I fell in love with softball the first day I stepped on the field at 8 years old. In the beginning it was a sport, something to get me out the house and burn some energy. Throughout the years I learned multiple positions and moved up through the levels of rec ball, All Star teams, travel ball, high school, and now college ball. My time on the field has taught me more than just teamwork and friendships, it has taught me perseverance, strength, and to never give up. My name is Kiearra Jackson and growing up on the outskirts of Reno one of the biggest issues I personally have encountered is the lack of care and upkeep of youth programs and facilities/fields that we as youth have to practice on. Throughout my life I have practiced at fields that have broken glass, pot holes in the outfield, weeds in the infield, and drug deals being made in the parking lot. I have watched football and soccer teams practice and play games in the outfield because not having fields to play on. Our neighborhoods are experiencing exponentially growth in housing and warehousing but no care is being put into fields, community centers, or other infrastructure that support youth of all ages in the area. There are a number of fields and parks in the area and throughout my youth some of the parents and youth have petitioned the city and county for improvements and upkeep. It was a long fight and even went before city council but we were able to spark a change. We were able to have Mayor Park completely reworked to include paving roads and parking lots, redoing the softball fields, adding football fields, and proper lighting and drainage so fields wouldn't flood amongst other things. This seemed like a spark that started a revitalization of the parks and fields areas throughout the valley. There were two fields added at North Valley Regional Park for all ages. Spring 2025 there was a complete revamp of the Lemmon Valley Park fields that involved drainage planning, fixing fields and snack bar and making the entire complex ADA compliant by laying down pavement walkways and stands areas for fans. Now that I am older I spent my spring and summer coaching on these same fields I played on as a kid. I coached a 12u rec ball team while playing travel and currently play for Yuba College with the intent of coming back to Reno area to teach what I am learning now. I hoping that I can leave some of my skills, knowledge, and life lessons with these girls as they develop throughout the ranks as I did. Thank you I appreciate you taking the time to consider my application.

My name is Kiearra Jackson and I fell in love with softball the first day I stepped on the field at 8 years old. In the beginning it was a sport, something to get me out the house and burn some energy. Throughout the years I learned multiple positions and moved up through the levels of rec ball, All Star teams, travel ball, and high school Varsity ball. My time on the field has taught me more than just teamwork and friendships, it has taught me perseverance, strength, and to never give up. My time on the diamond has made me a stronger person and built my character. I carry those life lessons with me throughout my educational career and daily life. As a young player we are taught to not give up, work hard, and build relationships. These basic traits taught me at a young age to be an individual but still work as a team. To start high school I was accepted to Academy of Art Careers and Technology AACT to study in the Agriculture/Animal program. I was in the position where I had to decide between my zoned high school with all of my friends or accept enrollment into this program. The skills I learned on the softball field as a girl gave me the strength and the individuality to be able to have the courage to accept enrollment in the Agriculture/Animal Science program and forge a new path, one not typically taken. As as a player it has helped me become a better more well-rounded person Softball has taught me how to work hard, put your head down and grind, and do the work in the dark where people don't see because it shows in the light. Softball has taught me how body language and words can affect others and to be conscious of of our actions. As a team you have disagreements, I've learned to work through problems and built stronger relationships, communication skills, listening skills, and interaction with a large group of personalities. Throughout travel ball in my high school years I have maintained a love for the sport and my teammates. I am continuing my softball career at Yuba College in California while I work towards a two-year Agriculture degree with a possibility of transfer to a four-year college. In life I find my inspiration in many areas my mother and my father work hard to make sure I'm able to play the sport I love and provide a good living for me and my brother. In my schooling I am inspired by my teacher Mrs Smith she is the head of our Agriculture department and is the one who's helped me navigate my education in the agriculture field. When it comes to the field my inspiration comes from my coach Chris who has been coaching me in some form since the beginning. There are many other inspirations throughout my life but those four are the most prominent and mean the most personally. In the past I've helped coach the younger travel girls on basic skills and I currently coach a rec ball team. I am hoping that I can leave some of my skills, knowledge, and life lessons with these girls as they develop throughout the ranks as I did. Thank you I appreciate you taking the time to consider my application

Growing up in Reno where casinos line the street and warehouses are built in every neighborhood I found my love for agriculture. This all started when I was a little girl and I fell in love with animals, everything from my pets to the baby animals at the farm and visiting animals up for adoption and the Humane Society. I decided at that young age I wanted to be a veterinarian. After working hard as maintaining grades throughout Elementary and Junior High School I was accepted to Academy of Arts Careers and Technology (AACT) for my high school education. I made the decision to accept enrollment in the Natural Resources and Animal Sciences Academy at AACT. My freshman year we covered agricultural basics and I began working with the FFA, my sophomore year we went into horticulture and plants and flowers, the junior year we focused on the business side of AG and currently in my senior year I am studying Greenhouse Management and Veterinarian Science along with dual enrollment with University of Nevada Reno for AGSC 100. As I have completed my Academy program I have come to fall in love with plants and flowers. Currently in our Greenhouse we have been responsible for designing and set up of the Greenhouse along with growing a variety of plants and flowers which now we are currently selling to the public as a fundraiser to help fund the program. I joined this Academy because of my love of animals and a want to be a veterinarian and along the way discovered my love for the greenhouse. The time that I spent in there planting and trimming and growing plants, creating Arrangements of flowers, and my internship with the garden center we partner with has led me in a different direction. My new goals as I graduate high school and move into college is to be a scholar athlete at Yuba College playing softball with the Regional Champion 49ers. I am open to seeing where my education takes me and what opportunities present themselves but my dream would be to work/operate as a greenhouse manager. My time with my softball sisters has helped empower me and give me a strength and a confidence I would not have had walking a different path. Having strong women around me helped me through hard times. I return that same support and confidence building to our young ladies on the youth teams I coached this past season. I want to teach them the sport of softball but more over the ability to be individual and strong as a lady but still work as a teammate with other women to help everyone excell. I always stay busy! I am a starting first baseman for the state championship North Valleys High School softball team, play Fastpitch travel ball with Reno Rage, work my job as well as an internship at Rail City Garden Center, and I coach a 10U softball team for recreational softball league. My softball experience has taught me the true meaning of team and we take our wins and losses together. No one person is greater then the whole. Thank you for considering my application I am truly grateful for any support. Kiearra Jackson

Growing up in Reno where casinos line the street and warehouses are built in every neighborhood I found my love for agriculture - I know, not what the average person would find interesting. This all started when I was a little girl and I fell in love with animals, everything from my pets to the baby animals at the farm and visiting animals up for adoption and the Humane Society. I decided at that young age I wanted to be a veterinarian. After working hard as maintaining grades throughout Elementary and Junior High School I was accepted to Academy of Arts Careers and Technology (AACT) for my high school education. I made the decision to accept enrollment in the Natural Resources and Animal Sciences Academy at AACT. My freshman year we covered agricultural basics and I began working with the FFA, my sophomore year we went into horticulture and plants and flowers, the junior year we focused on the business side of AG and currently in my senior year I am studying Greenhouse Management and Veterinarian Science along with dual enrollment with University of Nevada Reno for AGSC 100. As I have completed my Academy program I have come to fall in love with plants and flowers. Currently in our Greenhouse we have been responsible for designing and set up of the Greenhouse along with growing a variety of plants and flowers which now we are currently selling to the public as a fundraiser to help fund the program. I joined this Academy because of my love of animals and a want to be a veterinarian and along the way discovered my love for the greenhouse. The time that I spent in there planting and trimming and growing plants, creating Arrangements of flowers, and my internship with the garden center we partner with has led me in a different direction. My new goals as I graduate high school and move into college is to start my education at Feather River Community College where I will be studying a 2-year Agricultural Business Degree with the desire to transfer to a 4-year and work towards a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. I am open to seeing where my education takes me and what opportunities present themselves but my dream would be to work/operate as a greenhouse manager. This scholarship is important to me because I am paying for my education. To be honest when you run numbers through FASFA I am considered a no need family, my parents can take out loans and I can go into debt to fund my college education. I am trying to be proactive, I work two jobs while in high School trying to save money for my classes, housing, food, and living expenses. My parents have provided for me, funded my entire softball career since 8 years old, and do not let me go without. I am trying to fund my education on my own behalf as much as possible. So as a college freshman I am in need I do not make the money my parents make, they are still paying on their college loans. Any financial assistance to lower the burden is appreciated. Thank you for the taking the time and reviewing my application

I fell in love with softball the first day I stepped on the field at 8 years old. In the beginning it was a sport, something to get me out the house and burn some energy. Throughout the years I learned multiple positions and moved up through the levels of rec ball, All Star teams, travel ball, and high school Varsity ball. My time on the field has taught me more than just teamwork and friendships, it has taught me perseverance, strength, and to never give up. My time on the diamond has made me a stronger person and built my character. I carry those life lessons with me throughout my educational career and daily life. As a young player we are taught to not give up, work hard, and build relationships. These basic traits taught me at a young age to be an individual but still work as a team. For high school I was accepted to Academy of Art Careers and Technology AACT to study in the Agriculture/Animal program. I was in the position where I had to decide between my zoned high school with all of my friends or accept enrollment into this program. The skills I learned on the softball field as a girl gave me the strength and the individuality to be able to have the courage to accept enrollment in the Agriculture/Animal Science program and forge a new path, one not typically taken. As as a player it has helped me become a better more well-rounded person. Softball has taught me how to work hard, put your head down and grind, and do the work in the dark where people don't see because it shows in the light. Softball has taught me how body language and words can affect others and to be conscious of of our actions. As a team you have disagreements, I've learned to work through problems and built stronger relationships, communication skills, listening skills, and interaction with a large group of personalities. Throughout travel ball in my high school years I have maintained a love for the sport and my teammates. My goal for the future is to play at the college level while I work towards a two-year Agriculture degree with a possibility of transfer to a four-year college. In life I find my inspiration in many areas my mother and my father work hard to make sure I'm able to play the sport I love and provide a good living for me and my brother. In my schooling I am inspired by my teacher Mrs Smith she is the head of our Agriculture department and is the one who's helped me navigate my education in the agriculture field. When it comes to the field my inspiration comes from my coach Chris who has been coaching me in some form since the beginning. There are many other inspirations throughout my life but those four are the most prominent and mean the most personally. In the past I've helped coach the younger travel girls on basic skills and I currently coach a rec ball team. I am hoping that I can leave some of my skills, knowledge, and life lessons with these girls as they develop throughout the ranks as I did. Thank you I appreciate you taking the time to consider my application.

Growing up in Reno where casinos line the street and warehouses are built in every neighborhood I found my love for agriculture - I know, not what the average person would find interesting. This all started when I was a little girl and I fell in love with animals, everything from my pets to the baby animals at the farm and visiting animals up for adoption and the Humane Society. I decided at that young age I wanted to be a veterinarian. After working hard as maintaining grades throughout Elementary and Junior High School I was accepted to Academy of Arts Careers and Technology (AACT) for my high school education. I made the decision to accept enrollment in the Natural Resources and Animal Sciences Academy at AACT. My freshman year we covered agricultural basics and I began working with the FFA, my sophomore year we went into horticulture and plants and flowers, the junior year we focused on the business side of AG and currently in my senior year I am studying Greenhouse Management and Veterinarian Science along with dual enrollment with University of Nevada Reno for AGSC 100. As I have completed my Academy program I have come to fall in love with plants and flowers. Currently in our Greenhouse we have been responsible for designing and set up of the Greenhouse along with growing a variety of plants and flowers which now we are currently selling to the public as a fundraiser to help fund the program. I joined this Academy because of my love of animals and a want to be a veterinarian and along the way discovered my love for the greenhouse. The time that I spent in there planting and trimming and growing plants, creating Arrangements of flowers, and my internship with the garden center we partner with has led me in a different direction. My new goals as I graduate high school and move into college is to start my education at Feather River Community College where I will be studying a 2-year Agricultural Business Degree with the desire to transfer to a 4-year and work towards a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. I am open to seeing where my education takes me and what opportunities present themselves but my dream would be to work/operate as a greenhouse manager. I always stay busy! I am a starting first baseman the state championship North Valleys High School softball team, play Fastpitch travel ball with Reno Rage, work my job as well as an internship at Rail City Garden Center, and I coach a 10U softball team for recreational softball league. My softball experience has taught me the true meaning of team and we take our wins and losses together. No one person is greater then the whole. Thank you for considering my application I am truly grateful for any support. Kiearra Jackson

Growing up in Reno where casinos line the street and warehouses are built in every neighborhood I found my love for agriculture - I know, not what the average person would find interesting. This all started when I was a little girl and I fell in love with animals, everything from my pets to the baby animals at the farm and visiting animals up for adoption and the Humane Society. I decided at that young age I wanted to be a veterinarian. After working hard as maintaining grades throughout Elementary and Junior High School I was accepted to Academy of Arts Careers and Technology (AACT) for my high school education. I made the decision to accept enrollment in the Natural Resources and Animal Sciences Academy at AACT. My freshman year we covered agricultural basics and I began working with the FFA, my sophomore year we went into horticulture and plants and flowers, the junior year we focused on the business side of AG and currently in my senior year I am studying Greenhouse Management and Veterinarian Science along with dual enrollment with University of Nevada Reno for AGSC 100. As I have completed my Academy program I have come to fall in love with plants and flowers. Currently in our Greenhouse we have been responsible for designing and set up of the Greenhouse along with growing a variety of plants and flowers which now we are currently selling to the public as a fundraiser to help fund the program. I joined this Academy because of my love of animals and a want to be a veterinarian and along the way discovered my love for the greenhouse. The time that I spent in there planting and trimming and growing plants, creating Arrangements of flowers, and my internship with the garden center we partner with has led me in a different direction. My new goals as I graduate high school and move into college is to start my education at Feather River Community College where I will be studying a 2-year Agricultural Business Degree with the desire to transfer to a 4-year and work towards a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. I am open to seeing where my education takes me and what opportunities present themselves but my dream would be to work/operate as a greenhouse manager. I always stay busy! I am a starting first baseman the state championship North Valleys High School softball team, play Fastpitch travel ball with Reno Rage, work my job as well as an internship at Rail City Garden Center, and I coach a 10U softball team for recreational softball league. My softball experience has taught me the true meaning of team and we take our wins and losses together. No one person is greater then the whole. Thank you for considering my application I am truly grateful for any support. Kiearra Jackson

Growing up in Reno where casinos line the street and warehouses are built in every neighborhood I found my love for agriculture - I know, not what the average person would find interesting. This all started when I was a little girl and I fell in love with animals, everything from my pets to the baby animals at the farm and visiting animals up for adoption and the Humane Society. I decided at that young age I wanted to be a veterinarian. After working hard as maintaining grades throughout Elementary and Junior High School I was accepted to Academy of Arts Careers and Technology (AACT) for my high school education. I made the decision to accept enrollment in the Natural Resources and Animal Sciences Academy at AACT. My freshman year we covered agricultural basics and I began working with the FFA, my sophomore year we went into horticulture and plants and flowers, the junior year we focused on the business side of AG and currently in my senior year I am studying Greenhouse Management and Veterinarian Science along with dual enrollment with University of Nevada Reno for AGSC 100. As I have completed my Academy program I have come to fall in love with plants and flowers. Currently in our Greenhouse we have been responsible for designing and set up of the Greenhouse along with growing a variety of plants and flowers which now we are currently selling to the public as a fundraiser to help fund the program. I joined this Academy because of my love of animals and a want to be a veterinarian and along the way discovered my love for the greenhouse. The time that I spent in there planting and trimming and growing plants, creating Arrangements of flowers, and my internship with the garden center we partner with has led me in a different direction. My new goals as I graduate high school and move into college is to start my education at Feather River Community College where I will be studying a 2-year Agricultural Business Degree with the desire to transfer to a 4-year and work towards a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. I am open to seeing where my education takes me and what opportunities present themselves but my dream would be to own/operate as a greenhouse manager. I always stay busy! I am a starting first baseman the state championship North Valleys High School softball team, play Fastpitch travel ball with Reno Rage, work my job as well as an internship at Rail City Garden Center, and I coach a 10U softball team for recreational softball league. My softball experience has taught me the true meaning of team and we take our wins and losses together. No one person is greater then the whole. Thank you for considering my application I am truly grateful for any support. Kiearra Jackson

Growing up in Reno where casinos line the street and warehouses are built in every neighborhood I found my love for agriculture - I know, not what the average person would find interesting. This all started when I was a little girl and I fell in love with animals, everything from my pets to the baby animals at the farm and visiting animals up for adoption and the Humane Society. I decided at that young age I wanted to be a veterinarian. After working hard as maintaining grades throughout Elementary and Junior High School I was accepted to Academy of Arts Careers and Technology (AACT) for my high school education. I made the decision to accept enrollment in the Natural Resources and Animal Sciences Academy at AACT. My freshman year we covered agricultural basics and I began working with the FFA, my sophomore year we went into horticulture and plants and flowers, the junior year we focused on the business side of AG and currently in my senior year I am studying Greenhouse Management and Veterinarian Science along with dual enrollment with University of Nevada Reno for AGSC 100. As I have completed my Academy program I have come to fall in love with plants and flowers. Currently in our Greenhouse we have been responsible for designing and set up of the Greenhouse along with growing a variety of plants and flowers which now we are currently selling to the public as a fundraiser to help fund the program. I joined this Academy because of my love of animals and a want to be a veterinarian and along the way discovered my love for the greenhouse. The time that I spent in there planting and trimming and growing plants, creating Arrangements of flowers, and my internship with the garden center we partner with has led me in a different direction. My new goals as I graduate high school and move into college is to start my education at Feather River Community College where I will be studying a 2-year Agricultural Business Degree with the desire to transfer to a 4-year and work towards a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. I am open to seeing where my education takes me and what opportunities present themselves but my dream would be to work/operate as a greenhouse manager. I always stay busy! I am a starting first baseman the state championship North Valleys High School softball team, play Fastpitch travel ball with Reno Rage, work my job as well as an internship at Rail City Garden Center, and I coach a 10U softball team for recreational softball league. My softball experience has taught me the true meaning of team and we take our wins and losses together. No one person is greater then the whole. Thank you for considering my application I am truly grateful for any support. Kiearra Jackson

Growing up in Reno where casinos line the street and warehouses are built in every neighborhood I found my love for agriculture - I know, not what the average person would find interesting. This all started when I was a little girl and I fell in love with animals, everything from my pets to the baby animals at the farm and visiting animals up for adoption and the Humane Society. I decided at that young age I wanted to be a veterinarian. After working hard as maintaining grades throughout Elementary and Junior High School I was accepted to Academy of Arts Careers and Technology (AACT) for my high school education. I made the decision to accept enrollment in the Natural Resources and Animal Sciences Academy at AACT. My freshman year we covered agricultural basics and I began working with the FFA, my sophomore year we went into horticulture and plants and flowers, the junior year we focused on the business side of AG and currently in my senior year I am studying Greenhouse Management and Veterinarian Science along with dual enrollment with University of Nevada Reno for AGSC 100. As I have completed my Academy program I have come to fall in love with plants and flowers. Currently in our Greenhouse we have been responsible for designing and set up of the Greenhouse along with growing a variety of plants and flowers which now we are currently selling to the public as a fundraiser to help fund the program. I joined this Academy because of my love of animals and a want to be a veterinarian and along the way discovered my love for the greenhouse. The time that I spent in there planting and trimming and growing plants, creating Arrangements of flowers, and my internship with the garden center we partner with has led me in a different direction. My new goals as I graduate high school and move into college is to start my education at Feather River Community College where I will be studying a 2-year Agricultural Business Degree with the desire to transfer to a 4-year and work towards a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. I am open to seeing where my education takes me and what opportunities present themselves but my dream would be to work/operate as a greenhouse manager. I always stay busy! I am a starting first baseman the state championship North Valleys High School softball team, play Fastpitch travel ball with Reno Rage, work my job as well as an internship at Rail City Garden Center, and I coach a 10U softball team for recreational softball league. My softball experience has taught me the true meaning of team and we take our wins and losses together. No one person is greater then the whole. Thank you for considering my application I am truly grateful for any support. Kiearra Jackson