One of my most memorable memories as a referee happened while officiating a first-grade flag football game. After a play, a player from the school where I play high school football and basketball came up with a big smile and said, “I caught it just like you do on Fridays.” At first, I was not sure what he meant, but then I realized he was referring to watching me play on Friday nights. Hearing this kid say this, showed me that I can influence young athletes without realizing it. This interaction showed me that as a referee you are a role model to the younger generation of athletes without even realizing it. Participating in sports as a referee has strengthened my character in many ways, especially by improving my patience and control. One of the biggest challenges I face is dealing with upset coaches and parents. Understandably emotions run high during games for parents, coaches, and players especially when a call happens that they do not agree with. It is in these situations that I have learned to stay calm and remain confident in myself and the calls I make. After a few games I began to develop the ability to remain composed and assertive, no matter the situation. This ability to manage tough situations has carried over into other areas of my life, helping me handle many different challenges. Refereeing has also taught me the valuable lesson that it is okay to make mistakes. The first bad call I made I got worried thinking it could ruin the game or disappoint the players and coaches. But I have learned that no one is perfect on the field, not the players, coaches, fans, or referees. What I believe matters most is how you respond to the mistakes. Instead of thinking about them all game, I focused on learning from them and improving. Accepting the mistakes I made not only helped me grow as a better referee but also as a better person. My future as a referee is pretty clear to me. This summer, I plan to become an AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) referee, marking a new chapter in my journey. AAU has been a part of my life for the last couple of years as a player and I am ready to continue this experience but this time as a referee. Refereeing at a higher level will give me the opportunity to improve my skills and gain new insights into the game. The best part about being a referee for me is being able to stay involved with the sports I love. Through these experiences, I hope to inspire young athletes the way I was once inspired as a player. Becoming an AAU referee will not only help me grow but also allow me to contribute to the sport that has given me so much. By gaining these skills and insights through refereeing AAU games, I believe that I will continue to climb my way up the levels. My time so far as a referee has taught me valuable lessons in patience, control, and self-acceptance. I have learned that making mistakes is a natural part of the process, and it is how we handle those mistakes that shape us. Looking to the future, I am excited about the opportunity to continue my refereeing journey with AAU this summer and see where it takes me. I hope to make countless positive impacts on young athletes and contribute to the sport that has played such a significant role in my life.

Growing up, I would spend countless hours playing board games with my family. Playing board games taught me valuable lessons and sparked my interest in what I want to major in. One board game lit this spark the most. This game was Monopoly, a game where players use fake money to buy, sell, and trade properties to bankrupt their opponents and dominate the market. Monopoly was by far my favorite game. I would save up my money to buy new versions that came out. Monopoly was almost an addiction to me. I had collected five different versions at one time, ranging from the classic version to a credit card one. Monopoly was one of the main things that piqued my interest in finance. The countless hours I spent playing Monopoly, planning, negotiating, and managing my in-game assets gave me a preview of what a financial textbook could teach me. This simple game instantly hooked me on the concepts of investment and the thrill of the risk involved. Monopoly also showed me the importance of my financial decisions and what could result from them. This made me become obsessed with analyzing all the possibilities and outcomes my moves had in the game and the real world. This fascination led me to love the idea of majoring in finance. To get a better idea, I researched what jobs in the real world I could get with a finance degree. Jobs such as investment banker and financial analyst talked to me the most as I began applying them to Monopoly. Playing Monopoly allowed me to feel like I was an investment banker or a financial analyst. In the game, I was like an investment banker, making decisions about buying, selling, and trading assets on the board. I could be a financial analyst in Monopoly by calculating a property's actual value and what I should do with it. Applying real jobs to my favorite game showed me the possibilities I would have with a finance degree. Monopoly, a classic board game, ignited my passion for finance. It helped show me financial concepts in a fun, engaging way. The game's mix of strategy and negotiation equipped me with a passion to explore and dive deeper into the world of finance. Majoring in finance would let me find a job I love while living out my childhood love of the classic game of Monopoly.

My name is Nick Stephenson, and I was born and raised in Ohio. So far in my life, I have been committed to making my community the best it can be. To achieve this, I have turned into a leader and obtained a wide range of skills through various community service. I believe through education and kindness lives can change for the better. With this type of mindset, I have been able to achieve great things through a community that has shown me nothing but support. My commitment to my community has been an important part of my life. I have volunteered with the Mogadore Alumni Foundation, at several events, including their annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser and craft bazaar. One of my biggest community accomplishments was creating a student vs. staff basketball game fundraiser that supported families in need during the holidays. This fundraiser not only developed critical leadership and organizational skills as I coordinated with staff and students but also brought the community together for the holiday. Not only did I set up the event, but I worked as a referee. This let me witness firsthand the positive influence an event can have on a community. These experiences have reinforced my belief in the importance of creating a supportive community and encouraged me to take on greater leadership roles moving forward. As a first-generation college student, I am faced with the financial challenge of pursuing my education to the next level. I am relying on scholarships and my own funding to pay for college. Receiving this scholarship would do wonders in allowing me to achieve my goals by continuing to pursue my education and community involvement. This scholarship would provide me with more of a sense of stability that I need to continue to succeed academically. This scholarship would be an investment into my future that without a doubt will pay off. Protecting children and youth from bullying is a cause I am deeply passionate about. My values of kindness and empathy, instilled in me by my father’s guiding principle, "Treat others as you want to be treated," have shaped my approach to addressing bullying. In my community, I have volunteered at the Special Olympics, where I helped students with unique challenges participate in sports and experience the joy that many others take for granted. I have also taken steps to prevent bullying by encouraging positive interactions at school events and leading initiatives that foster respect and inclusion among students. I have seen firsthand how creating a supportive environment can make a lasting difference, and I aim to continue advocating for safe spaces where youth can thrive, both in person and online. I am committed to raising awareness about the dangers of cyberbullying and educating my peers about online safety and kindness in digital spaces. The increase in technology has put the youth more than ever at risk of cyberbullying. At my school we have made flyers that are hung up around the school to raise awareness for cyberbullying and where people can find help. My experiences in leadership, community service, and advocating for youth safety have shaped me into someone passionate about making a difference. With financial assistance, I will be able to fully dedicate myself to my studies, achieve my career goals, and continue my efforts to protect and uplift others. I am committed to creating a world where all children can grow up in environments free from bullying and full of opportunity. Through my education, my work in the community, and my future career, I aim to inspire others and give back in meaningful ways.

In states like Florida, California, and Texas, the growing exodus of insurance companies has left homeowners facing the impossible choice between risking their property or paying insane premiums. Now more than ever we need a solution that can provide relief to both the insured and the insurers. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods have been destroying homes and have made insurance companies hesitant to provide coverage where these disasters hit. Due to the risk of a natural disaster insurance companies raise their premiums to unaffordable levels. This is causing homeowners to choose between protecting their home or other life necessities. As premiums continue to rise, the need for a solution has never been more urgent. A solution that I believe will solve these problems and be easy to adapt to is enacting stronger regulations around the construction of homes. The insurance crisis in states like Florida, California, and Texas is all caused by natural disasters. As hurricanes, wildfires, and floods destroy everything in their path, insurance companies are faced with staggering financial risks. Many have resorted to leaving these states, while others raise premiums to cover the costs. Premium increases have become very troublesome for retirees and single parents, who already are faced with tight budgets. With fewer insurers offering coverage, homeowners are faced with very few options to protect their homes. This shows the urgency for a solution that balances risk and affordability for insurance companies and homeowners. An effective solution that I believe will help the homeowners' insurance crisis is the implementation of stronger regulations around home construction in these disaster-prone areas. By mandating disaster-resistant building materials and design features, states can significantly reduce the risk of property damage from hurricanes, wildfires, and floods. For example, in hurricane-prone regions, homes could be required to be built at a certain elevation, have reinforced roofs, and windows that can withstand high winds. In wildfire zones, homes could be built with fire-resistant materials such as metal or stone instead of wood. These regulations would not only protect homes and the families inside but also reduce the overall risk for insurance companies. Insurance companies could encourage these regulations by providing cheaper coverage if homeowners build or renovate to follow these standards. By lowering the risk of destruction, these construction regulations could make homeowners’ insurance more affordable, while also protecting families and memories from disasters. This solution will only be possible if insurance companies take the first step. Homeowners are unlikely to invest in upgrading their homes if they cannot secure coverage. Insurers will also need to work with the government to implement these construction regulations. By incentivizing homeowners to adopt disaster-resistant features with lower premiums or discounts, insurance companies can encourage widespread adoption. Nationwide adoption will not only lead to better coverage but also a safer country against things we cannot control. The most important part of this solution is transparency education. Insurance agencies clearly explaining the types of construction needed and the benefits of doing it, can help homeowners make informed decisions about what coverage and price will be best to protect their life. To solve the growing homeowners' insurance crisis, stronger construction regulations in disaster-prone areas are essential. By enforcing disaster-resistant building codes, premiums should become more affordable as the risk insurance companies face decreases. For this to be possible Insurance agencies must collaborate with governments and incentivize homeowners to make these changes. With the right regulations in place, not only will insurance be more affordable but the lives of millions will be safer.