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Kylah Lewis

1x

Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Business And Entrepreneurship

Bio

I'm a computer science major with a passion for graphic design, digital art, and innovation. I'm hardworking, motivated, and eager to grow in both technology and design.

Education

Coppin State University

Bachelor's degree program

2026 – 2029

Majors:
  • Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Desired degree modality:
In-Person
Medical school interest:
No

Career

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Graphic Design
Work experience:
4 years
Has nursing license:
No
J&Y Law Yahouda Yahoudai Service Scholarship
Community has shaped the way I see the world, and service has shaped the way I see myself. Every act of helping others, no matter how small, has taught me that strong neighborhoods are built by people who show up with compassion and consistency. My involvement in community service has allowed me to lift up the people around me, and in doing so, it has transformed my sense of responsibility, purpose, and ambition. One of my earliest experiences was volunteering at a local craft show, where I helped organize and fulfill online orders. It may seem simple, but it taught me how much behind‑the‑scenes work goes into supporting small businesses and community events. I learned how to communicate clearly, stay organized under pressure, and make sure every customer felt valued. That experience showed me that community service isn’t always glamorous — sometimes it’s the quiet, steady work that keeps everything running smoothly. I also participated in a community cleaning walk, picking up trash to improve the neighborhood environment. Walking through familiar streets with a trash bag in my hand made me realize how much impact a group of determined people can have in just a few hours. It wasn’t just about cleaning; it was about showing pride in where we live and setting an example for others. That day taught me that leadership can look like bending down to pick up what someone else left behind. One of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had was making sandwiches for the homeless in Philadelphia. Preparing food for people who didn’t know where their next meal would come from grounded me in gratitude and empathy. It reminded me that kindness can meet someone’s most basic needs, and that even small acts of care can restore dignity. Serving others face‑to‑face made me more aware of the challenges people experience daily and strengthened my commitment to helping those who are overlooked. I also assisted at a blood drive, supporting donors and helping the event run smoothly. Watching people come in to give something that could save a life was powerful. My role was simple — offering water, guiding donors, answering questions — but it mattered. I learned how important it is to create a safe, welcoming environment for people who are doing something courageous. That experience deepened my understanding of how community service connects strangers through shared humanity. Each of these moments has shaped my ambition to continue serving others. I want to be someone who strengthens communities through action, compassion, and leadership. My drive comes from knowing that service doesn’t just change neighborhoods — it changes people. It has changed me. These experiences have taught me patience, empathy, responsibility, and the importance of showing up even when no one is watching. I hope to continue using my life to make the world better, one act of service at a time. Community is built by people who care, and I am committed to being one of them.
Mad Genius Scholarship
A Mad Genius, to me, is not defined by chaos alone, but by the strange harmony that forms when chaos and brilliance collide. They are the kind of person who sees the world sideways and refuses to straighten the view. They lean into the tilt, into the distortion, into the possibility that everyone else overlooks. A Mad Genius is someone who thinks in spirals instead of lines, someone who feels ideas before they fully understand them, someone who is willing to risk being misunderstood in order to create something unforgettable. When I think about what a Mad Genius looks like, I think about the moment I first realized I had to become one. It happened during a project that should have been simple. I was designing a piece that needed to be clean, balanced, and structured — the kind of assignment that rewards neatness and punishes experimentation. But nothing I made felt alive. Every sketch looked stiff, every color choice felt predictable, and every line seemed afraid to move. I kept erasing, redrawing, adjusting, and second‑guessing until the page felt like a battlefield. I was frustrated, tired, and dangerously close to giving up. That’s when something in me snapped — not in anger, but in liberation. I stopped trying to make the piece behave. I stopped trying to be “correct.” I stopped trying to impress anyone. Instead, I let myself think like a Mad Genius. I dipped my brush into colors I wasn’t supposed to mix. I dragged lines across the page without measuring them. I layered textures until the paper buckled slightly under the weight. I let the piece breathe, scream, whisper, and pulse. It was messy, loud, and absolutely mine. In that moment, I felt the spark of what a Mad Genius truly is: someone who trusts their instincts more than the rules, someone who follows the feeling instead of the formula, someone who understands that creativity is not meant to be polite. That piece became one of my favorites — not because it was perfect, but because it was honest. But the Mad Genius isn’t just an artist. They exist in history, in myth, in science, in every field where imagination meets obsession. I think of figures like Nikola Tesla, whose mind buzzed with ideas that seemed impossible in his time. He saw electricity not as a tool but as a living force, something that could reshape the world. People called him eccentric, strange, even unstable, but they also recognized the brilliance in his unconventional thinking. Tesla embodied the Mad Genius because he wasn’t afraid to dream beyond the limits of what society believed was reasonable. He wasn’t afraid to be different. He wasn’t afraid to be misunderstood. He wasn’t afraid to chase the impossible. That same energy exists in fictional characters too — the ones who walk the line between brilliance and madness. Characters like Dr. Frankenstein, who pushed science beyond morality, or Shuri from Black Panther, whose playful genius transforms technology into art. Even villains like The Joker represent a twisted version of the Mad Genius archetype: someone whose creativity is fueled by chaos rather than purpose. These characters remind us that genius is powerful, unpredictable, and deeply human. They show us that the mind is capable of extraordinary things when it refuses to be ordinary. But the Mad Genius I imagine — the one I relate to — is not dangerous or destructive. They are daring. They are curious. They are unafraid. They break rules because they are too busy building new ones. They chase ideas that feel impossible and trust their instincts even when no one else understands. They are the kind of person who sees beauty in disorder, meaning in confusion, and potential in mistakes. They are the kind of person who creates not because they want approval, but because they want truth. If I were to write an origin story for a Mad Genius, it would begin quietly. Not with lightning or explosions, but with a child who notices things others ignore — the way shadows bend around objects, the way colors shift in sunlight, the way patterns repeat in nature. This child grows up feeling slightly out of sync with the world, not because they are wrong, but because they are tuned to a different frequency. They think deeply, feel intensely, and imagine endlessly. Their ideas are strange, bold, and sometimes overwhelming. People call them dramatic, emotional, or “too much,” but they are simply overflowing with possibility. As they grow older, they learn to hide parts of themselves to fit in. They learn to quiet their imagination, to soften their curiosity, to shrink their creativity. But creativity is stubborn. It refuses to stay small. One day, something breaks — a rule, a limit, a moment of fear — and the Mad Genius inside them wakes up. Suddenly, they stop apologizing for their ideas. They stop dimming their spark. They stop pretending to be ordinary. They embrace the chaos, the brilliance, the intensity, and the freedom that comes with thinking differently. They become the version of themselves they were always meant to be. That origin story is mine, too. I’ve spent years learning how to balance structure with imagination, discipline with instinct, clarity with chaos. I’ve learned that my creativity is strongest when I allow myself to think like a Mad Genius — not reckless, but free. Not destructive, but daring. Not perfect, but powerful. My artistic process thrives when I stop trying to control every detail and instead let the work guide me. When I create, I feel connected to something bigger than myself — a current of energy, emotion, and possibility that reminds me why I love art in the first place. A Mad Genius, in my eyes, is someone who embraces the full spectrum of creativity. They are not afraid to be bold, strange, emotional, or unpredictable. They are not afraid to fail. They are not afraid to try again. They are not afraid to imagine something that has never existed before. They are the kind of person who sees the world not as it is, but as it could be — and then works tirelessly to bring that vision to life. That is the Mad Genius I strive to be. Not someone who loses themselves in chaos, but someone who finds themselves in creativity. Someone who uses imagination as a tool, passion as fuel, and curiosity as a compass. Someone who understands that genius is not about perfection, but about possibility. Someone who knows that the most powerful ideas often begin with a spark that feels a little wild. And if being a Mad Genius means thinking differently, dreaming boldly, and creating fearlessly, then I am proud to claim the title.
Angela Engelson Memorial Scholarship for Women Artists
For me, fine art and studio art have always been the way I can understand myself and the world. Being creative give me sense of clarity I can't find nowhere else, when I'm drawing or designing, I can relax, focus, and fully present. My ideas, my emotions, and imagination having a place to breathe is all in Art. The passion I have for art comes from wanting to grow that attachment. I want to continue learning new techniques, explore different mediums, and challenge myself creatively. Researching art will give me the tools to turn my ideas into stronger, more purposeful work. I believe that this will allow me to surround myself with other artists who inspire me and push me to become better. Being an artist is ore than just a hobby for me, it's a calling. Innovating makes me feel grounded, confident, and free. Through sketching, painting, or designing, I feel like I can float in my work. My artistic process helps me to decompress, breathe, focus, and it remindes me that innovation is something worth protecting and nurturing. I wish to learn more about art because I want to build a future where creativity is at the center of my life. Art has influenced me into someone who pays attention, who feels deeply, and who believes in the power of imagination. Chasing art meaning dedication to the work that makes me feel alive, and I'm eager to grow this passion into a lifelong path. Studying art also means pushing myself beyond what I already know. I want to explore new mediums, learn from experienced artists, and understand the techniques that make artwork powerful. Being in a studio environment motivates me to take risks, try new approaches, and refine my style. I’m excited by the idea of growing not just as an artist, but as a thinker and problem‑solver who can use creativity in meaningful ways. As I continue developing my skills, I’ve realized that art is also a form of communication. Every piece I create carries a message, even if it’s subtle. Whether I’m experimenting with color, shaping a design, or sketching from imagination, I’m always trying to share a feeling or perspective. That ability to communicate visually is something I want to strengthen through formal study, because I know it will help me express myself more confidently and intentionally. In closing, art makes me feel connected to myself, to others, and to the world. When I’m creating, I feel calm, focused, and free, like everything around me slows down. That feeling is why I’m passionate about becoming an artist. It’s more than a talent or interest; it’s a part of who I am. Studying art will allow me to build a future where I can continue expressing myself, inspiring others, and turning my creativity into something lasting.
Mattie K Peterson Higher Education Scholarship
Serving my community is very important because it allows me to make a real, human impact on the people around me. I’ve always believed that small actions can create meaningful change, and over the past year, my experiences with volunteering have shown me how true that is. Whether I am helping at a craft show, participating in a neighborhood cleaning walk, preparing food for people experiencing homelessness, or supporting donors at a blood drive, each moment has taught me something valuable about responsibility, compassion, and connection. In 2025, during my senior year of high school, one of the first ways I served my community was by volunteering at a local craft show. My role was to organize and fulfill online orders, which might seem simple, but it played a big part in helping the event run smoothly. I learned that service isn’t always about being in the spotlight; sometimes it’s about doing the behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps everything functioning. It showed me that helping others often means stepping in wherever support is needed, even if the task is small. In that same year, I also participated in a community cleaning walk, where I joined others in picking up trash and improving the neighborhood environment. This experience made me realize how much pride I feel in the places I’m connected to. Cleaning up the streets wasn’t just about removing litter — it was about showing care for the people who live there. It reminded me that community service is not only about helping individuals, but also about creating a healthier, safer, and more welcoming environment for everyone. One of the most meaningful experiences I had was preparing sandwiches for individuals experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. Working alongside my peers, I saw how something as simple as a meal can bring comfort and dignity to someone going through a difficult time. It made me more aware of the challenges people face and more grateful for the opportunities I have. Serving food wasn’t just an act of kindness, it was a reminder that everyone deserves to feel seen, supported, and valued. Most recently during my freshman year of college, I volunteered at a blood drive, where my job was to make sure donors felt comfortable and cared for. I greeted people, offered snacks, and checked in on them after they donated. It was a small gesture, but it mattered. I realized that service is often about creating positive experiences for others, especially in moments when they are giving something of themselves. Overall, serving my community is important to me because it helps me grow into a more compassionate, responsible, and aware person. It teaches me to look beyond myself and recognize the needs of others. Every act of service, no matter how small, is a chance to make someone’s day better — and that is something I want to continue doing throughout my life.
Kylah Lewis Student Profile | Bold.org