I am a current junior at the UNLV Honors College. I will be taking the LSAT this year. After I receive my Bachelor's Degree, I would like to attend the Boyd Law School. I would then like to become a certified lawyer in Nevada. As I have a minor in Communication Advocacy at UNLV, I would like to use this minor and my law degree to become a public servant. I aim to have a career as a public defender here in Las Vegas. I think it is very important that everyone get the representation they deserve, no matter of their class or financial status. I see it as more than just a profession, but as a commitment to being an advocate for people who may find themselves lacking the resources to secure legal representation. In a male dominated field, I want to be a role model for women. I am the current Vice President of my sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, and being in this role has taught me so much about being a strong, professional, woman. Our alumnae chapter has several attorneys who show their support and have inspired me on this journey. Specifically, Ms. Rosa. Ms. Rosa is an attorney and is the president of our local Alumnae Chapter. She has been a big inspiration to me as we attend a ZTA Leadership Convention together in Indianapolis. She told me about her experience attending Boyd Law School, and I aspire to be as successful as her. She now works for Boyd Gaming, and she is an amazing woman. I am lucky to have a mentor like her. By taking on this role, I see myself as a catalyst for positive change, contributing to a legal system that is more equitable and just. I aspire to be a voice for the underrepresented and marginalized, challenging biases and advocating for fairness within the legal system. Working as a public defender is not just about winning cases. It is about dismantling barriers and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, receives equal treatment. Staying involved and engaging with the community is an integral part of my vision. Public defenders often play a role in outreach, education, and advocacy. By actively participating in these efforts, I aim to contribute to a better understanding of legal rights and empower individuals to navigate the legal system with confidence. My aspiration to become a public defender is rooted in a genuine desire to contribute to a more just and equal society. I am excited about the prospect of championing justice, upholding constitutional rights, and making a positive impact on the lives of those who need it most.

As a current vocal performance major, my voice means everything to me. Being involved in so many activities, like a sorority and the honors college, my voice is an important part of my leadership positions and life overall. I am a social butterfly and communicate much more than the average person. However, to me my voice means so much more than being a leader. Learning how to use my voice through activities as well as sports my whole life transferred over to my musical career. I started offering my talents to other events; asking to sing the national anthem, singing at weddings, country clubs, sports events, etc. I even started getting paid recently and it felt so good to be pursuing a creative career professionally. I currently hold a leadership position on the UNLV Choir Executive Board. Being so heavily involved in my high school choir program is what has kept me so involved in the arts today. I led warmups consistently, thrived in AP music theory, and my hard work paid off by getting a place into the top UNLV choir my freshman year. Music has quickly become my life. It is what I am studying, what I am passionate about, how I make an income, and how I keep myself happy and persistent. My sister is also in choir and going to college next year as a music major. We have grown an unbreakable bond over our common ground in music. There is no competition, just passion. She plays my parts for me when I am introducing new music into my repertoire, practices for auditions with me, and is always there for me when I want a partner to sing with. Music has brought us together in a way other siblings don’t receive the privilege of. We have intelligent conversations that no one else in our family understands, growing our respect and relationship with each other. On one occasion, I sang the national anthem at a car show and a retired marine came up to me with tears in his eyes. The man told me he hadn’t heard anything like it before. It is indescribable the feeling you get from making the people around you emotional from your music. People like him are the reason I enjoy what I do so much. Knowing it has a positive effect on others is the best reward there could be. Music has taught me how to manage my time and conflicts as well as have self-discipline. It is something I think everyone should learn so they get the characteristics that come from hard work and joy when it all pays off. I have had several teachers who I will never forget, who truly changed my life. The relationships I have made are irreplaceable and one of a kind. I would not be the person I am today without music. I would be lost, and unhappy without my passion.

As a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, the UNLV Honors College, and the UNLV choir, I actively engage with my peers and strive to assume leadership roles in each of these groups. Within my sorority, I currently hold dual positions as the Recording Secretary and Alumnae Relations Chair. I have held several positions since my freshman year. Our organization which is centered around sisterhood, philanthropy, and service, provides a unique platform for me to support and positively impact women in their respective communities. Participating in these extracurricular activities not only aligns with my personal interests but also contributes to my long-term career and life goals. My dedication is clear through my involvement in various leadership roles, which did not begin in college. From varsity cheerleading for four years and serving as the Vice President of my high school choir to holding the position of the student body social chair in the student council during my junior and senior years, I have displayed commitment and interest in being an active student and leader among my peers. My passion for community engagement is reflected in my commitment to my sorority's philanthropy, Breast Cancer Education and Awareness. Collaborating with strong, passionate, and intelligent women, we successfully raise substantial funds through organized fundraisers and events each semester. I am a pre-law student majoring in vocal performance with a minor in public communication. I am committed to pursuing a career as a public defender after completing law school. I view this role as a critical public-service position that ensures everyone, regardless of their class or social standing, has the right to representation and justice. Recognizing the importance of effective leadership in legal settings, I believe my experiences in extracurricular activities and my commitment to discipline will be valuable assets in my future role as a public defender. Building strong relationships with clients and working collaboratively within legal teams will be essential aspects of my advocacy. I am driven by the belief that every individual deserves fair representation, and I aspire to bring justice to those in need. As I progress in my education and plan for the future, my goal is to remain actively involved in my community and serve as a role model. I am confident that my leadership skills will contribute to my success and effectiveness not only as a peer, student, and daughter but also as a future attorney dedicated to promoting justice and equality.

As a member of UNLV's Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority with our chosen philanthropy being Breast Cancer Awareness, I strive to help women suffering from this disease. We are an organization that promotes sisterhood, philanthropy, and service. Being a part of this extracurricular gives me a unique opportunity to support women and make a positive impact on their communities. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. It is estimated that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. This means that breast cancer affects a significant number of people, and supporting breast cancer awareness can help raise awareness about the disease and its impact on women's lives. As an avidly involved member of my school and community, I have demonstrated dependability, service leadership and patriotism in many ways. I was on the varsity cheerleading team, and choir all 4 years of high school. I now sing in two ensembles at UNLV. I also received an honors award for having a 4.0 gpa all 4 years of high school. Since my sophomore year, I have been a section leader in both the top choir and concert choir. Last year, I was awarded for being a 4 year member of the CCSD District Honor Choir. My senior year I acted as the first vice president of my school choirs. I was also a student body officer in my student council and was on the stage at my graduation. Being on the varsity cheer team since my freshman year, I have also received the student athlete certificate every year. Being in the student council, I was constantly staying after school to plan fundraisers, make decorations, help the administration, etc. We did work to thank the military and healthcare workers, as well as put on events like sandwich making fundraisers for the homeless. As a member of the top choir, we caroled every year outside of school at care centers. We also perform at community events and middle and elementary schools. This continues on in my college choir participation. As a member of the varsity cheer team for the last four years, we avidly performed at community events, fundraisers, games, and pep rallies. Being involved in these extracurriculars gives me opportunity after opportunity to help those in need and do community service after school. I continue to display these traits in my college career while taking 15 credits and maintaining straight As at the honors college for my first semester. I enjoy being a part of these activities that give me the opportunity to exhibit these characteristics. Being in the student council, I am constantly staying after school to plan fundraisers, make decorations, help the administration, etc. We do work to thank the military and healthcare workers, as well as put on events like sandwich making fundraisers for the homeless. As a member of the top choir, we carol every year outside of school at care centers. We also perform at community events and middle and elementary schools. As a member of the varsity cheer team for the last four years, we avidly perform at community events, fundraisers, games, and pep rallies. Being involved in these extracurriculars gives me opportunity after opportunity to help those in need and do community service after school. I want to use all of these skills to stay involved in my community during my career. I am currently a pre-law student, with a minor in public communication and advocacy. I want to be a public defender and help those in need, because everyone deserves representation, no matter their status in society.

As a vocal performance major, my voice means everything to me. I am involved in several activities, like a sorority and the honors college, so my voice is an important part of my leadership positions and life overall. However, my voice means so much more to me than being a leader. Learning how to use my voice through activities my whole life transferred over to my musical career. I started offering my talents to other events; asking to sing the national anthem, singing at weddings, country clubs, etc. I started getting paid recently and it felt amazing to be pursuing a creative career professionally. Coming from a working-class family, I have always had to pitch in and contribute to my household. Being able to help my family through my talents as I have become my serious has given me a feeling of success and freedom. I care significantly about my passions and want to put all of my possible efforts into pursuing my career in performance and studies. I have learned how to use both my gifts and talents to my advantage in performance and studying the musical field while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Music has quickly become my life. It is what I study, what I am passionate about, how I make an income, and how I keep myself happy. My sister is also in choir and in college as a music major. We have grown an unbreakable bond over our common ground in music. There is no competition, just passion. When we work together, we form strong emotional bond, build trust and collaboration, and create cherished memories. We love to make music together and work on our common passion. My grandpa had been struggling with a cancer battle for the last ten years. He got moved into hospice in February and passed away a year ago. My whole family was devastated, but we understand how hard his battle was and that he is finally at peace. My grandma was the most broken, and she asked my sister and I to perform his favorite song at his memorial. Learning Schubert's beautiful song, "Ave Maria" was the least my sister and I could do for my grandparents. The meaning of the Latin lyrics translate to "Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee." It was very difficult for my sister and I to think of my grandpa while we were singing this, but we learned to understand the piece is a celebration of life. This piece of work provides comfort and solace to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. It did just that for my family and I. It puts into words and music what I cannot express about my condolences. Singing Ave Maria with her will forever be a core memory in my life, and I will always have that memory when I hear that song. Not only does it remind me of my beloved grandpa, but of the passion my sister and I share. Sharing my passion and talents helps me form emotional connections, express myself, and connect with others. It is a deeply fulfilling experience for me that I do not earn from anything else. I love being able to share my passions with the world, and most importantly my family. This experience is exactly why I want to pursue a career in the arts. Being vulnerable and expressing my emotions through my talents gives me a feeling that I cannot find anywhere else. I want to provide this feeling for other people and allow them to share this deep experience.

As a practicing Christian, a woman in a sorority, a registered conservative, and an aspiring attorney, my faith is an integral part of my daily life. My faith consistency influences various aspects of my journey, being in a college environment that is not a religious majority. I seek guidance and strength through Christian values and align my actions with my religion. In my day-to-day life, I actively live out my faith through prayer and reflection, following Christian values and the Bible. I emphasize fostering meaningful relationships within my sorority of Zeta Tau Alpha, expressing compassion, and embodying Christian virtues in my interactions. Zeta Tau Alpha's creed aligns directly with the values of the Bible, reminding my sisters and I of what is expected of us. My commitment to kindness and empathy extends to advocating for pro-life values, engaging in discussions within my sorority, and participating in volunteer work with my Christian church, as well as our philanthropy of Breast Cancer Education and Awareness. My support for the pro-life cause is rooted in my Christian beliefs. As I am a firm believer for Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139, and Jeremiah 1:5, which all advocate for pro-life. My faith has significantly impacted my future goals and career path. As I aspire to be a practicing attorney, I am drawn to areas of law that align with my Christian beliefs. I envision a legal career with purpose, potentially working on pro-life cases or advocating for religious freedom. Ethical leadership is a cornerstone of my career aspirations, integrating Christian principles into my professional conduct and decision-making. Education is a powerful tool for enacting change, and I plan to leverage my legal education to delve into political discussions. My goal is to advocate for legislation that protects the pre-born life and fight for ethical practices within the legal system. Building a network of like-minded individuals will build my efforts in enacting positive change. My political engagement is an extension of my values. Actively educating myself and supporting conservative candidates are ways I express my commitment. I see politics as a platform to influence policies that align with my Christian beliefs, including those addressing pro-life issues. In summary, my faith is not just a personal belief system but a guiding force that shapes my interactions, career choices, and political engagement. It motivates me to actively contribute to positive change, protecting and upholding the sanctity of life at every stage.

As an avidly involved member of my school and community, I have demonstrated dependability, service leadership and patriotism in many ways. I was on the varsity cheerleading team, and choir all 4 years of high school. I now sing in two ensembles at UNLV, and am apart of the opera program. Now at my second year in college, I am in the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and our philanthropy is Breast Cancer Education and Awareness. We have already hosted several events for fundraising, including the Making Strides 5k Walk which we volunteer at every year. I maintain three leadership positions in my sorority, and I currently act as the secretary, banner chair, and alumnae relations chair. In high school, I received an honors award for having a 4.0 gpa all 4 years. As of my sophomore year, I was a section leader in both the top choir and concert choir. My senior year, I was awarded for being a 4 year member of the CCSD District Honor Choir. Also during my senior year I acted as the first vice president of my school choirs. I was also a student body officer in my student council and was on the stage at my graduation. Being on the varsity cheer team since my freshman year, I have also received the student athlete certificate every year. Being in the student council, I was constantly staying after school to plan fundraisers, make decorations, help the administration, etc. We did work to thank the military and healthcare workers, as well as put on events like sandwich making fundraisers for the homeless. As a member of the top choir, we caroled every year outside of school at care centers. We also perform at community events and middle and elementary schools. This continues on in my college choir participation. As a member of the varsity cheer team for the all four years, we avidly performed at community events, fundraisers, games, and pep rallies. Being involved in these extracurriculars gives me opportunity after opportunity to help those in need and do community service after school. I continue to display these traits in my college career while taking 21 credits and maintaining straight As at the honors college for my most recent semester. Overall, I have maintained a 3.8 GPA throughout college. I enjoy being a part of these activities that give me the opportunity to exhibit these characteristics. Any financial assistance I receive for my academics would be put to great use so I can keep my focus on my extracurriculars, helping my community, and remaining in good academic standing. Thank you for your consideration.

Reading about Catrina Celestine Aquilino was inspiring. It specifically touched my heart because I am a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, and our philanthropy is Breast Cancer Education and Awareness. My chapter alone raises thousands of dollars every year to help women in need. We are devoted to helping women until the statistic of one in eight women developing breast cancer becomes none in eight. I currently hold three leadership positions in Zeta, and it breaks my heart to hear of such an inspiring woman greatly affected by breast cancer. Catrina does nothing but motivate me more to become a public defender and help those in need. I plan to go alumni in my sorority chapter after I graduate so I can stay actively involved in my community and Breast Cancer Awareness for the rest of my life. As I hold a leadership position, I help to plan fundraisers, recruit girls to join our chapter, communicate with our alumni, and advocate consistently for Breast Cancer Awareness. As a first-generation college student, I am currently getting my undergraduate degree in music at the UNLV Honors College with a minor in philosophy of law, and I plan to attend law school after I graduate. I want to become a public defender to help the people who need it the most. I think everyone deserves a fair chance, in life overall, and especially within the justice system. I cannot imagine doing anything in my career other than helping those in desperate situations and being someone they can rely on without having to worry about money, debt, or education. I want to dedicate my life to working with disadvantaged members of society who need a representative. I currently sing in several UNLV ensembles, have a part-time job, am a full-time student, and am a leader in my sorority. Being the oldest child in my family, I learned to take on vital responsibilities and help out my parents whenever I can. My parents have shown their dedication time and time again to provide for my sister and I. I have picked up their traits of hard work and dedication and plan to use those characteristics to get me through secondary school. Receiving the Catrina Celestine Aquilino Memorial Scholarship will allow me to focus on my academics and make sure I am continuing my college career on the right path. As long as I do this, I can focus on my grades and extracarriculars to get into law school. I have worked hard to show that I am a dedicated student who does not get distracted easily. Any scholarship award that I receive would be carefully calculated to my college career expenses and managed with care. Thank you for your time and consideration in reviewing my candidacy for your scholarship. Thank you for sharing Catrina's story and allowing me to share her story with my chapter. Zeta Tau Alpha dedicates ourselves for women like Catrina, and her story is one of the many that keep us inspired. Reading her story has only assured me that I am on the right path in life, in school, and in my career.

Reading about the memory of Cheryl Twilley touched my heart. Being involved in a sorority that has Breast Cancer Awareness and Education as our philanthropy, I strive every day to help women, mothers, and sisters who need it. Every year, we raise thousands of dollars for women by hosting fundraisers, drives, and volunteering. Being a bigger part of my community has opened my eyes to how blessed I am even if it does not seem like it at times. I just finished my first year at UNLV as a vocal performance major with a business minor at the Honors College, and I plan to attend law school. I ended the year with a 3.8 GPA. I am a first-generation college student coming from a working-class family. My dad has been naturalized and is a first-generation American citizen. I maintained a 4.9 weighted and 3.9 unweighted high school GPA for four years while being a part of the student council, actively volunteering, being a varsity cheerleader, and singing in the choir. I was ranked 7/498 of my senior class. I now am in several ensembles at UNLV as well as Zeta Tau Alpha. This comes with doing multiple acts of community service a month, like putting on activities for the special needs students or making baskets for the military. I also work as a lifeguard on the weekends and babysit on the weekdays. I work in my short amount of spare time to help contribute to my household and pay for things like daily and monthly living expenses. While I work to contribute what I can, it is not enough​​ to cover my academic expenses on top of my personal expenses. Since being in the student council, I have constantly stayed after school to plan fundraisers, make decorations, help the administration, etc. We did work to thank the military and healthcare workers, as well as put on events like sandwich-making fundraisers for the homeless. As a member of the top choir in high school, we caroled every year outside of school at care centers. We also performed at community events and middle and elementary schools. While being on the cheer team for four years, we performed at community events, fundraisers, games, and pep rallies. Being involved in these extracurriculars gives me opportunity after opportunity to help those in need and do community service after school. Engaging in activities like this in high school is what made me want to pursue extracurriculars in college. As long as I know myself and others will help our community, I know I am a representative of socioeconomic adversity. Being the oldest child in my family, I learned to take on vital responsibilities and help out my parents whenever I can. My parents have shown their dedication time and time again to provide for my sister and I. I have picked up their traits of hard work and dedication and plan to use those characteristics to be the first in my family to get through secondary school. I want to prove to myself, my family, and everyone else that you do not need money to do it. Receiving the Cheryl Twilley Outreach Memorial Scholarship would allow me to focus on my academics and make sure I am continuing my college career on the right path. I have worked hard to show that I am a dedicated student who does not get distracted easily. Any scholarship award that I receive would be carefully calculated for my college career expenses and managed with care. Thank you for your time and consideration in reviewing my candidacy for your scholarship.

Coming from a working-class family, I have always had to pitch in and contribute to my household. I am choosing to major in vocal performance and minor in business law at the UNLV honors college, with plans to continue studying in graduate school. With twice as many classes as an average student, I will have little time to work while focusing on my education. I care significantly about my passions and want to put all of my possible efforts into pursuing my career in opera performance and studies. I have learned how to use both my gifts and talents to my advantage in musical performance and studying the musical field, while maintaining a 4.9 GPA in my core classes throughout high school. I ended my first year of college with a 3.8 GPA while taking 16-18 credits in both semesters. I took leadership roles in the choir my last two years of high school, including section leader and vice president of the choir program. I led warmups consistently, thrived in AP music theory, and my hard work paid off by getting a place in the top UNLV choir my freshman year this past fall. Music has quickly become my life. It is what I am studying, what I am passionate about, how I make an income, and how I keep myself happy and persistent. Music has shaped me into a brave person. Learning how to perform has taught me more about myself than anything I have ever done. I am so grateful I am lucky enough to study my passion and dedicate myself to it. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to put even more time into my studies. I have always been outgoing and enjoyed making myself as busy as possible. On top of my education, I am a member of UNLV's Zeta Tau Alpha, and several of the UNLV choir ensembles. I thoroughly enjoy participating in these activities, and I have already learned a lot in my first year of college. As of this past spring semester, I am Zeta Tau Alpha's banner chair and alumnae chair. Holding these leadership positions as a freshman immediately helped me grow into a more understanding, leaderly woman. I like to think being a part of these extracurricular activities and disciplining myself will help with my career and goals in the long run. As an overachiever who never quits or stops, I would not waste this scholarship opportunity. I would use the money for my honors college books and classes, and my sorority dues. It would allow me to focus less on work and making my monthly payments, and more on how I can maintain my grades and activities. Thank you for your consideration in this scholarship!

As an aspiring vocal performance major, my voice means everything to me. Being involved in so many activities, like a sorority and the honors college at UNLV, my voice is an important part of my leadership positions and life overall. I am a social butterfly and communicate much more than the average person. Being a part of these have already helped me to understand how I can give back to the community while making it a better place. I took leadership roles in choir my last two years of high school, including section leader and vice president of the choir program. I led warmups consistently, thrived in AP music theory, and my hard work paid off by getting a place into the top UNLV choir my freshman year this past fall. Music has quickly become my life. It is what I am studying, what I am passionate about, how I make an income, and how I keep myself happy and persistent. On one occasion, I sang the national anthem at a car show and a retired marine came up to me with tears in his eyes. The man told me he hadn’t heard anything like it before. It is indescribable the feeling you get from making the people around you emotional from your music. People like him are the reason I enjoy what I do so much. Knowing it has a positive effect on others is the best reward there could be. Music has taught me how to manage my time and conflicts as well as have self-discipline. It is something I think everyone should learn so they get the characteristics that come from hard work and joy when it all pays off. I have had several teachers who I will never forget, who truly changed my life. The relationships I have made are irreplaceable and one of a kind. I would not be the person I am today without music. I would be lost, and unhappy without my passion. As a member of UNLV's Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority with our chosen philanthropy being Breast Cancer Awareness, I strive to help women suffering from this disease. We are an organization that promotes sisterhood, philanthropy, and service. Being a part of this extracurricular gives me a unique opportunity to support women and make a positive impact on their communities. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. It is estimated that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. This means that breast cancer affects a significant number of people, and supporting breast cancer awareness can help raise awareness about the disease and its impact on women's lives. Being a part of these positive communities has taught me invaluable lessons about giving back to the community and how to make the world a better place. The lessons of leadership, learning, service, and selflessness have changed me for the better and I hope I can continue to grow as a person while giving back to my community.

As an aspiring vocal performance major, my voice means everything to me. Being involved in so many activities, like a sorority and the honors college, of UNLV, my voice is an important part of my leadership positions and life overall. I am a social butterfly and communicate much more than the average person. Being involved in all of these while learning lessons of leadership helps me realize how significant it is to give back to the community. I took leadership roles in choir my last two years of high school, including section leader and vice president of the choir program. I led warmups consistently, thrived in AP music theory, and my hard work paid off by getting a place in the top UNLV choir my freshman year this past fall. Music has quickly become my life. It is what I am studying, what I am passionate about, how I make an income, and how I keep myself happy and persistent. On one occasion, I sang the national anthem at a car show and a retired marine came up to me with tears in his eyes. The man told me he hadn’t heard anything like it before. It is indescribable the feeling you get from making the people around you emotional from your music. People like him are the reason I enjoy what I do so much. Knowing it has a positive effect on others is the best reward there could be. Music has taught me how to manage my time and conflicts as well as have self-discipline. It is something I think everyone should learn so they get the characteristics that come from hard work and joy when it all pays off. I have had several teachers who I will never forget, who truly changed my life. The relationships I have made are irreplaceable and one of a kind. I would not be the person I am today without music. I would be lost, and unhappy without my passion. As a member of UNLV's Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority with our chosen philanthropy being Breast Cancer Awareness, I strive to help women suffering from this disease. We are an organization that promotes sisterhood, philanthropy, and service. Being a part of this extracurricular gives me a unique opportunity to support women and make a positive impact on their communities. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. It is estimated that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. This means that breast cancer affects a significant number of people, and supporting breast cancer awareness can help raise awareness about the disease and its impact on women's lives.

Since my freshman year of high school, I have been on the varsity and competition cheer team. In my sophomore year, I competed on the varsity swimming team. Since my freshman year, I was involved in several choirs, including the top choir at my high school. Since my sophomore year, I have been the soprano section leader in every choir I participated in. In my senior year, I was the first vice president of my choirs. Since my junior year, I was involved in the student council. Last year as a senior, I was a student body officer and ran all social media and advertising for the school and student body. Being in the student council, I was constantly staying after school to plan fundraisers, make decorations, help the administration, etc. We did work to thank the military and healthcare workers, as well as put on events like sandwich-making fundraisers for the homeless. As a member of the top choir, we caroled every year outside of school at care centers. We also performed at community events and middle and elementary schools. As an avidly involved member of my school and community, I have demonstrated and better learned dependability, leadership, and the meaning of service. It has completely changed my mindset in the last few years, and there was no question in my mind as I moved on to my secondary education if I would continue engaging in these extracurriculars and acts of service. I now sing in two ensembles at UNLV. Being a part of the choir and opera programs has taught me greatly about diversity, inclusiveness, being more open-minded, and cultural awareness. In my first semester of college, I joined the UNLV Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Our chosen philanthropy is Breast Cancer Awareness. We regularly host events for fundraising, including the Making Strides 5k Walk that we volunteer at every year. Being a member of this extracurricular gives me a unique opportunity to support women and make a positive impact on their communities. In my second semester at UNLV I currently hold two leadership positions in my sorority. Being a part of this strong sisterhood has already taught me stronger leadership habits, service, lifelong learning, and relationships. I work hard to continue displaying these traits in my college career while taking 18 credits and maintaining a 3.6 GPA in my honors classes. I thoroughly enjoy being a part of these activities that have allowed me to exhibit these characteristics. I will continue to participate in and plan these giving services. It is a heartwarming feeling that I strive to feel constantly. There is something about helping others that makes you feel successful and good about yourself. Not only does it change your perspectives and thoughts on society and humanity, but it is beneficial to others. Some people forget why community service is important, and at the end of the day, it is because these people need our help. These services have given me a better attitude as an individual while making me a harder worker and learning how to maintain a busy schedule. I have become better at putting others before myself, and participating in every possible activity even if it is not convenient for me.

Coming from a working-class family, I have always had to pitch in and contribute to my household. I am choosing to major in vocal performance and minor in business law, with plans to continue studying in graduate school. With twice as many classes as an average student, I will have little time to work while focusing on my education. I care significantly about my passions and want to put all of my possible efforts into pursuing my career in opera performance and studies. I have learned how to use both my gifts and talents to my advantage in musical performance and studying the musical field while maintaining a 3.6 GPA in my honors classes. With my grades, determination, and lack of distraction, I am confident in my studies. However, financial support is one thing that can stand in my way while I take 18 credits a semester. As an overachiever who never quits or stops, I would not waste this scholarship opportunity. I would use the money for my honors college books and classes. I look forward to pursuing my education and learning as much as possible. I have proven my hard work and dedication to obtaining my degree with my commitment to activities and grades in high school. I thoroughly enjoy participating in extracurriculars and being an avid member of my community. As a freshman at UNLV I am a part of the UNLV Singers Ensemble, and a member of UNLV's Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, currently holding two leadership positions in my second semester. With Zeta Tau Alpha's chosen philanthropy being Breast Cancer Awareness, I strive to help women suffering from this disease. We are an organization that promotes sisterhood, philanthropy, and service. Being a part of this extracurricular gives me a unique opportunity to support women and make a positive impact on their communities. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. It is estimated that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. This means that breast cancer affects a significant number of people, and supporting breast cancer awareness can help raise awareness about the disease and its impact on women's lives. I will continue to participate and engage in service and philanthropy. It is a heartwarming feeling that I strive to feel constantly. There is something about helping others that makes you feel successful and more faithful to yourself. Not only does it change your perspectives and thoughts on society and humanity, but it is beneficial to others. Some people forget why community service is important, and at the end of the day, it is because these people need our help. These services have given me a better attitude as an individual while making me a harder worker and learning how to maintain a busy schedule. I am extremely grateful to be a part of these giving communities. I have learned invaluable lessons about diversity, leadership, service, selflessness, and relationships. I am blessed to have had my mindset so strongly changed from these activities, as I continue to strive in the world of service.

As an avidly involved member of my school and community, I have demonstrated dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in many ways. I was a member of varsity cheerleading and choir all 4 years of high school. I now sing in two ensembles at UNLV. Currently in my second semester of college, I joined the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and our philanthropy is breast cancer. We regularly host events for fundraising, including the Making Strides 5k Walk that we volunteer at every year. I also received an honors award for having a 4.0 gpa all 4 years of high school. Since my sophomore year, I have been a section leader in both the top choir and concert choir. Last year, I was awarded for being a 4 year member of the CCSD District Honor Choir. My senior year I acted as the first vice president of my school choirs. I was also a student body officer in my student council and was on the stage at my graduation. Being on the varsity cheer team since my freshman year, I have also received the student-athlete certificate every year. Being in the student council, I was constantly staying after school to plan fundraisers, make decorations, help the administration, etc. We did work to thank the military and healthcare workers, as well as put on events like sandwich-making fundraisers for the homeless. As a member of the top choir, we caroled every year outside of school at care centers. We also perform at community events and middle and elementary schools. This continues on in my college choir participation. I continue to display these traits in my college career while taking 18 credits and maintaining a 3.6 GPA at the honors college for my first semester. I enjoy being a part of these activities that allow me to exhibit these characteristics. Being a member of such strong extracurriculars surrounded by the best students inspires me to do better every day. My choir teaches me mental discipline, inclusiveness, and diversity. My sorority teaches me leadership, service, and lifelong learning. I currently hold two leadership positions as a freshman in Zeta Tau Alpha. I think it is extremely important to help women in our community as much as possible, especially when they are less fortunate than you. Being a part of this empowering sorority for women has taught me priceless lessons. It has taught me how to become the best leading version of myself, while still understanding how to build up other strong independent women. We organize events and fundraisers to raise money for breast cancer research, education, and patient support programs. We aim for our efforts to make a significant difference in the fight against breast cancer. I have made relationships with other girls who hold the same values as me and encourage these important characteristics. Zeta Tau Alpha’s values consist of friendship, leadership, lifelong learning, service, knowledge, integrity, and community. Zeta Tau Alpha is built on the values of sisterhood and support. By supporting breast cancer awareness, strong women can come together to support each other and their communities. These are invaluable lessons and qualities a strong woman should possess. It is so important to me to give back to my community, by helping women and girls who need it. Whether that be from the fundraisers we hold, the lessons we value, or the younger girls we lead, I am proud to be a part of this organization. As someone who has always enjoyed service and extracurriculars, I am proud to continue my efforts on and be a part of such strong community.

As an aspiring vocal performance major, my voice means everything to me. Coming from a working-class family, I have always had to pitch in and contribute to my household. As a freshman at the UNLV Honors College, I am choosing to major in vocal performance and minor in business management. With twice as many classes as an average student, I will have little time to work while focusing on my education. I care significantly about my passions and want to put all of my possible efforts into pursuing my career in opera performance and studies. I have learned how to use both my gifts and talents to my advantage in musical performance and studying the musical field while maintaining a 3.6 GPA in my classes. My sister is also an advocate of the arts, as she is going to be a freshman in college next year studying music education. When my sister and I work together, we are the strongest duo. We love to make music together and work on our common passion when we both have little extra time. My grandpa had been struggling with a cancer battle for the last ten years. He got moved into hospice in February and passed away about a month ago. My whole family was devastated, but we understand how hard his battle was and that he is finally at peace. My grandma was the most broken, and she asked my sister and I to perform her favorite song at his memorial. Learning Schubert's beautiful song, "Ave Maria" was the least my sister and I could do for my grandparents. The meaning of the Latin lyrics translate to "Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee." It was very difficult for my sister and I to think of my grandpa while we were singing this, but we learned to understand the piece is a celebration of life. This piece of work, not only composed by Schubert but with several versions from Bach and other composers, provides comfort and solace to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. It did just that for my family and I. It puts into words and music what I cannot express about my condolences. My sister and I form the strongest emotional bond when we sing together. It helps us feel each other's emotions, build trust and collaboration, and create cherished memories. Singing Ave Maria with her will forever be a core memory in my life, and I will always have that memory when I hear that song. Not only does it remind me of my beloved grandpa, but of the passion my sister and I share. As I love to sing and perform anywhere I have the opportunity, it means so much more to me when it is for my family, or partnering with my sister. Sharing my passion and talents helps me form emotional connections, express myself, and connect with others. It is a deeply fulfilling experience for me that I do not earn from anything else. I love being able to share my passions with the world, and most importantly my family.

As a vocal performance student, I perform arias, choruses, madrigals, gospels, and even pop almost every week. It is hard to have music flying past you everyday in school and after hours. Sometimes you don't even know what your singing until you've already performed it because it is such a fast-paced major. However, one song that my choir has sung that has always stuck out to me is "Hosanna to the Son of David" by Orlando Gibbons. It was written in the late 18th century between the Renaissance and Classical time periods. Gibbons was one of the most brilliant English composers to ever write, and his music can easily bring someone to tears. This song is meant to represent angels, and its polyphonic style and repetition makes you feel as though you have little spirits sining of joy above you. "Hosanna to the Son of David" was written to be sung in a great hall, with echo and great acoustics. The meaning of the song is to celebrate Jesus returning to Jerusalem, and honor the kind.The message it conveys is belonging and comfort, and I feel it does just that. It is absolutely beautiful and makes me feel warmth in my heart and connection in my soul. My choir recently sang this song at our fall concert and it made my mother cry. Gibbons was nothing but genius and talented when he composed this church song, and it has changed the way I feel about choral music. I recommend everyone listen to a performance of this song as it is one of the most beautiful and powerful church songs ever written.

As a singer who loves scuba diving, my favorite Disney character is Ariel! I have always felt linked to the ocean and swimming. I recently saved up enough money to finally get certified for open water scuba diving. In June, my parents took me on my first scuba trip as my high school graduation present! I went down 100 feet my first time in the ocean scuba diving! It was the most surreal experience I've ever had. I have told everyone that I talk to since that they should get certified if they have not already. I have always felt a special connection to the princess Ariel because of her love for singing as well as the ocean and the earth. As a vocal performance major, I have always had a passion for music and it is rare to find someone with the same diverse hobbies as me. Ariel was everything I wanted to be when I was a little girl and inspired me to do things other people would be terrified of. Since I was little I knew I wanted to have a relationship to the ocean and water. I joined the varsity swim team in high school and have been lifeguarding for years since. Being comfortable around water has always come naturally to me and drawn me the most to Ariel. I have learned how to play "Part of Your World" on the piano and I sing it to the kids I babysit almost every night before bed. The music in the movie is so passionate and relatable, it has never gotten old or overplayed to me. As a person, Ariel is not afraid of what other people think. She will chase after whatever she wants and I have learned to do this for myself as I have gotten older. The Disney character embodies traits I strive to be and characteristics I have taught myself to portray.

As an aspiring vocal performance major, my voice means everything to me. Being involved in so many activities, like a sorority and the honors college, my voice is an important part of my leadership positions and life overall. I am a social butterfly and communicate much more than the average person. I love using my voice in positive ways like speaking at council events. Learning how to use my voice through these activities as well as sports my whole life transferred over to my musical career. I started offering my talents to other events, asking to sing the national anthem, singing at weddings, country clubs sports events, etc. Doing things alone was nice, but my sister who is currently 17 started getting just as talented as me a few of years ago. She was exceeding in performing and music theory, and we took AP music theory together in high school. Our teacher wasn't too great, and the other students were not as advanced as us. Being polar opposites, this was the one thing my sister Summer and I had in common. We studied together almost everyday. My parents noticed a notable difference in how much time we were spending together and our attitudes towards each other. The following year, she started singing with me or playing my accompaniment at almost every event. I hardly ever sang alone from then. We ended up being section leaders together in our choir, and everyone could see how strong our relationship and communication was. This easily spread out thorough our section and overall choir. People started following in our footsteps and throwing out more ideas at us since we were also both on the leadership board. We had made our choir more together and collaborative than it had been in years, and our teacher was ecstatic. My sister and I put on two events that year for our school, hosting a talent show and "Broadway Cafe" together. We put up a volunteer board, and got student involvement from all over the school, even outside of choir. It was amazing seeing the collaboration from our own choir and school when it is commonly lacked in our generation. Now that I am a freshman in college, Summer is a senior and currently the president of the choir. We still perform at outside events together and just recently sang the national anthem at a car show! I am studying vocal performance at UNLV and cannot wait to join the leadership board once I am no longer a freshman. I am hoping Summer comes to UNLV to study with me, even though she is being offered music scholarships from several other schools. In the last few years, I learned what it meant to have involvement and community in choir. I never had this relationship with my sister before we engaged in our common ground and took it outside of our home. It was amazing seeing the transformation we caused and growing our relationship to become better people and musicians.

I have always been an honors and accelerated student. As a pursuing music major, I have always understood the topic well and studied it deeply. However, the one thing that always bothered me about music is the fact that there is a lack of law. Two notes can be the same, with different names, two dissonant notes cannot be played at the same time, yet there is always exceptions. The thing that I always loved about math was how there is an answer for everything. I am currently in College Math 124, and it is reminding me of my passion for mathematics. I have only received As in every math class I take, and I think this is because of my natural connection to the subject. Math like geometry, algebra, and physics have specifically been my interest because of their common equations that have always come easily to me. As someone who loves math, yet doesn't do it full-time or as a career, I find it to me more of a hobby and passion rather than a career like STEM or computer majors. I simply enjoy the subject, and like to spend my free-time in extra math classes as well as learning new equations and types of math.