Serving the community has always been part of my family’s story. Growing up, I learned that service does not look the same for everyone. Some people give through advocacy, some through bringing joy to others, some through sharing their talents, and some through protecting the world around them. My family inspired me to find my own passions and use them to make a difference. My mother is a cancer survivor and supports cancer research through participation in Relay for Life. From her, I have learned that sometimes, challenges can become a chance to serve others. My father dresses as a Storm Trooper for charity events. I learned from him that giving does not always include solving a problem, but can be as simple as brightening someone’s day. When I joined Cub Scouts in first grade, we participated in many community service activities. After crossing over to Boy Scouts, I was able to give back to scouting by volunteering a week each summer at Cub Scout Day Camp. I really enjoy working with the scouts by developing teamwork and learning outdoor skills. The connections I build with these kids are so important and I want to encourage them to continue in scouting as they get older through being a positive role model. My most significant volunteer project was building a little library for the Elkton Alliance courtyard to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. I designed the library and shared my plans with community leaders at town meetings to get approval. Learning to organize my time, show other scouts what to do, and finally have my troop help install the library truly strengthened my leadership skills. My project fulfilled a need in the community by providing an accessible way for everyone, regardless of age or mobility, can receive or donate free books. The structure is solid, blends with the existing architecture, and will be there serving the community for many years to come. Soccer is my passion and I have been able to share that by volunteering with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes during PowerCamp, and for many seasons when I coached U6 for a local soccer recreational program. Sharing my love of the game with them has been amazing and I enjoy watching their athletic skills and team work develop each season. Being a leader by coaching has not only taught me patience, but that service is not always about being the person in charge. Sometimes it means encouraging someone younger, building confidence, and helping others discover their own abilities. Last summer, I volunteered at a Sea Turtle Rescue facility. I cleaned tanks as well as fed and helped give medication to the turtles. I also had the opportunity to educate visitors about the challenges marine turtles face and how everyday human actions can impact ocean wildlife. Many of the turtles needed rescuing because of interactions with boats and humans. This experience showed me that protecting animals requires more than hands-on care; it also requires educating others and inspiring people to become better stewards of the environment. My part-time jobs throughout high school have also helped shape my understanding of leadership and responsibility. I worked in customer service at a local wing shop and a local bakery, where I learned the importance of communication and creating a positive experience for customers. I work as a soccer coach, leading skill sessions for children ages 3–12. These experiences have taught me that leading is not limited to organized volunteer opportunities; but can also be seen in how we treat others, share our talents, and contribute positively to our community every day.

One of my greatest accomplishments has been earning the rank of Eagle Scout with the Troop 443 from Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America) in December 2025. Achieving this rank required commitment, perseverance, and service. As part of my Eagle Scout project, I designed and built a Little Library for the Elkton Alliance, which is the center of my town. The library is accessible to everyone regardless of their age and mobility needs, creating a resource that benefits members of my community. Before this project was completed, I had to talk to town leaders at public meetings to share my ideas and get support. Partnering with a local organization, Courtney’s Book Drive, ensures that there will always be books for people to receive. I also developed my leadership skills by serving as Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 443 and later as Patrol Leader. For example, I lead a presentation on cyber safety for both the middle and high school scouts, helping them to meet the requirements for advancement. These experiences taught me the importance of teamwork, responsibility, and leading by example. Volunteerism is a big part of my life. I have completed over 600 community service hours through opportunities that allow me to work with young people. As a volunteer coach with Cecil Soccer and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at PowerCamp, I taught young athletes soccer skills while helping them develop teamwork, confidence, and sportsmanship. I volunteer at the Delmarva Council Cub Scout Day Camp each summer, where I utilize my scouting skills to encourage young boys to continue to develop their skills and teamwork. This past summer, I was asked to help develop a new summer program for the oldest cub scouts and to focus on teaching them what they need to know before crossing over to boy scouts. These experiences have shown me how rewarding it is to encourage and support others. My passion for animals and marine science has also guided many of my activities. I was selected for a competitive high school marine biology program at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, where I assisted with sea turtle rehabilitation, beach cleanups, and public education. This opportunity strengthened my desire to continue learning about conservation and protecting wildlife. I am lucky enough to have traveled to Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, and Alaska to learn more about wildlife. Other influential experiences have been the ability to go behind the scenes at the Baltimore Zoo, enter the penguin exhibit, do a behind the scenes tour at the shark facility in Sea World, and spend the day at Discover Cove swimming with dolphins and shadowing a marine biologist. Soccer is my passion and I have been on the field for three seasons a year since 2016. I played for a local recreational program as well as both middle school and high school teams. I was a co-captain for the JV program at my high school for two years. Additionally, I participated in indoor track, marching band, and the Dungeons & Dragons Club, where I was a leader my senior year. I am a member of the National Honor Society at Perryville High School where I volunteered my time at their Winter Wonderland community event and the annual senior citizen dinner dance. While keeping active, I took honors and AP courses each year and maintained a weighted GPA of 4.2. My work experiences have also helped shape who I am. I have front counter experience at I’m Just Wingin’ It, a chicken restaurant, and Les Petite Bisous, a French bakery. Both of these are locally owned businesses where I learned effective customer service skills and have been trusted to work alone many days. This summer, I have a part-time job with Maryland Crab Kickers, where I teach sessions of soccer skills from athletes as young as three years old all the way to middle school students. Crab Kickers has taught me patience and communication skills, because some sessions I am working with the “Mommy and Me” class and other times I am coaching only a few athletes and we focus on individual strengths and weaknesses. Whether I am coaching a young athlete, mentoring a Cub Scout, serving customers, or volunteering in my community, I strive to bring the same level of effort and commitment that everyone deserves. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue my education and pursue my future goals while allowing me to remain actively involved in service and leadership. I believe my accomplishments demonstrate my dedication, character, and willingness to make a difference, and I would be proud to represent the Christian Fitness Association as a scholarship winner.

On my journey to becoming an Eagle Scout, I focused on earning merit badges in nature science, fishing, oceanography, and wildlife because I wanted to learn more about how to support wildlife conservation. I had the opportunity to go into the penguin exhibit at the Baltimore Zoo, take a behind the scenes shark tour at Sea World, and spend a day with a zoologist and swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove, where I learned even more about how I could possibly contribute to the field of animal care. I went on a school trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands that was absolutely amazing and an experience that impacted my future career choice. I was able to see penguins, spend time with seals on the beach, observe sea turtles in the Pacific, and snorkel with white tipped sharks. I visited the Charles Darwin Research Center and learned about the giant Galapagos tortoise population, and went to a tortoise sanctuary, where I could observe them in the wild. I learned how the residents of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands respect and conserve wildlife, which inspired me to want to do the same. One summer, I volunteered at The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in North Carolina. I cleaned tanks, helped feed turtles, assisted with medications, and learned about turtle care. There is so much research that goes into a quality animal rescue program, and we learned what it takes to successfully rehabilitate sea turtles for release back into the wild. One of the big parts of that experience was educating the public on how to keep marine turtles safe. Many of the turtles needed rescuing because of interactions with boats and humans, which was very frustrating to me. In addition to learning about turtles, we dissected squid, studied other ocean animals, and participated in beach clean ups. There is so much involved in rescuing marine life to keep them healthy and safe. Recently, I went on a trip to Alaska to observe wildlife. I was able to go salmon fishing, observe moose, bald eagles, orcas, a bear and even a porcupine out in the wild. The highlight of the trip was going whale watching, where we saw a group of five humpback whales breach all around our little boat! Alaskans are very proud of how they care for their wildlife and work hard to promote conservation. This inspired me even further to study marine life and animal rescue. My number one goal in life is to become a marine biologist. I want to research things about marine animals that have yet to be discovered, such as the reproductive habits of eels. I want to uncover mysteries in this field and bring light to endangered species and ocean conservation. Ideally, I want to combine research, conservation and public education. The more people I can reach out to and guide into my passion, the better the world will be. My experiences volunteering with kids at scout day camp, coaching soccer, working counter service at part-time jobs and at the Sea Turtle Rescue will be invaluable as I move forward into college, internships, and eventually my dream career in marine biology. Protecting animals requires lifelong commitment, curiosity, and the willingness to serve. Through my future career in marine biology, I hope to continue to research and possibly open a research facility that is open to the public so I can continue to educate others about our responsibility to conserve and protect the environment for generations to come.

My mom was a biology teacher, and she still takes us to aquariums, nature centers, and zoos wherever we go. At five years old, I attended summer camp to learn about dinosaurs. In second grade, I went a summer camp called “Creatures Under the Sea to Dinosaurs on Land” because my family knew how much I loved animals. On my journey to becoming an Eagle Scout, I focused on earning merit badges in nature science, fishing, oceanography, and wildlife. I had the opportunity to go into the penguin exhibit at the Baltimore Zoo, take a behind the scenes shark tour at Sea World, and spend a day with a zoologist and swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove. Our family went on a school trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands in July of 2024. It was absolutely amazing and an experience that impacted my future career choice. I was able to see penguins, spend time with seals on the beach, observe sea turtles in the Pacific, and snorkel with white tipped sharks. We visited the Charles Darwin Research Center where we learned about the giant Galapagos tortoise population, and went to a tortoise sanctuary, where the tortoises could come and go as they pleased. I learned how the residents of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands respect and conserve wildlife, which inspired me to want to do the same. In July of 2025, I volunteered at The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in North Carolina. I cleaned tanks as well as fed and helped give medication to the turtles. There is so much research that goes into a quality animal rescue program, and we learned what it takes to successfully rehabilitate sea turtles for release back into the wild. One of the big parts of that experience was educating the public on how to keep marine turtles safe. Many of the turtles needed rescuing because of interactions with boats and humans, which was very frustrating to me. In addition to learning about turtles, we dissected squid, studied other ocean animals, and participated in beach clean ups. There is so much involved in rescuing marine life to keep them healthy and safe. When I graduated and my mom retired from teaching public school, she took me on a celebratory trip to Alaska to see the wildlife. I was able to go salmon fishing, observe moose, bald eagles, orcas, a bear and even a porcupine out in the wild. The highlight of the trip was going whale watching, where we saw a group of five humpback whales breach all around our little boat! Alaskans are very proud of how they care for their wildlife and work hard to promote conservation. This inspired me even further to study marine life and animal rescue. My number one goal in life is to become a marine biologist. I want to discover things about marine animals that no one has ever seen before, such as the reproductive habits of a certain species of eel. I want to uncover mysteries in this field and bring light to endangered species and ocean conservation. Ideally, I want to combine research, conservation and public education. The more people I can reach out to and guide into my passion, the better the world will be. My experiences volunteering with kids at scout day camp, coaching soccer, working counter service at part-time jobs and at the Sea Turtle Rescue will be invaluable as I move forward into college, internships, and eventually my dream career in marine biology.

My mom is a science teacher, and for as long as I remember, she would take us kids to every science related experience possible. As a family, we visit natural history museums, aquariums, nature centers, and zoos wherever we go. At five years old, I attended my very first summer camp learning about dinosaurs at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science. In second grade, my parents drove me each day to a summer camp in Smyrna called “Creatures Under the Sea to Dinosaurs on Land” because they knew how much I loved animals. As a boy scout, I focused on earning merit badges in nature science, fishing, oceanography, and wildlife. I had the opportunity to go into the penguin exhibit at the Baltimore Zoo, take a behind the scenes shark tour at Sea World, spend a day with a zoologist and swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove, and travel to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. While in the Galapagos, we got to tour a tortoise sanctuary, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, and snorkel with white tip sharks. Last summer, I volunteered at The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in North Carolina. I cleaned tanks as well as fed and helped give medication to the turtles. I also educated the public about how to protect marine turtles. Many of the turtles needed rescuing because of interactions with boats and humans, which was very frustrating to me. I was able to enjoy this experience because I was accepted to a special Sea Turtle Camp on TopSail Island. In addition to learning about turtles, we dissected squid, studied other ocean animals, and participated in beach clean ups. My number one goal in life is to become a marine biologist. I want to discover things about marine animals that no one has ever seen before, such as the reproductive habits of a certain species of eel. I want to uncover mysteries in this field and bring light to endangered species and ocean conservation. I want to lead the next generation into a path of conservation and make them love the ocean just as much as I do. Being a leader in this field is not just about telling others what to do, it's about being an example and guiding others into a future where both people and the world around them will be better. It's about passing down the knowledge from one person to the next and so on. The more people I can reach out to and guide into my passion, the better the world will be. My experiences volunteering with kids at daycamp, coaching soccer, working counter service at part-time jobs, and at the Sea Turtle Rescue will be invaluable as I move forward into college, internships, and eventually my dream career in marine biology. I would be proud to be honored with an Dr. Howard Hochman Zoological Scholarship. Remaining drug and alcohol free, putting forth my best effort in college, and continuing to volunteer are ways I can honor my community and Dr. Hochman. I understand that while my career will have a positive impact on the environment and the wildlife around us, being a marine biologist is not going to bring in a big salary. I want to spend my time in college focusing on experiences and research, while not having to worry my family or myself with student debt. This scholarship will help me do just that.

Soccer is my passion and I have been on the field every fall, winter and spring since 2016. I enjoy playing soccer, watching soccer games, and sharing my excitement with young athletes through coaching. I volunteered with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for their FCA summer PowerCamp, where I mentored young boys in soccer and in their spiritual lives. In 2024, I started coaching U6 for Cecil Soccer. Watching the players develop their skills gives me a sense of accomplishment. Being involved with my community has always been a big part of my life. In fact, I have over 570 documented service hours. When I joined Cub Scouts in first grade, we participated in community service activities. After crossing over to Boy Scouts, I was able to give back to the scouting community by volunteering a week each summer helping with Cub Scout Day Camp. I really enjoyed working with the scouts by developing teamwork and learning outdoor skills. I earned the rank of Eagle Scout by building a little library for the Elkton Alliance courtyard. By speaking at town meetings and working with younger scouts, I developed public speaking and leadership skills. Working at Les Petites Bisous and I’m Just Wingin’ It have helped me with time management and customer service. I plan to use these skills in my future career as a marine biologist. A trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, organized by my school, inspired my interest in researching and caring for marine animals. I was able to get a taste of what a marine biologist does when I volunteered at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center last summer. There, I helped with turtle care, center maintenance, and public education. My number one goal in life is to become a marine biologist. I want to discover things about marine animals that no one has ever seen before, I want to uncover mysteries in this field and bring light to endangered species and ocean conservation. I want to be able to lead the next generation into a path of conservation and make them love the ocean just as much as I do. I want to teach others about the research I will perform and give others the knowledge they need to improve upon the work once I have passed. I want to teach them to do the same for the next generation and the next generation after that. Being a leader is not just about telling others what to do, it's about guiding them into a future where both them and the world will be better. It's about passing down the knowledge from one person to the next and so on. The more people I can reach out to and guide into my passion, the better the world will be. I would be proud to be honored with a Proverbs 3:27 Scholarship. I will not withhold good when it is due to either man or animal. Remaining drug and alcohol free, putting forth my best effort in college, and continuing to volunteer are ways I can honor my community and the values of this scholarship. I understand that while my career will have a positive impact on the environment and the wildlife around us, being a marine biologist is not going to bring in a big salary. I want to spend my time in college focusing on experiences and research, while not having to worry my family or myself with student debt. This scholarship will help me do just that.

My mom is a science teacher, and for as long as I remember, she would take us kids to every science related experience possible. As a family, we visit natural history museums, aquariums, nature centers, and zoos wherever we go. At five years old, I attended my very first summer camp learning about dinosaurs at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science. In second grade, my parents drove me each day to a summer camp in Smyrna called “Creatures Under the Sea to Dinosaurs on Land” because they knew how much I loved animals. As a boy scout, I focused on earning merit badges in nature science, fishing, oceanography, and wildlife. I had the opportunity to go into the penguin exhibit at the Baltimore Zoo, take a behind the scenes shark tour at Sea World, spend a day with a zoologist and swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove, and travel to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. While in the Galapagos, we got to tour a tortoise sanctuary, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, and snorkel with white tip sharks. Last summer, I volunteered at The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in North Carolina. I cleaned tanks as well as fed and helped give medication to the turtles. I also educated the public about how to protect marine turtles. Many of the turtles needed rescuing because of interactions with boats and humans, which was very frustrating to me. I was able to enjoy this experience because I was accepted to a special Sea Turtle Camp on TopSail Island. In addition to learning about turtles, we dissected squid, studied other ocean animals, and participated in beach clean ups. My number one goal in life is to become a marine biologist. I want to discover things about marine animals that no one has ever seen before, such as the reproductive habits of a certain species of eel. I want to uncover mysteries in this field and bring light to endangered species and ocean conservation. I want to lead the next generation into a path of conservation and make them love the ocean just as much as I do. Being a leader in this field is not just about telling others what to do, it's about being an example and guiding others into a future where both people and the world around them will be better. It's about passing down the knowledge from one person to the next and so on. The more people I can reach out to and guide into my passion, the better the world will be. My experiences volunteering with kids at day camp, coaching soccer, working counter service at part-time jobs, and at the Sea Turtle Rescue will be invaluable as I move forward into college, internships, and eventually my dream career in marine biology. I would be proud to be honored with a Paws for Progress Scholarship. Remaining drug and alcohol free, putting forth my best effort in college, and continuing to volunteer are ways I can honor my community and the sponsor of this scholarship, Little Landmines. I understand that while my career will have a positive impact on the environment and the wildlife around us, being a marine biologist is not going to bring in a big salary. I want to spend my time in college focusing on experiences and research, while not having to worry my family or myself with student debt. This scholarship will help me do just that.

My family is a great example on how people can give back in so many ways with our varying interests. They have inspired me to pursue any passion that also gives back to others. My mother is a cancer survivor. She likes to tell people that I am her miracle baby, because she was not supposed to be able to have kids after the treatment for her aggressive type of cancer. She supports cancer research and helping cancer patients. One of the things she did to try to go into labor with me was to walk laps and laps in a Relay For Life just days before I was born. Additionally, she wanted to be an inspiration for cancer patients that there is hope for a normal life after surviving cancer and the aggressive treatments she had to endure. We support cancer research through donations and the annual Relay for Life. My father is part of an organization that dresses as Star Wars characters and he only wears his Storm Trooper suit for charity events. I can see how passionate he is about making everyone smile when he stops to talk to them along a parade route or poses for photos at an event. My sister has been running a book drive for the past ten years. She is interested in giving back to the community by collecting and donating gently used books. Her connections from her book drive helped me find my Eagle Scout project, which is to build a Little Free Library for the town square. In this way, we are working together for a common goal to meet the needs of people in our community. Through scouting, I volunteered for a week each summer for five years at the local Cub Scout Day Camp where I led a group of elementary age boys through their daily activities at camp. The connections I build with these kids are so important and I want to encourage them to continue in scouting as they get older. I have been playing soccer for almost ten years on a local recreational team, my middle school team, and now my high school soccer team. Last fall, I started volunteer coaching a U6 team of four and five year olds. Sharing my love of the game with them has been amazing and I enjoy watching their athletic skills and team work develop each season. I also volunteered as a Huddle Leader for two summers for the FCA PowerCamp and taught soccer skills to middle school kids. Coaching helps the kids as well as strengthens my own techniques. This summer, I volunteered at a Sea Turtle Rescue facility. I cleaned tanks as well as fed and helped give medication to the turtles. I also educated the public about how to protect marine turtles. Many of the turtles needed rescuing because of interactions with boats and humans. I want to go to St. Mary’s College of Maryland to become a marine biologist and use my skills to help with marine animal rescue. My future career will be involved with conservation and helping animals in need. Marine biologists not only work with animals, but with educating the public on how to care for our environment. My experiences volunteering with kids at daycamp, coaching soccer, and at the Sea Turtle Rescue will be invaluable as I move forward into college, internships, and eventually my dream career in marine sciences.