The most challenging part of being both a student and a single parent is knowing that every choice I make with my time affects someone I love. As a student, I need uninterrupted time to read, study, complete assignments, and prepare for exams. As a mother, I want to be fully present for my seven year old son, Johnny. I want to help with homework, attend school activities, listen to his stories, encourage his interests, and give him the stability and attention every child deserves. Balancing those responsibilities often means completing my own schoolwork after he goes to bed, during lunch breaks, or in the small spaces between work and parenting. The challenge is not simply managing a busy schedule. It is carrying the emotional weight of wondering whether I am giving enough to every part of my life. When I focus on school, I sometimes feel as though I am taking time away from my son. When I prioritize his needs, I worry about falling behind academically. As a working single mother, there is rarely a responsibility that can simply be placed on hold. Finances add another layer to that challenge. Tuition, books, course materials, technology, transportation, and childcare must be balanced with housing, food, utilities, school expenses, and the everyday costs of raising a child. Every educational expense affects the same household budget that supports my son. Although I am committed to earning my degree, commitment alone does not eliminate the financial pressure of returning to college while supporting a family. My path through higher education has not been traditional. I am a first generation college student, and when I initially began college, I did not have a clear roadmap for navigating the academic, financial, and personal challenges that came with it. Life circumstances eventually interrupted my education, but they did not end my ambition. During my time away from the classroom, I became a mother and built a career in government, advocacy, community engagement, and public service. I made history as the first African American Clerk of Council for Summit County Council. Today, I serve in the City of Akron Mayor’s Office, where my work focuses on community relations, public engagement, partnerships, boards and commissions, and youth leadership. I also serve as President of the Akron Urban League Young Professionals and on the boards of the Greater Akron Chamber and the Akron Urban League. Those experiences have shown me what I am capable of accomplishing, but they have also reminded me that earning my bachelor’s degree remains one of my most important unfinished goals. I returned to the University of Akron with approximately 30 credits remaining. I am pursuing a General Studies degree with concentrations connected to Applied Political Communication and Criminal Justice. These areas complement the work I already do and will strengthen my ability to continue growing in public service. My long term goal is to advance into positions where I can help shape policy, build community centered programs, strengthen trust between residents and government, and create leadership opportunities for young people and others who may not always see themselves represented. Receiving this scholarship would relieve some of the financial pressure that makes balancing school and parenthood so difficult. It would help cover educational expenses without requiring me to take resources away from my son’s immediate needs or delay my progress toward graduation. It would also give me something equally valuable: greater freedom to focus. Instead of worrying as much about how to pay for each academic requirement, I could direct more of my energy toward completing my coursework successfully and remaining present for Johnny. This scholarship would also help me build a more secure future for my family. Completing my degree can open doors to greater professional advancement, increased earning potential, and leadership opportunities that may otherwise remain limited. It will strengthen the work I am already doing while allowing me to provide greater long term stability for my son. The impact on Johnny’s future, however, will extend beyond finances. I want him to see what perseverance looks like. I want him to understand that success does not always happen in a straight line and that a delayed goal is not a defeated goal. When he watches me attend class, study after a full workday, ask for help, and continue even when the process is difficult, he is learning that his dreams are worth working for too. My ambition is not based only on the title I hope to earn or the positions I may hold. It is rooted in the life I want to build and the example I want to leave. I want to become the first person in my family to earn a college degree, continue serving my community at a higher level, and create a new educational legacy for my son. This scholarship would not remove every challenge of being a student and a single parent, but it would make those challenges more manageable. It would help transform my determination into completion and allow me to move closer to a future in which both my son and I can see the lasting results of refusing to give up.

Community has shaped every part of who I am. As a lifelong Akron resident, I have been supported, encouraged, and challenged by people who believed in me. Their investment taught me that strong communities do not happen by accident. They are built when people deliberately give their time, share their knowledge, create opportunities, and make others feel that they belong. Some of my most meaningful community service has centered on young people. I founded the Firestone Dance and Step Team and volunteered as its head coach for nearly 15 years. During that time, I had the opportunity to mentor more than 300 Akron youth. Coaching was about much more than teaching routines or preparing for performances. I worked to create a supportive environment where young people could build confidence, learn discipline, develop leadership skills, and know that an adult genuinely cared about their success. I encouraged my students to take their education seriously, hold themselves accountable, work as a team, and recognize their own potential. I also supported them through personal challenges and important transitions. Watching young people grow into confident adults, college students, professionals, parents, and community leaders has been one of the greatest rewards of my life. That experience taught me that mentorship is not always about having the perfect advice. Often, it is about being consistent, listening without judgment, and continuing to show up. Since 2023, I have served as President of the Akron Urban League Young Professionals. Through this organization, I help create opportunities for young adults to grow professionally, serve their community, and become more civically engaged. Our members have volunteered with local shelters, supported youth programs, participated in voter education and registration efforts, and organized events focused on leadership, financial empowerment, advocacy, and community connection. I am proud that our work not only addresses immediate needs but also helps people recognize their ability to create lasting change. My commitment to service is also reflected in my church, where I play the piano and use music to support worship and fellowship. My faith has taught me that service should be rooted in compassion, humility, and love. Whether I am playing during a church service, mentoring a young person, helping a resident connect with local resources, or creating space for emerging leaders, I try to make people feel seen and valued. In my professional life, I work in the City of Akron Mayor’s Office and focus on community relations, public engagement, partnerships, and youth leadership. Although this is my career, I view it as another expression of service. I work to make government feel more accessible and ensure that residents have meaningful opportunities to share their voices. The good I have contributed to my community cannot be measured by one event, award, or position. I believe it is reflected in the relationships I have built and the people I have encouraged along the way. My goal is not simply to serve people, but to help them recognize their own power to lead, contribute, and strengthen the communities they call home. As a first-generation college student, I'm excited to finally finish my undergraduate and show everyone that all things are possible with hard work, dedication and positivity.

Being a first generation college student means carrying a dream that is bigger than me. It means pursuing something no one in my family has done before and understanding that earning my degree will not only change my life, but also create a new example for my son and for the generations that come after me. My path to a college degree has not been traditional. I began college years ago with ambition, but without a clear roadmap for navigating higher education. Over time, financial challenges, work responsibilities, family obligations, and life circumstances made it difficult to continue. I stepped away from school, but I never stopped believing that I would return. During that time, I continued to grow. I became a mother, built a career in public service, and learned how to lead through challenges that once would have overwhelmed me. I made history as the first African American Clerk of Council for Summit County Council and continued my career in local government, advocacy, and community engagement. Today, I work in the City of Akron Mayor’s Office, where I have the opportunity to help connect residents with their government, strengthen community partnerships, support youth leadership, and create opportunities for people to have a voice in decisions that affect their lives. I have also been fortunate to serve in leadership roles in my community and receive recognition for my work. Those accomplishments mean a great deal to me, but they have also reminded me that there is still one important promise I need to keep to myself: finishing my degree. I am now back at the University of Akron with a clearer sense of purpose than I had when I first started. I am pursuing studies connected to Applied Political Communication and Criminal Justice because they complement the work I am already doing and the career I want to continue building. My long term goal is to remain in public service and grow into leadership positions where I can help shape policy, strengthen communities, and create pathways for young people and others who may not always see themselves represented in positions of influence. What drives me most is my son. I want him to see that setbacks are not the end of the story. I want him to understand that perseverance sometimes means having the courage to return, begin again, and finish what you started. This scholarship would help relieve the financial burden of returning to school while supporting my family and working full time. More importantly, it would help move me closer to completing a goal that has remained in my heart for years. I am not returning to college because my journey has been perfect. I am returning because I have learned, grown, and refused to give up on the life I know I am capable of building. Earning my degree would be both a personal victory and the beginning of a new legacy for my family.

My story is one of perseverance, public service, and returning to finish what I started. I am a lifelong Akron resident, first generation college student, single mother, and public servant. My path to a college degree has not been traditional. I began college years ago, but life, work, financial responsibilities, and family obligations eventually pulled me away from the classroom. For a long time, completing my degree remained something I hoped to return to someday. While my academic journey was paused, my professional journey continued to grow. I built a career in government, community engagement, advocacy, and public service. I made history as the first African American Clerk of Council for Summit County Council and later continued my work in local government. Today, I serve in the City of Akron Mayor's Office, where my work focuses on community relations, public engagement, partnerships, boards and commissions, and youth leadership. Outside of my professional role, I serve as President of the Akron Urban League Young Professionals and on the boards of the Greater Akron Chamber and the Akron Urban League. I have also been fortunate to receive recognition for my leadership and community service, including the Greater Akron Chamber's 30 For the Future Award, the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, and recognition in Who's Who in Black Cleveland. These experiences have shown me that my professional growth did not stop simply because I had not yet completed my degree. At the same time, they have made me understand even more clearly why finishing is important. I am now returning to the University of Akron to complete my bachelor's degree, with approximately 30 credits remaining. My studies are focused in areas connected to Applied Political Communication and Criminal Justice, which directly complement the work I already do. I want to strengthen my practical experience with a stronger academic foundation so that I can continue advancing into leadership roles where I can influence policy, develop community centered initiatives, and help make government more accessible and responsive to residents. Receiving this scholarship would have a direct impact on my ability to reach those goals. As a working single mother, returning to college requires balancing tuition and educational expenses with the everyday responsibilities of providing for my family. Financial assistance would reduce that burden and allow me to focus more fully on completing my remaining coursework successfully. This scholarship would also represent an investment in work that I am already committed to continuing. My long term goal is to build a career that strengthens communities, creates opportunities for others, and develops the next generation of leaders. I am especially passionate about helping young people understand that they have a place in government, civic leadership, and decision making. Completing my degree will not be the beginning of my commitment to service. It will strengthen a commitment that has already shaped my career. Most importantly, earning my bachelor's degree will allow me to create a new educational legacy for my family. I want my son to see that setbacks do not determine the ending of your story and that it is never too late to return to a goal with greater purpose. This scholarship would help me turn an unfinished chapter into a completed milestone and give me an even stronger foundation to continue serving, leading, and making a meaningful difference in my community.

Being the first person in my family to obtain a college degree would mean more to me than earning a credential. It would represent perseverance, growth, and the fulfillment of a goal that has followed me through many different seasons of my life. As a first generation college student, I did not always have a clear roadmap for navigating higher education. My journey has not been traditional or linear. I began college years ago, but life, work, family responsibilities, and financial challenges interrupted my path. Even though I stepped away from the classroom, I continued to grow professionally and personally. I built a career in public service, became a mother, developed as a leader, and gained experiences that ultimately gave me an even greater appreciation for the value of education. Returning to college now is deeply meaningful because I understand exactly why I am there. At the University of Akron, I am pursuing a General Studies degree with concentrations related to Applied Political Communication and Criminal Justice. These areas of study connect directly with the work I have already spent much of my career doing. I currently work in local government, where my responsibilities center on community relations, public engagement, partnerships, leadership development, and helping residents connect with their government. I have also worked in county government, political organizing, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. My education will allow me to strengthen the practical experience I have gained throughout my career with a stronger academic foundation. I want to better understand how policy, communication, government, and community engagement intersect and how those systems can be used to improve people's lives. My long term goals are centered on leadership and public service. I hope to continue advancing into positions where I can influence policy, develop programs, build stronger community partnerships, and help create more responsive and accessible government institutions. I am particularly passionate about creating opportunities for young people and individuals who may not traditionally see themselves represented in leadership. I also want to continue mentoring emerging leaders and helping others understand that there are many pathways to success. My own journey has taught me that progress does not always happen according to a perfect timeline. Becoming the first person in my family to graduate from college would also allow me to set an example for my son. I want him to understand that education is valuable, but I also want him to see what perseverance looks like. I want him to know that a setback does not disqualify you from achieving a goal and that it is never too late to return to something important. Ultimately, earning my degree will represent both a personal accomplishment and a foundation for what comes next. It will allow me to honor the sacrifices that made my journey possible, create a new educational legacy for my family, and continue building a career dedicated to serving others. I may be the first in my family to earn a college degree, but one of my greatest hopes is that because I finished, I will not be the last.

I am a lifelong Akron resident, first generation college student, single mother, public servant, and community advocate. Much of my career has been shaped by a simple belief: people should feel seen, heard, and connected to the institutions that make decisions affecting their everyday lives. My professional journey has allowed me to serve my community in several different ways. I currently work in the City of Akron Mayor's Office, where my focus includes community relations, public engagement, partnerships, boards and commissions, and youth leadership. Before that, I made history as the first African American Clerk of Council for Summit County Council. I have also worked in political organizing and community engagement, helping connect elected officials, grassroots leaders, organizations, and residents with the resources and information they need to participate more fully in civic life. Outside of my professional role, I have continued to invest in leadership and service. I serve as President of the Akron Urban League Young Professionals and on the boards of the Greater Akron Chamber and the Akron Urban League. Through these experiences, I have had opportunities to support young professionals, encourage civic participation, strengthen community partnerships, and advocate for greater access to leadership opportunities. I have also been fortunate to receive recognition for my work, including the Greater Akron Chamber's 30 For the Future Award, the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, and recognition in Who's Who in Black Cleveland. While I am grateful for these honors, the most meaningful measure of success to me is whether my work creates opportunities for someone else. That is the impact I hope to continue making through my career. I want to help build communities where residents understand that their voices matter and where government is not something that feels distant or inaccessible. I am especially passionate about creating opportunities for young people to engage with local government and leadership early in their lives. When young people can see themselves in public service, understand how decisions are made, and know that they have the ability to influence their communities, we begin developing the next generation of informed and compassionate leaders. I also want my career to demonstrate that effective public service requires more than good policy. It requires listening, relationship building, trust, communication, and a willingness to bring people with different experiences together around common goals. Completing my bachelor's degree is an important part of that vision. My studies in areas connected to political communication, public policy, and criminal justice will strengthen the practical knowledge I have gained through years of professional experience. I hope to continue growing into positions where I can shape policy, develop community centered initiatives, mentor emerging leaders, and help make public institutions more responsive to the people they serve. Ultimately, I do not measure my goals only by the positions I hope to hold. I want my career to leave people and communities stronger than I found them. If my work helps someone feel that they belong, gives a young person the confidence to lead, creates a pathway that did not exist before, or helps a resident believe that their voice truly matters, then I will know I am making a positive impact on the world.