My name is Landon Carter. I recently turned eighteen years old. I graduate from high school in June of 2025. Being born hearing impaired has never been easy, I always felt like I had something to prove. I worked hard in school to pass my classes, helped out around the school by cutting down trees, pressure washing bleachers, hanging signs, raising money for school, and painting goal posts from a thirty-foot lift. I also worked with the local Red Cross Volunteering. I was given the title Spring Creek Handyman and Spring Creek Homecoming King. I am a member of the FFA and received several certificates on local and state level for my service and activities in FFA with my favorite title being Senior Class Treasurer. The best part is taking care of the animals all year long even over holiday break. I am a member of my local VFD and the first in my family to do so. The thrill you get when you wake up to an alert, you jump up, get dressed, and run out the door to a traffic accident, house fire, or even a person in distress is intense and rewarding. My very first call was a man in cardiac arrest. I arrived on scene with the ambulance before the veteran fire fighters and assisted with CPR switching out with first responders and the man lived! I am thankful to be part of a group of men that are positive role models in my life. One day, my agriculture teacher asked if I could help him with welding in hog houses to make some extra money to help out at home and for college. I didn’t know anything about welding at the time, but I gave it a shot. At first, I thought my teacher was crazy, "me go to college?" My dad nor stepdad finished high school let alone college. I was fascinated by the different things I could do with welding, so I bought myself a cheap Chinese welder and started practicing. The more I got involved the more I liked it. I can honestly say my teacher inspired me to do more with my life. My mom and I took a trip to Kentucky Welding Institute, I knew that's what I wanted to do! I have a passion for welding and look forward to becoming certified and traveling for work. I am proud to say I will be the first male in my family to go to college. I currently work seven days a week at AgGrow Tech. I have also work parttime for two years with Noah's Ark Welding and Fabrication. My responsibilities and skills were driving and transporting welding equipment to job locations, gathering materials and tools needed for welding projects, setting up and operating welding equipment, maintaining a clean and organized work area, ability to work alone and with others, and paying attention to detail. My career objectives honestly are to be successful in life. I define success as being a good-hearted man, paying my own bills, and enjoying work. The added bonus of being a welder for me is the opportunity to travel to other states, doing something I love, and being a good provider for my mom and little sister. My future plans are to graduate from Kentucky Welding Institute, travel for several years and work around the United States. Then I would like to come back home and settle down. I would like to start an apprenticeship in my community for teens like me going to a trade school. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

My name is Landon Carter. I recently turned eighteen years old. I graduate from high school in June of 2025. Being born hearing impaired has never been easy, I always felt like I had something to prove. I worked hard in school to pass my classes, helped out around the school by cutting down trees, pressure washing bleachers, hanging signs, raising money for school, and painting goal posts from a thirty-foot lift. I also worked with the local Red Cross Volunteering. I was given the title Spring Creek Handyman and Spring Creek Homecoming King. I am a member of the FFA and received several certificates on local and state level for my service and activities in FFA with my favorite title being Senior Class Treasurer. The best part is taking care of the animals all year long even over holiday break. I am a member of my local VFD and the first in my family to do so. The thrill you get when you wake up to an alert, you jump up, get dressed, and run out the door to a traffic accident, house fire, or even a person in distress is intense and rewarding. My very first call was a man in cardiac arrest. I arrived on scene with the ambulance before the veteran fire fighters and assisted with CPR switching out with first responders and the man lived! I am thankful to be part of a group of men that are positive role models in my life. One day, my agriculture teacher asked if I could help him with welding in hog houses to make some extra money to help out at home and for college. I didn’t know anything about welding at the time, but I gave it a shot. At first, I thought my teacher was crazy, "me go to college?" My dad nor stepdad finished high school let alone college. I was fascinated by the different things I could do with welding, so I bought myself a cheap Chinese welder and started practicing. The more I got involved the more I liked it. My mom and I took a trip to Kentucky Welding Institute, and I knew that's what I wanted to do! I have a passion for welding, was inspired by my teacher, and look forward to becoming certified and traveling for work. I am proud to say I will be the first male in my family to go to college. I currently work seven days a week at AgGrow Tech. I have also work parttime for two years with Noah's Ark Welding and Fabrication. My responsibilities and skills were driving and transporting welding equipment to job locations, gathering materials and tools needed for welding projects, setting up and operating welding equipment, maintaining a clean and organized work area, ability to work alone and with others, and paying attention to detail. My career objectives honestly are to be successful in life. I define success as being a good-hearted man, paying my own bills, and enjoying work. The added bonus of being a welder for me is the opportunity to travel to other states, doing something I love, and being a good provider for my mom and little sister. My future plans are to graduate from Kentucky Welding Institute, travel for several years and work around the United States. Then I would like to come back home and settle down. I would like to start an apprenticeship in my community for teens with disabilities like me going to a trade school. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

My name is Landon Carter. I recently turned eighteen years old. I graduate from high school in June of 2025. Being born hearing impaired has never been easy, I always felt like I had something to prove. I worked hard in school to pass my classes, helped out around the school by cutting down trees, pressure washing bleachers, hanging signs, raising money for school, and painting goal posts from a thirty-foot lift. I also worked with the local Red Cross Volunteering. I was given the title Spring Creek Handyman and Spring Creek Homecoming King. I am a member of the FFA and received several certificates on local and state level for my service and activities in FFA with my favorite title being Senior Class Treasurer. The best part is taking care of the animals all year long even over holiday break. I am a member of my local VFD and the first in my family to do so. The thrill you get when you wake up to an alert, you jump up, get dressed, and run out the door to a traffic accident, house fire, or even a person in distress is intense and rewarding. My very first call was a man in cardiac arrest. I arrived on scene with the ambulance before the veteran fire fighters and assisted with CPR switching out with first responders and the man lived! I am thankful to be part of a group of men that are positive role models in my life. One day, my agriculture teacher asked if I could help him with welding in hog houses to make some extra money to help out at home and for college. I didn’t know anything about welding at the time, but I gave it a shot. At first, I thought my teacher was crazy, "me go to college?" The men in my family have always worked. My dad nor stepdad finished high school let alone college. I was fascinated by the different things I could do with welding, so I bought myself a cheap Chinese welder and started practicing. The more I got involved the more I liked it. My mom and I took a trip to Kentucky and visited the school, and I knew that's what I wanted to do! I have a passion for welding and look forward to becoming certified and traveling for work. I am proud to say I will be the first male in my family to go to college. I currently work seven days a week at AgGrow Tech. I have also work parttime for two years with Noah's Ark Welding and Fabrication. My responsibilities and skills were driving and transporting welding equipment to job locations, gathering materials and tools needed for welding projects, setting up and operating welding equipment, maintaining a clean and organized work area, ability to work alone and with others, and paying attention to detail. My career objectives honestly are to be successful in life. I define success as being a good-hearted man, paying my own bills, and enjoying work. The added bonus of being a welder for me is the opportunity to travel to other states, doing something I love, and being a good provider for my mom and little sister. My future plans are to graduate from Kentucky Welding Institute, travel for several years and work around the United States. Then I would like to come back home and settle down. I would like to start an apprenticeship in my community for teens like me going to a trade school. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

Will he be picked on; Will he be able to go to college? That was the questions my family asked themselves so many times. See I was born with a hearing impairment and did not talk until I was three. From a very young age, my grandpa has been an active part of my life because my dad was not involved much. My grandpa was like my dad, he taught me to work hard, stay focused, and ignore the "worldly label" I was given. My grandfather did not have his dad in his life just like me. I think sometimes he sees himself in me. My grandpa was born and raised on a farm in Pennsylvania. At a young age he had to work to help his mom and siblings because his dad left. He finished high school and did not have the option to attend college. Instead, he went to the military. He served his country and came home and started a family of his own. Everything he has in life he worked for, and he taught me that hard work does pay off. Last year my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer for the second time, this time it was different. Hearing the word cancer again was scary. The thought of losing him devastated me. I really believe that my grandpa fights every day to live for his family. When I started school, we lived with my grandparents. He would wake me up, fix me breakfast, iron my jeans...YES IRON MY JEANS, and put me on the bus. When school got out, he was standing in the driveway waiting for me. Every awards day, family day, and celebration I was connected with he has been there. I dont have a single milestone memory without him in it. My dream is to graduate high school and attend college not only for me but for my grandpa. I AM DETERMINED TO BE THE FIRST MALE IN MY FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE! I am working full time seven days a week to save tuition money while finishing my senior year of high school. I have earned several titles while in high school such as Senior Class Officer, FFA Treasurer, Sports Announcer, and SCH Handyman. I am a member of the VFD and the first in my family to do so. Honestly this scholarship would help me by offsetting some of the cost for school. I have already managed to pay on my own $750.00 deposit and $3,000.00 towards my tuition at Kentucky Welding Institute. I am focused on my dreams and all in! I would love to be able to graduate high school, go to college, and have my own business. I pray I see the day that my grandpa can come to my business pull up a chair and chat with me. My grandpa was a WWII Vietnam Veteran and is currently in the Patriot Guard. I come from a long line of military men. My Grandpa was in the Airforce during WWII, my Great Grandpa was in the Navy during WWI, my uncles were in the Army and Navy during Desert Storm and Bosnia, and my brother is currently active duty on the USS Hartford Navy Sub. Love for God and Country was always a priority in our house. Never being able to have the option of joining because of my hearing disability does bother me but I am going to college not only for me but for grandpa that didn't have the option. Thank you for considering me for the James T. Godwin Memorial Scholarship.

The skilled trade I am planning on studying is welding. One day, my agriculture teacher asked if I could help him with welding in hog houses afterschool and I could make some extra money to help out at home. I didn’t know anything about welding at the time, but I gave it a shot. I was fascinated from the start, there were so many different things you could do with welding. I saved up my money, bought myself a cheap Chinese welder, and started practicing at home. The more I got involved the more I liked it. My teacher told my mom that I was really good and should go to college for it. I thought he was crazy, "me go to college." My dad and stepdad never finished high school let alone college. My family did not stress college for men, "Men Work" they say. The more I got involved and learned about welding the more I researched schools and certifications. My teacher and I convinced my mom to take a trip to Kentucky and I got to visit Kentucky Welding Institute. I saw firsthand "welding in action" I just knew that's what I wanted to do! I planned this career because I was born with a hearing impairment and did not talk until I was three years old. My mom and I sacrificed so much for me to get where I am today. There have been many obstacles in my life that I have overcome. I always felt like I had something to prove to the world because I was living with a disability. I worked hard in school to pass my classes despite starting my high school career through covid when people wore masks, and I read lips!! I love to weld, and I know I would be successfully in this trade because it works for me and my abilities. I define success as being a good-hearted man, paying my own bills, and enjoying work. Honestly this opportunity will help me achieve my goals and passions because I am working to pay for my own college. My stepdad went to rehab two different times last year for alcohol and was only home five months out of the year. I worked extra to help my mom pay bills while going to high school. I have managed to pay the $750.00 room and board deposit and $3,000.00 towards tuition to the trade school in Kentucky but all tuition is due up front by Day 1. I am working full time seven days a week at an Aggrow company that specializes in miscanthus grass to achieve my goal of attending college. I am also attending my final year in high school, a Senior class officer, a FFA officer, a member of my local volunteer fire department and I will be the first male in my family to attend college. The added bonus of being a welder for me is the opportunity to travel to other states, meet new people, do something I love, and being a good provider for my mom and little sister. I have a passion for welding and look forward to becoming a certified welder. Thank you for considering me for the Bob Gana Memorial Scholarship.