I have wanted to be a Funeral Director/Mortician for the past several years. It’s not a job that many people are willing to consider. However, it is one of the careers that requires the most compassion. It’s also a career that requires a unique combination of skills and strengths, that not everyone brings. Being a Funeral Director requires a significant amount of knowledge in the area of science. To embalm a deceased body, it requires extensive training and knowledge in anatomy, biology, and chemistry. The training required to become a Funeral Director is an Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Sciences, which includes several classes in Chemistry and Biological Sciences, relating to the human body. After completing the Associate’s Degree, an additional year in a Mortuary Science Program is required. This is where specific training in embalming and cremation occurs. A career as a Funeral Director also requires skills in the area of the Arts. A Funeral Director has to be able to reconstruct the face of a deceased individual if trauma occurs. It’s very important that the individual looks like themselves when their loved ones are mourning them. I have won several awards in the last 4 years for my art so I’m confident that I have the skills needed to honor the deceased individual in the most authentic way. Lastly, being a Funeral Director requires compassion for the deceased individual and also for their friends and family. I am a very compassionate person who has dedicated many hours in the last several years volunteering to support homeless individuals and individuals with special needs. I have also volunteered at a funeral home helping families during viewings and services. I value all people and believe that all people deserve dignity and respect. This belief system will carry over as a Funeral Director because I will show respect to all of the deceased individuals and their families despite their nationality, cultural beliefs, income, or abilities. My ultimate goal is to run my own business by owning a funeral home. I also want to mentor other future female Funeral Directors. There aren’t many female Funeral Directors nationally or locally. I want to contribute to changing this by educating, recruiting, and mentoring potential Funeral Directors as I become established. This is a very important career and there is a shortage of Funeral Directors, so it’s important to me that I also contribute to growing the field. I am a proud female with Autism who has had to overcome some traumatic experiences in my life. I have been a victim of severe bullying and abuse at the hands of my peers. These experiences have given me the desire to dedicate my life serving my community. Honoring a deceased individual and supporting their loved ones during one of the most difficult times of their lives is one way that I can give back to my community.

I have wanted to be a Funeral Director/Mortician for the past five years. It’s a career that requires a unique combination of skills and strengths, that not everyone has. It requires strengths in science, art, people skills, and compassion. My goal to become a Funeral Director was developed when I realized I have this unique combination of skills. I have the desire to help people during the hardest time of their life. To become a Funeral Director, I will need an Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Science. After I finish the required credits, I will enroll in a Mortuary Science Program that takes a year to complete. While in the Mortuary Science Program, I’ll need to be employed at a Funeral Home so I can work as an Apprentice while in school. One thing that most people don’t know is that being a Funeral Director requires a significant amount of knowledge in science. To embalm a deceased body, extensive training and knowledge in anatomy and chemistry is required. The training required to become a Funeral Director is considered a skilled trade because it requires specialized training, especially in the science of embalming. A career as a Funeral Director also requires skills in the Arts. A Funeral Director must be able to reconstruct the face of a deceased individual if trauma occurs. It’s very important that the individual looks like themselves when their loved ones are mourning them. I have won several awards in the last 5 years for my art so I’m confident that I have the skills needed to honor the deceased individual the most authentically. Lastly, being a Funeral Director requires compassion for the deceased individual and their loved ones. I am a very compassionate person who has dedicated many hours in the last several years volunteering to support homeless individuals and individuals with special needs. I value all people and believe that all people deserve dignity and respect. This belief system will carry over as a Funeral Director because I will show respect to all deceased individuals and their families despite their nationality, cultural beliefs, income, abilities, or reason for death. I recognize that I’m not the student with the highest GPA or the student who has been involved in the most sports or school activities, but I am the student who wants to contribute positively to my community, and I have a clear plan for how I will accomplish that. I hope to be considered for a scholarship because I am choosing a career path that is unique yet necessary and one that not many people are interested in pursuing. The Funeral Director field is dominated by men, with few females interested. I am passionate about changing this trend. I am also a female on the Autism Spectrum who has worked very hard to accomplish my goals. I have experienced severe bullying and abuse from peers since I was young, because I was seen as different. These experiences have made me the caring and compassionate person that I am, and this fuels my passion for volunteer work and being an advocate for people who don’t have a voice. As I mentioned before, I have prioritized community service for the past 7 years. Although I have volunteered for different organizations, my passion is providing support to individuals with disabilities in my school and my community. I have volunteered more than 250 hours with organizations that support individuals with disabilities in the Omaha area, more than 160 hours with students with disabilities at my school, more than 50 hours with the Open Door Mission/Lydia House supporting individuals who are homeless, and more than 150 hours at a funeral home supporting grieving families. Volunteering has become such a passion of mine because it has healed me as much as it has helped others. I will continue to volunteer within my community as an adult and will ensure my children grow up with the same experiences and passion. In addition to contributing to my community as a Funeral Director and through community service, my future goals include mentoring other females with Autism and future female Funeral Directors. I will know that I have reached success when I am a licensed Funeral Director in my community, honoring the deceased and supporting their loved ones. Success for me will also mean that I’m mentoring other females in the funeral industry and/or with Autism and that I am continuing to volunteer in my community. Any amount of scholarship funds I receive will allow me to continue contributing to my community through mentorship and volunteer work while attending college. I’d prefer to work part-time to pay for college so I can continue to volunteer as well.

I have always felt different from others. I didn’t fit in with other kids and was often left out. Around age 8, I remember teaching myself how to act and what to say to other kids, by watching YouTube videos. This strategy was slightly effective in elementary years but by the time I reached middle school, I was pegged as the “weird kid.” The emotional and physical abuse I endured by other kids intensified. I believed every criticism I was told by my peers. I hated myself and thought I deserved the abuse. I was finally diagnosed with Autism at age 13. Although this explained why I always felt different, it gave me another reason to hate myself. Rather than telling my parents, teachers, or my therapist about the abuse, I kept it to myself for several years until it destroyed me. After multiple serious self-harm and suicide attempts, hospitalizations, and other self-destructive behaviors, I finally broke the silence and recognized that I needed help. I have dedicated the last two years to healing from the trauma I experienced. Loving myself will always be something I have to work toward, but I have made tremendous progress and I’m extremely proud of this! When I look in the mirror now, I see a resilient young lady who has overcome things that most adults haven’t even experienced. I see a proud female with Autism who has a beautiful brain and is intelligent in unique ways. I see a wonderfully compassionate person who dedicates many hours each month to volunteering with individuals with disabilities, because she knows what it’s like to feel unwanted and not have a voice. I would never wish these traumatic experiences on anyone, but I am able to reflect on these experiences and appreciate the impact they have had on developing me into a strong, resilient, and compassionate person. I know that I can survive hard things as they occur, because I have survived the worst of nightmares. I have learned to use positive coping strategies when stressed and to listen to my intuition when a situation appears to be dangerous. My childhood may have been taken from me, but I am confident that I’m prepared to be a fabulous adult who will contribute to my community. I have wanted to be a Funeral Director/Mortician for the past five years. It’s not a job that many people are willing to consider, however, it is one of the careers that requires the most compassion. It’s also a career that requires a unique combination of skills and strengths, that few people have. I am a very compassionate person who has dedicated many hours in the last several years volunteering to support homeless individuals and individuals with special needs. I have also volunteered at a funeral home helping families during viewings and services. I value all people and believe that all people deserve dignity and respect. This belief system will carry over as a Funeral Director because I will show respect to all deceased individuals and their families despite their nationality, cultural beliefs, income, abilities, or the reason for death. I want to contribute to my community by mentoring other future female Funeral Directors. I also want to be a positive mentor to other young females with Autism to help them see their differences as assets. Lastly, I plan to continue improving the lives of individuals who are homeless and individuals with special needs in my community. Volunteer work has been such a significant part of my life and my own healing, that I will surely continue this work.

My goal is to be a Funeral Director/Mortician. It’s not a career that many people are willing to consider, but one that is needed. It’s a career that requires a unique combination of skills and strengths, that not everyone brings. I recognized that I had this unique combination of skills when I was about 12 years old, and that’s when I knew this was what I wanted to do to contribute to my community. A career as a Funeral Director requires knowledge of the body and science such as chemistry and biology, art and reconstructive skills, and compassion. As a Funeral Director, you must have compassion for the deceased individual and their loved ones. I am a very compassionate person who has dedicated more than 600 hours in the last several years volunteering with individuals with disabilities and those who are homeless because I want to advocate for people without a voice. To prepare for this career, I have interviewed two female funeral directors in my town about the profession, especially as a female. I have volunteered approximately 150 hours at a funeral home helping families during viewings and services, to ensure this career will also be a passion. Thanks to my life experience as an individual with Autism who has experienced severe abuse by my peers for several years, I value all people and believe that all people deserve dignity and respect. This belief system will carry over as a Funeral Director because I will show respect to every one of the deceased individuals and their families despite their nationality, cultural beliefs, income, or abilities. To become a Funeral Director, I will need to take 60 college credits focusing heavily on the areas of science, psychology, and counseling. I am currently a senior in high school who is enrolled at the local community college. I have been taking college classes this year to jump start my program and take advantage of the free tuition for high school students. By the time I start as a freshman in college in August, I will have completed six courses and will save approximately $2,500 in tuition costs. The remainder of my associate’s degree will cost approximately $7,500 over two years. After I complete the 60 credits at the community college, I will attend the Mortuary Science program in Des Moines Iowa for a year to hone my skills as a mortician. This program will cost an additional $9,000. During this year-long program, I must work at a funeral home to gain applicable experience and will become an apprentice after the first six months. As an apprentice, I will spend another six months learning to prepare bodies through embalming and cremation. After the successful completion of the mortuary science program, I will pass the state board exam and finally become a Funeral Director. I plan to stay in the Omaha metro area as a Funeral Director so I can contribute to the community that has provided me so much support through hard times.

My favorite Olympic athlete is Jordan Larson. She is a four time Olympian and played for the USA Volleyball team. She has one Gold medal, 2 Silver medals, and one Bronze medal. Most importantly to me, Jordan Larson was a Husker in college. I grew up watching Jordan play volleyball for my favorite team, Nebraska Cornhuskers. I grew up in Nebraska as a volleyball player and Jordan Larson was a role model for me. I watched every one of her college and Olympic volleyball games. Now, I get to watch her coach the Nebraska volleyball team. She is such an inspiration to the Nebraska volleyball players and many of them credit her for their success. I'm so impressed by her professionalism, her dedication to the sport, her commitment to Nebraska and to the USA, and her motivation. I believe that one day Jordan Larson will be the head coach of a college volleyball team. If I had my wish, she will be the head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers because she is seen as a goddess in Nebraska and every little girl in our state looks up to her. Girls need positive role models that are in sports and who are active and who are respected. These are the reasons that Jordan Larson is my favorite Team USA athlete.

I have always felt different from others. I didn’t fit in with other kids and was often left out. Around age 8, I remember teaching myself how to act and what to say to other kids, by watching YouTube videos. This strategy was slightly effective in elementary years but by the time I reached middle school, I was pegged as the “weird kid.” The emotional and physical abuse I endured by other kids intensified, and eventually included sexual abuse too. I believed every criticism I was told by my peers. For years, I believed that I was ugly with a lopsided face, square nose, hideous red hair, and a flat butt. I also believed I was stupid and unworthy to share my opinions. I hated myself and thought I deserved the abuse. I was finally diagnosed with Autism at age 13. Although this explained why I always felt different, it gave me another reason to hate myself. Rather than telling my parents, teachers, or my therapist about the abuse, I kept it to myself for several years until it destroyed me. After multiple serious self-harm and suicide attempts, hospitalizations, and other self-destructive behaviors, I finally broke the silence and recognized that I needed help. I have dedicated the last two years to healing from the trauma I experienced. Loving myself will always be something I have to work toward, but I have made tremendous progress and I’m extremely proud of this! When I look in the mirror now, I see a resilient young lady who has overcome things that most adults haven’t even experienced. I see a proud female with Autism who has a beautiful brain and is intelligent in unique ways. I see a wonderfully compassionate person who dedicates many hours each month to volunteering with individuals with disabilities, because she knows what it’s like to feel unwanted and not have a voice. I see beautiful red hair that is unique. I see a pretty girl with a few imperfections, but someone who cherishes her unique imperfections. Lastly, I see a girl who is happy to be alive and has so much to offer her community because of her experiences. I am not proud of the way I handled the traumatic experiences at the time, but I remind myself that I was a scared child who did the best she could. I would never wish these experiences on anyone nor wish they had happened to me, but I am able to reflect on these experiences and appreciate the impact they have had on developing me into a strong, resilient, and compassionate person. I know that I can survive hard things as they occur, because I have survived the worst of nightmares. I have learned to use positive coping strategies when stressed and to listen to my intuition when a situation appears to be dangerous. I prioritize weekly therapy to share my stressors and problem solve new strategies, I choose positive people to have in my life and no longer hold room for those who make me feel badly about myself, I prioritize taking my medication and attending my appointments to ensure that I can be my best self, and I catch when negative thoughts begin to intrude my life and remind myself how far I’ve come and how much I have to offer my community. My childhood may have been taken from me, but I am confident that I’m prepared to be a fabulous adult and that I have the strategies I need to recognize stressful situations and copy with them in positive ways.

I have wanted to be a Funeral Director/Mortician for the past several years. It’s not a job that many people are willing to consider. However, it is one of the careers that requires the most compassion. It’s also a career that requires a unique combination of skills and strengths, that not everyone brings. Being a Funeral Director requires a significant amount of knowledge in the area of science. To embalm a deceased body, it requires extensive training and knowledge in anatomy, biology, and chemistry. The training required to become a Funeral Director is an Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Sciences, which includes several classes in Chemistry and Biological Sciences, relating to the human body. After completing the Associate’s Degree, an additional year in a Mortuary Science Program is required. This is where specific training in embalming and cremation occurs. A career as a Funeral Director also requires skills in the area of the Arts. A Funeral Director has to be able to reconstruct the face of a deceased individual if trauma occurred. It’s very important that the individual looks like themselves when their loved ones are mourning them. I have won several awards in the last 4 years for my art so I’m confident that I have the skills needed to honor the deceased individual in the most authentic way. Lastly, being a Funeral Director requires compassion for the deceased individual and also for their friends and family. I am a very compassionate person who has dedicated many hours in the last several years volunteering to support homeless individuals and individuals with special needs. I have also volunteered at a funeral home helping families during viewings and services. I value all people and believe that all people deserve dignity and respect. This belief system will carry over as a Funeral Director because I will show respect to all of the deceased individuals and their families despite their nationality, cultural beliefs, income, or abilities. My ultimate goal is to run my own business by owning a funeral home. I also want to mentor other future female Funeral Directors. There aren’t many female Funeral Directors nationally or locally. I want to contribute to changing this by educating, recruiting, and mentoring potential Funeral Directors as I become established. This is a very important career and there is a shortage of Funeral Directors, so it’s important to me that I also contribute to growing the field. I am a proud female with Autism who has had to overcome some traumatic experiences in my life. I have been a victim of severe bullying and abuse at the hands of my peers. These experiences have given me the desire to dedicate my life serving my community. Honoring a deceased individual and supporting their loved ones during one of the most difficult times of their lives is one way that I can give back to my community. It would be an honor to be awarded this scholarship and support my community in Mr. Young’s name.

I have wanted to be a Funeral Director/Mortician for the past several years. It’s not a job that many people are willing to consider. However, it is one of the careers that requires the most compassion. It’s also a career that requires a unique combination of skills and strengths, that not everyone brings. Being a Funeral Director requires a significant amount of knowledge in the area of science. To embalm a deceased body, it requires extensive training and knowledge in anatomy, biology, and chemistry. The training required to become a Funeral Director is an Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Sciences, which includes 8 semester hours of Chemistry and 12 semester hours of Biological Sciences, relating to the human body. After completing the 60 credit hours in specific courses identified by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, an additional year in a Mortuary Science Program is required. This is where specific training in embalming and cremation occurs. I have always loved science and got an ACT score of 27 in the Science portion. A career as a Funeral Director also requires skills in the area of the Arts. A Funeral Director has to be able to reconstruct the face of a deceased individual if trauma occurred. It’s very important that the individual looks like themselves when their loved ones are mourning them. I have won several awards in the last 4 years for my art so I’m confident that I have the skills needed to honor the deceased individual in the most authentic way. Lastly, being a Funeral Director requires compassion for the deceased individual and also for their friends and family. I am a very compassionate person who has dedicated many hours in the last several years volunteering to support homeless individuals and individuals with special needs. I have also volunteered at a funeral home helping families during viewings and services. I value all people and believe that all people deserve dignity and respect. This belief system will carry over as a Funeral Director because I will show respect to all of the deceased individuals and their families despite their nationality, cultural beliefs, income, or abilities. My ultimate goal is to run my own business by owning a funeral home. I also want to mentor other future female Funeral Directors. There aren’t many female Funeral Directors nationally or locally. I want to contribute to changing this by educating, recruiting, and mentoring potential Funeral Directors as I become established. This is a very important career and there is a shortage of Funeral Directors, so it’s very important to me that I also contribute to growing the field. I’m not sure if being a funeral director/mortician is considered a trade, but it’s a career field that doesn’t nicely fit in any of the career type boxes. Although some college courses are required before entering a mortuary program, the year-long mortuary program offered at Des Moines Area Community College more closely resembles a trade program. I am a proud female with Autism who has had to overcome some traumatic experiences in my life. From the ages of 7 to 15, I have been a victim of severe bullying and abuse at the hands of my peers. These experiences have given me the desire to dedicate my life serving my community. Honoring a deceased individual and supporting their loved ones during one of the most difficult times of their lives is one way that I can give back to my community. It would be an honor to be awarded this scholarship.

I have wanted to be a Funeral Director/Mortician for the past several years. It’s not a job that many people are willing to consider. However, it is one of the careers that requires the most compassion. It’s also a career that requires a unique combination of skills and strengths, that not everyone brings. Being a Funeral Director requires a significant amount of knowledge in the area of science. To embalm a deceased body, it requires extensive training and knowledge in anatomy, biology, and chemistry. The training required to become a Funeral Director is an Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Sciences, which includes 8 semester hours of Chemistry and 12 semester hours of Biological Sciences, relating to the human body. After completing the 60 credit hours in specific courses identified by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, an additional year in a Mortuary Science Program is required. This is where specific training in embalming and cremation occurs. I have always loved science and got an ACT score of 27 in the Science portion. A career as a Funeral Director also requires skills in the area of the Arts. A Funeral Director has to be able to reconstruct the face of a deceased individual if trauma occurred. It’s very important that the individual looks like themselves when their loved ones are mourning them. I have won several awards in the last 4 years for my art so I’m confident that I have the skills needed to honor the deceased individual in the most authentic way. Lastly, being a Funeral Director requires compassion for the deceased individual and also for their friends and family. I am a very compassionate person who has dedicated many hours in the last several years volunteering to support homeless individuals and individuals with special needs. I have also volunteered at a funeral home helping families during viewings and services. I value all people and believe that all people deserve dignity and respect. This belief system will carry over as a Funeral Director because I will show respect to all of the deceased individuals and their families despite their nationality, cultural beliefs, income, or abilities. My ultimate goal is to run my own business by owning a funeral home. I also want to mentor other future female Funeral Directors. There aren’t many female Funeral Directors nationally or locally. I want to contribute to changing this by educating, recruiting, and mentoring potential Funeral Directors as I become established. This is a very important career and there is a shortage of Funeral Directors, so it’s very important to me that I also contribute to growing the field. I’m not sure if being a funeral director/mortician is considered a trade, but it’s a career field that doesn’t nicely fit in any of the career type boxes. Although some college courses are required before entering a mortuary program, the year-long mortuary program offered at Des Moines Area Community College more closely resembles a trade program. I am a proud female with Autism who has had to overcome some traumatic experiences in my life. From the ages of 7 to 15, I have been a victim of severe bullying and abuse at the hands of my peers. These experiences have given me the desire to dedicate my life serving my community. Honoring a deceased individual and supporting their loved ones during one of the most difficult times of their lives is one way that I can give back to my community. It would be an honor to be awarded this scholarship and to support my community in Rod’s name.

I have wanted to be a Funeral Director/Mortician for the past several years. It’s not a job that many people are willing to consider. However, it is one of the careers that requires the most compassion. It’s also a career that requires a unique combination of skills and strengths, that not everyone brings. Being a Funeral Director requires a significant amount of knowledge in the area of science. To embalm a deceased body, it requires extensive training and knowledge in anatomy, biology, and chemistry. The training required to become a Funeral Director is an Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Sciences, which includes 8 semester hours of Chemistry and 12 semester hours of Biological Sciences, relating to the human body. After completing the 60 credit hours in specific courses identified by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, an additional year in a Mortuary Science Program is required. This is where specific training in embalming and cremation occurs. I have always loved science and got an ACT score of 27 in the Science portion. A career as a Funeral Director also requires skills in the area of the Arts. A Funeral Director has to be able to reconstruct the face of a deceased individual if trauma occurred. It’s very important that the individual looks like themselves when their loved ones are mourning them. I have won several awards in the last 4 years for my art so I’m confident that I have the skills needed to honor the deceased individual in the most authentic way. Lastly, being a Funeral Director requires compassion for the deceased individual and also for their friends and family. I am a very compassionate person who has dedicated many hours in the last several years volunteering to support homeless individuals and individuals with special needs. I have also volunteered at a funeral home helping families during viewings and services. I value all people and believe that all people deserve dignity and respect. This belief system will carry over as a Funeral Director because I will show respect to all of the deceased individuals and their families despite their nationality, cultural beliefs, income, or abilities. My ultimate goal is to run my own business by owning a funeral home. I also want to mentor other future female Funeral Directors. There aren’t many female Funeral Directors nationally or locally. I want to contribute to changing this by educating, recruiting, and mentoring potential Funeral Directors as I become established. This is a very important career and there is a shortage of Funeral Directors, so it’s very important to me that I also contribute to growing the field. I’m not sure if being a funeral director/mortician is considered a trade, but it’s a career field that doesn’t nicely fit in any of the career type boxes. Although some college courses are required before entering a mortuary program, the year-long mortuary program offered at Des Moines Area Community College more closely resembles a trade program. I am a proud female with Autism who has had to overcome some traumatic experiences in my life. From the ages of 7 to 15, I have been a victim of severe bullying and abuse at the hands of my peers. These experiences have given me the desire to dedicate my life serving my community. Honoring a deceased individual and supporting their loved ones during one of the most difficult times of their lives is one way that I can give back to my community. It would be an honor to be awarded this scholarship and to support my community in Russell Koci’s name.

I have wanted to be a Funeral Director/Mortician for the past several years. It’s not a job that many people are willing to consider. However, it is one of the careers that requires the most compassion. It’s also a career that requires a unique combination of skills and strengths, that not everyone brings. Being a Funeral Director requires a significant amount of knowledge in the area of science. To embalm a deceased body, it requires extensive training and knowledge in anatomy, biology, and chemistry. The training required to become a Funeral Director is an Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Sciences, which includes 8 semester hours of Chemistry and 12 semester hours of Biological Sciences, relating to the human body. After completing the 60 credit hours in specific courses identified by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, an additional year in a Mortuary Science Program is required. This is where specific training in embalming and cremation occurs. I have always loved science and got an ACT score of 27 in the Science portion. A career as a Funeral Director also requires skills in the area of the Arts. A Funeral Director has to be able to reconstruct the face of a deceased individual if trauma occurred. It’s very important that the individual looks like themselves when their loved ones are mourning them. I have won several awards in the last 4 years for my art so I’m confident that I have the skills needed to honor the deceased individual in the most authentic way. Lastly, being a Funeral Director requires compassion for the deceased individual and also for their friends and family. I am a very compassionate person who has dedicated many hours in the last several years volunteering to support homeless individuals and individuals with special needs. I have also volunteered at a funeral home helping families during viewings and services. I value all people and believe that all people deserve dignity and respect. This belief system will carry over as a Funeral Director because I will show respect to all of the deceased individuals and their families despite their nationality, cultural beliefs, income, or abilities. My ultimate goal is to run my own business by owning a funeral home. I also want to mentor other future female Funeral Directors. There aren’t many female Funeral Directors nationally or locally. I want to contribute to changing this by educating, recruiting, and mentoring potential Funeral Directors as I become established. This is a very important career and there is a shortage of Funeral Directors, so it’s very important to me that I also contribute to growing the field. I’m not sure if being a funeral director/mortician is considered a trade, but it’s a career field that doesn’t nicely fit in any of the career type boxes. Although some college courses are required before entering a mortuary program, the year-long mortuary program offered at Des Moines Area Community College more closely resembles a trade program. I am a proud female with Autism who has had to overcome some traumatic experiences in my life. From the ages of 7 to 15, I have been a victim of severe bullying and abuse at the hands of my peers. These experiences have given me the desire to dedicate my life serving my community. Honoring a deceased individual and supporting their loved ones during one of the most difficult times of their lives is one way that I can give back to my community. It would be an honor to be awarded this scholarship and to support my community in Bob Gana’s name.

I have wanted to be a Funeral Director/Mortician for the past several years. It’s not a job that many people are willing to consider. However, it is one of the careers that requires the most compassion. It’s also a career that requires a unique combination of skills and strengths, that not everyone brings. Being a Funeral Director requires a significant amount of knowledge in the area of science. To embalm a deceased body, it requires extensive training and knowledge in anatomy, biology, and chemistry. The training required to become a Funeral Director is an Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Sciences, which includes 8 semester hours of Chemistry and 12 semester hours of Biological Sciences, relating to the human body. After completing the 60 credit hours in specific courses identified by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, an additional year in a Mortuary Science Program is required. This is where specific training in embalming and cremation occurs. I have always loved science and got an ACT score of 27 in the Science portion. A career as a Funeral Director also requires skills in the area of the Arts. A Funeral Director has to be able to reconstruct the face of a deceased individual if trauma occurred. It’s very important that the individual looks like themselves when their loved ones are mourning them. I have won several awards in the last 4 years for my art so I’m confident that I have the skills needed to honor the deceased individual in the most authentic way. Lastly, being a Funeral Director requires compassion for the deceased individual and also for their friends and family. I am a very compassionate person who has dedicated many hours in the last several years volunteering to support homeless individuals and individuals with special needs. I have also volunteered at a funeral home helping families during viewings and services. I value all people and believe that all people deserve dignity and respect. This belief system will carry over as a Funeral Director because I will show respect to all of the deceased individuals and their families despite their nationality, cultural beliefs, income, or abilities. My ultimate goal is to run my own business by owning a funeral home. I also want to mentor other future female Funeral Directors. There aren’t many female Funeral Directors nationally or locally. I want to contribute to changing this by educating, recruiting, and mentoring potential Funeral Directors as I become established. This is a very important career and there is a shortage of Funeral Directors, so it’s very important to me that I also contribute to growing the field. I’m not sure if being a funeral director/mortician is considered a trade, but it’s a career field that doesn’t nicely fit in any of the career type boxes. Although some college courses are required before entering a mortuary program, the year-long mortuary program offered at Des Moines Area Community College more closely resembles a trade program. I am a proud female with Autism who has had to overcome some traumatic experiences in my life. From the ages of 7 to 15, I have been a victim of severe bullying and abuse at the hands of my peers. These experiences have given me the desire to dedicate my life serving my community. Honoring a deceased individual and supporting their loved ones during one of the most difficult times of their lives is one way that I can give back to my community. It would be an honor to be awarded this scholarship and to support my community in Colton’s name.