1. Tell us about yourself and how you’ll make a positive impact through engineering I am a 40-year-old senior completing dual bachelor’s degrees in Robotics Engineering and Digital Makers & Fabrication. My academic journey has spanned nearly two decades, interrupted by financial hardship, family obligations, and military service, yet fueled by resilience and determination. Growing up in the barrios of East Los Angeles in the early ’90s—surrounded by violence, poverty, and instability—I experienced firsthand how access to technology and education can open doors to a different future. My vision is to apply my engineering skills to create human-centered robotics and fabrication technologies that directly serve underserved communities. My goal is not only to develop approachable robotics and embedded programming tools but also to establish community-based tech learning centers and cooperatives. These spaces would provide education, mentorship, and engineering services to those who might not otherwise have access, ensuring that innovation uplifts more than just those at the top. 2. Life experiences that influenced your decision to pursue engineering My decision to pursue engineering was shaped by both hardship and inspiration. Growing up in a one-bedroom apartment under the constant threat of gang violence, I learned early that adversity does not have to dictate one’s destiny. My father, who himself grew up in poverty, made the courageous choice to move our family 500 miles to Flagstaff, Arizona, to give us stability and better opportunities for education. Although my father was never able to escape poverty, he instilled in me the conviction that learning could transform a life. His example created in me a hunger not only to break the cycle for myself but to help others do the same. Through every pause and setback, my commitment to engineering has grown, because it is the field that equips me to turn challenges into solutions that tangibly improve lives. 3. Favorite inventor or engineer and why One of the inventors who inspires me most is Larry Mitschke. In the 1980s, long before drones as we know them existed, Mitschke built and flew a DIY FPV (First-Person View) drone using his own ingenuity and resourcefulness. His ability to imagine what didn’t yet exist and make it real demonstrates the kind of creativity and boldness that I aspire to bring into my own work. Like him, I want to innovate in ways that expand what is possible and inspire others to pursue their ideas fearlessly.

I grew up in the barrios of East Los Angeles in the early 1990s as the first son and oldest of five. My father, himself the fifth of eight children, lived a difficult life. At 13, he was living on the streets and never finished high school. As a teenager, he and his brother once defended their mother from their abusive father. After that day, their father never returned. My earliest memories include living in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment and later moving in with my aunt after my dad was laid off. The neighborhood was plagued by high crime and gang activity. We slept on mattresses on the floor, hoping to avoid stray bullets from drive-bys. I remember watching my cousins chase down a rival gang member and beat him until he stopped moving. Those images have never left me. But through it all, my dad refused to let us believe that this would be our future. He moved us 500 miles east to Flagstaff, Arizona, determined to give us a better life. My father was my greatest inspiration. He taught me that I could be anything, that education mattered, and that hard work and determination could open doors. Though he was never able to escape poverty himself, my father gave me something more valuable: a hunger for learning and the chance to break the cycle. Now, at 40 years old, I am close to finishing what has been a 20-year journey. Family obligations, financial hardships, and military service have caused many starts and stops, but I am now in my senior year, on the verge of graduating with dual bachelor’s degrees in Robotics Engineering and Digital Maker & Fabrication. I have worked hard to become debt-free outside of my school loans, but I recently lost employer financial assistance after being laid off. The gap between what my GI Bill covers and my remaining expenses threatens to keep me from crossing the finish line. My dream is not only to finish my education and use it to build a meaningful career but also to retire my father before he turns 70; to give back to the man who sacrificed so much and gave me everything he could. Receiving this scholarship would not only help me achieve my lifelong goal of completing my degree but would also honor the values of perseverance, sacrifice, and hope that my father instilled in me.

I was born in east Los Angeles. My dad didn't finish high school and my mom didn't finish college. We lived in a one-bedroom apartment until I was two and my dad lost his job. We were homeless for about a year, sleeping at the house of one of my uncles with two other families crammed into a 3 bedroom house. The beds were mattresses on the floor because of the frequency of drive-by shootings at the time. My dad didn't give up though and soon found another job that allowed us to move into a little house in the city of Monrovia, California. The house was at the end of an alley and I would go to sleep listening to the sounds of the freeway, sirens, and helicopters with the occasional gunfire for punctuation. From the time I was old enough to hold a crayon, I was designing things. Some of the earliest drawings my mother has of mine are sectional views of submarines and houses. I didn't even know what a sectional view was, but I knew I wanted to make the things I saw in my head become a reality. I didn't get G.I. Joes or Hotwheels as a kid, I just wanted legos and art books to do my design. My dad instilled in me and my four siblings resiliency, a desire to learn, and to be self-reliant. The road has been long with some bumps along the way. I tried to go to college before but necessity forced me to quit college and enter the workforce. I kept honing my design skills though and persevered, always keeping my dream alive that one day I would be able to be a design engineer. I learned to use several different design software and took design classes at the Kendall College of Art and Design. Again, life circumstances forced me to stop my studies at KCAD as I couldn't afford to continue at that time. I joined the Michigan Army National Guard (MARNG) to bring some stability to my family and earn some education benefits and give back to my community. In 2020 I was able to participate in the Covid-19 task force. The MARNG deployed all across the state to facilitate health centers with training, testing, and eventually, vaccinating. Fast forward to the present and I am going to the University of Advancing Technology, I'll be the first generation in my family to have a college degree, and I have been building inexpensive 3D printers and teaching myself how to use them on my own. This scholarship would help alleviate financial stress and provide resources for my family as I complete my degree and achieve my dream of being a design engineer.

I was born in east Los Angeles. My dad didn't finish highschool and my mom didn't finish college. We lived in a one-bedroom apartment until I was two and my dad lost his job. We were homeless for a little while, sleeping at the house of one of my uncles with two other families crammed into a 3 bedroom house. My dad didn't give up though and soon found another job that allowed us to move into a little house in the city of Monrovia, California. From the time I was old enough to hold a crayon, I was designing things. Some of the earliest drawings my mother has of mine are sectional views of submarines and houses. I didn't even know what a sectional view was, but I knew I wanted to make the things I saw in my head become a reality. I didn't get G.I. Joes or Hotwheels as a kid, I just wanted legos and art books to do my design. My dad instilled in me and my four siblings resiliency, a desire to learn, and to be self-reliant. The road has been long with some bumps along the way. I tried to go to college before but necessity forced me to quit college and enter the workforce. I kept honing my design skills though and persevered, always keeping my dream alive that one day I would be able to be a design engineer. I learned to use several different design software and took design classes at the Kendall College of Art and Design. Again, life circumstances forced me to stop my studies at KCAD as I couldn't afford to continue at that time. I joined the Michigan Army National Guard (MARNG) to bring some stability to my family and earn some education benefits and give back to my community. In 2020 I was able to participate in the Covid-19 task force. The MARNG deployed all across the state to facilitate health centers with training, testing, and eventually, vaccinating. Fast forward to the present and I am going to the University of Advancing Technology, I'll be the first generation in my family to have a college degree, and I have been building inexpensive 3D printers and teaching myself how to use them on my own. My diverse and unique background helps me to speak with and influence those around me to build strong communities with my neighbors and the schools around me. I believe that it is because of my experiences as a Latino man that have made me into what I have become today. This scholarship would help alleviate financial stress and provide resources for my family as I complete my degree and achieve my dream of being a design engineer.

Some might look at a chessboard and see infinite possibilities. This can be overwhelming and discouraging. When I look at a chessboard I see a grid and well-defined rules. Being able to be creative in these rules is what allows for winning strategies to overcome seemingly certain defeat. In life, some rules bind us as a society. Certain norms and expectations of behavior allow us to flourish as a whole. Without these rules and expectations, we would have chaos and violence. While chess is one of the world's oldest combat games, we can take more life lessons from it than just how to overcome an opponent. Patience, strategy, and boldness are all part of winning at chess. The same is true in life. If you are patient, observant, work hard, and are bold at the right moment you can be successful in whatever endeavor you choose. When I was young my dad would play chess with me and my brothers. And even though I would lose, he would show me how to win. He taught me how to not use a rook when a pawn would do, or if couldn't attack the defense head-on, sometimes you just had to come at it from a different angle. These lessons not only taught me how to play and win at chess but also how to approach life. Life is a series of moves and counter-moves. You observe the people and circumstances around you to gather information. This information informs your choices allowing you to plan and strategize as you go through life. It helps you be flexible yet decisive. As I grew older I realized that the world is a lot like that chess board, and, while you don't always control the other pieces, you can control your piece and move about those around you to gain the most advantageous position you can. Because we live in a society, we work together as a collective team to achieve some common goal that is otherwise impossible for one person on their own. Because of this, sometimes it is necessary to voluntarily make a sacrifice for the rest of society. Being king and courteous to others, not taking what isn't yours, and taking care of yourself so someone else doesn't have to are all self-sacrifices we make for the good of the community. We do this to not burden others which allows them to be the best they can be and so, pass along the charity to others. Like in chess, there are many pieces on the board at a time. As the game progresses, other pieces come and go as you interact with them. Some are allies, some are adversaries, and all are working towards finishing the game. We can choose how we interact with those around us, and I hope I at least have made a positive impression on those around me.

I was born in east Los Angeles. My dad didn't finish highschool and my mom didn't finish college. We lived in a one-bedroom apartment until I was two and my dad lost his job. We were homeless for a little while, sleeping at the house of one of my uncles with two other families crammed into a 3 bedroom house. My dad didn't give up though and soon found another job that allowed us to move into a little house in the city of Monrovia, California. From the time I was old enough to hold a crayon, I was designing things. Some of the earliest drawings my mother has of mine are sectional views of submarines and houses. I didn't even know what a sectional view was, but I knew I wanted to make the things I saw in my head become a reality. My dad instilled in me and my four siblings resiliency, a desire to learn, and to be self-reliant. The road has been long with some bumps along the way. I tried to go to college before but necessity forced me to quit college and enter the workforce. I kept honing my design skills though and persevered, always keeping my dream alive that one day I would be able to be a design engineer. I learned to use several different design software and took design classes at the Kendall College of Art and Design. Again, life circumstances forced me to stop my studies at KCAD as I couldn't afford to continue at that time. I joined the Michigan Army National Guard (MARNG) to bring some stability to my family and earn some education benefits and give back to my community. In 2020 I was able to participate in the Covid-19 task force. The MARNG deployed all across the state to facilitate health centers with training, testing, and eventually, vaccinating. Fast forward to the present and I am going to the University of Advancing Technology, I'll be the first generation in my family to have a college degree, and I have been building inexpensive 3D printers and teaching myself how to use them on my own. This scholarship would help alleviate financial stress and provide resources for my family as I complete my degree and achieve my dream of being a design engineer.

I was born in east Los Angeles. My dad didn't finish highschool and my mom didn't finish college. We lived in a one-bedroom apartment until I was two and my dad lost his job. We were homeless for a little while, sleeping at the house of one of my uncles with two other families crammed into a 3 bedroom house. My dad didn't give up though and soon found another job that allowed us to move into a little house in the city of Monrovia, California. From the time I was old enough to hold a crayon, I was designing things. Some of the earliest drawings my mother has of mine are sectional views of submarines and houses. I didn't even know what a sectional view was, but I knew I wanted to make the things I saw in my head become a reality. I didn't get G.I. Joes or Hotwheels as a kid, I just wanted legos and art books to do my design. My dad instilled in me and my four siblings resiliency, a desire to learn, and to be self-reliant. The road has been long with some bumps along the way. I tried to go to college before but necessity forced me to quit college and enter the workforce. I kept honing my design skills though and persevered, always keeping my dream alive that one day I would be able to be a design engineer. I learned to use several different design software and took design classes at the Kendall College of Art and Design. Again, life circumstances forced me to stop my studies at KCAD as I couldn't afford to continue at that time. I joined the Michigan Army National Guard (MARNG) to bring some stability to my family and earn some education benefits and give back to my community. In 2020 I was able to participate in the Covid-19 task force. The MARNG deployed all across the state to facilitate health centers with training, testing, and eventually, vaccinating. Fast forward to the present and I am going to the University of Advancing Technology, I'll be the first generation in my family to have a college degree, and I have been building inexpensive 3D printers and teaching myself how to use them on my own. This scholarship would help alleviate financial stress and provide resources for my family as I complete my degree and achieve my dream of being a design engineer.

Where the Sun Doesn’t Shine By Michael Garcia 03/23/23 Suicide. The military is, by nature, a rough and untamed beast that has a life of its own. From the outside, people see rigid discipline and structure. From the inside, it can look very different. From demanding training schedules to traumatic brain injuries, and even the possibility of death, it’s a very stressful environment. The military teaches you how to deal with that stress through training and resources, but it wasn’t always that way. Only in the last twenty years has the military acknowledged this present crisis facing our uniformed troops. 17 a day. That’s the current estimate for how many military veterans commit suicide daily. According to the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report (1), veterans are 57.3% more likely than non-veterans to commit suicide. This is not surprising to me. The military demands total devotion and loyalty over everything else—even family—which puts a tremendous amount of strain on familial relationships. Suicide rates are especially high in the first 6-12 months after a deployment or separation from the military(2). Due to these stressful realities, divorce is also high, with nearly 30% of lower enlisted supervisors in the military experiencing a divorce before they are 30 (3). This can strip them of vital support and outside human interaction. This is important because a soldier can become detached from reality if surrounded only by other military members all the time. Dark humor and unhealthy coping mechanisms are common in the military, as is making light of death, violence, and inter-unit conflict. Altogether, this is a recipe for isolation, loneliness, and hopelessness. These only serve to compound the issue. Recognizing this problem, the military sought to strengthen its troops by creating resources for soldiers, including a suicide hotline and educational material.(4) They began pushing out mandatory classes, teaching resiliency techniques and how to recognize the signs of someone who might be suicidal. The program has seen some success, with a steady decrease in suicide year over year from 2006 to 2022 (5). Many non-profit organizations outside the military have also stepped up to continue the support of veterans when they separate from their military careers. These programs are good but lack the depth needed to root out the problem in the military as a whole. I would propose having more civilian involvement and events that include family and friends. This can help create a more diverse support system that stretches beyond the military, and possibly allows for isolation to be abated before it begins. In addition, I would like to see more military outreach to veterans who are no longer in the service, showing them that they can still be part of the team that gave them purpose and meaning. For many, the military becomes part of their identity. Losing that identity is what fuels the feelings of isolation and begins the spiral toward suicide. Events that bring retired soldiers back into the fold on a regular basis would help to bridge that gap. Suicide will always be a challenge for the military, especially in times of prolonged war. For the seven years I have served, I have personally lost at least two soldiers I know per year to suicide. Sometimes I wonder who is next and if I had seen the signs, would I have been able to save them? I hope I will. For my part, I have built a strong support system around myself outside the military so I won't become one of those 17 today. (1)(2)(5):https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/data.asp (3):https://www.sadivorceattorney.com/blog/2021/06/military-divorce-rates-compared-to-national-averages/ (4)https://www.defense.gov/Spotlights/Suicide-Prevention/