I’m a rising sophomore at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Food Science and minoring in Agricultural Business through the Herbert College of Agriculture. This doesn’t sound like direct engineering, but it is. Food engineering is a big part of what I have learned to do, what I continue to learn to do, and what I will do with the rest of my career. My passion lies in improving food systems—especially in communities with limited access to fresh, healthy food. My long-term career goal is to work in food science with a focus on post-harvest food production and preparation, using science, engineering, and innovation to help families in food deserts stretch their food resources and live healthier lives. Post-harvest handling of food is a critical area that often goes unnoticed by the general public but has a big impact on food safety, quality, and nutrition. I’m interested in learning how to reduce waste, improve shelf-life, and create value-added food products that are affordable and accessible. For many families, especially those living far from full-service grocery stores, food may be purchased in bulk or less frequently, making preservation and proper handling even more important. I want to be part of the solution that helps ensure these products stay safe and nutritious longer, reducing food insecurity in a sustainable way. Eventually, I hope to work in product development or with organizations that focus on community outreach, helping to educate families on how to handle, prepare, and get the most out of food products. I also want to support small producers and processors in finding efficient, affordable ways to reduce post-harvest losses without sacrificing quality. These efforts, I believe, can help close the gap between what’s available and what’s truly accessible. I’m applying for this scholarship not only because it supports my academic journey, but because it also reflects the core of what I hope to do with my career. Being selected would help me achieve my goal of making a difference through science, innovation, engineering, and education. It would also allow me to pursue more hands-on experiences—through internships, research, and fieldwork—that will strengthen my knowledge and help me apply it in meaningful ways. At the heart of it, I want to use what I’m learning to make food products safer, healthier, and more useful to families who often have to make tough choices about food. With the support of this scholarship, I know I can continue moving toward that goal with confidence and a deeper sense of purpose. I’m excited to keep learning, growing, and one day, making a positive impact in the field of post-harvest food production.

Agriculture has always been a part of my life. I grew up on a beef cattle farm, so from a young age, I was surrounded by the work that goes into raising animals and producing food. It wasn’t just something my family did — it was how I learned the value of hard work, patience, and being connected to something bigger than myself. As I got older, I realized that agriculture wasn’t just a lifestyle I grew up in, but something I wanted to be a part of long-term. Now, I’m a rising sophomore at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Food Science and minoring in Agricultural Business. I chose this path because I’ve seen the gap that can exist between food production and the people who need it most. I want to help bridge that gap. My goal is to work in food systems, especially post-harvest meat production, to help families — particularly those living in food deserts — stretch their food resources further and have access to healthier, more sustainable options. So far in college, I’ve been fortunate to get involved in both academic and extracurricular activities that support this goal. I’ve participated in UT’s Sensory Lab Evaluation Program and completed a Dairy Product Evaluation course, where I gained hands-on experience analyzing food quality and learning how products are prepared and tested before reaching consumers. These experiences have given me a greater appreciation for the science and detail that goes into making food safe, consistent, and appealing. Beyond the classroom, I’ve worked as a student assistant in the UT Institute of Agriculture’s Advancement Office and currently serve as a Herbert College of Agriculture Ambassador. Both roles have helped me grow professionally and allowed me to represent my college and connect with others in the agricultural community. I’ve also worked as a hostess and server at a restaurant in my hometown for over two years, which has helped me develop strong communication and customer service skills that I know will carry over into any role I pursue. Agriculture is more than a major or career goal for me — it’s something I feel deeply connected to. Whether I’m working with animals, evaluating food products, or helping others understand where their food comes from, I feel proud to be a part of something that matters. Agriculture has shaped who I am, and I’m excited to see where it will continue to take me.

Agriculture has always been a part of my life. I grew up on a beef cattle farm, so from a young age, I was surrounded by the work that goes into raising animals and producing food. It wasn’t just something my family did — it was how I learned the value of hard work, patience, and being connected to something bigger than myself. As I got older, I realized that agriculture wasn’t just a lifestyle I grew up in, but something I wanted to be a part of long-term. Now, I’m a rising sophomore at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Food Science and minoring in Agricultural Business. I chose this path because I’ve seen the gap that can exist between food production and the people who need it most. I want to help bridge that gap. My goal is to work in food systems, especially post-harvest meat production, to help families — particularly those living in food deserts — stretch their food resources further and have access to healthier, more sustainable options. So far in college, I’ve been fortunate to get involved in both academic and extracurricular activities that support this goal. I’ve participated in UT’s Sensory Lab Evaluation Program and completed a Dairy Product Evaluation course, where I gained hands-on experience analyzing food quality and learning how products are prepared and tested before reaching consumers. These experiences have given me a greater appreciation for the science and detail that goes into making food safe, consistent, and appealing. Beyond the classroom, I’ve worked as a student assistant in the UT Institute of Agriculture’s Advancement Office and currently serve as a Herbert College of Agriculture Ambassador. Both roles have helped me grow professionally and allowed me to represent my college and connect with others in the agricultural community. I’ve also worked as a hostess and server at a restaurant in my hometown for over two years, which has helped me develop strong communication and customer service skills that I know will carry over into any role I pursue. Agriculture is more than a major or career goal for me — it’s something I feel deeply connected to. Whether I’m working with animals, evaluating food products, or helping others understand where their food comes from, I feel proud to be a part of something that matters. Agriculture has shaped who I am, and I’m excited to see where it will continue to take me.

I’ve always been someone who paid attention to what was missing. Growing up, it wasn’t just that our fridge was sometimes empty—it was how normal that felt. My family didn’t have consistent access to fresh food, and getting to a real grocery store could take over an hour. We made it work, like a lot of families do, but it planted something in me: a need to fix it. Not just for my own future, but for families like mine. As a first-generation college student majoring in food science, my biggest dream is to combine food science and technology to help fight food insecurity. I want to create tools that make healthy food more accessible, especially in food deserts—maybe an app that connects people to local food resources or uses data to reduce food waste and reroute it to families in need. I’m just getting started, learning coding and research methods, but every step I take is a step toward impact. I’ve also been involved in food drives and volunteered with community organizations focused on hunger relief. Being from a disadvantaged background hasn’t stopped me—it’s actually given me the determination to push harder. I’ve had to navigate college on my own, learn how to ask for help, and believe in a version of myself I hadn’t seen before. This scholarship would mean more than just money—it would give me breathing room to keep going, to focus on research and outreach without the constant stress of survival. Personally, it would be a reminder that where I come from is not a weakness—it’s my foundation. Professionally, it would help me keep building the future I dream about: one where every family has enough, and I’m part of the reason why.

Finding Purpose Through My First-Generation Journey Being a first-generation college student means more than just being the first in my family to attend college—it means carrying the hopes, sacrifices, and unspoken dreams of the people who raised me. My parents didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, but they taught me the value of hard work and resilience. Their experiences, and the challenges our family faced with food insecurity, have shaped every part of my path, especially my career goals. Growing up, I saw firsthand what it’s like to live in a community where access to fresh, healthy food is limited. I watched families—mine included—stretch what little they had to put meals on the table. That’s what led me to major in food science. I want to help solve real-world problems like hunger and food waste, not from a distance, but as someone who understands them deeply. Being first-gen also means I’ve had to figure a lot out on my own—navigating financial aid, finding support, and learning how to balance everything. That independence and drive have made me more determined to create change. As I learn more about technology and data in college, I’m seeing how I can combine food science and tech to create tools for families in food deserts, like apps that locate nearby food resources or track surplus food that could be redistributed. My background gives me a perspective that many professionals in STEM don’t have. I know what’s at stake, and that pushes me to use my education for more than a job—it’s about giving back, uplifting communities like mine, and making sure that families don’t have to struggle the way mine did. Being first-gen isn’t just part of my story—it’s my motivation.

I didn’t always think of myself as someone who belonged in STEM. I came to college for food science because I saw how food insecurity affected people in my community, including my own family at times. We didn’t always have access to fresh, healthy food—grocery stores were far, and transportation wasn’t easy. That experience made me want to learn how to make food stretch farther, last longer, and be healthier for more families. That’s what led me to science. One of my first hands-on STEM experiences came in high school, when I did a small project testing how different packaging methods affected the shelf life of produce. I was surprised by how much of a difference something as simple as wrapping or temperature could make. That experiment showed me that food science isn’t just about nutrition—it’s also about preservation, safety, and reducing waste. It was a small but eye-opening project that sparked a much bigger interest in solving real-world food issues. Since starting college, I’ve started to explore another side of STEM: technology. I’ve always been curious about how data and digital tools can support communities, especially those facing food insecurity or living in food deserts. I’m learning basic coding and beginning to understand how software systems work. Now, I’m dreaming of combining food science and technology to create tools that help families access and manage food more easily. For example, I want to help build an app that connects people in food deserts with local food pantries, mobile markets, or donation sites—updated in real time. It could also share healthy recipes based on what’s available and help people track expiration dates or get alerts about local food drives. It might seem simple, but tools like this could make a big difference for families with limited options. I also want to work on ways to use data science to reduce food waste at a community level. So much good food gets thrown away by restaurants and stores. What if we had a system that tracked surplus food and redistributed it before it expired? Using STEM, we could create more efficient and compassionate food networks that benefit both businesses and families. To me, STEM is about more than labs and equations—it’s about solving everyday problems that affect real people. My goal is to be the kind of scientist and technologist who listens to communities, understands their needs, and builds systems that actually help. I want to use my knowledge of food science and tech to support families like the ones I grew up around—families doing the best they can with what they have. Being a woman in STEM means bringing my background, my curiosity, and my heart into spaces that need new ideas. And I’m ready to do exactly that.

My Future Goals as a Dynamic Woman in I.T. As a freshman majoring in Food Science, I never imagined I’d find myself also drawn to the world of Information Technology. At first glance, the two fields may seem unrelated, but I’ve come to realize how deeply technology can impact food access, distribution, and sustainability—especially for food-insecure communities. My goal as a dynamic woman in I.T. is to bridge the gap between food science and technology to help families, particularly those in food deserts, stretch their food resources farther and live healthier lives. Growing up in a community where food insecurity was common, I saw firsthand how hard it was for families to access fresh, nutritious meals. Many people relied on convenience stores or fast food because full-service grocery stores were miles away, and transportation wasn’t always available. This reality motivated me to study food science—to understand how food works, how it’s preserved, and how it can be made more accessible. But as I explored solutions, I realized that technology could play a key role in solving the bigger problems tied to food access. One of my future goals is to develop mobile apps or platforms that use data to connect people in food deserts with local resources. For example, I envision an app that maps out nearby food pantries, community gardens, or low-cost grocery pop-ups, updated in real-time. The app could also include nutritional guidance, budget-friendly recipes, and alerts for local food drives. It would be simple, user-friendly, and accessible even on older smartphones. The goal isn’t just to give people information—it’s to give them tools to make the most of what they have. Another major goal is to use machine learning and data analysis to reduce food waste on a community level. Many grocery stores and restaurants throw away food that’s still perfectly edible. If we could use technology to track surplus food and redistribute it to nonprofits or families in need, we could make a huge difference. I want to be part of a team that creates these types of systems—ones that help cities become smarter and more compassionate when it comes to food management. On a personal level, I also want to challenge stereotypes about who belongs in tech. As a woman of color pursuing a path that mixes science, food, and technology, I know I’m stepping into a space that hasn’t always welcomed people like me. But I believe that the diversity of my experience is exactly what makes me valuable. I’m not just learning how to code or how to build systems—I’m learning how to listen to the needs of real people, especially those who’ve been ignored or underserved for too long. Ultimately, my goal as a dynamic woman in I.T. is to use my knowledge of food science and technology to empower communities, fight hunger, and make healthy eating more accessible to all. I don’t just want to be in the room where solutions are being made—I want to help lead the way.