My name is Mackenzie Cooke; I grew up in McAlester, OK, and was the oldest of six children. We were a low-income family, and I tried hard to work and make good grades in high school. I was a 4.2 high school graduate but decided to enlist in the Navy when I was 18 years old. I’m 23 now and have been in the Navy for five years. I joined to give back to my country and do something bigger than myself. I wanted to show my siblings that doing more is possible even when we grew up with so little. After enlisting as an IT in the Navy, I attended boot camp and school to learn my rate. I received orders to an FDNF (Forward Deployed Naval Forces) carrier in Yokosuka, Japan. I spent three years there, arriving at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), consistently going out to sea and honing my job skills. I fell in love with learning technical skills and networking onboard a naval vessel. I’d like to carry cybersecurity past the military, and getting a Bachelor’s degree is my biggest goal before transitioning to civilian life in four years. I later transferred to a carrier here in Norfolk, Virginia, where I decided to pursue higher education. I applied to Old Dominion University and was accepted into the Cybersecurity program. This fall semester was my first time back in school in five years, and it was mentally and financially challenging. So far, my grades are where I want them to be, but I also work full-time in the military. I take in-person classes on Mondays and Wednesdays nights from 1630-2205. My working day starts at 0600, so the days I go to school can be challenging. I had transfer credits from when I did concurrent enrollment at a community college when I was a senior in high school. I am finishing my general education credits to start working on the bread and butter of my degree. I will transfer to a shore command in Suffolk, Virginia, in a few weeks. I am determined to get a Bachelor’s degree to show my family (first-generation college students) that they can do it. My sister is in high school and is also considering joining the military, and I’d like to be a good role model for her. The next few years will be difficult, but I believe it's worth the time and effort. My mind is set on this goal, and I will pursue it with everything I have. Thank you for your time and for considering me for this scholarship.

My name is Mackenzie Cooke; I grew up in McAlester, OK, and was the oldest of six children. We were a low-income family, and I tried hard to work and make good grades in high school. I was a 4.2 high school graduate but decided to enlist in the Navy when I was 18 years old. I’m 23 now and have been in the Navy for five years. I joined to give back to my country and do something bigger than myself. I wanted to show my siblings that doing more is possible even when we grew up with so little. After enlisting as an IT in the Navy, I attended boot camp and school to learn my rate. I received orders to an FDNF (Forward Deployed Naval Forces) carrier in Yokosuka, Japan. I spent three years there, arriving at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), consistently going out to sea and honing my job skills. I fell in love with learning technical skills and networking onboard a naval vessel. I’d like to carry cybersecurity past the military, and getting a Bachelor’s degree is my biggest goal before transitioning to civilian life in four years. I later transferred to a carrier here in Norfolk, Virginia, where I decided to pursue higher education. I applied to Old Dominion University and was accepted into the Cybersecurity program. This fall semester was my first time back in school in five years, and it was mentally and financially challenging. So far, my grades are where I want them to be, but I also work full-time in the military. I take in-person classes on Mondays and Wednesdays nights from 1630-2205. My working day starts at 0600, so the days I go to school can be challenging. I had transfer credits from when I did concurrent enrollment at a community college when I was a senior in high school. I am finishing my general education credits to start working on the bread and butter of my degree. I will transfer to a shore command in Suffolk, Virginia, in a few weeks. I am determined to get a Bachelor’s degree to show my family (first-generation college students) that they can do it. My sister is in high school and is also considering joining the military, and I’d like to be a good role model for her. The next few years will be difficult, but I believe it's worth the time and effort. My mind is set on this goal, and I will pursue it with everything I have. Thank you for your time and for considering me for this scholarship.

My name is Mackenzie Cooke; I grew up in McAlester, OK, and was the oldest of six children. We were a low-income family, and I tried hard to work and make good grades in high school. I was a 4.2 high school graduate but decided to enlist in the Navy when I was 18 years old. I’m 23 now and have been in the Navy for five years. I joined to give back to my country and do something bigger than myself. I wanted to show my siblings that doing more is possible even when we grew up with so little. After enlisting as an IT in the Navy, I attended boot camp and school to learn my rate. I received orders to an FDNF (Forward Deployed Naval Forces) carrier in Yokosuka, Japan. I spent three years there, arriving at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), consistently going out to sea and honing my job skills. I fell in love with learning technical skills and networking onboard a naval vessel. I’d like to carry cybersecurity past the military, and getting a Bachelor’s degree is my biggest goal before transitioning to civilian life in four years. I later transferred to a carrier here in Norfolk, Virginia, where I decided to pursue higher education. I applied to Old Dominion University and was accepted into the Cybersecurity program. This fall semester was my first time back in school in five years, and it was mentally and financially challenging. So far, my grades are where I want them to be, but I also work full-time in the military. I take in-person classes on Mondays and Wednesdays nights from 1630-2205. My working day starts at 0600, so the days I go to school can be challenging. I had transfer credits from when I did concurrent enrollment at a community college when I was a senior in high school. I am finishing my general education credits to start working on the bread and butter of my degree. I will transfer to a shore command in Suffolk, Virginia, in a few weeks. I am determined to get a Bachelor’s degree to show my family (first-generation college students) that they can do it. My sister is in high school and is also considering joining the military, and I’d like to be a good role model for her. The next few years will be difficult, but I believe it's worth the time and effort. My mind is set on this goal, and I will pursue it with everything I have. Thank you for your time and for considering me for this scholarship.

My name is Mackenzie Cooke; I grew up in McAlester, OK, and was the oldest of six children. We were a low-income family, and I tried hard to work and make good grades in high school. I was a 4.2 high school graduate but decided to enlist in the Navy when I was 18 years old. I’m 23 now and have been in the Navy for five years. I joined to give back to my country and do something bigger than myself. I wanted to show my siblings that doing more is possible even when we grew up with so little. After enlisting as an IT in the Navy, I attended boot camp and school to learn my rate. I received orders to an FDNF (Forward Deployed Naval Forces) carrier in Yokosuka, Japan. I spent three years there, arriving at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), consistently going out to sea and honing my job skills. I fell in love with learning technical skills and networking onboard a naval vessel. I’d like to carry cybersecurity past the military, and getting a Bachelor’s degree is my biggest goal before transitioning to civilian life in four years. I later transferred to a carrier here in Norfolk, Virginia, where I decided to pursue higher education. I applied to Old Dominion University and was accepted into the Cybersecurity program. This fall semester was my first time back in school in five years, and it was mentally and financially challenging. So far, my grades are where I want them to be, but I also work full-time in the military. I take in-person classes on Mondays and Wednesdays nights from 1630-2205. My working day starts at 0600, so the days I go to school can be challenging. I had transfer credits from when I did concurrent enrollment at a community college when I was a senior in high school. I am finishing my general education credits to start working on the bread and butter of my degree. I will transfer to a shore command in Suffolk, Virginia, in a few weeks. I am determined to get a Bachelor’s degree to show my family (first-generation college students) that they can do it. My sister is in high school and is also considering joining the military, and I’d like to be a good role model for her. The next few years will be difficult, but I believe it's worth the time and effort. My mind is set on this goal, and I will pursue it with everything I have. Thank you for your time and for considering me for this scholarship.

My name is Mackenzie Cooke; I grew up in McAlester, OK, and was the oldest of six children. We were a low-income family, and I tried hard to work and make good grades in high school. I was a 4.2 high school graduate but decided to enlist in the Navy when I was 18 years old. I’m 23 now and have been in the Navy for five years. I joined to give back to my country and do something bigger than myself. I wanted to show my siblings that doing more is possible even when we grew up with so little. After enlisting as an IT in the Navy, I attended boot camp and school to learn my rate. I received orders to an FDNF (Forward Deployed Naval Forces) carrier in Yokosuka, Japan. I spent three years there, arriving at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), consistently going out to sea and honing my job skills. I fell in love with learning technical skills and networking onboard a naval vessel. I’d like to carry cybersecurity past the military, and getting a Bachelor’s degree is my biggest goal before transitioning to civilian life in four years. I later transferred to a carrier here in Norfolk, Virginia, where I decided to pursue higher education. I applied to Old Dominion University and was accepted into the Cybersecurity program. This fall semester was my first time back in school in five years, and it was mentally and financially challenging. So far, my grades are where I want them to be, but I also work full-time in the military. I take in-person classes on Mondays and Wednesdays nights from 1630-2205. My working day starts at 0600, so the days I go to school can be challenging. I had transfer credits from when I did concurrent enrollment at a community college when I was a senior in high school. I am finishing my general education credits to start working on the bread and butter of my degree. I will transfer to a shore command in Suffolk, Virginia, in a few weeks. I am determined to get a Bachelor’s degree to show my family (first-generation college students) that they can do it. My sister is in high school and is also considering joining the military, and I’d like to be a good role model for her. The next few years will be difficult, but I believe it's worth the time and effort. My mind is set on this goal, and I will pursue it with everything I have. Thank you for your time and for considering me for this scholarship.

My name is Mackenzie Cooke; I grew up in McAlester, OK, and was the oldest of six children. We were a low-income family, and I tried hard to work and make good grades in high school. I was a 4.2 high school graduate but decided to enlist in the Navy when I was 18 years old. I’m 23 now and have been in the Navy for five years. I joined to give back to my country and do something bigger than myself. I wanted to show my siblings that doing more is possible even when we grew up with so little. After enlisting as an IT in the Navy, I attended boot camp and school to learn my rate. I received orders to an FDNF (Forward Deployed Naval Forces) carrier in Yokosuka, Japan. I spent three years there, arriving at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), consistently going out to sea and honing my job skills. I fell in love with learning technical skills and networking onboard a naval vessel. I’d like to carry cybersecurity past the military, and getting a Bachelor's degree is my biggest goal before I transition to civilian life in four years. I later transferred to a carrier here in Norfolk, Virginia, where I decided to pursue higher education. I applied to Old Dominion University and was accepted into the Cybersecurity program. This fall semester was my first time back in school in five years, and it was mentally and financially challenging. So far, my grades are where I want them to be, but I also work full-time in the military. I take in-person classes Mondays and Wednesday nights from 1630-2205. My working day starts at 0600 so the days I go to school can be challenging. I had transfer credits from when I did concurrent enrollment at a community college when I was a senior in high school. I am finishing my general education credits to start working on the bread and butter of my degree. In a few weeks, I will be transferring again to a shore command in Suffolk, Virginia. I am determined to get a Bachelor’s degree to show my family (first-generation college students) that they can do it. My sister is in high school and is also considering joining the military, and I’d like to be a good role model for her. The next few years are going to be difficult, but I believe it's worth the time and effort. My mind is set on this goal, and I will pursue it with everything I have. Thank you for your time and for considering me for this scholarship.

My name is Mackenzie Cooke; I grew up in McAlester, OK, and was the oldest of six children. We were a low-income family, and I tried hard to work and make good grades in high school. I was a 4.2 high school graduate but decided to enlist in the Navy when I was 18 years old. I’m 23 now and have been in the Navy for five years. I joined to give back to my country and do something bigger than myself. I wanted to show my siblings that doing more is possible even when we grew up with so little. After enlisting as an IT in the Navy, I attended boot camp and school to learn my rate. I received orders to an FDNF (Forward Deployed Naval Forces) carrier in Yokosuka, Japan. I spent three years there, arriving at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), consistently going out to sea and honing my job skills. I fell in love with learning technical skills and networking onboard a naval vessel. I want to carry cybersecurity past the military, and getting a Bachelor’s degree is my biggest goal before transitioning to civilian life in four years. I later transferred to a carrier here in Norfolk, Virginia, where I decided to pursue higher education. I applied to Old Dominion University and was accepted into the Cybersecurity program. This fall semester was my first time back in school in five years, and it was mentally and financially challenging. So far, my grades are where I want them to be, but I also work full-time in the military. I take in-person classes on Mondays and Wednesdays nights from 1630-2205. My working day starts at 0600, so the days I go to school can be challenging. I had transfer credits from when I did concurrent enrollment at a community college when I was a senior in high school. I am finishing my general education credits to start working on the bread and butter of my degree. I will transfer to a shore command in Suffolk, Virginia, in a few weeks. I am determined to get a Bachelor’s degree to show my family (first-generation college students) that they can do it. My sister is in high school and is also considering joining the military, and I’d like to be a good role model for her. The next few years will be difficult, but I believe it's worth the time and effort. My mind is set on this goal, and I will pursue it with everything I have. Thank you for your time and for considering me for this scholarship.