and most importantly, doing the best I can do as I rise through the industry. Through creativity, perseverance, determination, learning, and a constant desire to innovate, I will push myself to each of these goals and beyond, making a real world impact with my immense love for engineering and automobiles. Over the last five years, I have worked hard to hone my knowledge, skills, and passion for automotive engineering - and this is only the beginning. You can see some of that dedication at my website at keatongirard.com. With the support of this scholarship, I will be able to fully commit to my college education at and take one step closer to making a real-world impact in the automotive industry. I am not just asking for an investment in my tuition — I am asking for an investment in someone who will carry that support all the way to the finish line, and beyond and might even be the creator of something on a future car you buy!

From cardboard box cars to custom e-bikes, my passion for engineering has always driven me to build. My standout projects include a hand-wired e-bike, an electric drift kart salvaged from a scooter, a bike frame and a shopping cart, and my senior Capstone project - a Python-coded LEGO RC car with adjustable suspension that operates with an XBOX controller. I love being creative and resourceful by repurposing old and discarded materials into something new. Seeing a project evolve from idea to working prototype, especially a one-of-a-kind build, is what drives me. Engineering is my world, and I know I will take it further with help from the Chip Miller Memorial Scholarship. As an aspiring automotive engineer, I have set goals that will fuel me to create, innovate, and make a genuine impact on the world. My first goal is to graduate with a degree in Automotive Engineering. Whether it’s Automotive Engineering from Kettering or Mechatronics from Utah Tech, my program will require hard work, determination, and academic responsibility. Earning a degree proves that I can take on any challenge and see it through, showcasing determination, perseverance and grit. In order to reach this goal I will continue to work hard in school and always be curious and open minded. This leads to my second goal, which is to secure a creative position post-graduation in an automotive industry role for a major company like Porsche, BMW, or Ford. My intent in this position is to be able to design, create, test, iterate, and prototype new things in the automotive industry. This not only shows that I can provide valuable input and produce substantial results, it also affirms that I have comprehensive industry-level skills, critical thinking, knowledge, and experience. I will achieve this goal through consistent academic integrity and excellence, social networking and making connections with reputable industry members, and maintaining an unwavering focus on maximizing my learning across all courses. My third goal, as a result of achieving my other goals, is to fully develop and see the implementation of a component or system designed by me. This goal is my most significant and rewarding, because witnessing a product of my own design successfully function and make a difference in the real world not only fulfills my internal drive to help people, but also serves as the ultimate proof of my critical thinking abilities, engineering aptitude, perseverance, knowledge, and skills. This will be my hardest and most time-intensive goal to reach, but I have absolute faith in my ability to succeed. I will remain committed to working hard, innovating, critically thinking, problem solving, and most importantly, doing the best I can do as I rise through the industry. Through creativity, perseverance, determination, learning, and a constant desire to innovate, I will push myself to each of these goals and beyond, making a real world impact with my immense love for engineering and automobiles. Over the last five years, I have worked hard to hone my knowledge, skills, and passion for automotive engineering - and this is only the beginning. You can see some of that dedication at my website at keatongirard.com. With the support of this scholarship, I will be able to fully commit to my college education at and take one step closer to making a real-world impact in the automotive industry. I am not just asking for an investment in my tuition — I am asking for an investment in someone who will carry that support all the way to the finish line, and beyond and might even be the creator of something on a future car you buy!

I’ve been in love with cars since I was 2—so obsessed that I wore out my DVD copy of "Cars 2", built an RC car in a single night at age 8, and collected over 300 HotWheels by age 10. My bedroom walls are still covered with car posters, racing signs, car artwork, and more HotWheels. By 13, I knew my purpose was to own, modify, and care for my own car, so I got a job as a ski instructor at Loveland Ski Area and started saving. At 16, after three years of work, I finally secured my dream car: a clean, documented, mechanically sound, low-mileage black 2007 Volvo XC70. The first time I turned the key, I knew it was perfect. The turbo sounds, powerful acceleration, and exhaust note gave my life purpose. I treated it like a piece of fine art. I had it serviced and inspected religiously. My car became my therapy—finally quieting my over-active ADHD, introducing me to the car community, and connecting me with friends as I carpooled them daily. I loved that car more than my life itself. Then, on the first day of my senior year, on the way to my secondary school (Warren Tech) it gave me a completely spontaneous critical oil warning light, so I pulled over, parked, and started walking. My friend and I were over an hour late, soaked in sweat from miles of walking hot asphalt. A mechanic later confirmed it was totaled and would need a new engine which was far beyond my family's budget. In an instant, my pride and joy, my life's purpose, my most prized possession, was jarringly stripped away with absolutely no warning. Three years of work and $7,500 of savings became a 3,600-pound paperweight in my driveway overnight. I was angry, confused, and utterly lost for months as I battled deep depression. As time carried on, I slowly adjusted to not having a car, but the massive void it left remained. Every morning as I walked to the bus stop I was reminded of the car I had loved and lost. I even second-guessed my dream of working with cars. Then, a small Christmas miracle happened: a family friend sold us a low-mileage 2008 Subaru Forester for $500. Sitting behind the wheel again resurrected my passion and helped my depression a lot. Unfortunately, it also brought lasting trauma and PTSD symptoms around driving and engine problems. Even today, I tense up when starting my car because the lights on the dash come on, despite it being completely normal and happening in all cars. In spite of the negatives, unexpectedly losing my dream car made me far, far more grateful for everything that I have. I became more cautious and proactive about car care, which spilled over into my schoolwork and chores. I became much more humble—now strikingly aware that life’s most important and treasured things can unfairly disappear in an instant with no one at fault. I learned to adapt, accept setbacks, and be generous. I also became more friendly and considerate to everyone, as I now understand what it's like to struggle and suffer silently. Most importantly, the experience built perseverance. From blissfully cruising in my dream car to 2+ hour commutes on grimy buses, I never lost hope. I kept working hard, remained committed to my passion for cars, and eventually gained a new vehicle and continued pursuing my dreams. The journey—from saving to obsession to loss to renewal—defines not only my love for cars, but my approach to life in general: resilient, grateful, and driven.

When I was 2 years old, my parents gave me a portable DVD player with a few DVDs. One of those DVDs was the movie Cars 2. Most people hated the movie Cars 2 because it didn't follow the racing/heritage themes of the first Cars movie, instead aiming for a spy-thriller action movie pitting the unreliable ‘lemon’ cars against the rest of the car world. I, however, watched the movie so many times over the next few years that the disc wore out and wouldn't play anymore. Young me was captivated by the suspense, action scenes, and James Bond-style storyline. I was also fascinated by the ‘lemons’ weaponizing laser guns and motor oil to take out race cars on the track. The most significant part to me was the plethora of advanced tech and spy-gadgets used by the protagonist, Finn McMissile. I would often rewind scenes over and over to marvel at grappling hooks, hidden machine guns, concealed saws, and how McMissile masterfully used his environment to his advantage. Sometimes I even recreated his gadgets using Lego! Since then, I have had a major passion for engineering and experimenting using anything I can get my hands on, from cardboard boxes to Lego robotics to E-bikes. I have a collection of projects that stand out as showcase pieces for my engineering mindset and process. This collection includes a custom electric bike built and wired from scratch on a vintage mountain bike frame, a fully custom go-kart made from an electric scooter and BMX bike frame, and a Lego RC car coded from scratch in Python, built with 20 year old Legos, and controlled by a modern-era game controller, which is also part of my senior Capstone. While I have poured hundreds of hours into each of these projects and several others, they are still constantly evolving and improving as I formulate new ideas and upgrades for them. Every one of my major projects builds upon an idea or inspiration from my younger self, which can almost always be traced back to a part of the movie Cars 2. I strive to include hidden gadgets, special functions, and unexpected features on every project. The movie Cars 2 not only introduced me to the idea of creating my own advanced custom builds, but also jumpstarted my passion and drive to create resourceful, unique, and sometimes sneaky projects that continue to push me to improve my skills. My love for engineering has also taught me several new skills. I learned an immense amount about batteries, voltage, motors, electricity, and electronic speed controllers through ‘trial by fire’ when wiring my e-bike. I learned Python also by fire when building my Lego RC car. I learned about drift mechanics, weight transfer, wheel geometry and hub motors with my go-kart. Engineering is my world, and I know that I will be able to take it further to ambitious and extreme new heights throughout college and beyond.