I have been passionate about video game technology since I was very young. By five years old I had a Playstation controller in my hand and by twelve I was programming in Wolf Rpg Editor. However, in all my years of playing video games I’ve always felt that there was something I could contribute. It's been a journey in gaming that has underscored a fundamental belief: storytelling is the lifeblood of human connection, transcending mediums to weave narratives that unite and empower us. Within the video game space, I've keenly felt the absence of certain voices. As a young person of color and female, I've often stood as a solitary figure in gaming circles, yearning to amplify narratives that reflect my own experiences; perhaps in storytelling, community communication, in creative flair, or in diversity. Through discovering my love and passion for programming and video game development, it has become my goal to create my own games and fill those voids. I have created an independent video game company called Halfworld Studios, and have managed to rally volunteers and cultivate a moderate following. The company is run by me and the talented volunteers who are passionate about our projects’ completion– all working out of our home “studios.” I have also created my first animated short film, “Stray Cat - Little Town”, about the mysterious supernatural adventures of a young pre-teen in her efforts to find her lost cat in Small Town USA. My long term goal is to program and create for video game companies, and to at some point create my own game development business. In order to accomplish this, I plan to attend Kent State University as a Animation Game Design major and with a concentration on programming and work hard to accelerate my knowledge and skill set. I hope to learn Python, C-Sharp, and Javascript to increase my versatility and lessen the hindrance of my creativity. These complicated programming concepts are difficult to understand without hands-on instruction and peer critique. At KSU, I hope to work on projects that take me out of my comfort zone and require me to work collaboratively with others– an essential skill for working in the video game industry. This rich college experience would make myself more of an asset to video game companies that I look to work for or partner with. I am passionate about being able to create games. My aspiration is grand: to evolve Halfworld Studios from a grassroots team to a triple-A game company, all while staying true to my mission of fostering inclusivity and representation in gaming. Furthering my college education in this field will excel my understanding and give me a leg-up in my potential. I have maintained a 4.0 gpa throughout my High School track, 9th-12th graduating summa cum laude and am carrying a 3.875 gpa going into my junior year of college. I thank you for your time and hope you consider me as a recipient of the Connie Konatsotis Scholarship.

I have been passionate about video game technology since I was very young. By five years old I had a Playstation controller in my hand and by twelve I was programming in Wolf Rpg Editor. However, in all my years of playing video games I’ve always felt that there was something I could contribute. It's been a journey in gaming that has underscored a fundamental belief: storytelling is the lifeblood of human connection, transcending mediums to weave narratives that unite and empower us. Within the video game space, I've keenly felt the absence of certain voices. As a young person of color and female, I've often stood as a solitary figure in gaming circles, yearning to amplify narratives that reflect my own experiences; perhaps in storytelling, community communication, in creative flair, or in diversity. Through discovering my love and passion for programming and video game development, it has become my goal to create my own games and fill those voids. I have created an independent video game company called Halfworld Studios, and have managed to rally volunteers and cultivate a moderate following. The company is run by me and the talented volunteers who are passionate about our projects’ completion– all working out of our home “studios.” I have also created my first animated short film, “Stray Cat - Little Town”, about the mysterious supernatural adventures of a young pre-teen in her efforts to find her lost cat in Small Town USA. My long term goal is to program and create for video game companies, and to at some point create my own game development business. In order to accomplish this, I plan to attend Kent State University as a Animation Game Design major and with a concentration on programming and work hard to accelerate my knowledge and skill set. I hope to learn Python, C-Sharp, and Javascript to increase my versatility and lessen the hindrance of my creativity. These complicated programming concepts are difficult to understand without hands-on instruction and peer critique. At KSU, I hope to work on projects that take me out of my comfort zone and require me to work collaboratively with others– an essential skill for working in the video game industry. This rich college experience would make myself more of an asset to video game companies that I look to work for or partner with. I am passionate about being able to create games. My aspiration is grand: to evolve Halfworld Studios from a grassroots team to a triple-A game company, all while staying true to my mission of fostering inclusivity and representation in gaming. Furthering my college education in this field will excel my understanding and give me a leg-up in my potential. I have maintained a 4.0 gpa throughout my High School track, 9th-12th graduating summa cum laude and am carrying a 3.875 gpa going into my junior year of college. I thank you for your time and hope you consider me as a recipient of the CATALYSTS Scholarship.

I have been passionate about video game technology since I was very young. By five years old I had a Playstation controller in my hand and by twelve I was programming in Wolf Rpg Editor. However, in all my years of playing video games I’ve always felt that there was something I could contribute. It's been a journey in gaming that has underscored a fundamental belief: storytelling is the lifeblood of human connection, transcending mediums to weave narratives that unite and empower us. Within the video game space, I've keenly felt the absence of certain voices. As a young person of color and female, I've often stood as a solitary figure in gaming circles, yearning to amplify narratives that reflect my own experiences; perhaps in storytelling, community communication, in creative flair, or in diversity. Through discovering my love and passion for programming and video game development, it has become my goal to create my own games and fill those voids. I have created an independent video game company called Halfworld Studios, and have managed to rally volunteers and cultivate a moderate following. The company is run by me and the talented volunteers who are passionate about our projects’ completion– all working out of our home “studios.” I have also created my first animated short film, “Stray Cat - Little Town”, about the mysterious supernatural adventures of a young pre-teen in her efforts to find her lost cat in Small Town USA. My long term goal is to program and create for video game companies, and to at some point create my own game development business. In order to accomplish this, I plan to attend Kent State University as a Animation Game Design major and with a concentration on programming and work hard to accelerate my knowledge and skill set. I hope to learn Python, C-Sharp, and Javascript to increase my versatility and lessen the hindrance of my creativity. These complicated programming concepts are difficult to understand without hands-on instruction and peer critique. At KSU, I hope to work on projects that take me out of my comfort zone and require me to work collaboratively with others– an essential skill for working in the video game industry. This rich college experience would make myself more of an asset to video game companies that I look to work for or partner with. I am passionate about being able to create games. My aspiration is grand: to evolve Halfworld Studios from a grassroots team to a triple-A game company, all while staying true to my mission of fostering inclusivity and representation in gaming. Furthering my college education in this field will excel my understanding and give me a leg-up in my potential. I have maintained a 4.0 gpa throughout my High School track, 9th-12th graduating summa cum laude and am carrying a 3.875 gpa going into my junior year of college. I thank you for your time and hope you consider me as a recipient of the Nell’s Will Scholarship.

My fascination with video game technology budded at childhood. At the tender age of five I held a PlayStation controller, and by twelve, I delved into programming with Wolf Rpg Editor. My journey in gaming has underscored a fundamental belief: storytelling is the lifeblood of human connection, transcending mediums to weave narratives that unite and empower us. Yet, within the video game space, I've keenly felt the absence of certain voices. As a young black woman, I've often stood as a solitary figure in gaming circles, yearning to amplify narratives that reflect my own experiences. Recognizing this void, I founded Halfworld Studios, a modest venture a aimed at injecting diversity into the gaming landscape. My two-year tenure as a Production Assistant with Dominion Energy taught me invaluable leadership and organizational skills, preparing me to lead a team of volunteers from all walks of life. Together, we work from the confines of our homes, leaving a piece of ourselves in every game we craft. My goal isn't simply to create games; it's to carve out space for underrepresented groups in the video game industry. My aspiration is grand: to evolve Halfworld Studios from a grassroots team to a triple-A game company, all while staying true to my mission of fostering inclusivity and representation in gaming. With each project, my team and I strive to imbue our creations with the richness of our stories, paving the way for a more inclusive and vibrant gaming industry. I have also created my first animated short film, “Stray Cat - Little Town”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUzpPXJXUOQ about the mysterious supernatural adventures of a young pre-teen in her efforts to finds her lost cat in Small Town USA.