I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his private pilot license for 52 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Being diagnosed as a young teenager affected my entire life. My medical team found the perfect “medication cocktail” and lifestyle modifications needed to keep my seizures at bay, and I learned to adapt at school and my sports teams, adjusting my mindset to living with my new reality. My career decision has been heavily influenced by my disability; after learning I will never fly an airplane, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. Despite the setback, I earned awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering, and building a drone business. My goal is to begin my career as an unmanned aircraft pilot focusing on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I later plan to be an independent contractor, owning and operating a commercial drone business, and working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. I will be a leader in the industry, progressing its development and policies while expanding ethical applications. To reach these goals, I completed the commercial drone program in high school and now use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am now entering my senior year at Embry-Riddle University, pursuing my undergraduate degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems. I maintain a 3.93 GPA while being actively engaged on and off campus, in academic and social clubs, and collaborating with professors at both the Arizona and Florida campuses on research projects. Recently, I presented two such projects at the national Sustainability Conference (one involving UAS-based data and satellite imagery for bald eagle habitats and the other applied remote sensing technologies for environmental monitoring). As Vice President of the ERAU UAS Operations Club, I plan and implement projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyzing LiDAR data, creating 3D models, using photogrammetry and thermal imagery, and assist UAS students to build drones. This summer, I was a Teaching Assistant for a study abroad program in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. We monitored environmental effects of climate change and human impact, utilizing multispectral sensors to assess crop health, photogrammetry to map vineyards, and examined the area’s ecological systems. I am highly motivated, hard-working, dedicated to my studies, passionate about the drone industry, and eager to be a part of its development. Since my diagnosis, I have not let epilepsy control my life, slow me down or define me, and am thriving and resilient despite the obstacles thrown in my path. I learned to be independent and responsible for advocating for myself and my healthcare needs, keeping up with my medication regimen, medical appointments, blood work and imaging tests, and showing resiliency in the face of unexpected medical adversity. While my initial life plans had to adjust, I love the experience of piloting unmanned aircraft as much I imagined I would love flying commercial airliners. As your scholarship recipient, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and focus my career on advancing drone technology in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I am highly motivated, hard-working, and eager to be a leader in the drone industry, its policies, and expanding its applications. I will represent the epilepsy and Hispanic communities in college, my career, and small business, and will continue volunteering in my community, bringing awareness to local environmental issues and utilizing advanced techniques during search and rescue endeavors. Thank you for your consideration, Noah Morales

My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who was a pioneer of her time in joining in the war effort as WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure and was diagnosed with epilepsy. I learned from my neurologist that given my new diagnosis, I would never be able to fly as a commercial pilot. Both my grandfather and great-grandmother motivate me to leave a positive mark in the field of aviation. As a person living with epilepsy, my decision for my career has been heavily influenced by my disability. Despite this major setback, I adapted to my disability, and earned awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a high school junior, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. I am entering my senior year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in unmanned aircraft systems. Last summer, I completed my first study abroad program in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, and will be returning this year as a Teaching Assistant. The program focuses on international mission execution and UAS cinematography. We monitor environmental effects of climate change and human impact, conduct operations that examine the area’s ecological systems, work with local farmers, and document plant health and animal life. This summer I will return to South America as a Teacher Assistant, continuing my international studies on environmental impacts in the Arrayanes Forest, Perito Moreno Glacier, Lake Argentino, and the Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers. These experiences will help me reach my goals as a professional drone pilot and further explore the endless possibilities and potential utilization of UAVs. If awarded this scholarship, I will continue actively supporting other students by sharing my experience and making study abroad feel more accessible, especially for those who are struggling academically or unsure about going. I know that studying abroad can feel intimidating, whether because of cost, confidence, or uncertainty about what the experience will really be like. I want to help students see that it is achievable and worth it. After the program, I will author an article for the campus newspaper that highlights my experience, the research we conducted, and the academic and professional benefits of participating in an international program. I also plan to present my undergraduate research from the trip at a conference. Sharing both the academic outcomes and the hands-on drone operations work will show other students how study abroad can directly connect to their major and career goals, not just travel. I have already been encouraging other students to participate. Last year, I was the only student from the Prescott campus in the program. This year, I helped convince other students to join. I shared photos, videos, and updates from my last trip demonstrating drone missions, fieldwork, and collaboration with students from the Daytona Beach campus. I also speak publicly about my experience, including in a 20-minute YouTube documentary about the trip, showing both the academic work and friendships built across campuses. Moving forward, I will continue speaking at events, mentoring interested students, and sharing honest advice about managing coursework, travel, and finances. By being open about my journey and the growth that came from it, I hope to encourage students see that these opportunities can be a turning point in confidence, motivation, and success, and help make it feel more real and less intimidating.

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 52 years, and from his mother, who was a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this major setback, I have adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. My initial goal is to begin my career as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot focusing on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. Within ten years, I plan to be an independent contractor and professional unmanned pilot, owning and operating a commercial drone business, and working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. I will be a leader in the industry, progressing its development and policies while expanding ethical applications. To reach these goals, I earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot license as a high school junior and am earning my undergraduate degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems. I use my drone license for personal and professional projects, capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am active in my university UAS Operations Club, conducting UAS mock search and rescue missions and analyzation of LiDAR data for AZ Fishing & Game Department and the US Forestry Service. I am spending part of this summer in South America in a study abroad program, monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact, examining the area’s ecological systems, working with farmers, and documenting plant health and animal life. Although the small private university I attend is quite diverse in its student population, the professional field I will enter within aeronautics is Caucasian- and able-bodied dominant. I am motivated to use my education to raise minority Latino and neurological visibility in this field. As more underrepresented minorities pursue higher education and fill higher-level professional positions or become successful business owners, the entire community benefits. Young minority children will see advanced education as a true possibility in their futures, and they will have more role models and opportunities in various professions. On a personal note, I do not feel that my Latino identity has necessarily affected my career goals, but rather my epilepsy diagnosis certainly has. Furthering my education will level the playing field when the field is anything but level. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has always been my dream school but comes with an astronomical price tag of over $65,000 per year. My biggest challenge is not motivation or work ethic, but financial. Eighteen years of saving for my education does not cover even one year of my university expenses. As a further complication, my siblings and I are attending college during overlapping years, adding to our family's financial burden. I am working contract videography and photography projects to help finance my schooling, have taken out loans, and my parents are borrowing against their life insurance policies to fund our educations. If chosen as the recipient of your scholarship, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my summer study abroad courses. Thank you for your consideration. Noah Morales

love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who was a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this major setback, I adapted to my disability, and earned awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a high school junior, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. My academic journey has been shaped by a strong interest in aviation, geospatial technology, and applying emerging tools to solve real-world problems. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Unmanned Aircraft Systems with a minor in Geographic Information Systems at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where I have combined technical coursework with hands-on research, field operations, and leadership roles. My goal is to build a career using the combination of aerial data acquisition, remote sensing, and environmental and infrastructure analysis. Throughout my time at Embry-Riddle, I have sought opportunities to apply classroom knowledge in practical settings. I have conducted undergraduate research focused on environmental monitoring using multispectral imagery, GIS analysis, and NDVI validation, with projects examining habitat patterns and vegetation health. This work has resulted in published student research and upcoming presentations at professional conferences, including Geo Week 2026. In addition to research, I serve as both a UAS Lab Assistant and a GIS Teaching Assistant, roles that allow me to support fellow students while strengthening my own technical and communication skills. In these positions, I assist with sensor integration, aviation safety, data accuracy, and geospatial workflows, helping students translate theory into practice. I am also an active member of professional organizations such as the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and the National Honor Society for Geospatial Technology, which have connected me with industry professionals and emerging trends in the field. My academic experiences extend beyond the United States. Through a study abroad program in South America, I conducted UAS operations in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, using multispectral sensors to assess crop health and photogrammetry to map vineyards for local farmers. Working in unfamiliar environments strengthened my adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and appreciation for the global impact of geospatial technologies. Scholarship funding would have a profound impact on my academic journey. My family is currently supporting three children in college, and despite our efforts, we have not received federal financial aid. This scholarship would significantly reduce financial stress, allowing me to focus more fully on my coursework, research, and professional development rather than financial constraints. It would also support my goal of completing my degree, GIS minor, and GIS and Remote Sensing certificate. By investing in my education, this scholarship would enable me to continue building the skills, experience, and leadership needed to contribute meaningfully to the geospatial and aviation industries. It would not only ease a financial burden, but also allow me to pursue my academic and career goals with greater focus and confidence. Despite my epilepsy diagnosis, my approach in life is to live it to the fullest. Although the phrase “carpe diem” is an overused cliché, it does embrace my outlook and how I want to make the most of my future. I took a leap of faith in moving across the country away from my family, friends, and medical support, to further my education and try new experiences. In just two years, I have grown as an individual, a researcher, an international traveler, and as a highly motivated student who just happens to be living with a life-altering condition. I have not and won’t ever allow epilepsy to control my life or define me as a person. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for the Arlin Diaz Memorial Scholarship. I appreciate your consideration. Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child, I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who was a pioneer of her time in joining in the war effort as WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure and was diagnosed with epilepsy. I learned from my neurologist that given my new diagnosis, I would never be able to fly as a commercial pilot. Both my grandfather and great-grandmother motivate me to leave a positive mark in the field of aviation. As a person living with epilepsy, my decision for my career has been heavily influenced by my disability. Despite this major setback, I adapted to my disability, and earned awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a high school junior, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. I am presently a junior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in unmanned aircraft systems. Last summer, I completed my first study abroad program in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, and will be returning this year as a Teaching Assistant. The program focuses on international mission execution and UAS cinematography. We monitor environmental effects of climate change and human impact, conduct operations that examine the area’s ecological systems, work with local farmers, and document plant health and animal life. These experiences will help me reach my goals as a professional drone pilot and highlighted the endless possibilities and potential utilization of UAVs. I currently collaborate with ERAU professors on research projects and presented two projects at the national Sustainability Conference last month (one involving the validation of UAS-based data and satellite imagery for bald eagle habitats and the other regarding environmental monitoring through remote sensing technologies). As the current Vice President and active member of the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club, I plan and executing UAS projects on and off campus. We complete mock search and rescue missions, analyze LiDAR data and create 3D models using photogrammetry and utilize thermal imagery. Over the last eight years, I have learned to not let my epilepsy control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I am thriving and resilient despite obstacles thrown in my path. While my initial life plans may not be what they once were, I have not, and will not, give up in finding my joy, and I love the experience of piloting unmanned aircraft as much I imagined I would love flying commercial airliners. Scholarship funding would have a profound impact on my academic journey. My family is currently supporting three children in college, and this scholarship would significantly reduce financial stress, allowing me to focus more fully on my coursework, research, and professional development rather than financial constraints. It would also support my goal of completing my degree, GIS minor, and GIS and Remote Sensing certificate, and enable me to continue building the skills, experience, and leadership needed to contribute meaningfully to the geospatial and aviation industries. Being chosen as your recipient would not only ease a financial burden but also allow me to pursue my academic and career goals with greater focus and confidence. Thank you for your consideration. Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child, I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who was a pioneer of her time in joining in the war effort as WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure and was diagnosed with epilepsy. I learned from my neurologist that given my new diagnosis, I would never be able to fly as a commercial pilot. Both my grandfather and great-grandmother motivate me to leave a positive mark in the field of aviation. As a person living with epilepsy, my decision for my career has been heavily influenced by my disability. Despite this major setback, I adapted to my disability, and earned awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a high school junior, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. I am presently a junior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in unmanned aircraft systems. Last summer, I completed my first study abroad program in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, and will be returning this year as a Teaching Assistant. The program focuses on international mission execution and UAS cinematography. We monitor environmental effects of climate change and human impact, conduct operations that examine the area’s ecological systems, work with local farmers, and document plant health and animal life. These experiences will help me reach my goals as a professional drone pilot and highlighted the endless possibilities and potential utilization of UAVs. I currently collaborate with ERAU professors on research projects and presented two projects at the national Sustainability Conference last month (one involving the validation of UAS-based data and satellite imagery for bald eagle habitats and the other regarding environmental monitoring through remote sensing technologies). As the current Vice President and active member of the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club, I plan and executing UAS projects on and off campus. We complete mock search and rescue missions, analyze LiDAR data and create 3D models using photogrammetry and utilize thermal imagery. Over the last eight years, I have learned to not let my epilepsy control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I am thriving and resilient despite obstacles thrown in my path. While my initial life plans may not be what they once were, I have not, and will not, give up in finding my joy, and I love the experience of piloting unmanned aircraft as much I imagined I would love flying commercial airliners. Scholarship funding would have a profound impact on my academic journey. My family is currently supporting three children in college, and despite our efforts, we have not received federal financial aid. This scholarship would significantly reduce financial stress, allowing me to focus more fully on my coursework, research, and professional development rather than financial constraints. It would also support my goal of completing my degree, GIS minor, and GIS and Remote Sensing certificate. By investing in my education, this scholarship would enable me to continue building the skills, experience, and leadership needed to contribute meaningfully to the geospatial and aviation industries. It would not only ease a financial burden but also allow me to pursue my academic and career goals with greater focus and confidence. Thank you for your consideration. Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child, I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who was a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this major setback, I adapted to my disability, and earned awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a high school junior, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. Presently, I am a junior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, studying unmanned aircraft systems. I chose ERAU for many reasons, aside from its stellar academic reputation. ERAU is a small, private university mostly known for its aviation and aerospace programs. I was immediately drawn to its modest, intimate campus and low student to professor ratio. I was interested in its research and travel abroad opportunities, both of which I have been able to take advantage of. I was confident ERAU would meet my academic needs while also providing a feeling of home and safety, especially given my medical concerns. Last summer, I completed my first study abroad program in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, and will be returning this year as a Teaching Assistant. The program focuses on international mission execution and UAS cinematography. We monitor environmental effects of climate change and human impact, and conduct operations that examine the area’s ecological systems, work with local farmers, and document plant health and animal life. This experience will help me reach my goals as a professional drone pilot and was an unparalleled opportunity that highlighted the endless possibilities and potential utilization of UAVs. In addition to last summer’s study abroad experience, I have been able to collaborate with ERAU professors on research projects and will be presenting two such projects at the national Sustainability Conference next month (one involving the validation of UAS-based data and satellite imagery for bald eagle habitats and the other regarding environmental monitoring through remote sensing technologies). As the current Vice President and active member of the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club, I assist with planning and executing UAS projects on and off campus. We complete mock search and rescue missions, analyze LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department, and for the U.S. Forestry Service. Our club also creates 3D models using photogrammetry and utilize thermal imagery. As your scholarship recipient, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot, bringing awareness to local and international environmental issues and reaching my dream of working with national securities and defense agencies, specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. The entirety of scholarship funds awarded will be used for tuition, fees, books, and any other expenses directly related to completing my Bachelor of Science degree in UAS at Embry-Riddle, including my past and future summer abroad studies.

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child, I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who was a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this major setback, I adapted to my disability, and earned awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a high school junior, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. Presently, I am a junior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, studying unmanned aircraft systems. I chose ERAU for many reasons, aside from its stellar academic reputation. ERAU is a small, private university mostly known for its aviation and aerospace programs. I was immediately drawn to its modest, intimate campus and low student to professor ratio. I was interested in its research and travel abroad opportunities, both of which I have been able to take advantage of. I was confident ERAU would meet my academic needs while also providing a feeling of home and safety, especially given my medical concerns. Last summer, I completed my first study abroad program in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, and will be returning this year as a Teaching Assistant. The program focuses on international mission execution and UAS cinematography. We monitor environmental effects of climate change and human impact, and conduct operations that examine the area’s ecological systems, work with local farmers, and document plant health and animal life. This experience will help me reach my goals as a professional drone pilot and was an unparalleled opportunity that highlighted the endless possibilities and potential utilization of UAVs. In addition to last summer’s study abroad experience, I have been able to collaborate with ERAU professors on research projects and will be presenting two such projects at the national Sustainability Conference next month (one involving the validation of UAS-based data and satellite imagery for bald eagle habitats and the other regarding environmental monitoring through remote sensing technologies). As the current Vice President and active member of the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club, I assist with planning and executing UAS projects on and off campus. We complete mock search and rescue missions, analyze LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department, and for the U.S. Forestry Service. Our club also creates 3D models using photogrammetry and utilize thermal imagery. Scholarship funding would have a profound impact on my academic journey. My family is currently supporting three children in college, and despite our efforts, we have not received federal financial aid. This scholarship would significantly reduce financial stress, allowing me to focus more fully on my coursework, research, and professional development rather than financial constraints. It would also support my goal of completing my degree, GIS minor, and GIS and Remote Sensing certificate on time. By investing in my education, this scholarship would enable me to continue building the skills, experience, and leadership needed to contribute meaningfully to the geospatial and aviation industries. It would not only ease a financial burden, but also allow me to pursue my academic and career goals with greater focus and confidence.

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 52 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. My goal as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot is to focus on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I later plan to be an independent contractor owning and operating a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I completed the drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification. I use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), with certification in Graphic Information Systems (GIS) at Embry-Riddle University and hold a 4.0 GPA. I am active in the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club and participate in UAS projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. This summer I completed a study abroad project in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay that focused on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We conducted operations examining the area’s ecological systems, worked with local farmers, and documented plant health and animal life. These experiences are vital to my growth and reaching my goals as a professional drone pilot. I believe I should be selected for the Bright Lights Scholarship because I am a highly motivated, goal-driven and hard-working student. Further, I aspire to be a leader in continuing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. Earning my undergraduate degree in unmanned aircraft technology is crucial for me to reach my goals. If chosen as your recipient, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my past and future study abroad courses. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship. I appreciate your consideration. Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. My goal as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot is to focus on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I later plan to be an independent contractor owning and operating a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I completed the drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification. I use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), with certification in Graphic Information Systems (GIS) at Embry-Riddle University and hold a 4.0 GPA. I am active in the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club and participate in UAS projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. I just completed a summer study abroad project in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay that focused on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We also conducted operations that examined the area’s ecological systems, worked with local farmers, and documented plant health and animal life. These experiences are vital to my growth and reaching my goals as a professional drone pilot. I believe I am an excellent candidate for this scholarship because I am a highly motivated, goal-driven and hard-working student. Further, I aspire to be a leader in continuing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I continue to face daily medical adversity but am determined to be successful in my future as an unmanned pilot. If chosen as your recipient, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my completed and future summer study abroad courses. Thank you for your consideration, Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 52 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. My goal as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot is to focus on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I later plan to be an independent contractor owning and operating a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I completed the drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification. I use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), with certification in Graphic Information Systems (GIS) at Embry-Riddle University and hold a 4.0 GPA. I am active in the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club and participate in UAS projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. This summer I completed a study abroad project in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay that focused on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We conducted operations examining the area’s ecological systems, worked with local farmers, and documented plant health and animal life. These experiences are vital to my growth and reaching my goals as a professional drone pilot. I believe I should be selected for the Hines Scholarship because I am a highly motivated, goal-driven and hard-working student. Further, I aspire to be a leader in continuing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. Earning my undergraduate degree in unmanned aircraft technology is crucial for me to reach my goals. If chosen as your recipient, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my past and future study abroad courses. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship. I appreciate your consideration. Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. My goal as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot is to focus on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I later plan to be an independent contractor owning and operating a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I completed the drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification. I use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), with certification in Graphic Information Systems (GIS) at Embry-Riddle University and hold a 4.0 GPA. I am active in the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club and participate in UAS projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. I just completed a summer study abroad project in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay that focused on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We also conducted operations that examined the area’s ecological systems, worked with local farmers, and documented plant health and animal life. These experiences are vital to my growth and reaching my goals as a professional drone pilot. I believe I should be selected for this scholarship because I am a highly motivated, goal-driven and hard-working student. Further, I aspire to be a leader in continuing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I continue to face daily medical adversity but am determined to be successful in my future as an unmanned pilot. If chosen as your recipient, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my completed and future summer study abroad courses. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for the James Diorato Memorial Scholarship. I appreciate your consideration. Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 52 years, and from my grandmother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I experienced a major medical event. After presented with my new neurological diagnosis, I learned I would never be able to fly, and I was devastated by the news. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. My career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. After learning I would never be able to become an airline pilot, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft operator. My goal is to begin my career as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot focusing on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. Within ten years, I plan to be an independent contractor and professional unmanned pilot, owning and operating a commercial drone business, and working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I enrolled in the commercial drone program in high school and earned my drone pilot certification as a high school junior. I now use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. For the past four years, my volunteer and community service time has primarily been spent collaborating with artists, videographers, non-profit organizations, and business owners. I produce high quality photographs and videos to their specifications, for private, community, or public use. I frequently work alongside two of Austin Football Club supporter groups, Los Verdes and Collectifo, capturing aerial footage of large-scale murals for public display and promotion on social media channels. I also volunteered with Fabian Rey, a well-respected Austin painter and artist. We collaborated on public awareness campaigns to protect environmentally sensitive natural wonders from the negative effects of city expansion and commercial growth. While Mr. Rey painted huge murals across the city, I filmed and photographed his projects and the parks and springs being threatened by urban development. Our work highlighted the potential destruction of these natural landscapes in downtown Austin, ultimately saving them from commercial development. I was honored to have my work featured in Mr. Rey’s community art exhibition “The Art of Resistance.” It was very satisfying to feel that my time and talent were beneficial to the people and city. I am a highly motivated, hard-working student dedicated to my studies, passionate about the future of the drone industry, and eager to be a part of its development. Since my neurological diagnosis seven years ago, I have not let it control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I am resilient despite the obstacles thrown in my path and in the face of unexpected medical adversity. As a recipient of “Johnna’s Legacy Memorial Scholarship,” I will invest in my future as a drone pilot at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community, using my creative skills to bring joy and awareness to local environmental issues, and utilizing thermal sensor techniques when assisting with search and rescue endeavors. Thank you for your consideration. Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. My goal as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot is to focus on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I later plan to be an independent contractor owning and operating a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I completed the drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification. I use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), with certification in Graphic Information Systems (GIS) at Embry-Riddle University and hold a 4.0 GPA. I am active in the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club and participate in UAS projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. I just completed a summer study abroad project in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay that focused on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We also conducted operations that examined the area’s ecological systems, worked with local farmers, and documented plant health and animal life. These experiences are vital to my growth and reaching my goals as a professional drone pilot. I believe I should be selected for the Kim Tyner Pilot Scholarship because I am a highly motivated, goal-driven and hard-working student. Further, I aspire to be a leader in continuing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I continue to face daily medical adversity but am determined to be successful in my future as an unmanned pilot. If chosen as your recipient, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my completed and future summer study abroad courses. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship. I appreciate your consideration. Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. After learning I would never be able to become an airline pilot because of my diagnosis, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. My goal as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot is to focus on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I later plan to be an independent contractor owning and operating a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. I currently use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), with certification in Graphic Information Systems (GIS) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and hold a 4.0 GPA. I am active in the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club and participate in UAS projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. This summer, I was involved in a study abroad project in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay that focused on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We conducted operations to examine the area’s ecological systems, worked with local farmers, and documented plant health and animal life. As a designated “project lead” in our small groups, I was able to demonstrate my leadership skills during many of our missions. I planned our flight paths, established mission goals, assigned team responsibilities, and communicated our findings to our faculty leads, local landowners and farmers, and agricultural council. These experiences are vital to my growth and reaching my goals as a professional drone pilot. As a recipient of the Craig Huffman Memorial Scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community, using my creative skills to bring awareness to local environmental issues, and utilizing thermal sensor techniques to assist with search and rescue endeavors. The entirety of scholarship funds awarded will be used for expenses directly related to completing my Bachelor of Science degree at Embry-Riddle.

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and earned awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. After learning I would never be able to become an airline pilot because of my diagnosis, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. My goal as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot is to focus on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I later plan to be an independent contractor owning and operating a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. I use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. My volunteer and community service time are primarily spent collaborating with artists, videographers, non-profit organizations, and business owners. I produce exceptional photographs and videos for private, community, or public use. I frequently work alongside Austin Football Club supporter groups, creating aerial footage of large-scale murals and social media promotion. I volunteered with Fabian Rey, a well-respected Austin painter artist, collaborating on public awareness campaigns to protect environmentally sensitive areas in Austin from the negative effects of city expansion and commercial growth. While huge murals were painted across the city, I filmed and photographed the projects, parks, and springs being threatened by urban development. Our work highlighted the potential destruction of these natural landscapes, ultimately saving them from commercial development. I was honored to have my work featured in the community art exhibition “The Art of Resistance.” It was very satisfying to feel that my time and talent were beneficial to the people and city. I am studying at Embry-Riddle University, am active in the UAS Community Operations Club and participate in projects involving mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. This summer, I participated in a study abroad project in South America that monitored environmental effects of climate change and human impact, examined the area’s ecological systems, and coordinated with local farmers to document plant health and animal life. As a highly motivated, hard-working student, I am an excellent candidate for the Lena Davis “Sewing Seeds” scholarship. I am eager to be a leader in the drone industry, its policies, and expanding its potential applications, while representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community in a wide variety of ways, from using my creative skills to bring awareness of environmental issues to utilizing thermal sensor techniques during search and rescue endeavors. If chosen as the recipient of your scholarship, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my past and future study abroad courses. Thank you for your consideration, Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 52 years, and from my grandmother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. Given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. After learning I would never be able to become an airline, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. My goal is to begin my career as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot focusing on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. Within ten years, I plan to be an independent contractor and professional unmanned pilot, owning and operating a commercial drone business, and working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I enrolled in the commercial drone program in high school and earned my drone pilot certification as a high school junior. I now use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. For the past four years, my volunteer and community service time has primarily been spent collaborating with artists, videographers, non-profit organizations, and business owners. I produce high quality photographs and videos to their specifications, for private, community, or public use. I frequently work alongside two of Austin Football Club supporter groups, Los Verdes and Collectifo, capturing aerial footage of large-scale murals for public display and promotion on social media channels. I also volunteered with Fabian Rey, a well-respected Austin painter and artist. We collaborated on public awareness campaigns to protect environmentally sensitive natural wonders from the negative effects of city expansion and commercial growth. While Mr. Rey painted huge murals across the city, I filmed and photographed his projects and the parks and springs being threatened by urban development. Our work highlighted the potential destruction of these natural landscapes in downtown Austin, ultimately saving them from commercial development. I was honored to have my work featured in Mr. Rey’s community art exhibition “The Art of Resistance.” It was very satisfying to feel that my time and talent were beneficial to the people and city. I am a highly motivated, hard-working student dedicated to my studies, passionate about the future of the drone industry, and eager to be a part of its development. Since my epilepsy diagnosis seven years ago, I have not let it control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I am resilient despite the obstacles thrown in my path. I learned to show resiliency in the face of unexpected medical adversity and to advocate for myself. As a recipient of the Abran Arreola-Hernandez Latino Scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community, using my creative skills to bring joy and awareness to local environmental issues, and utilizing thermal sensor techniques when assisting with search and rescue endeavors. Thank you for your consideration

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child, I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. After learning I would never be able to become an airline pilot because of my diagnosis, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. My goal is to begin my career as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot focusing on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. Within ten years, I plan to be an independent contractor and professional unmanned pilot, owning and operating a commercial drone business, and working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I enrolled in the commercial drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification as a high school junior. Since then, I have been using my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. For the past four years, my volunteer and community service time has primarily been spent collaborating with artists, videographers, non-profit organizations, and business owners. I produce high quality photographs and videos to their specifications, for private, community, or public use. I frequently work alongside two of Austin Football Club supporter groups, Los Verdes and Collectifo, capturing aerial footage of large-scale murals called TIFOs that are displayed during games for public enjoyment, and then promote them on various social media channels. I also volunteered with Fabian Rey, a well-respected Austin painter and artist. We collaborated on public awareness campaigns to protect environmentally sensitive natural wonders in Austin from the negative effects of city expansion and commercial growth. While Mr. Rey painted huge murals across the city, I filmed and photographed his projects and the parks and springs being threatened by urban development. Our work highlighted the potential destruction of these natural landscapes in downtown Austin, ultimately saving them from commercial development. I was honored to have my work featured in Mr. Rey’s community art exhibition “The Art of Resistance.” It was very satisfying to feel that my time and talent were beneficial to the people and city. I am a highly motivated, hard-working student dedicated to my studies, passionate about the future of the drone industry, and eager to be a part of its development. Since my epilepsy diagnosis seven years ago, I have not let it control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I am resilient despite the obstacles thrown in my path. I have learned to be independent and responsible for advocating for myself and my healthcare needs, keeping up with my medication regimen, medical appointments, regular blood work and imaging tests, and ensuring my school adaptation needs are met. I learned early on that I had to work hard to show resiliency in the face of unexpected medical adversity and to advocate for myself. , As a recipient of the Treye Knorr Memorial Scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community, using my creative skills to bring joy and awareness to local environmental issues, and utilizing thermal sensor techniques when assisting with search and rescue endeavors. The entirety of scholarship funds awarded will be used for expenses directly related to completing my Bachelor of Science degree at Embry-Riddle. Thank you for your consideration, Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 52 years, and from his mother, who was a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this major setback, I have adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. My initial goal is to begin my career as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot focusing on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. Within ten years, I plan to be an independent contractor and professional unmanned pilot, owning and operating a commercial drone business, and working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. I will be a leader in the industry, progressing its development and policies while expanding ethical applications. To reach these goals, I earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot license as a high school junior and am earning my undergraduate degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems. I use my drone license for personal and professional projects, capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am active in my university UAS Operations Club, conducting UAS mock search and rescue missions and analyzation of LiDAR data for AZ Fishing & Game Department and the US Forestry Service. I am spending part of this summer in South America in a study abroad program, monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact, examining the area’s ecological systems, working with farmers, and documenting plant health and animal life. Although the small private university I attend is quite diverse in its student population, the professional field I will enter within aeronautics is Caucasian- and able-bodied dominant. I am motivated to use my education to raise minority Latino and neurological visibility in this field. As more underrepresented minorities pursue higher education and fill higher-level professional positions or become successful business owners, the entire community benefits. Young minority children will see advanced education as a true possibility in their futures, and they will have more role models and opportunities in various professions. On a personal note, I do not feel that my Latino identity has necessarily affected my career goals, but rather my epilepsy diagnosis certainly has. Furthering my education will level the playing field when the field is anything but level. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has always been my dream school but comes with an astronomical price tag of over $65,000 per year. My biggest challenge is not motivation or work ethic, but financial. Eighteen years of saving for my education does not cover even one year of my university expenses. As a further complication, my siblings and I are attending college during overlapping years, adding to our family's financial burden. I am working contract videography and photography projects to help finance my schooling, have taken out loans, and my parents are borrowing against their life insurance policies to fund our educations. If chosen as the recipient of your scholarship, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my summer study abroad courses.

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. After learning I would never be able to become an airline pilot because of my diagnosis, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. My goal as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot is to focus on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I later plan to be an independent contractor owning and operating a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I completed the drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification. I use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), with certification in Graphic Information Systems (GIS) at Embry-Riddle University and hold a 4.0 GPA. I am active in the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club and participate in UAS projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. I am currently engaged in a summer study abroad project in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay focusing on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We are conducting operations examining the area’s ecological systems, work with local farmers, and document plant health and animal life. These experiences are vital to my growth and reaching my goals as a professional drone pilot. I believe I should be selected for this scholarship because I am a highly motivated, goal-driven and hard-working student. Further, I aspire to be a leader in continuing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I continue to face daily medical adversity but am determined to be successful in my future as an unmanned pilot. I am fortunate to attend my dream school, Embry-Riddle, but financially it remains out of reach. Although awarded a university merit scholarship to help defray my education costs, I am left with over $46,000 per year of unmet need. As a further complication, my siblings and I are attending college during overlapping years, adding to our family's financial burden. I am currently working as a contract drone videographer and photographer to help finance my schooling, my parents and I have taken out loans, and they are borrowing against their life insurance policies to fund our educations. If chosen as your recipient, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my summer study abroad courses. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship. I appreciate your consideration. Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and earned awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. After learning I would never be able to become an airline pilot because of my diagnosis, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. My goal as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot is to focus on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I later plan to be an independent contractor owning and operating a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I completed the drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification. I use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. My volunteer and community service time are primarily spent collaborating with artists, videographers, non-profit organizations, and business owners. I produce exceptional photographs and videos for private, community, or public use. I frequently work alongside Austin Football Club supporter groups, creating aerial footage of large-scale murals and social media promotion. I volunteered with Fabian Rey, a well-respected Austin painter artist, collaborating on public awareness campaigns to protect environmentally sensitive areas in Austin from the negative effects of city expansion and commercial growth. While huge murals were painted across the city, I filmed and photographed the projects, parks, and springs being threatened by urban development. Our work highlighted the potential destruction of these natural landscapes, ultimately saving them from commercial development. I was honored to have my work featured in the community art exhibition “The Art of Resistance.” It was very satisfying to feel that my time and talent were beneficial to the people and city. I am studying at Embry-Riddle University, am active in the UAS Community Operations Club and participate in projects involving mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. This summer, I will participate in a study abroad project in South America that monitors environmental effects of climate change and human impact, examines the area’s ecological systems, and documents plant health and animal life. As a highly motivated, hard-working student, I am an excellent candidate for the Mark Green Memorial Scholarship. I am eager to be a leader in the drone industry, its policies, and expanding its potential applications, while representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community in a wide variety of ways, from using my creative skills to bring awareness of environmental issues to utilizing thermal sensor techniques during search and rescue endeavors. If chosen as the recipient of your scholarship, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my summer study abroad courses.

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I'll never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. After learning I would never be able to become an airline pilot because of my diagnosis, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. My goal as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot is to focus on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I later plan to be an independent contractor owning and operating a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I completed the drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification. I use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), with certification in Graphic Information Systems (GIS) at Embry-Riddle University and hold a 4.0 GPA. I am active in the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club and participate in UAS projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. This summer, I will be engaged in a study abroad project in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay focusing on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We will conduct operations examining the area’s ecological systems, work with local farmers, and document plant health and animal life. These experiences are vital to my growth and reaching my goals as a professional drone pilot. I believe I should be selected for the EJS Foundation scholarship because I am a highly motivated, goal-driven and hard-working student. Further, I aspire to be a leader in continuing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I continue to face daily medical adversity but am determined to be successful in my future as an unmanned pilot. I am fortunate to attend my dream school, Embry-Riddle, but financially it remains out of reach. Although awarded a university merit scholarship to help defray my education costs, I am left with over $44,000 per year of unmet need. As a further complication, my two siblings and I are attending college during overlapping years, adding to our family's financial burden. I am currently working contract videography and photography jobs to help finance my schooling, my parents and I have taken out loans, and they are borrowing against their life insurance policies to fund our educations. If chosen as the recipient of your scholarship, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my summer study abroad courses. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this award. I appreciate your consideration. Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. After learning I would never be able to become an airline pilot because of my diagnosis, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. My goal as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot is to focus on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I later plan to be an independent contractor owning and operating a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I completed the drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification. I use my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), with certification in Graphic Information Systems (GIS) at Embry-Riddle University and hold a 4.0 GPA. I am active in the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club and participate in UAS projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. This summer, I will be engaged in a study abroad project in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay focusing on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We will conduct operations examining the area’s ecological systems, work with local farmers, and document plant health and animal life. These experiences are vital to my growth and reaching my goals as a professional drone pilot. I believe I should be selected for the TRAM Resilience Scholarship because I am a highly motivated, goal-driven and hard-working student. Further, I aspire to be a leader in continuing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I continue to face daily medical adversity but am determined to be successful in my future as an unmanned pilot. If chosen as the recipient of your scholarship, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my summer study abroad courses. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship, I appreciate your consideration. Noah Morales

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. One moment I was sitting in class talking with friends, and then I found myself on the floor, surrounded by administrators, teachers, and the school nurse. I was rushed to the hospital and later diagnosed with epilepsy. At the first visit with my neurologist, I learned that given my epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to become a commercial airline pilot. I was devastated, as flying jets internationally had always been my career goal. Despite the major setback, I adapted to my disability and am already successful. I currently am on the Dean’s List and carry a 4.0 GPA at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, I was also recognized with many awards by my local community college, high school, College Board, and I graduated high school with a 4.9 GPA. Additionally, I worked throughout high school while still finding time to volunteer in my community and play club sports. I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 52 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My goal is to begin my career as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot focusing on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. Within ten years, I plan to be an independent contractor and professional unmanned pilot, owning and operating a commercial drone business, and working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. I expect to be a leader in the industry, progressing its development and its policies while expanding potential ethical applications. To reach these goals, I enrolled in the commercial drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification as a high school junior. Since then, I have been using my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. As a high school junior, I built my small business, Noah Morales Aerials, creating aerial photography and videography. For the past three years, my volunteer and community service time has primarily been spent collaborating with artists, videographers, non-profit organizations, and business owners. I produce high quality photographs and videos to their specifications, whether for private, community, or public use. I most enjoyed participating in projects that benefit the city I call home. I especially love working alongside two of Austin Football Club (our city's professional soccer club) supporter groups, Los Verdes and Collectifo, to capture aerial footage of large-scale murals called TIFOs that are displayed during home season games for public enjoyment and then promote them on various social media channels. Outside of working with those two groups, one of my favorite volunteer experiences was when I was being mentored by Fabian Rey, a well-respected Austin painter and artist. Mr. Rey invited me to collaborate with him on various public awareness campaigns designed to protect environmentally sensitive natural wonders in Austin, Zilker Park, Nash Hernandez Park, and Barton Springs, from the negative effects of city expansion and commercial growth. While Mr. Rey's campaign involved painting huge murals across the city, I filmed the process with drone footage of his works along with the parks and springs being threatened by urban development. Our work highlighted the potential destruction of these natural landscapes in downtown Austin, ultimately saving them from commercial development. I was honored to have my work featured in Mr. Rey’s community art exhibition “The Art of Resistance.” It was very satisfying to feel like my time and talent were beneficial to the people and city. I am now pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Embry-Riddle University. I am an active member of the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club and participate in UAS projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. This summer, I will be engaged in a study abroad project in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay that will focus on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We will also conduct operations to examine the area’s ecological systems, work with local farmers, and document plant health and animal life. These experiences are vital to my growth and will help me reach my goals as a professional drone pilot. I anticipate my study abroad program will provide an unparalleled opportunity to progress the beneficial applications of the drone industry. I am a highly motivated, hard-working student dedicated to my studies, passionate about the future of the drone industry, and eager to be a part of its development. Since my epilepsy diagnosis seven years ago, I have not let it control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I am resilient despite the obstacles thrown in my path. I have learned to be independent and responsible for advocating for myself and my healthcare needs, keeping up with my medication regimen, medical appointments, regular blood work and imaging tests, and ensuring my school adaptation needs are met. I learned early on that I had to work hard to show resiliency in the face of unexpected medical adversity, and that everyone should use their voice and advocate for themselves, no matter what they are facing. As a recipient of the Pastor Thomas Rorie Jr. “Furthering Education” scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and continue to volunteer my time and services in my community by using my creative skills to bring joy and awareness to local environmental issues and utilizing thermal sensor techniques when assisting with search and rescue endeavors. I will also use my voice to help others find and use theirs, as becoming your own advocate is incredibly empowering. The entirety of scholarship funds awarded will be used for tuition, fees, books, and any other expenses directly related to completing my Bachelor of Science degree in UAS at Embry-Riddle, including my summer abroad studies.

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child, I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who had been a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. As a person living with epilepsy, my career choice was heavily influenced by my disability. After learning I would never be able to become an airline pilot because of my diagnosis, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. My goal is to begin my career as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot focusing on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. Within ten years, I plan to be an independent contractor and professional unmanned pilot, owning and operating a commercial drone business, and working with national securities and defense agencies specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. To reach these goals, I enrolled in the commercial drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification as a high school junior. Since then, I have been using my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. For the past three years, my volunteer and community service time has primarily been spent collaborating with artists, videographers, non-profit organizations, and business owners. I produce high quality photographs and videos to their specifications, for private, community, or public use. I frequently work alongside two of Austin Football Club supporter groups, Los Verdes and Collectifo, capturing aerial footage of large-scale murals called TIFOs that are displayed during games for public enjoyment, and then promote them on various social media channels. I also volunteered with Fabian Rey, a well-respected Austin painter and artist. We collaborated on public awareness campaigns to protect environmentally sensitive natural wonders in Austin from the negative effects of city expansion and commercial growth. While Mr. Rey painted huge murals across the city, I filmed and photographed his projects and the parks and springs being threatened by urban development. Our work highlighted the potential destruction of these natural landscapes in downtown Austin, ultimately saving them from commercial development. I was honored to have my work featured in Mr. Rey’s community art exhibition “The Art of Resistance.” It was very satisfying to feel that my time and talent were beneficial to the people and city. I am pursuing my degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Embry-Riddle University and hold a 4.0 GPA. I am active in the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club and participate in UAS projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyzation of LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department and the U.S. Forestry Service. This summer, I will be engaged in a study abroad project in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay focusing on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We will conduct operations examining the area’s ecological systems, work with local farmers, and document plant health and animal life. These experiences are vital to my growth and reaching my goals as a professional drone pilot.

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child, I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who was a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this major setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. After learning I will never fly an airplane due to my epilepsy, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. I just completed my first semester studying unmanned aircraft at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a 4.0 GPA, and I graduated high school with a 4.9 GPA. Some of my greatest strengths have always been being a highly motivated, responsible, dependable, and hard-working student dedicated to my studies. I am now pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Embry-Riddle University. This summer, I will be studying abroad in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, focusing on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We will also conduct operations to examine the area’s ecological systems, work with local farmers, and document plant health and animal life. To me, success is reaching my goal to begin my career as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot who focuses on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. Later in my career, I plan to be an independent contractor and professional unmanned pilot. I wish to own and operate a commercial drone business, work with national securities and defense agencies, and specialize in utilizing thermal sensor techniques during recognizance and search and rescue missions. Aside from becoming a professional unmanned pilot, I find success in the personal growth I have experienced in just the last six months. I grew up in Austin, Texas (where my family still lives), and moved over 1,100 miles away for college, without knowing a soul. I have found community in my school, my residence hall, my classes, my professors, and my extracurriculars. I was very nervous to move so far away on my own but have really enjoyed the experience of learning to be independent. I will be traveling with a small group of other Embry-Riddle students to South America this summer, but none of the students are from my own college campus, and again I won’t know anyone. Although I have traveled internationally before, I have only done so with my family. My summer study abroad trip will definitely be a challenge to step out of my comfort zone. Success to me is also growing as an individual and being willing to take risks and you otherwise would not have courage to do so. Being chosen as the recipient of Redefining Victory Scholarship will help me be successful in my journey to become a professional unmanned pilot. I will invest in my future as a drone pilot by continuing my studies and graduating with my Bachelor of Science degree. Although awarded a university merit scholarship to help defray my education costs, I am left with over $40,000 per year of unmet need. If chosen as the recipient of your scholarship, all monies awarded will go directly to my education expenses at Embry-Riddle, including my summer study abroad courses. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for the Redefining Victory Scholarship. I appreciate your consideration. Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child, I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who was a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this major setback, I have adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. After learning I will never fly an airplane due to my epilepsy, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. I just completed my first semester studying unmanned aircraft at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a 4.0 GPA, and I graduated high school with a 4.9 GPA. My goal is to begin my career as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot focusing on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. Later in my career, I plan to be an independent contractor and professional unmanned pilot. I also wish to own and operate a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies, and specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. As a high school junior, I built my small business, Noah Morales Aerials, focusing on aerial photography and videography. For the past three years, my volunteer and community service time has primarily been spent collaborating with artists, videographers, non-profit organizations, and business owners. I produce high quality photographs and videos to their specifications, whether for private, community, or public use. I most enjoyed participating in projects that benefit the city I call home. I especially love working alongside two of Austin Football Club (our city's professional soccer club) supporter groups, Los Verdes and Collectifo, to capture aerial footage of large-scale murals called TIFOs that are displayed during home season games for public enjoyment and then promote them on various social media channels. Outside of working with those two groups, one of my favorite volunteer experiences was when I was being mentored by Fabian Rey, a well-respected Austin painter and artist. Mr. Rey invited me to collaborate with him on various public awareness campaigns designed to protect environmentally sensitive natural wonders in Austin, Zilker Park, Nash Hernandez Park, and Barton Springs, from the negative effects of city expansion and commercial growth. While Mr. Rey's campaign involved painting huge murals across the city, I filmed the process with drone footage of his works along with the parks and springs being threatened by urban development. Our work highlighted the potential destruction of these natural landscapes in downtown Austin, ultimately saving them from commercial development. I was honored to have my work featured in Mr. Rey’s community art exhibition “The Art of Resistance.” It was very satisfying to feel like my time and talent were beneficial to the people and city. Over the last seven years, I have not let epilepsy control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I am resilient despite the obstacles thrown in my path. While my initial life plans may not be what they once were, I have not and will not give up in finding my joy, and I am learning that I love the experience of piloting unmanned aircraft as much I dreamed I would love flying commercial airliners.

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. One moment, I was sitting in class talking with my friends and the next moment, I found myself waking up on the floor surrounded by administrators, teachers, and the school nurse. I was immediately rushed to the hospital and later diagnosed with two forms of epilepsy. My first appointment with the neurologist took hours, most of which I don't remember, but I do recall him explaining there were things I would not be able to do for a while: ride my bike, climb trees, go swimming alone. He mentioned I would "very likely" be able to get my driver's license and live a mostly normal life. Then he added the few things in life I would never be able to do given my diagnoses: drive a long-haul truck across state lines, voluntarily join the military, or fly a commercial airplane. That's the moment I remember most, as flying big jets had been my childhood dream. Suddenly, I was crushed. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years. He, in turn, was inspired to become a pilot by his mother, a WASP in World War II, who joined the war efforts as a transport pilot. They both motivate me to leave a positive mark in the field of aviation. As a person living with epilepsy, my career decision has been heavily influenced by my disability. Knowing I would never be able to become an airline pilot, I struggled to find something else in the field of aeronautics I wanted to pursue, and I found my calling in drone aviation after taking my first aviation class. I studied for and earned my FAA Part 107 license to be a drone operator. As a recipient of the Charles B. Brazelton Memorial Scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and focus my career on advancing ethical drone technology in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I am a highly motivated, hard-working student, eager to be a leader in the drone industry, its policies, and expanding its applications, while representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community in a wide variety of ways, from using my creative skills to bring joy and awareness to local environmental issues to utilizing thermal sensor techniques when assisting with search and rescue endeavors. Over the last seven years, I have not let my epilepsy control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I am thriving and resilient despite the medical obstacles thrown in my path. While my initial life plans may not be what they once were, I have not and will not, give up in finding my joy, and I am learning that I love the experience of piloting unmanned aircraft as much I dreamed I would love flying commercial airliners. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship, I appreciate your consideration. Noah Morales

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and as a child, I dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and from his mother, who was a WASP transport pilot in World War II. My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I learned from my neurologist that given my new epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. Despite this major setback, I have adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. After learning I will never fly an airplane due to my epilepsy, I earned my FAA Part 107 license to be an unmanned aircraft pilot. I just completed my first semester studying unmanned aircraft at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a 4.0 GPA, and I graduated high school with a 4.9 GPA. My goal is to begin my career as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot focusing on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. Later in my career, I plan to be an independent contractor and professional unmanned pilot. I also wish to own and operate a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies, and specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. As a high school senior, I built my small business, Noah Morales Aerials, focusing on aerial photography and videography. For the past three years, my volunteer and community service time has primarily been spent collaborating with artists, videographers, non-profit organizations, and business owners. I produce high quality photographs and videos to their specifications, whether for private, community, or public use. I most enjoyed participating in projects that benefit the city I call home. I especially love working alongside two of Austin Football Club (our city's professional soccer club) supporter groups, Los Verdes and Collectifo, to capture aerial footage of large-scale murals called TIFOs that are displayed during home season games for public enjoyment and then promote them on various social media channels. Outside of working with those two groups, one of my favorite volunteer experiences was when I was being mentored by Fabian Rey, a well-respected Austin painter and artist. Mr. Rey invited me to collaborate with him on various public awareness campaigns designed to protect environmentally sensitive natural wonders in Austin, Zilker Park, Nash Hernandez Park, and Barton Springs, from the negative effects of city expansion and commercial growth. While Mr. Rey's campaign involved painting huge murals across the city, I filmed the process with drone footage of his works along with the parks and springs being threatened by urban development. Our work highlighted the potential destruction of these natural landscapes in downtown Austin, ultimately saving them from commercial development. I was honored to have my work featured in Mr. Rey’s community art exhibition “The Art of Resistance.” It was very satisfying to feel like my time and talent were beneficial to the people and city. Over the last seven years, I have not let epilepsy control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I am resilient despite the obstacles thrown in my path. While my initial life plans may not be what they once were, I have not and will not give up in finding my joy, and I am learning that I love the experience of piloting unmanned aircraft as much I dreamed I would love flying commercial airliners.

I am the middle child in a family of five from Austin, Texas, and am studying Unmanned Aircraft Systems. I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes. My love for aviation stems from my grandpa, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years and by my grandmother, a WASP transport pilot in World War II. As a recipient of the Dream Valley Landscaping Scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot by continuing my studies and graduating with my Bachelor of Science degree. Although awarded a merit scholarship to help defray my education costs, I am left with over $40,000 per year of unmet need. Being selected to receive your scholarship would be very much appreciated. My goal is to begin my career as an unmanned pilot focusing on aerial site survey, construction site, bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. Later in my career, I plan to be an independent contractor and professional unmanned pilot. I will own and operate a commercial drone business, working with national securities and defense agencies, and specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. I will be a leader in the industry, progressing its development and its policies while expanding ethical applications. Additionally, I will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community, using my creative skills to bring joy and awareness to local environmental issues and utilizing thermal sensor techniques when assisting with search and rescue endeavors. In high school, I built my drone business, Noah Morales Aerials, focusing on aerial photography and videography. My volunteer and community service time has been spent collaborating with artists, videographers, non-profit organizations, and business owners. I regularly work with Austin Football Club supporter groups to capture aerial footage of large-scale murals displayed at season games and promote them on social media. I also was mentored by Fabian Rey, a well-respected Austin artist. We collaborated on awareness campaigns to protect multiple environmentally sensitive natural wonders in Austin from negative effects of city expansion. While Mr. Rey painted murals across the city, I filmed the process, exposing the parks and springs threatened by urban development. Our work highlighted the potential destruction of these natural landscapes, and I was featured in Mr. Rey’s community art exhibition “Art of Resistance.” My dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. After being diagnosed with epilepsy, I learned from my neurologist that I would never be able to fly. I was crushed. Despite this setback, I adapted to my disability and am successful, earning awards for academic achievement while playing sports, holding jobs, volunteering in my community, and building a drone business. I learned to be independent and responsible for advocating for myself and my healthcare needs, keeping up with my medication regimen, medical appointments, regular blood work and imaging tests, and ensuring my school adaptation needs are met. I had to find and use my voice, and show resiliency in the face of unexpected medical adversity. I learned everyone needs to advocate for themselves, no matter what they are facing. I just completed my first semester in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a 4.0 GPA and graduated high school with a 4.9 GPA. I am a highly motivated, responsible, dependable, and hard-working student dedicated to my studies, passionate about the future of the drone industry, and eager to be a part of its development. I have not let my epilepsy control my life, slow me down or define me, and I am resilient despite the obstacles thrown in my path.

I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes, and dreamed of being an airline pilot. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years, and his mother (a WASP transport pilot in World War II). My dream of becoming a pilot, however, was crushed in sixth grade after I had my first seizure. I was diagnosed with epilepsy and learned that given my new diagnosis, I would never be able to fly. My goal is to begin my career as an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot focusing on aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. Later in my career, I plan to be an independent contractor and professional unmanned pilot, owning and operating a commercial drone business, and working with national securities and defense agencies, specializing in recognizance and search and rescue missions. I will be a leader in the industry, progressing its development and its policies while expanding potential ethical applications. To reach these goals, I enrolled in the commercial drone program in high school and earned my FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification as a high school junior. Since then, I have been using my drone license for personal and professional projects, including capturing high-definition drone footage for local businesses and non-profit organizations, providing brand and social media promotional content. I am now pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Embry-Riddle University. I am an active member of the ERAU UAS Community Operations Club, and have participated in UAS projects that include mock search and rescue missions, analyze LiDAR data for Arizona Fishing and Game Department, and the U.S. Forestry Service. This summer, I will be engaged in a study abroad project in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay that will focus on monitoring environmental effects of climate change and human impact. We will also conduct operations to examine the area’s ecological systems, work with local farmers, and document plant health and animal life. These experiences are vital to my growth and will help me reach my goals as a professional drone pilot. I anticipate my study abroad program will provide an unparalleled opportunity to progress the beneficial applications of the drone industry. Financially, my parents and I have taken out loans and are using savings to fund my education. I planned ahead by taking the maximum dual-credit college courses while in high school, saving a year's worth of university expenses. According to our calculations, my anticipated three years at Embry-Riddle will cost $193,587 with expected merit scholarships totaling $72,600. My study abroad program is estimated to cost $14,890 including travel to and from South America. We also estimate travel for myself and/or family to and from Arizona and Texas over three years to total approximately $4,055 pending fuel costs and the number of times I travel home. With these figures, my estimated undergraduate education will cost approximately $139,900 ($46,644 per year). Thank you for the opportunity to apply for the Joe Gilroy "Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan" scholarship, I appreciate your consideration.

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. One moment, I was sitting in class talking with my friends and the next moment, I found myself waking up on the floor surrounded by administrators, teachers, and the school nurse. I was immediately rushed to the hospital and later diagnosed with two forms of epilepsy. My first appointment with the neurologist took hours, most of which I don't remember, but I do recall him explaining there were things I would not be able to do for a while: ride my bike, climb trees, go swimming alone. He mentioned I would "very likely" be able to get my driver's license and live a mostly normal life. Then he added the few things in life I would never be able to do given my diagnoses: drive a long-haul truck across state lines, voluntarily join the military, or fly a commercial airplane. That's the moment I remember most, as flying big jets had been my childhood dream. Suddenly, I was crushed. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years. He, in turn, was inspired to become a pilot by his mother, a WASP in World War II, who joined the war efforts as a transport pilot. They both motivate me to leave a positive mark in the field of aviation. As a person living with epilepsy, my career decision has been heavily influenced by my disability. Knowing I would never be able to become an airline pilot, I struggled to find something else in the field of aeronautics I wanted to pursue, and I found my calling in drone aviation after taking my first aviation class. I studied for and earned my FAA Part 107 license to be a drone operator. As a recipient of this scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and focus my career on advancing ethical drone technology in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I am a highly motivated, hard-working student, eager to be a leader in the drone industry, its policies, and expanding its applications, while representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community in a wide variety of ways, from using my creative skills to bring joy and awareness to local environmental issues to utilizing thermal sensor techniques when assisting with search and rescue endeavors. Over the last seven years, I have not let my epilepsy control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I am thriving and resilient despite the medical obstacles thrown in my path. While my initial life plans may not be what they once were, I have not and will not, give up in finding my joy, and I am learning that I love the experience of piloting unmanned aircraft as much I dreamed I would love flying commercial airliners. Thank you very much for your consideration.

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. One moment, I was sitting in class talking with my friends and the next moment, I found myself waking up on the floor surrounded by administrators, teachers, and the school nurse. I was immediately rushed to the hospital and later diagnosed with two forms of epilepsy. My first appointment with the neurologist took hours, most of which I don't remember, but I do recall him explaining there were things I would not be able to do for a while: ride my bike, climb trees, go swimming alone. He mentioned I would "very likely" be able to get my driver's license and live a mostly normal life. Then he added the few things in life I would never be able to do given my diagnoses: drive a long-haul truck across state lines, voluntarily join the military, or fly a commercial airplane. That's the moment I remember most, as flying big jets had been my childhood dream. Suddenly, I was crushed. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years. He, in turn, was inspired to become a pilot by his mother, a WASP in World War II, who joined the war efforts as a transport pilot. They both motivate me to leave a positive mark in the field of aviation. As a person living with epilepsy, my career decision has been heavily influenced by my disability. Knowing I would never be able to become an airline pilot, I struggled to find something else in the field of aeronautics I wanted to pursue, and I found my calling in drone aviation after taking my first aviation class. I studied for and earned my FAA Part 107 license to be a drone operator. As a recipient of this scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and focus my career on advancing ethical drone technology in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I am a highly motivated, hard-working student, eager to be a leader in the drone industry, its policies, and expanding its applications, while representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community in a wide variety of ways, from using my creative skills to bring joy and awareness to local environmental issues to utilizing thermal sensor techniques when assisting with search and rescue endeavors. Over the last seven years, I have not let my epilepsy control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I am thriving and resilient despite the medical obstacles thrown in my path. While my initial life plans may not be what they once were, I have not and will not, give up in finding my joy, and I am learning that I love the experience of piloting unmanned aircraft as much I dreamed I would love flying commercial airliners. Thank you very much for your consideration.

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. One moment, I was sitting in my World Geography class talking with my friends, and the next moment, I found myself waking up on the floor, surrounded by administrators, teachers, and the school nurse. I was immediately rushed to the hospital and later diagnosed with two forms of epilepsy that include tonic-clonic and absence seizures. Neither are curable and have the potential to affect me for the rest of my life, but I have successfully been able to control my seizures and make the most of my medical challenges. My first appointment with the neurologist took hours. I was hooked up to machines for multiple tests, my blood was drawn, I was started on medication, and my parents had a million questions for the doctor. I don't remember most of that first appointment, but the doctor explained there are a few things I would never be able to do given my epilepsy diagnosis, including driving a long-haul truck across state lines, voluntarily join the military, or fly a commercial airplane. That's the moment I remember most, as flying big jets internationally had been my childhood dream. Suddenly, I was crushed. Despite this major setback, I have adapted to my disability and am successful in life. During high school, I was recognized with many awards by my local community college, high school, and even College Board, graduated high school with a 4.9 GPA, and finished my dual-credit college courses with a 3.9 GPA. Additionally, I have held one or two overlapping jobs throughout high school while still finding time to volunteer in my community and play club sports. I have learned to be independent and responsible for advocating for myself and my healthcare needs, keeping up with my medication regimen, medical appointments, regular blood work and imaging tests, and ensuring my school adaptation needs are met. My love for aviation stems from my grandpa, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years. He, in turn, was inspired to become a pilot by his mother, a WASP in World War II. She was a pioneer of her time, joining in the war efforts as a transport pilot, and they both motivate me to leave a positive mark in the field of aviation. As a person living with epilepsy, my decision for my career has been heavily influenced by my disability. Knowing I would never be able to become an airline pilot, I struggled to find something else in the field of aeronautics I would be interested in. After after taking my first aviation class in high school, I found my calling in drone aviation. I studied for and earned my FAA Part 107 license to be a drone operator. Over the last six years, I have learned to not let my epilepsy control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I feel that I am thriving and am resilient despite the obstacles thrown in my path. While my initial life plans may not be what they once were, I have not, and will not, give up in finding my joy, and I am learning that I love the experience of piloting unmanned aircraft as much I dreamed I would love flying commercial airliners.

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. I was sitting in class and then found myself on the floor, surrounded by administrators, teachers, and school nurse. At the first visit with my neurologist, I was diagnosed with two forms of epilepsy and learned that my diagnoses will prevent me from becoming an airline pilot. The news was crushing, as flying jets had been my childhood dream. Despite this major setback, I have adapted to my disability and am successful in academics, sports, working, volunteering in my community, and am building a small business. I have not let epilepsy slow me down or define me as a person. The ever-changing world of technology has greatly influenced my career aspirations. As our lives evolve around technological advances, STEM-based careers are crucial to our society’s future. I have always loved school, technology, and airplanes. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for fifty-one years. He, in turn, was inspired to become a pilot by his mother, who had been a WASP in World War II, a true pioneer of her time, joining in the war efforts as a transport pilot. With the devastating news of my epilepsy, I was forced to consider other career options. I knew I wanted to pursue a STEM-related career within the field of aeronautics, and after my first drone aviation course in high school, I decided to become a drone operator. I am attending my dream school for the astronomical cost of over $62,000 per year. As a very goal-driven student, I set high expectations for myself, including college aspirations. My biggest challenge is not motivation or work ethic (evident by my current 4.0 GPA), but my challenge is financial. Sadly and yet unsurprisingly, eighteen years of saving for my college education will not cover even one full year of my university expenses. Although I was awarded the school's highest merit scholarship, it does not cover enough of the attendance costs for me to pursue my dreams, leaving me with an annual deficit of over $40,000 for my tuition and fees, room and board, and books and supplies. I am very conscientious about the high price tag of not just college in general, but especially of my particular university. To further complicate matters, my two siblings and I are attending college during overlapping years, adding to our family's financial burden. I worked throughout high school, occasionally juggling two part-time jobs simultaneously, while maintaining near-perfect 4.9 high school and 3.8 dual-credit college course GPAs. With this scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and focus my career on advancing drone technology in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I am highly motivated, hard-working, and aspire to be a leader in progressing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy community through my success in college, my career, and small business. I appreciate the opportunity to apply for the “Powering the Future” Whiddon Memorial Scholarship, and for your consideration as a potential recipient. Noah Morales

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. One moment I was sitting in class and then suddenly found myself on the floor, surrounded by administrators, teachers, and school nurse. I was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with two forms of epilepsy with tonic-clonic ("grand mal") and absence seizures. Neither are curable and may potentially affect me for the rest of my life, but I have successfully been able to control my seizures and make the most of my medical challenges. I learned from my neurologist that I would never be able to do certain things in life given my epilepsy diagnosis, including driving a long-haul truck across state lines, voluntarily join the military, or fly a commercial airplane. That's the moment I remember most, as flying big jets had been my childhood dream. Suddenly, I was crushed. Despite this major setback, I have adapted to my disability and am successful in life. I was recognized with many awards by my local community college, high school, and even College Board, and graduated high school with a 4.9 GPA while finishing my dual-credit college courses with a 3.9 GPA. I have learned to be independent and responsible for advocating for myself and my healthcare needs, keeping up with my medication regimen, appointments, regular blood work and imaging tests, and ensuring my school adaptation needs are met. I knew early on that I had to find, and then actually use, my own voice, and show resiliency in the face of unexpected medical adversity. I learned everyone should use their own voice and advocate for themselves, no matter what they are facing. My love for aviation stems from my grandfather, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years. He, in turn, was inspired to become a pilot by his mother, a WASP in World War II. She was a pioneer of her time, joining in the war efforts as a transport pilot, and they both motivate me to leave a positive mark in the field of aviation. As a person living with epilepsy, my decision for my career has been heavily influenced by my disability. Knowing I would never be able to become an airline pilot because of my diagnoses, I struggled to find something else in the field of aeronautics I may want to study in college and on which to build a career. I experimented with computer science and cybersecurity classes my first two years in high school but found they just weren't for me. Then after taking my first aviation class, I found my calling in drone aviation. I studied for and earned my FAA Part 107 license to be a drone operator. As a recipient of the Craig Huffman Memorial Scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and focus my career on advancing ethical drone technology in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I am a highly motivated, hard-working student, eager to be a leader in the drone industry, its policies, and expanding its potential applications, while representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community in a wide variety of ways, including using my creative skills to bring joy and awareness to local environmental issues and utilizing thermal sensor techniques when assisting with search and rescue endeavors. I will also use my voice to help others find and use theirs, as becoming your own advocate is incredibly empowering. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship, I appreciate your consideration. Noah Morales

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. One moment, I was sitting in class talking with my friends, and the next moment, I found myself waking up on the floor, surrounded by administrators, teachers, and the school nurse. I was immediately rushed to the hospital and later diagnosed with two forms of epilepsy. My first appointment with the neurologist took hours, most of which I don't remember, but I do recall him explaining there were things I would not be able to do for a while: ride my bike, climb trees, go swimming alone. He mentioned I would "very likely" be able to get my driver's license and live a mostly normal life. Then he added the few things in life I would never be able to do given my diagnoses: drive a long-haul truck across state lines, voluntarily join the military, or fly a commercial airplane. That's the moment I remember most, as flying big jets had been my childhood dream. Suddenly, I was crushed. My love for aviation stems from my grandpa, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years. He, in turn, was inspired to become a pilot by his mother, a WASP in World War II, who joined the war efforts as a transport pilot. They both motivate me to leave a positive mark in the field of aviation. As a person living with epilepsy, my career decision has been heavily influenced by my disability. Knowing I would never be able to become an airline pilot, I struggled to find something else in the field of aeronautics I wanted to pursue, but I found my calling in drone aviation after taking my first aviation class. I studied for and earned my FAA Part 107 license to be a drone operator. As a recipient of this scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and focus my career on advancing ethical drone technology in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I am a highly motivated, hard-working student, eager to be a leader in the drone industry, its policies, and expanding its applications, while representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community in a wide variety of ways, from using my creative skills to bring joy and awareness to local environmental issues to utilizing thermal sensor techniques when assisting with search and rescue endeavors. Over the last seven years, I have not let my epilepsy control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I am thriving and resilient despite the medical obstacles thrown in my path. While my initial life plans may not be what they once were, I have not and will not, give up in finding my joy, and I am learning that I love the experience of piloting unmanned aircraft as much I dreamed I would love flying commercial airliners. Thank you very much for your consideration.

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. One moment, I was sitting in my World Geography class talking with my friends, and the next moment, I found myself waking up on the floor, surrounded by administrators, teachers, and the school nurse. I was immediately rushed to the hospital and later diagnosed with two forms of epilepsy. My first appointment with the neurologist took hours. I was hooked up to machines for multiple tests, my blood was drawn, I was started on medication, and my parents had a million questions for the doctor. I don't remember most of that first appointment, but I do remember him telling my parents there were things I would not be able to do for a while: ride my bike, climb trees, go swimming alone. He also mentioned I would "very likely" be able to get my driver's license and live a mostly normal life. He finished by adding the few things in life I would never be able to do given my epilepsy diagnosis, including driving a long-haul truck across state lines, voluntarily join the military, or fly a commercial airplane. That's the moment I remember most, as flying big jets internationally had been my childhood dream. Suddenly, I was crushed. My love for aviation stems from my grandpa, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years. He, in turn, was inspired to become a pilot by his mother, a WASP in World War II. She was a pioneer of her time, joining in the war efforts as a transport pilot, and they both motivate me to leave a positive mark in the field of aviation. As a person living with epilepsy, my decision for my career has been heavily influenced by my disability. Knowing I would never be able to become an airline pilot because of my diagnosis, I struggled to find something else in the field of aronautics I may want to study in college and on which to build a career. I experimented with computer science and cybersecurity classes my first two years in high school but found they just weren't for me. Then after taking my first aviation class, I found my calling in drone aviation. I studied for and earned my FAA Part 107 license to be a drone operator. As a recipient of the Dr. G. Yvette Pegues Disability Scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and focus my career on advancing ethical drone technology in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I am a highly motivated, hard-working student, eager to be a leader in the drone industry, its policies, and expanding its potential applications, while representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities. I will continue to volunteer my time and services in my community in a wide variety of ways, from using my creative skills to bring joy and awareness to local environmental issues to utilizing thermal sensor techniques when assisting with search and rescue endeavors. Over the last six years, I have learned to not let my epilepsy control my life, slow me down or define me as a person, and I feel that I am thriving and am resilient despite the obstacles thrown in my path. While my initial life plans may not be what they once were, I have not, and will not, give up in finding my joy, and I am learning that I love the experience of piloting unmanned aircraft as much I dreamed I would love flying commercial airliners. Thank you very much for your consideration, Noah Morales

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. One moment, I was sitting in my World Geography class talking with my friends, and the next moment, I found myself waking up on the floor, surrounded by administrators, teachers, and the school nurse. I was immediately rushed to the hospital and later diagnosed with epilepsy. My first appointment with the neurologist took hours, or at least felt like it. I was hooked up to machines for multiple tests, my blood was drawn, I was started on medication, and my parents had a million questions for the doctor. I don't remember most of that first appointment, but I do remember him telling my parents there were things I would not be able to do for a while: ride my bike, climb trees, go swimming alone. He also mentioned I would "very likely" be able to get my driver's license and live a mostly normal life. He finished by adding the few things in life I would never be able to do given my epilepsy diagnosis, including driving a long-haul truck across state lines, voluntarily join the military, or fly a commercial airplane. That's when I started paying attention, as flying big jets internationally was my career goal. Suddenly, I was crushed. Despite this major setback, I have been able to adapt to my disability and be successful in life. During my high school career, I’ve been recognized through many awards by my local community college, high school, and even College Board, and I graduated in May with a 4.9 GPA. As a person living with epilepsy, my decision for my career has been heavily influenced by my disability. Knowing I would never be able to become an airline pilot because of my diagnosis, I struggled to find something else I may want to study in college and on which to build a career. I experimented with computer science and cybersecurity classes my first two years in high school but found they just weren't for me. Then after taking my first aeronautics class, I finally found my calling: Drone Aviation. I studied for and earned my FAA Part 107 license to be a drone operator. This fall, I will attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to pursue my bachelor degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems. As a person living with epilepsy, my decision for my career has been heavily influenced by my disability. With this scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and focus my career on advancing drone technology in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I am confident I will be successful in college and in building my career, continuing to lead a healthy, independent, and productive life. I am highly motivated, hard-working, and aspire to be a leader in progressing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities through my success in college, my career, and small business. I have learned to not let my disability control my life, and I believe that no matter any condition you may have, you should not let it define you as a person.

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. One moment, I was sitting in my World Geography class talking with my friends, and the next moment, I found myself waking up on the floor, surrounded by administrators, teachers, and the school nurse. I was immediately rushed to the hospital and later diagnosed with epilepsy. My first appointment with the neurologist took hours, or at least felt like it. I was hooked up to machines for multiple tests, my blood was drawn, I was started on medication, and my parents had a million questions for the doctor. I don't remember most of that first appointment, but I do remember him telling my parents there were things I would not be able to do for a while: ride my bike, climb trees, go swimming alone. He also mentioned I would "very likely" be able to get my driver's license and live a mostly normal life. He finished by adding the few things in life I would never be able to do given my epilepsy diagnosis, including driving a long-haul truck across state lines, voluntarily join the military, or fly a commercial airplane. That's when I started paying attention, as flying big jets internationally was my career goal. Suddenly, I was crushed. Despite this major setback, I have been able to adapt to my disability and be successful in life. During my high school career, I’ve been recognized through many awards by my local community college, high school, and even College Board, and I graduated in May with a 4.9 GPA. As a person living with epilepsy, my decision for my career has been heavily influenced by my disability. Knowing I would never be able to become an airline pilot because of my diagnosis, I struggled to find something else I may want to study in college and on which to build a career. I experimented with computer science and cybersecurity classes my first two years in high school but found they just weren't for me. Then after taking my first aeronautics class, I finally found my calling: Drone Aviation. I studied for and earned my FAA Part 107 license to be a drone operator. With this scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and focus my career on advancing drone technology in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I am highly motivated, hard-working, and aspire to be a leader in progressing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy and Hispanic communities through my success in college, my career, and small business. For the past two years, I have primarily spent my volunteer and community service time collaborating with several local artists, videographers, non-profit organizations, and business owners for photographic and film creations of large-scale murals and footage for public enjoyment, environmental awareness campaigns, and to promote their social media presence. I am passionate about protecting our environment for our enjoyment, the ecosystem, and for future generations. This fall, I will attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to pursue my bachelor’s degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems. As a person living with epilepsy, my decision for my career has been heavily influenced by my disability. Like Arlin, I have learned to not let my disability control my life, and I believe that no matter any condition you may have, you should not let it define you as a person. I appreciate the opportunity to apply for the Arlin Diaz Memorial Scholarship, and for your consideration to be a potential recipient of this award.

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. I was sitting in class talking with friends, and then I found myself on the floor, surrounded by administrators, teachers, and the school nurse. I was rushed to the hospital and later diagnosed with epilepsy. At the first visit with my neurologist, I learned that given my epilepsy diagnosis, I would never be able to become an airline pilot. Suddenly, I was crushed, as flying jets was my career goal. Despite this major setback, I have still been able to adapt to my disability and be successful in my life. During my high school career, I’ve been recognized through many awards by my local community college, high school, and even College Board, and I will be graduating this May with a 3.96 GPA. My love for aviation stems from my grandpa, who has held his Private Pilot Certificate for 51 years. He, in turn, was inspired to become a pilot by his mother, a WASP in World War II. She was a pioneer of her time and motivates me to leave a positive mark in the field of aviation. While I grew up wanting to be in the aeronautical industry, becoming an airline pilot didn’t fully resonate with me. It wasn’t until my first drone aviation course in high school that becoming a UAS operator sparked my interest. Over time, I gradually realized the many diverse uses for small unmanned aircraft systems, and their ability to gather crucial data to be analyzed to solve complex problems: site mapping, agricultural surveying, inspections, public safety, search and rescue, real estate, and even cinematography - the possibilities are endless. This is where my captivation for drones stems from. I want to push the development of the aviation industry to its limits by expanding the potential applications of drone technology. Knowing I would never be able to fly because of my epilepsy, I struggled to find something else I may want to study in college and on which to build a career. I experimented with computer science and cybersecurity classes my first two years in high school. Unfortunately, these career paths just weren't for me. However, last year I finally found my calling: Drone Aviation. The possibilities are endless when it comes to what is achievable using drones, and I studied for and earned my FAA Part 107 license to be a drone operator. I have not let epilepsy slow me down or define me as a person. For the past two years, my volunteer and community service time has primarily been spent collaborating with several local artists, videographers, non-profit organizations, and business owners for photographic and film creations of large-scale murals and footage for public enjoyment, environmental awareness campaigns, and to promote their social media presence. With this scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and focus my career on advancing drone technology in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I am a highly motivated, hard-working student with aspirations to be a leader in progressing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy community through my success in college, my career, and small business. Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to apply for the Joseph Lipovits Memorial Aviation Scholarship.

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. One moment, I was sitting in my World Geography class talking with my friends, and the next moment, I found myself waking up on the floor, surrounded by administrators, teachers, and the school nurse. I was immediately rushed to the hospital and later diagnosed with epilepsy involving tonic-clonic (also known as “grand mal”) and absence seizures (“blacking out” for short periods of time that present as daydreaming). At the first appointment with my neurologist, I was hooked up to machines for multiple tests, my blood was drawn, and I was started on medication. I don't remember most of that first appointment, but I do recall the doctor telling my parents there were things I would not be able to do for a while until stabilized by my medication, including riding my bike, climbing trees, or going swimming alone. The doctor did mention I would "very likely" be able to get my driver's license and live a mostly normal life. Then he finished by adding the few things I would never be able to do given my epilepsy diagnosis, such as driving a long-haul truck across state lines, voluntarily join the military, or fly a commercial airplane. That's the moment I started paying attention, as flying big jets internationally was my career goal. Suddenly, I was crushed. Despite this major setback, I have been able to adapt to my disability and be successful in life. During my high school career, I have been recognized through many awards by my local community college, high school, and even College Board, and I will be graduating this May with a 4.9 GPA. While my tonic-clonic seizures remain controlled with medication, I do still experience absence seizures, which occasionally affect my ability to concentrate and remain attentive in class and during tests. As a result, I know I must study harder and apply myself more diligently than my other classmates. I also occasionally need to take advantage of my 504 accommodations to provide extra time during standardized testing. It was hard at first figuring out how epilepsy would fit into my life and how I would still thrive as a person, a student, and eventually as a professional. The day I received my diagnosis, I began becoming more mature and responsible. Despite my young age, I quickly learned how to manage my medication, adjust my sleep and study schedule, and keep up with medical appointments and testing. I wear a medical alert bracelet and am committed to following my neurologist’s recommendation to avoid all alcohol and drugs, as they are known to trigger seizures. Learning I will never be able to fly a commercial jet because of my epilepsy turned my life upside down. As a person living with epilepsy, my decision for my career has been heavily influenced by my disability, as everything I thought I had planned was suddenly out of the question. I struggled to find something else I may want to study in college and on which to build a career. I experimented with computer science and cybersecurity classes my first two years in high school but found these career paths just weren't for me. However, last year I finally found my calling in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly known as "drone aviation." I believe that our future will be strongly affected by drones. Even just a few years ago, no one would believe movie scenes would soon be shot with flying cameras. The importance of drones is becoming increasingly significant in everyday life. From search and rescue missions to site surveying, to observing weather patterns, drones never fail to prove their usefulness. They are used in agriculture, policing, sports, marketing, and even for package deliveries. Once I took my first drone course in high school, I knew I found the perfect match, and so I studied for and earned my FAA 107 license to be a drone pilot. Over the last six years, I have learned to not let my disability control my life or define me as a person. Beginning this fall, I will be attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in pursuit of my Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems. I intend to apply my degree to the further expansion of ethical applications in drone technology. Additionally, I will focus my future as a drone pilot on using UAS technology to advance applications in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I aspire to be a leader in the continuation of the growth of the drone industry and its policies, magnifying its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy community through my success in college, my career, and small business.

In sixth grade, I had my first seizure. One moment, I was sitting in class talking with friends, and the next moment, I found myself waking up on the floor, surrounded by administrators, teachers, and the school nurse. I was immediately rushed to the hospital and later diagnosed with epilepsy. That first appointment with the neurologist seemed to take took hours. I was hooked up to machines for multiple tests, my blood was drawn, I was started on medication, and my parents had a million questions for the doctor. I don't remember most of that first appointment, but I do remember him telling my parents there were things I would not be able to do for a while: ride my bike, climb trees, go swimming alone. He also mentioned I would "very likely" be able to get my driver's license and live a mostly normal life. He finished by adding the few things in life I would never be able to do given my epilepsy diagnosis, including driving a long-haul truck across state lines, voluntarily join the military, or fly a commercial airplane. That's when I started paying attention, as flying big jets internationally was my career goal. Suddenly, I was crushed. Despite this major setback, I have been able to adapt to my disability and be successful in life. During high school, I have been recognized through many awards by my local community college, high school, and even College Board, and will be graduating with high honors. Knowing I will never be able to fly because of my epilepsy, I struggled to find something else to study in college and on which to build a career. I experimented with computer science and cybersecurity classes my first two years in high school. Unfortunately, these career paths just weren't for me. However, last year I finally found my calling in Drone Aviation. The possibilities are endless when it comes to what is achievable using drones. I studied for and earned my FAA Part 107 license to be a drone operator. I believe that our future will be strongly affected by drones, and they are becoming increasingly significant in everyday life. From search and rescue missions to site surveying, to observing weather patterns, drones never fail to prove their usefulness. They're used in agriculture, policing, sports, marketing, and even for package deliveries. I am enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in pursuit of my Bachelor’s degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems. As a person living with epilepsy, my decision for my career has been heavily influenced by my disability. Over the last six years, I have learned to not let my disability control my life. I believe that no matter any condition you may have, you should not let it define you as a person. With this scholarship, I will invest in my future as a drone pilot and focus my career on advancing drone technology in aerial site survey, construction site inspection, and bridge, roadway, and structure inspection. I am highly motivated, hard-working, and aspire to be a leader in progressing the development of the drone industry and its policies, expanding its potential applications, and representing the epilepsy community through my success in college, my career, and small business. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to be considered for the Dwight "The Professor" Baldwin Scholarship!