“There has to be a better way.” I remember thinking that while staring at rows of inventory data during my time in merchandise planning and allocation at Altar’d State. I have always loved fashion, so getting the opportunity to work behind the scenes of a fashion retailer was exciting. However, I quickly learned that behind every dress hanging in a store is a lot of data. Every style has sales, inventory, sell-through, weeks of supply, and store-level performance attached. My job allowed me to see how those numbers ultimately determined where thousands of units of clothing went. That was when my curiosity took over. I began noticing situations where the same product could tell two completely different stories depending on the store. One location might be selling through a style quickly and running low on inventory, while another had more units sitting on the rack than its sales justified. At first, it seems like a simple problem: send more inventory to the store selling more. But supply chain rarely gives you answers that easily. I started breaking the problem apart. I looked at sales trends, inventory levels, weeks of supply, and sell-through. I compared stores instead of looking at each location in isolation. I asked whether demand justified sending additional units and whether inventory could be better positioned somewhere else. Most importantly, I kept asking why. Why was this product performing differently? Was it the customer? Geography? Store volume? Was the problem demand, or had we put the wrong amount of inventory in the wrong place? The more I dug into the data, the more exciting the problem became. Instead of viewing inventory as a fixed number on a spreadsheet, I began seeing it as something I could influence. Better allocation decisions could put products where customers were actually buying them, reduce excess inventory in slower locations, and give stronger stores a better opportunity to capture sales. That experience changed the way I approach problems. I learned that improving a process does not always require creating something completely new. Sometimes innovation starts with being curious enough to question what is already happening. It means slowing down, breaking a system into smaller pieces, finding the disconnect, and being willing to ask whether there is a better way. That mindset has followed me far beyond fashion. I graduated with honors in Supply Chain Management from the University of Tennessee and am now pursuing my Master of Science in Supply Chain Management while working full-time. Today, when I encounter a complicated process or dataset, my first instinct is still to take it apart and understand why it works the way it does. Eventually, I hope to take that mindset into supply chain consulting. I want companies to hand me the problems they cannot figure out. I want to dig through their data, ask questions that may have been overlooked, find inefficiencies, and help rebuild processes in smarter and safer ways. Altar’d State taught me I don't need to be intimidated by a complicated problem. I become excited by it. “There has to be a better way” is no longer just something I think when I encounter a problem. It is the question I hope to spend my career answering.

When I picture the life of my dreams, strangely enough, I picture my closet. I picture myself standing in front of it before work, changing my outfit three times before finally finding the one that feels like me. Before leaving, I prop up my phone and film it for TikTok. Maybe it becomes a workwear style guide, three ways to style one piece, or inspiration for someone staring at her own closet wondering what to wear. Fashion has always been personal to me. I love putting together an outfit and feeling my confidence change when I finally get it right. I love finding one piece and immediately imagining completely different ways to style it. I especially love creating style guides for real moments in life, whether someone needs an outfit for her first internship, a football game, dinner with friends, a vacation, or her first day at a new job. In my dream life, I have turned that passion into a TikTok community. I want women to save my style guides, recreate outfits, and return when they need inspiration. I want a college student preparing for her first internship to find my page and feel more confident walking into the office. I want someone to discover a new way to wear something already hanging in her closet and feel excited about her style again. That matters to me because identity has never felt one-dimensional in my own life. As a multiracial woman, I have grown up understanding that I can belong to more than one world at once. I do not have to choose one part of myself and leave another behind. As I have gotten older, I have realized the same should be true for my dreams. I am creative, but I am also incredibly analytical. I love fashion, but I genuinely love data too. I love being handed something complicated, breaking it into pieces, asking why it works the way it does, and finding a better solution. That curiosity led me to graduate with honors in Supply Chain Management from the University of Tennessee. Today, I am pursuing my master's degree in Supply Chain Management at UT while working full time. My life right now does not always look like the dream. Some days, I finish a full workday only to open my laptop and begin graduate coursework. TikTok ideas sit in my notes, outfits I want to film, places I want to travel, and creative ideas waiting for the rare moment I have time. Still, I keep going because I know what I am building. Professionally, I dream of becoming a supply chain consultant. I want to enter different businesses, study their operations and data, ask questions others may have overlooked, and solve problems without obvious answers. Creatively, I want to grow a fashion platform that helps women discover their personal style and feel confident expressing it. For a while, those dreams felt like two completely different futures. Now, I realize my dream is having the freedom to pursue both. I want to lead a consulting project and still come home excited to create a style guide. I want to travel, achieve financial freedom, support the people I love, and eventually use my success to open doors for other women. Being multiracial has taught me that identity does not have to fit neatly into one box. Neither do my dreams. The life of my dreams is having the freedom to become every part of the woman I know I can be.

I have always been the person who needs to know why. Why did this product sell here but not there? Why is inventory sitting in one location while another needs more? Where did the process break down? And, my favorite question: how can I rebuild it better? For a long time, I thought my curiosity was simply part of my personality. Then I discovered supply chain management and realized I could build a career around it. That truly clicked through my love of fashion. During my time at Altar’d State, I worked in merchandise planning and allocation. Suddenly, the clothing I had always viewed through a creative lens became something completely different. Behind every dress hanging on a rack was a trail of data and decisions that determined how it got there. I could look at thousands of units of inventory and break them down by sales, sell-through, weeks of supply, inventory levels, and store performance. A style could be flying off the racks in one store while sitting untouched in another. Immediately, I wanted to know why. Was it the customer? The location? The assortment? Did we send too much inventory to one store and not enough to another? I loved it. Something was exciting about starting with an overwhelming amount of information and pulling it apart until the numbers began telling a story. Then came my favorite part: figuring out what to do about it. Allocating inventory differently could capture missed sales, reduce excess inventory, and put the right product in front of the right customer. It combined two sides of me that I never realized could exist in the same career. Fashion allowed me to be creative, while supply chain challenged me to be analytical. I can break down problems, understand why something isn't working, and use my creativity to propose better solutions. I carried that excitement through my Supply Chain Management degree at the University of Tennessee, where I graduated with honors. Today, I am pursuing my Master of Science in Supply Chain Management at UT while working full-time at RaceTrac. As my education and career have progressed, the puzzles have grown more complex. Instead of thinking about one product or store, I now see the systems connecting suppliers, purchasing, inventory, transportation, operations, and customers. Every new system gives me another opportunity to ask why. That is why my ultimate goal is supply chain consulting. I want to enter different organizations, learn how their operations work, dig into their data, identify where something is breaking down, and help rebuild it. The thought of being handed an unfamiliar problem excites me. I want to ask questions that have not been asked, uncover patterns others may have overlooked, and turn those discoveries into measurable improvements. Manufacturing offers endless opportunities to do that. A supplier delay, inaccurate forecast, or inventory imbalance can ripple through production and ultimately reach the customer. As predictive analytics and artificial intelligence advance, I want to help manufacturers use data to anticipate those problems instead of reacting to them. This scholarship would help me continue developing those skills through my master’s degree while working full-time and preparing for a career in consulting. Supply chain has given my analytical mind, creativity, and curiosity somewhere to meet. I fell in love with breaking systems down to understand them. Now, I want to spend my career building them back better.

I learned that knowledge is power by watching my mother fight for hers. My mom became a mother at 18. As a young African American single mother, she was raising me at an age when most people are still figuring out their own future. She could have put her dreams aside, but she refused to let her circumstances determine where her story would end. While raising me, she graduated from Vanderbilt University and later earned her master’s degree. As a child, I did not understand the sacrifices behind those accomplishments. I watched my mom work, study, raise me, and keep going. As I have grown older, I have realized that she was teaching me something far greater than the importance of earning a degree. She showed me that education can change the trajectory of a life. Knowledge creates choices, opens doors, and gives us the ability to create opportunities for others. Today, I am living proof of how far her example has carried me. I graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Supply Chain Management. I am now pursuing my master’s degree in Supply Chain Management at UT while working full-time at RaceTrac. Between work and graduate school, my schedule is demanding, but I still make time for one commitment: Odyssey. Odyssey is an Atlanta educational nonprofit that provides students with academic enrichment and a supportive community where they can learn, grow, and recognize their potential. Being part of Odyssey matters to me because I can give students what my mother gave me throughout my childhood: someone in their corner who believes education can take them somewhere greater. I do not make time for Odyssey because I have time to spare. I make time because I know how powerful it is for a young person to have someone believe in them. Because of my mother, I grew up believing college was possible. I believed graduate school was possible. Most importantly, I believed that where I started did not have to determine where I could go. Not every child grows up with someone constantly reinforcing those beliefs. That is the impact I want to make. As my career grows, I want to mentor students and young professionals, share the knowledge and opportunities I receive, and continue supporting programs like Odyssey. I want young people, especially those who may not see themselves represented in the careers or leadership positions they dream about, to understand that they belong in those rooms too. My mother began this legacy when she chose, at 18, with a child depending on her, to keep learning. Years later, I walked across the stage at the University of Tennessee with honors because the example she set taught me to keep learning too. Her education changed her life. Her example changed mine. Now, I want to use my education to help change someone else’s.

The moment I looked at the cost of continuing my education after my undergraduate degree, I knew that earning a degree is only part of the challenge. College requires investment and significant financial sacrifice: tuition, books, tech fees, housing, daily living expenses. I am aware that I can continue my education through scholarships, even though I have worked hard to secure a full-time job and internships. This is why this opportunity would have such an impact on my future. I am a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. I double-majored in Supply Chain Management and Marketing, and had a collateral in Information Management. I was a 1794 Honors Scholar and a Supply Chain Scholars of Distinction Scholar and maintained a 3.8 GPA throughout my college career. I was also on the Dean’s List for all eight semesters. I was also excited to be awarded the Marketing Merit Award for being one of the most outstanding students in the Marketing Department. These achievements did not happen overnight. Years of demanding classes, internships, leadership positions, and career development have molded them. Success, in my opinion, is a daily desire to push yourself, to be disciplined, and to be consistent. Although academics have always been my bedrock, I believe education should transcend the confines of the classroom. Before commencing my current position as an SRM Industry Analyst at RaceTrac, I completed internships with UPS Digital and Altar'd State during my college years. Throughout these experiences, I have analyzed customer and supplier data, constructed dashboards and executive reports, assisted with contract negotiations, and identified opportunities to enhance business performance. Working in procurement, strategy, and merchandising has enhanced my analytical abilities and demonstrated the potential of data-driven decisions to generate significant business outcomes. The opportunities I was presented with pushed me to develop professionally and reaffirmed my enthusiasm for supply chain management. One of the most gratifying experiences of my college career was serving as Vice President of Recruitment Counselors for the University of Tennessee Panhellenic. In this capacity, I assisted in coordinating one of the university's most significant annual events and conducted weekly leadership development classes for over 120 Recruitment Counselors. I was responsible for coordinating communications with more than 80 external sponsors, managing over $20,000 in scholarship and sponsorship funding, and collaborating with campus administrators and chapter leaders to ensure the successful execution of recruitment. This position taught me how to communicate effectively, lead under pressure, and make decisions that positively impacted others. More importantly, it showed me that true leadership is about serving people and helping them reach their full potential. Beyond my coursework and leadership positions, I have consistently looked for ways to continue learning. Whether volunteering for additional responsibilities during internships, pursuing professional certifications, or taking on challenging projects, I believe growth comes from being willing to learn something new every day. I have intentionally sought experiences that prepared me for the constantly evolving business world because I want to graduate not only with academic knowledge but also with the practical skills to contribute immediately in my career. Although I have worked hard to build my resume through internships, leadership roles, and academic achievements, paying for college has remained a significant challenge. Like many students, I have balanced preparing for my future while worrying about the financial reality of earning a degree. I have chosen to continue my education by pursuing a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management because I know advanced education will strengthen my leadership and business professional skills. However, graduate school also brings another round of tuition and educational expenses, creating additional financial pressure. Receiving this scholarship would reduce that burden and allow me to devote more time and energy to my education and professional growth instead of worrying about tuition costs. It would allow me to continue taking advantage of opportunities that develop my skills while limiting my reliance on additional student debt. I see education as one of the greatest investments a person can make, and I am committed to making the most of every opportunity I receive. I believe I embody the qualities this scholarship seeks. My ambition is demonstrated by pursuing graduate school immediately after earning my bachelor's degree while continuing to grow professionally. My drive is reflected in maintaining academic excellence, completing competitive internships, and taking on leadership roles that challenged me to become a stronger communicator and leader. My impact can be seen through the students I mentored, the organizations I served, and the meaningful contributions I made in every internship and professional position I have held. This scholarship would not simply recognize what I have already accomplished. It would help make everything I still hope to achieve possible. I am committed to using my education, leadership experience, and passion for continuous improvement to create meaningful change throughout my career. With your support, I will continue investing in my education, serving others, and striving to make a lasting impact in both my profession and my community.

As an African American student at the University of Tennessee studying Supply Chain & Logistics and Digital & Visual Marketing, I have learned that success is measured not only by personal achievements but also by the impact you have on the people around you. My education is preparing me for a career in business and supply chain. Still, more importantly, it is giving me the tools to become a leader who creates opportunities, mentors others, and advocates for often-overlooked communities. I want to use my future career to help build inclusive workplaces, support mentorship initiatives, and create pathways for students from underserved communities to succeed professionally and academically. Much of my motivation comes from my mother, who is my hero. She had me when she was only 18 years old and continuously defied the odds placed against her as a single mother and a woman of color. Instead of allowing those obstacles to limit her future, she used them as motivation to work harder. She earned her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and later completed her master’s degree at the University of Georgia. Today, she is a director in her corporate career. Watching her balance motherhood, education, and professional success taught me resilience, discipline, and perseverance from a young age. She showed me what it means to keep pushing forward despite the challenges ahead, and her journey inspires me every day to pursue excellence while uplifting others along the way. One of the causes I care most deeply about is educational accessibility and mentorship for students from underserved communities. This passion led me to dedicate more than 40 hours a week to volunteering with Odyssey Atlanta, an organization that supports students academically and personally. Through Odyssey Atlanta, I worked closely with children from underserved communities in Atlanta, helping create spaces where they could feel confident, supported, and excited about learning. Many of these students simply needed encouragement, patience, and someone who genuinely believed in their potential. My experience with Odyssey Atlanta became much more than volunteer work. It became deeply personal to me. I encouraged students to believe in themselves, celebrate their progress, and understand that mistakes do not define their abilities. I saw firsthand how powerful mentorship and support can be in shaping a child’s confidence and future. Watching students begin to trust themselves academically and socially reminded me of why representation, access, and encouragement matter so much. Those experiences strengthened my desire to continue advocating for students who may not always receive the opportunities or resources they deserve. Through my chosen major and future career, I hope to make a positive impact by becoming a leader who prioritizes mentorship, equity, and opportunity. I want to help create environments where people from all backgrounds feel supported and empowered to succeed. Whether through leadership initiatives, mentorship programs, or community involvement, I plan to continue giving back and helping others access opportunities that can change their lives. If awarded this scholarship, it would help support my educational journey as I continue pursuing my goals and preparing for graduate studies. More importantly, it would allow me to continue honoring the values of resilience, leadership, and service that have shaped who I am today.

Having grown up in a multicultural environment, I can say that being Filipino has definitely shaped every part of me today. As a Pacific Islander student in college, I carry not only my own ambitions but also the sacrifices, resilience, and values of my family. I've learned the value of faith, hard work, humility, and service to others from my culture. It has also reminded me that one does not achieve success alone. All my achievements are because of the sacrifices my family made to provide better opportunities for future generations. My Lola, my grandmother, has been one of the biggest influences in my life. I watched her travel to the Philippines all the time growing up, never letting distance get in the way of her roots, family, or culture. Watching her, I learned to stay in touch with the source of your soul, no matter how far life may lead you. She always has to tell me to remember who I am, where I came from, and the sacrifices our family made to build a life in America. I saw how important it is to honor your heritage while still working for a better future. I saw how dedicated you are to both our family here and our family in the Philippines. My family worked very hard to come to America to seek opportunities they had not always had. Every day in college, I think of their sacrifices. There are times when you feel overwhelmed trying to balance school, leadership positions, internships, jobs, and graduate school plans. But I tell myself my family has gone through so much more, so I can have these opportunities. They make me see education as a privilege and a responsibility, not as a personal achievement. I am currently studying Supply Chain & Logistics and Digital & Visual Marketing, and preparing for graduate studies. I hope to advocate for Pacific Islanders and multicultural students in spaces where we are often underrepresented. Being Filipino has helped me relate to so many different people while staying really grounded in who I am and what I stand for. I want to be the face of success for younger students from immigrant and multicultural families, so they see someone like them succeeding in leadership, business, and higher education. Service has also become a way for me to pay homage to my culture and my family’s sacrifices. I have learned how important mentorship and support can be through organizations such as Odyssey Atlanta, where I have completed over 200 hours of community service helping students prepare for college and future careers. I have also held leadership positions at the University of Tennessee, where I am dedicated to creating communities where others are inspired and supported. My family has taught me that leadership is not about being recognized, but the opportunity to help others succeed with you. I believe I deserve this scholarship because I have worked hard to take full advantage of every opportunity my family has sacrificed to provide me. More importantly, I try to use those opportunities to give back to others and make my family proud. The legacy of Faatuai and Fatilua resonates deeply with me because it embodies the same values I was brought up with: faith, education, perseverance, and service. This scholarship would assist me with more than just my education. But that would be a tribute to the sacrifices my family made and would inspire me to continue lifting people while remaining true to my roots.

Hi, my name is Mikayla Riggins, and I am a senior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, studying for a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a double major in Supply Chain Management and Marketing and a minor in Information Management. I will also be furthering my education by pursuing my master’s degree in supply chain at the University of Tennessee. As a Black woman entering a male-dominated field, I am driven not only to succeed but also to make room and create opportunities for those who follow me. I have been very passionate about serving my community throughout my college career. I have done over 200 hours of community service. Maybe one of the most life-changing experiences has been my work with Odyssey Atlanta, a nonprofit that provides academic enrichment and leadership development opportunities for underserved students. As a volunteer at an 8th-grade networking event, I helped create a welcoming environment where students could build confidence, practice professional communication, and begin thinking about their future careers. I had meaningful conversations with students about their goals, and I shared insights that opened their eyes to see new possibilities for themselves. That experience solidified the power of mentorship and representation, especially for students who don’t always see themselves represented in professional spaces. I have also been in direct support roles to meet immediate community needs, along with Odyssey. I volunteered at Austin East High School, sorting food and clothing donations to help provide students with needed resources. I volunteered with St. Vincent de Paul Georgi, where I helped prepare and serve food, pack snack bags, sort produce, and stock shelves for families in need. I have also been involved behind the scenes, organizing supplies, preparing materials, and supporting community events that bring people together. These experiences have taught me that it does not always take grand gestures to make a difference. It’s about being there day after day and doing the work that supports others. My leadership experiences have also informed my approach to making an impact. As the Vice President of Recruitment Counselors for Panhellenic at the University of Tennessee, I supervised over 120 women and taught weekly leadership development sessions focused on communication, confidence, and values-based decision-making. In this role, I helped to foster an inclusive and supportive environment that inspired growth and leadership in all. I also helped distribute over $20,000 in scholarships and sponsorships, ensuring the funds reached those who needed them most. Professionally, I work in supply chain to make a broader impact by improving efficiency, reducing waste, and driving more sustainable and equitable business practices. Through my internships, I’ve already seen how data-driven decisions can reduce excess inventory and improve operations. In the future, I want to use these skills not only to improve business performance but also to advocate for diversity within the industry and create more opportunities for women of color in supply chain roles. This scholarship would allow me to continue my education and pursue my career goals while focusing on serving others. I am dedicated to using my experiences, education, and voice to create meaningful change in my community and beyond. My goal is not only to succeed, but to ensure that others have the support, representation, and opportunities they need to succeed as well.

Supply chain management should prioritize sustainability because it significantly influences environmental impact across industries. Carbon emissions, waste, and resource consumption are influenced by each phase of the supply chain, including sourcing raw materials, production, transportation, warehousing, and final delivery. The environmental impact of these operations is increasing as global demand continues to increase and supply chains become more complex. Supply chain professionals are well placed to make a difference. From an environmental perspective, it is the right thing to do, and it creates long-term business value through cost savings, improved efficiency, and a stronger brand reputation. My education in supply chain management and professional experience have already shown me the direct impact of operational decisions on sustainability outcomes. As a Merchandise Planning Intern at Altar’d State, I utilized sales data, inventory levels, and forecasting tools to guide planning decisions. This experience has taught me how to forecast more accurately and manage inventory to minimize excess production and unsold stock, thereby reducing waste. It highlighted the idea that sustainability is not always about big projects, but about smarter, data-driven decisions in everyday business. In the future, I will reduce the environmental impact by focusing on efficiency, analytics, and continuous improvement of the supply chain processes. I am particularly intrigued bf demand planning, network optimization, and transportation strategy, where even minor modifications can significantly reduce waste and emissions. I aim to develop models that help companies better align supply and demand, reduce unnecessary shipping, and make more informed sourcing decisions using tools such as Excel, SA, P, and Power BI. Additionally, I am interested in contributing to initiatives that assess supplier sustainability and promote more responsible practices throughout the supply chain. Also, I believe sustainable change will be facilitated by collaboration. More comprehensive solutions that balance cost, service, and environmental impact are achieved through cross-functional collaboration with teams in operations, sourcing, and logistics. I am well-equipped to make a meaningful contribution in these environments and to understand how decisions in one area affect the entire system, thanks to my experience collaborating with buying and planning teams. In the end, I aspire to build a career that enables me to help organizations develop supply chains that are not only environmentally responsible but also efficient and scalable. I am driven by the prospect of using data and strategy to make more informed decisions that benefit both the business and the environment, demonstrating that sustainability and performance can be achieved in tandem.

My name is Mikayla Riggins. I am from Marietta, GA, pursuing a double major in Supply Chain Management and Marketing with a collateral in Information Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I strive to approach everything I do excellently, whether in academics, leadership, or service. I firmly believe that hard work and dedication are the keys to creating a meaningful impact on the world. Education is one of the most powerful tools for personal growth, empowerment, and societal change. I have experienced its value firsthand through my academic journey and commitment to helping others access its opportunities. This past summer, I worked with Odyssey Atlanta, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking educational barriers for underprivileged children and empowering them to pursue college and fulfilling careers. During my time there, I witnessed the transformative power of education as I built meaningful relationships with students, helping them prepare for the upcoming school year. Seeing their excitement and ambition ignited by shared learning experiences reinforced my belief that education is key to breaking systemic cycles of poverty and unlocking potential. On a personal level, education has been the foundation for my growth and aspirations. Academically, it has shaped my career goals in supply chain management, a field that connects people and processes to create efficiency and innovation. I value how education provides technical knowledge, the ability to think critically, and the ability to solve complex problems. It has equipped me with the skills and confidence to pursue opportunities such as my upcoming internship with HD Supply, where I will contribute to the Environmental Health and Safety team. Education has also been a catalyst for leadership and service in my life. Through roles such as Vice President of Recruitment Counselors for the University of Tennessee Panhellenic Council, I have mentored over 150 women, helping them navigate the recruitment process with confidence and connection. My involvement in Women of Haslam has allowed me to connect with like-minded individuals who value inclusivity and mentorship in professional spaces. These experiences have shown me that education is not just about personal success but also about empowering others to see their potential and achieve their goals. Ultimately, education has brought immense value to my life by equipping me with the tools to grow, lead, and serve. It has inspired me to advocate for equity, mentorship, and opportunity for others, and it continues to guide me as I strive to leave a lasting, positive impact on every community I touch. Education is more than knowledge—it catalyzes change, opportunity, and a brighter, more inclusive future.

My name is Mikayla Riggins, and I am a multicultural student from Marietta, GA, pursuing a double major in Supply Chain Management and Marketing with a collateral in Information Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I strive to approach everything I do excellently, whether in academics, leadership, or service. I believe that hard work and dedication are the keys to creating a meaningful impact on the world. My passion for education, leadership, and service has shaped my aspirations. This past summer, I worked with Odyssey Atlanta, a nonprofit dedicated to breaking educational barriers for underprivileged children and empowering them to pursue college and fulfilling careers. During my time there, I witnessed the transformative power of education firsthand. I built relationships with students, helping them prepare for the upcoming school year and watching them connect through shared learning experiences. Seeing their ambitions ignite reinforced my belief in mentorship, equity, and access to education as critical tools for breaking systemic cycles of poverty. Academically, I am a motivated and goal-oriented student who values education’s role in personal and professional growth. My commitment to learning has guided my career aspirations toward supply chain management, a dynamic industry that connects people and processes to drive efficiency. I recently secured an internship with HD Supply, where I can contribute to their Environmental Health and Safety team. Beyond the technical skills I will gain, I am passionate about fostering inclusivity and challenging stereotypes in male-dominated industries. I hope to show that diverse perspectives, collaboration, and innovation are essential for success. Leadership has always been a core part of who I am. I have held numerous leadership roles that have shaped my ability to guide and empower others. I am a proud member of the Kappa Delta sorority, where I served on the executive council during my first year as a Panhellenic Delegate. In this role, I could add a new sorority to our council and vote on essential bylaws, fostering growth and inclusivity within the Panhellenic community. Now, I serve as the Vice President of Recruitment Counselors for the University of Tennessee Panhellenic Council, mentoring and supporting over 150 women through the recruitment process. This experience has deepened my love for mentorship and strengthened my leadership skills as I work to create a welcoming, supportive environment that inspires confidence and connection. Additionally, I am a member of Women of Haslam, a club dedicated to empowering women entering the business world. This community has allowed me to connect with other driven, like-minded women passionate about breaking corporate space barriers. It has further solidified my belief in mentorship and inclusivity in professional environments. Ultimately, I aim to leave a positive, lasting impact on every community I touch. Whether through advocating for education, empowering individuals to see their potential, or breaking barriers in professional spaces, I lead with compassion, integrity, and purpose. My experiences have shaped me into a confident, ambitious individual, ready to embrace challenges and inspire others to pursue their dreams. By striving for excellence in everything I do, I hope to pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future.

This past semester, I was recently elected to serve with our Panhellenic Council as the Assistant Vice President of Recruitment Counselors. In this position, I will start as the assistant and become the Vice President next semester. In this role, I help lead our recruitment counselors through the Primary recruitment process. I have to create manuals that uphold all of the class lessons we have learned, approve sponsorships for these women, help plan our retreat, and teach the recruitment counselors how to lead the young women through the recruitment process. I have learned how to effectively work with our recruitment team and prepare for 2024 primary fall recruitment. I have to help ensure all operations run smoothly and everything is conducted on time. As a leader within our Panhellenic community, I have learned the importance of embracing diverse viewpoints and perspectives. I am incredibly excited to teach our recruitment counselors next spring semester and give them the proper tools to help them succeed outside of the classroom. It has been impactful to be taught how to be my individualized leader, and now I get to give back to my community by teaching these young women how they can be their leaders. I am excited to help lead this upcoming recruitment and the next one. I have learned about my leadership practices and my Clifton strengths and how they work hand in hand with one another. Last, I am excited to be able to help lead the entire Panhellenic community through this process, and I can not wait to work with everyone in our community. This past semester, I have been heavily involved in my sorority, Kappa Delta. I served on the executive board and was committed to my sorority's endeavors. I attended weekly chapter meetings every Monday at seven. Continuing, I helped serve and give back to our philanthropies, the Girl Scouts of the USA and Prevent Child Abuse America. In my chapter, I also give back to our community by completing six hours to fulfill my obligation to Kappa Delta and serve the Knoxville Community. These opportunities have influenced my major and what I want to do with my career. My future aspirations are to leave a mark in the fashion world. I plan to graduate college with honors and leave with extensive knowledge in marketing and merchandising. My professional goal is to be the next CEO of Vogue or the next Sarah Blakely, founder of Spanx. I want to own a fashion company and work with women from various backgrounds and cultures. The company's mission would be to design different styles and trends for women in multiple life stages and help shape our society. According to the Council of Fashion Designers of America, only 14 percent of the top 50 fashion houses in the world are run by female executives. I want to change this trend. I want my fashion company to be an incubator for female designers that encourages support for one another because being a woman can be challenging in society and the workplace. I encourage and support continued education for women to help break the glass ceiling in the fashion industry. I want to help build schools and continue to pave the way for women nationwide to receive an education. My personal goal is to continue and encourage women to accomplish their goals.

One might say depression is not real and rather what someone blames their problems on when things do not go their way. If it were up to me, I would say that they are wrong and that depression comes in some of the most questionable and difficult ways. Mental health has influenced the society that we all live in today. It has caused people to break but it has inspired others to bring light to a very important subject. As a teenage girl, who goes to a high school where social media is the one thing that everyone thrives off of. Social media made me think that everyone was happy and did not struggle with anything because in my mind everyone on Instagram was happy and perfect, but this contributed to my thinking outside of social media. For example, my mom is known as “Mrs. Vanderbilt”, she had me when she was nineteen, worked her butt off, and went to Vanderbilt University; She got a well-paying job and my family and I are blessed to live in a beautiful home and an amazing community. As the oldest, I felt the pressure that I had to be just like her beautiful, intelligent, amazing, and most of all hardworking; But, in reality, I tried so hard to be her but I lost myself in the process. I took all of the hard classes and still take them, just so I can be like her and please others around me. I did not know that this reason would also play into my mental health. Now, do not get me wrong I love my mom and would do anything for her, but trying to be someone and not be yourself is one of the most impossible, yet heartbreaking things someone can do to themself. This played a part and it helped contribute to my mental health in sophomore year. I suffered from depression and anxiety. I would lock myself in my room, not talk to anyone, yell at the people I care most about, sleep until the late afternoon, and slack off from school. Some days it would be bad, where I would try to fake sick, so I could stay at home. Furthermore, I would not eat because I wanted to be a size zero like some of the girls around me. Covid-19 hit at the peak of my depression, and it was challenging the first month. I thought Covid would make me hate life more and become more depressed, but in reality, it opened my eyes to those around me who struggle with mental health issues, as well. It showed me that I was not the only one struggling. This inspired me to talk to others around me, and help to be there for others. When things started to open back up, I started hosting a bible study where people can come from my team. I hosted one every Thursday night at the coffee shop around school, and on the first night, ten girls came. We were able to talk about mental health and be able to figure out ways for people to overcome their struggles together. We continued this for five months, and now these girls are happy and living their life to the fullest. I would have never thought that a little bible study group and my mental health problems would help bring ten girls out of the darkest places. In addition, my struggles and insecurities led me to find two of my passions: Social Media Marketing and Journalism. I want to work in these two fields, and help bring light to mental health, sports, and fashion, which are some of the things that I love. Hopefully, one day I will be able to write about these for Vogue Magazine or be the president of Social Media for Vogue or a major sports team. I did not know that my mental health would inspire me to now be the president of FCA, a writing editor for my school yearbook, and an editor for my school newspaper that my friends and I are launching this school year. I am telling you all of this to explain that your struggles and insecurities can lead you to some of the most beautiful endings, and they do not define who you are. It is not always about how you start, but it is about how you finish. My mental health during my sophomore year was one of the hardest things I have experienced, but it played the biggest part in my future goals and what I aspire to do in my life.

One might say depression is not real and rather what someone blames their problems on when things do not go their way. If it were up to me, I would say that they are wrong and that depression comes in some of the most questionable and difficult ways. Mental health has influenced the society that we all live in today. It has caused people to break but it has inspired others to bring light to a very important subject. As a teenage girl, who goes to a high school where social media is the one thing that everyone thrives off of. Social media made me think that everyone was happy and did not struggle with anything because in my mind everyone on Instagram was happy and perfect, but this contributed to my thinking outside of social media. For example, my mom is known as “Mrs. Vanderbilt”, she had me when she was nineteen, worked her butt off, and went to Vanderbilt University; She got a well-paying job and my family and I are blessed to live in a beautiful home and an amazing community. As the oldest, I felt the pressure that I had to be just like her beautiful, intelligent, amazing, and most of all hardworking; But, in reality, I tried so hard to be her but I lost myself in the process. I took all of the hard classes and still take them, just so I can be like her and please others around me. I did not know that this reason would also play into my mental health. Now, do not get me wrong I love my mom and would do anything for her, but trying to be someone and not be yourself is one of the most impossible, yet heartbreaking things someone can do to themself. This played a part and it helped contribute to my mental health in sophomore year. I suffered from depression and anxiety. I would lock myself in my room, not talk to anyone, yell at the people I care most about, sleep until the late afternoon, and slack off from school. Some days it would be bad, where I would try to fake sick, so I could stay at home. Furthermore, I would not eat because I wanted to be a size zero like some of the girls around me. Covid-19 hit at the peak of my depression, and it was challenging the first month. I thought Covid would make me hate life more and become more depressed, but in reality, it opened my eyes to those around me who struggle with mental health issues, as well. It showed me that I was not the only one struggling. This inspired me to talk to others around me, and help to be there for others. When things started to open back up, I started hosting a bible study where people can come from my team. I hosted one every Thursday night at the coffee shop around school, and on the first night, ten girls came. We were able to talk about mental health and be able to figure out ways for people to overcome their struggles together. We continued this for five months, and now these girls are happy and living their life to the fullest. I would have never thought that a little bible study group and my mental health problems would help bring ten girls out of the darkest places. In addition, my struggles and insecurities led me to find two of my passions: Social Media Marketing and Journalism. I want to work in these two fields, and help bring light to mental health, sports, and fashion, which are some of the things that I love. Hopefully, one day I will be able to write about these for Vogue Magazine or be the president of Social Media for Vogue or a major sports team. I did not know that my mental health would inspire me to now be the president of FCA, a writing editor for my school yearbook, and an editor for my school newspaper that my friends and I are launching this school year. I am telling you all of this to explain that your struggles and insecurities can lead you to some of the most beautiful endings, and they do not define who you are. It is not always about how you start, but it is about how you finish. My mental health during my sophomore year was one of the hardest things I have experienced, but it played the biggest part in my future goals and what I aspire to do in my life.