Ever since I was little I knew theatre was my thing; and as I grew older, that love and passion not only grew, but expanded. I found myself captivated in the things happening around the small part of the world the actors brought to life. From behind the scenes I witnessed stage managers giving cues, sound technicians running mic checks, the production manager hanging LED lights from the pipes tethered above the stage. I saw a collage of so many people's visions masterfully pieced together from scratch to create a whole new wonder to behold. It did not take me long to realize what I wanted from my future. But then, I joined Westmoreland Performing Arts, a nonprofit performing arts center in Greensburg, PA, and things shifted a little bit. I began volunteering for a Crisis Intervention Training group, soon becoming the head organizer for their youth division of crisis actors. I watched as my teachers helped students rise to their potential, and discover that they mattered. I watched students with disabilities much like my own realized that they are not alone, and they have the ability to change the minds and hearts of the people around them. And suddenly I could not imagine doing anything else in my life. I plan to major in theater production (design and technology focus) and obtain a minor in business, with a focus in nonprofit management. I want to combine my fascination with business management and my passionate love for the arts to start my own nonprofit organization, that will focus on enhancing disability accommodations in various venues, such as museums, science centers and theaters, to increase accessibility to the wonders of the arts. I know many people who love movies and theatre, but unfortunately a lack of appropriate accommodations makes it very difficult for them to have an enjoyable experience. Technology is continuously advancing, and so should the things that make it possible for everyone to enjoy it. This group will also help educate low-income families and school districts on disabilities and IEP’s, so children with few resources do not have to struggle just because they learn differently. I struggled a lot in school due to a lack of proper accommodations for my disabilities, and an administration that was indifferent to the bullying and isolation that plagued many of their students. Much of this ignorance stemmed from a lack of education on the subject of disorders and disabilities, for students and teachers alike. Education provided by this program’s various shows, short films, and accessible activities can make sure no one loses their desire to learn, just because they learn differently. With the help of this scholarship, I will be able to learn everything I need to turn this dream into a reality, at the school that accommodates my disabilities the best with no judgment and no extra payment on my part. I will work hard and not stop until I use my knowledge and passion to help others. I know I can accomplish this, thanks to scholarships like this one, that will allow me to focus less on the cost of college, and more on what really matters -- making my community, and maybe even the world, a bit better for everyone.

With the assistance of this scholarship, I can attend the college of my dreams, Point Park University, and embrace the inclusive nature of their student population. I plan to major in theater production (design and technology focus) and obtain a minor in business, with a focus in nonprofit management. I want to combine my fascination with business management and my passionate love for the arts to start my own nonprofit organization, that will focus on enhancing disability accommodations in various venues, such as museums, science centers and theaters, to increase accessibility to the wonders of the arts. I know many people who love movies and theatre, but unfortunately a lack of appropriate accommodations makes it very difficult for them to have an enjoyable experience. Technology is continuously advancing, and so should the things that make it possible for everyone to enjoy it. The main project I would like to focus on would be a pair of headphones that can provide a wide variety of different settings. These headphones can dim the volume of the performance for those who experience sensory overload, or it can connect directly to the sound board and link the user straight to the performer's microphone packs; this will both block out distractions and also enhance the audio for the hard-of-hearing. These headphones will be very flexible in size and can be used in either one ear or both, and can also provide detailed, pre-programmed audio descriptions for the blind. This group will also help educate low-income families and school districts on disabilities and IEP’s, so children with few resources do not have to struggle just because they learn differently. I struggled a lot in school due to a lack of proper accommodations for my disabilities, and an administration that was indifferent to the bullying and isolation that plagued many of their students. Much of this ignorance stemmed from a lack of education on the subject of disorders and disabilities, for students and teachers alike. Education provided by this program’s various shows, short films, and accessible activities can make sure no one loses their desire to learn, just because they learn differently. With the help of this scholarship, I will be able to learn everything I need to turn this dream into a reality, at the school that I know wants me to succeed, the school that accommodates my disabilities with no judgment and no extra payment on my part. I will work hard and not stop until I use my knowledge and passion to help others. I know I can accomplish this, thanks to scholarships like this one, that will allow me to focus less on the cost of college, and more on what really matters -- making my community, and maybe even the world, a bit better for everyone.

With the assistance of this scholarship, I can attend the college of my dreams, Point Park University, and embrace the inclusive nature of their student population. I plan to major in theater production (design and technology focus) and obtain a minor in business, with a focus in nonprofit management. I want to combine my fascination with business management and my passionate love for the arts to start my own nonprofit organization, that will focus on enhancing disability accommodations in various venues, such as museums, science centers and theaters, to increase accessibility to the wonders of the arts. I know many people who love movies and theatre, but unfortunately a lack of appropriate accommodations makes it very difficult for them to have an enjoyable experience. Technology is continuously advancing, and so should the things that make it possible for everyone to enjoy it. The main project I would like to focus on would be a pair of headphones that can provide a wide variety of different settings. These headphones can dim the volume of the performance for those who experience sensory overload, or it can connect directly to the sound board and link the user straight to the performer's microphone packs; this will both block out distractions and also enhance the audio for the hard-of-hearing. These headphones will be very flexible in size and can be used in either one ear or both, and can also provide detailed, pre-programmed audio descriptions for the blind. This group will also help educate low-income families and school districts on disabilities and IEP’s, so children with few resources do not have to struggle just because they learn differently. I struggled a lot in school due to a lack of proper accommodations for my various neurological disorders and learning disabilities, and an administration that was indifferent to the bullying and isolation that plagued many of their students. Much of this ignorance stemmed from a lack of education on the subject of disorders and disabilities, for students and teachers alike. Education provided by this program’s various shows, short films, and accessible activities can make sure no one loses their desire to learn, just because they learn differently. With the help of this scholarship, I will be able to learn everything I need to turn this dream into a reality, at the school that I know wants me to succeed, the school that accommodates my disabilities with no judgment and no extra payment on my part. I will work hard and not stop until I use my knowledge and passion to help others. I know I can accomplish this, thanks to scholarships like this one, that will allow me to focus less on the cost of college, and more on what really matters -- making my community, and maybe even the world, a bit better for everyone.

With the assistance of this scholarship, I plan on attending the college of my dreams, Point Park University, and embracing the inclusive nature of their student population. I plan to major in theater production (design and technology focus) and obtain a minor in business, with a focus in nonprofit management. I want to combine my fascination with business management and my passionate love for the arts to start my own nonprofit organization, that will focus on enhancing disability accommodations in various venues, such as museums, science centers and theaters, to increase accessibility to the wonders of the arts. I know many people who love movies and theatre, but unfortunately a lack of appropriate accommodations makes it very difficult for them to have an enjoyable experience. Technology is continuously advancing, and so should the things that make it possible for everyone to enjoy it. The main project I would like to focus on would be a pair of headphones that can provide a wide variety of different settings. These headphones can dim the volume of the performance for those who experience sensory overload, or it can connect directly to the sound board and link the user straight to the performer's microphone packs; this will both block out distractions and also enhance the audio for the hard-of-hearing. These headphones will be very flexible in size and can be used in either one ear or both, and can also provide detailed, pre-programmed audio descriptions for the blind. This group will also help educate low-income families and school districts on disabilities and IEP’s, so children with few resources do not have to struggle just because they learn differently. I struggled a lot in school due to a lack of proper accommodations for my disabilities, and an administration that was indifferent to the bullying and isolation that plagued many of their students. Much of this ignorance stemmed from a lack of education on the subject of disorders and disabilities, for students and teachers alike. Education provided by this program’s various shows, short films, and accessible activities can make sure no one loses their desire to learn, just because they learn differently. With the help of this scholarship, I will be able to learn everything I need to turn this dream into a reality, at the school that accommodates my disabilities the best with no judgment and no extra payment on my part. And I will work hard and not stop until I use my knowledge and passion to help others. I know I can accomplish this, thanks to scholarships like this one, that will allow me to focus less on the cost of college, and more on what really matters -- making my community, and maybe even the world, a bit better for everyone.

I plan to major in theater production (design and technology focus) and obtain a minor in business, with a focus in nonprofit management. I want to combine my fascination with business management and my passionate love for the arts to start my own nonprofit organization, that will focus on enhancing disability accommodations in various venues, such as museums, science centers and theaters, to increase accessibility to the wonders of the arts. I know many people who love movies and theatre, but unfortunately a lack of appropriate accommodations makes it very difficult for them to have an enjoyable experience. Technology is continuously advancing, and so should the things that make it possible for everyone to enjoy it. The main project I would like to focus on would be a pair of headphones that can provide a wide variety of different settings. These headphones can dim the volume of the performance for those who experience sensory overload, or it can connect directly to the sound board and link the user straight to the performer's microphone packs; this will both block out distractions and also enhance the audio for the hard-of-hearing. These headphones will be very flexible in size and can be used in either one ear or both, and can also provide detailed, prerecorded audio descriptions for the blind. This group will also help educate low-income families and school districts on disabilities and IEPs, so children with few resources do not have to struggle just because they learn differently. I struggled a lot in school due to a lack of proper accommodations for my disabilities, and an administration that was indifferent to the bullying and isolation that plagued many of their students. Much of this ignorance stemmed from a lack of education on the subject of disorders and disabilities, for students and teachers alike. Education provided by this program’s various shows, short films, and accessible activities can make sure no one loses their desire to learn, just because they learn differently. With the help of this scholarship, I will be able to learn everything I need to turn this dream into a reality. I will work hard and not stop until I use my knowledge and passion to help others. I know I can accomplish , thanks to scholarships like this one, that will allow me to focus less on the cost of college, and more on what really matters -- making my community, and maybe even the world, a bit better for everyone.

Tom Holland is my favorite Spider-Man. In my opinion, he perfectly combines the amazing qualities of the two Spider-Mans before him. He shares both the charm and quick-witted sass of Andrew Garfield's Spiderman, and the nerdy, social-awkwardness of the Peter Parker played by Tobey Maguire. His mix of these traits blend together so well that it never comes off as annoying or frustrating; if anything, it's endearing, while still letting some of that second-hand embarrassment sting the audience. In addition, Tom Holland's Spider-Man has by far the best character arc in the story. His innocence and eagerness to be a superhero and help take down the Vulture in the first movie resonated with me hard as a kid. Unlike the other portrayals I mentioned, this Spider-Man does not want a normal life; he wants to be a hero, because he feels like he should since he has powers. This made him very relatable to me, because who wouldn't want to be a superhero and go on cool missions to take down bad guys if given the chance? It's not until the second movie of Tom's trilogy, that Peter understands the risks that he's taking, and watching him decide to fight Mysterio not because he wants to, but because he has to, is so compelling. By the time the third movie's over, the audience has watched Tom's character grow from child to adult; experience love, joy, fear, death, danger, forgiveness, anger, grief, and everything in between, all portrayed marvelously (pun-intended) by the young Tom Holland. Every Spider-Man actor worked tirelessly to touch the hearts of their generation with this wonderful young character, but Tom Holland will always be my personal favorite.

When I was little, I loved school. My aunt was a reading assistance specialist, and I would skip down the hall to her classroom every day after school, doing my homework and reading the plethora of books she had filling the shelves. My reading level was high above my peers, and there was no question why - I was rarely seen without a book in my hand. Which is why it did not go unnoticed when my head started jerking away from the books I was so focused on, or when I would blink and roll my eyes so much that I would get a headache after just a few pages. My concerned mother got me on a year-long wait list to see a neurologist, and within the first twenty minutes of the appointment it was confirmed that I had Tourette Syndrome: a condition characterized by uncontrollable movements and sounds. It was quite a lot to take in as a nine-year-old, but it was only the first of many diagnoses to come. I have had difficulty in obtaining accommodations for my various disorders, including (but not limited to) Tourettes, Dysgraphia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Auditory Processing Disorder. My mother fought for years to obtain an IEP for me, but my school insisted that I did not need one, because at the time, I was getting straight A's. After a lawyer entered the conversation, the school gave me a 504 plan, but throughout high school I consistently had problems with teachers not using my accommodations. At one point, shortly after I obtained a GIEP in my first year of high school, the school discontinued my 504 plan without ever notifying us about it. I was left without accommodations for over a year, until a new head of special education was hired. My grades tanked, my peers were cruel, and the little sliver of love I still had for school disappeared. Thankfully, I found a solution in a place I never expected - quarantine. I found solace in online school, when my school went virtual for the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic started. I felt at peace, being able to do everything on my own time and not having to worry about if I would get what I needed to succeed, or if I would be judged by teachers and students alike. It was so freeing - so much so that I decided to go back to my school's cyber academy my senior year. I feel like I have learned more in these few months then in the three years I spent locked in that building eight hours a day. I also feel way more confident in myself and my potential now. I spend most of my time at a non-profit performing arts company in Greensburg, PA, where I take many classes and perform in around ten shows a year. I have met so many people there just like me, who have inspired me to pursue the path that I am on today. I plan on majoring in theater production and obtaining a minor in business. After college, I would like to work as a technician for a regional theater, while also starting my own non-profit organization, like the one that fostered and grew my love for music and the arts. It will be mainly focused on enhancing disability accommodations in various venues, such as museums, science centers and theaters, to increase accessibility to the arts. It will also educate low-income families and schools on learning disabilities, to make sure no one loses their desire to learn, just because they learn differently.

If you told fourteen-year-old me that I would soon spend my summers yelling at cops, I definitely would have not believed you. Little did I know that I would be given a grand opportunity the summer after ninth grade. It started as a normal day, spent rehearsing for a summer camp show at the performing arts studio I consider my second home, when my acting teacher pulled me and two other students out of class. He asked us if we would be interested in testing out a new method of police crisis intervention training, founded by the Westmoreland County Behavioral Health & Developmental Services Office (BHDS). The idea of the training was to have actors portray people having a variety of mental health crises in different realistic scenarios, giving officers hands-on experience using de-escalation tactics in a controlled environment. The Westmoreland BHDS office reached out to my acting teacher, who is also the artistic director of the company, to see if they could gain some teen actors who could volunteer to play youth in crisis. I was a shy girl at the time, definitely not the kid you would expect to like screaming and swearing at authority figures; but doing those scenarios, and knowing that I was making a difference in how those cops handled future situations, brought me out of my shell and sparked a passion for advocacy I did not know was inside me. I continued volunteering for the program every summer, and by my third year, I had become the head organizer for the youth division of the BHDS crisis intervention training volunteer group. I now recruit teenage volunteers from all around Westmoreland County, who all feel that it is crucial for our generation to educate our leaders on our point of view, and change the way citizens view law enforcement in our area. I also direct communication between the adult and youth volunteers, and distribute scenarios amongst the volunteers, taking into consideration the officer in question's position and location, as well as the actors and their skill sets. At the beginning and end of each training session, I accompany my mentor, who acts as my adult supervisor, to a meeting with the directors of the training program, where we all can give feedback and discuss ways in which the program can improve. Overall, I have organized youth volunteers for three of these trainings, and I am scheduled to organize many more in the coming year, due to the high rise in interest from officers in our area. They want to learn how to handle mental health crises better, I could not be more excited to continue this venture in helping them. I never would have thought that I could make a difference in my community, but this showed me I can, and shaped the way I view my future. I am highly interested in nonprofit work, something I never would have thought about if volunteering had not shown me all the good nonprofits can bring to the world. I hope to learn more about nonprofits and their management in college and bring all that I learned from my experiences to help my college community as well.