When I was three, I laced my first pair of hockey skates. I am the youngest of four hockey players. Weekends consisted of eight, sometimes more hockey games, at different rinks. My parents tried to cover all the games, but it was impossible, so they built a “sports family” to help. I traveled out of state with other moms, shared hotel rooms with teammates I hardly knew, and became independent, self-reliant and self-centered to survive. My idea of a sports family were people who took you to practices and games and you stayed with when your parents weren’t around. In 8th grade, I experienced a different kind of sports family. My older sister, Siena, took me to rugby. Everything was different from hockey. Coaches were positive, players were laughing, and I could feel the energy. Between them, I saw trust, tight-knit bonds, empathy, compassion, respect, and support for one another. They also had grit. They went toe-to-toe and pushed one another. They weren't out for themselves, they were a real team! This team became my rugby family. The selfish mindset I built to survive in hockey faded away. During matches, we cheer “AS ONE” because we truly are one. One team. One community. One family. We’re there for each other no matter what. Rugby is real, raw, unpolished, unpretentious, and crazy. My favorite thing is how tough, aggressive, and relentless we are on the pitch, but when the final whistle blows, all that dissipates and teams who just battled, gather to eat together, give hugs, talk about their tackles and impressive plays. A lot of us even join forces to play on a high level travel team, Wisconsin Badger Selects, to play in tournaments. The bonds we build on these trips show that family doesn't come from what jersey you wear, we are one BIG rugby family! When I wrote this, I wasn’t sure why rugby families are so tight…but perhaps it’s due to the nature of the sport…no gear, the pure courage and strength it takes to be on the pitch, the grit and determination to get back up, bruises, bloody cleat marks, gashes, chunks of missing hair, French braids, tight uniforms, and being a part of the small percentage of women who play. This —- this is what makes our family so strong. The things we go through, as one; it leaves an invisible, unbreakable bond. My team is my family. They are my strength when I am weak, my unconditional support, my lifelong friends; they are my sisters. Sophomore year I tore my ACL and was sidelined. I couldn't play for a year and was devastated, feeling like my whole world had been turned upside down and someone shut off the lights. But, my teammates turned that light back on and held my hand. They encouraged me, checked in, welcomed me at practice; they reminded me that I was still part of something bigger. It doesn’t matter what you’ve been through or what jersey you wear, because in rugby, we are one family. I’m grateful for the opportunities rugby has given me to connect with strong, diverse, and powerful women. This sport taught me confidence, discipline, leadership, and the true meaning of teamwork, and I’m not done learning from rugby. I am going to play rugby at Iowa State while pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering and possibly joining the Air Force ROTC. Today, I understand the importance of being part of something bigger than myself. I can’t imagine my life without my rugby family and I can’t wait to be part of another at Iowa State.

An issue that I saw in my community was a lack of public, visual representation for people who have experienced trauma. The initiative I took was to create a public sculpture to help support and encourage people to rise above and find their strength who have or are dealing with trauma. What motivated me was surviving a near-fatal dog attack when I was seven, that left me with serious facial injuries. My lower eyelid was torn, my cheek split open, my nose detached, and my lip shredded. Two puncture wounds marked my neck, one just 0.76 millimeters from rupturing my carotid artery. Doctors spent four hours repairing my face with more than 400 sutures, which saved my life and ability to smile. Recovery was painful - physically and emotionally. I went through multiple laser scar revisions and therapy. Eventually, I saw my scars not as flaws, but as marks of survival, bravery, and hope. That became the idea for the project, titled “The Fifth Day.” Installed in Port Washington, Wisconsin in 2022, “The Fifth Day” is a 5’ x 4’ sculpture made of twisted metal vines and birds breaking free from a nest, symbolizing transformation, resilience, and rebirth. I made the piece using CAD software, shaped the components using a CNC plasma cutter, welded them together, and completed the project while balancing school, rugby, a mission trip, a job, 4-H, and a 4.18 GPA. I wanted to show people that pain can bring strength, and that healing takes many forms. Unveiling the sculpture was a proud moment, many people told me how the appreciated the piece. It would be nice to start a community project that combines art and STEM at Iowa State University, as I head there this fall. I could see interactive workshops where students learn to use engineering tools to express personal journeys through art. ISU has a strong, robust maker space for something like this to happen. My experiences have taught me that engineering isn’t just about machines and equations, it’s about people and making positive impacts. I’ve chosen the field of biomedical engineering to be able to design life-saving devices to help others. I’m committed to using my skills to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. If you’d like to see the process of creating the sculpture, check it out here: https://youtu.be/GqZw60-f3eA

My favorite Team USA athlete is Ilona Maher. She stands out to me not just because she’s an incredible rugby player, but because she represents strength in every sense of the word she’s physically strong, emotionally strong, and mentally strong. Ilona is BUFF, bold, confident, and so feminine, and fiercely talented. She plays both sevens and fifteens at the highest level, and her connection with her mom reminds me so much of my own. What truly inspires me about Ilona is her resilience. She’s overcome a major injury, battled body image struggles, and stood strong against public criticism and online trolls who tried to diminish her worth because of her size. Rather than let them silence her, she used her voice to advocate for women, body positivity, and mental health. Just like my tattoo that reads “Use Your Voice Even If It Shakes.” Her strength on the field is matched by her courage off of it, which I deeply admire. As a female athlete myself, I connect with Ilona’s journey on a personal level. I’ve played sports in male dominated spaces my whole life - rugby, ice hockey, lacrosse, flag football, and more. While my body type is the opposite of Ilona’s, I’m small, short, and lean, I’ve faced my own insecurities. But like her, I turned my perceived disadvantages into strengths. I trained for speed and agility, and used my size to become quick and elusive on the field. I also suffered a major setback when I tore my ACL. It took me a full year to recover and return to rugby. That year was one of the most difficult of my life, both physically and mentally. But my mom, like Ilona’s, was my rock strong, supportive, and always by my side. Seeing Ilona’s bond with her mom and the role they play in each other’s lives reminds me how important that support system is. Ilona’s impact reaches far beyond the field. She uses her platform on social media to inspire young girls in sports, encouraging them to embrace their bodies, speak up, and rise above adversity. That message resonates deeply with me. I’ve always tried to use my experiences to help others. In 2022, I was honored to create a public sculpture for Port Washington, Wisconsin, titled “The Fifth Day.” It stands five feet tall and four feet wide, a nest of twisted metal vines with birds breaking free, symbolizing growth, faith, and the strength to overcome. It tells the story of my own survival from a near-fatal dog attack at age seven and the power of resilience. Watching Ilona play is thrilling. She’s fast, aggressive, and fearless. She’d rather run through someone than around them, and I love that about her. She competed in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo (only the second time rugby was included), where she scored three tries and helped the U.S. place sixth. But more than the stats, it’s her presence and personality that make her unforgettable. Ilona Maher is more than an elite athlete, she’s a trailblazer, a nurse, an advocate, and a role model. Her unapologetic strength and fierce advocacy for body positivity and women in sports continue to inspire me every day. She shows that being powerful, emotional, determined, and feminine can all exist in the same space, and that’s exactly the kind of athlete, teammate, and person I strive to be.

My career goals focus on helping others through engineering. Whether it’s designing life-saving medical devices or improving products to make them more effective, affordable, and accessible, I strive to make a meaningful impact in my career. Engineering isn’t just a career, it’s a calling to combine creativity, technical skill, and compassion to improve lives. I have always been drawn to the elegance of math and science. Math, like a complex puzzle, satisfies my love for problem solving and structure, while science captivates me with its precision and wonder. From the mechanics of the ear to the physics of a bird in flight, I’m fascinated by how these principles shape our world. Engineering brings math and science together to help me find real-world solutions. My passion for helping others through engineering was born from a deeply personal experience, one that forever shaped my life. At seven, I survived a near-fatal dog attack. In a matter of seconds, my world changed. My lower eyelid was torn in half, my cheek split open, my nose detached, my lip shredded. A canine tooth was missing, and two deep punctures marked my neck - one just 0.76 millimeters from rupturing my carotid artery. A surgical team spent over four hours meticulously repairing my face with more than 400 layered sutures. They used high-tech medical tools to microscopically reconstruct my tear duct and reconnect facial nerves and muscles. Miraculously, I regained the ability to smile. Recovery was painful and emotional. I underwent laser scar revisions, therapy, and had to learn how to accept my new, lopsided smile. But my scars no longer define me, they tell my story of resilience, bravery, and strength. This experience sparked a desire to help others overcome adversity and inspired me to pursue a career in biomedical engineering. I want to give others the same second chance I was given, whether through technology, medical advancement, or simply showing that healing is possible. In 2022, I had the chance to share my story publicly in a unique way: through a sculpture I created for Port Washington, Wisconsin. Titled “The Fifth Day,” the piece symbolizes my survival and growth. Made of twisted metal vines and birds breaking free, it represents the harsh beauty of transformation and the hope that rises from pain. Standing five feet tall and four feet wide, it blends my personal journey with the city’s industrial heritage and natural beauty. Designing and building the sculpture required persistence, technical skill, and time management. I created lifelike birds and vines using CAD, a CNC plasma cutter, welding equipment, and metal-bending tools - all the machines I learned to use in tech-ed. I completed the project while balancing school, rugby, work, 4-H, volunteering on a mission trip, and maintaining a 4.18 GPA. Unveiling the sculpture was a proud moment. The support from my community, peers, teachers, and family reminded me how powerful stories can be when turned into something beautiful. Engineering is more than machines and equations - to me, it’s about people. From designing medical devices like those used in my recovery to creating public art that inspires others, engineering can impact lives in countless ways. I am driven to use my skills not just to solve problems, but to lift people up and help them discover their strength. I am passionate, resilient, and committed to making a difference. I believe I’m a strong candidate for the Women in STEM Community and Service scholarship, and am excited to become a biomedical engineer. Thank you! If you’d like to see the process of creating the sculpture, check it out here: https://youtu.be/GqZw60-f3eA

I have known Mr. Volke since freshman year when I took his Intro to Engineering class. From the first time I met him, I knew he was different - he’s a teacher who truly cares for his students, not just academically but as young adults with developing minds. He takes time to understand his students on a deeper level and is always patient, kind, and explanatory in a way each student can understand. Mr. Volke has a child with Down syndrome, and I believe his experiences at home with his daughter overflow into the classroom. I’ve never met a teacher so passionate, willing to take chances, and sincere. He has helped me develop a love for engineering. He makes learning fun, engaging, and always puts a smile on my face. In the numerous classes I have taken with him, from CAD to consumer home maintenance to PWTL classes and more, he always goes beyond the call of a teacher. I feel truly cared for by him. Being one of a few females in the tech ed department at my school, I appreciate that he treats me just like one of the boys, no special treatment. When I was struggling to figure out my career path for college, he spent a lot of time helping me explore options within engineering and the human body. He is the reason I found the field of biomedical engineering, and I’m so excited to pursue this field at Iowa State this fall. More than that, he helped change my entire approach to life. He taught me to see challenges not as setbacks but as opportunities to grow and question the rules. He showed me how powerful it is to combine empathy with technical knowledge. His example made me realize that I don’t just want to work in biomedical engineering, I want to make a difference in people’s lives, just like he does every day in the classroom. He is also the leader of Port Washington High School’s Piratech Racing team, and he spends countless hours helping me and a goofy group of gearhead junior and senior boys piece together an F1 car. He lets us take risks in the shop (obviously not safety-related) by designing our own parts for the car using CNC plasma cutters, welding equipment, metal bending machines, lathes, and more. We machine and install the parts ourselves, and he lets us fail without stepping in. He leads by asking us what we could be doing better and helps us think critically about how to fix our mistakes. His gentle guidance speaks volumes about his personality. Not many teachers willingly spend two nights a week at school supervising a group like us, but he does without hesitation or complaint. We know he believes in us, values extracurricular activities, and understands the power of giving back. Mr. Volke is always there for me and for any of his students who need help. He guides us, teaches us, and humors us when we do something funny. He always sets my compass in the right direction, yet never gives me an easy way out. That’s something very important for someone like me, to keep me challenged, engaged, and on track. The impact he has had on my high school career, my future as a biomedical engineer, my fellow students, and my personal growth will last far beyond the classroom. Every person needs a Mr. Volke in their life.

A Little (Well, Maybe a Lot) About Me – Renata Commare Class of 2025 | Weighted GPA: 4.188 | Rank: 7 of 189 Air Force Aim High Flight Academy (2025): Selective, fully funded by the Air Force 3-week aviation and leadership program Port Washington High School Gymnastics:  • Rookie of the Year (2025)  • Most Improved Athlete (2024 & 2025)  • Assistant Captain (2024 & 2025) National Honor Society Member (2024 & 2025) Knellsville 4-H Club Secretary (2024) Prom Court, Port Washington High School (2024) Brookfield Bruisers Rugby:  • Team Captain (2023–2025)  • Offensive Player of the Year (2023 & 2024) Kiwanis High Honors Recipient (2023 & 2024) Public Sculpture Artist (2023): Created a 4x5 ft. metal installation for Port Washington’s “Port Main Street, Inc.” — View it here Blue Ribbon Winner, Swine, Ozaukee County Fair (2023) Lakeshore Lightning Ice Hockey:  • Captain (2022 & 2023)  • Rookie of the Year (2022)  • All-Conference Honorable Mention (2022) Western Michigan University Metal Casting Camp (2022): Scholarship recipient *** My educational goals are to earn a high quality education, gain as much hands on engineering experience as possible, and actively contribute to my school’s Baja, Formula SAE, or Quarter Scale team. I also want to participate in STEM programs, join WiSE, lead research projects, and pursue internships in biomedical engineering to gain real-world experience. For the past two years, I’ve been an active member of my high school’s Formula One team, where I’ve combined classroom knowledge with practical skills to help build our race car. I’ve welded, machined parts, and used CAD to design components, all of which have deepened my passion for engineering and strengthened my problem-solving abilities. My career goal is to help others through biomedical engineering. When I was seven, I survived a near-fatal dog attack. My face was torn apart, my eyelid split, cheek opened, nose detached, canine tooth knocked out, and a deep puncture came within a millimeter of my carotid artery. Recovery took multiple surgeries, painful laser treatments, and years of emotional healing. My scars made me feel different and self-conscious, but they also taught me resilience, empathy, and determination. That experience showed me how powerful innovation in medicine can be. The tools, technology, and expertise used to rebuild my face inspired me to pursue biomedical engineering as a way to give back and make a difference. As a biomedical engineer, I want to design solutions that improve people’s lives, whether that’s restoring a smile, reducing production costs, improving medical device efficiency, or even saving lives. I want my work to have meaning and impact. In 2022, I had my first opportunity to make an impact through engineering and art. I designed and built a large metal sculpture for the town of Port Washington, Wisconsin, representing freedom, growth, and strength. Inspired by my own traumatic dog bite experience, the sculpture encourages people to rise above adversity. My story is displayed beside the artwork, sharing how I overcame my trauma in hopes of inspiring others to find faith, strength, and resilience within themselves. To me, engineering is about people and purpose. It’s about transforming challenges into opportunities and turning pain into progress. My scars no longer define me, they remind me of what I’ve overcome and why I’m driven to build a better, more compassionate world.

132,792 hours. 5,533 days. 182 months. 15 years. That’s how long sports have been a part of my life. It all began with ice hockey when I was three years old. With three older sisters already playing, it was only natural for me to join in. Back then, Mites hockey was mostly just kids tripping over their own skates and spending more time on the ice than on their feet, while parents laughed from the stands. My dad was my coach - lucky me. He’d scoop me up by my jersey and say, “Keep going.” That was my first introduction to building confidence and grit through sports. Hockey sparked my athletic journey, but it didn’t stop there. I went on to try wrestling, gymnastics, lacrosse, track, and cross country. But none of them captured my heart quite like rugby. At first, rugby seemed completely barbaric - no pads, no gear, just full-on tackling, running, chasing, kicking, bruises, cleat marks, bloody wounds, and broken bones. Still, something about it drew me in. Freshman year of HS, I asked my sister to take me to one of her practices. I gave it a try, and to my surprise, I fell in love. The “controlled” aggression, the speed, the strategy, the sisterhood - it was everything! The coach, Joey Garcia from the Brookfield Bruisers in Wisconsin was a little frightening in the beginning, but after a few practices, I got his rhythm, and that’s when everything changed. I told my sister the only sport I wanted to continue playing was rugby. I wasn’t confident at first, but I had a strong foundation from years of team sports. Joey believed in me. He took extra time to teach me, never letting me give up on myself. Standing just 5’4”, Joey’s presence is anything but small. His heart is huge, and his favorite word is “fuck” and favorite phrase is “Never too high on a win, never too low on a loss!” He’s the most loyal and honest coach I’ve ever had - someone I trust completely to have my back, push me to be better, and care deeply about every player on his team. When I tore my ACL my sophomore year, my first thought was, “Shit - I have to tell Joey I can’t play.” I was devastated. I thought he’d be disappointed or mad. But instead, he was so positive and said, “When you’re ready, your spot will still be here.” That was everything. With his support and my determination, every day, I worked hard to recover and I came back stronger. When I returned to play, I was named team captain and twice received the Offensive Player of the Year award. Leading my team showed me the importance of accountability, perseverance, and leading by example. I realized that being captain isn’t just about motivation, it’s about creating a space where everyone feels welcome, seen, and empowered to succeed both on and off the field. Rugby has shaped who I am. It’s given me confidence, resilience, lifelong friendships, a few scars, some bruises, and fractures, but every setback, every win, every lesson has helped me grow, not just as an athlete, but as a person for my future. The values and toughness I’ve learned through this sport will stay with me forever. I can’t imagine my life without rugby, or without Coach Joey. And honestly, I wouldn’t want to

When I was seven, I survived a near-fatal dog attack. One moment I was standing in a doorway, and the next, I was on the ground, curled into a ball, holding my face. Everything was a blur, but I remember the panic in the air, the shouting, the cold towels pressed against my skin, and the sound of sirens approaching. My lower eyelid had been torn in half, my cheek split open, my nose detached, and my upper lip shredded. A canine tooth was knocked out, and there were two deep puncture wounds in my neck—one of them just 0.76 millimeters from rupturing my carotid artery. Doctors later told my family how lucky I was to survive. After the initial emergency surgeries to repair my face, I went through years of follow-up procedures. The scars on my face became part of my daily reality. As I got older, I became increasingly self-conscious of my appearance. The stares, the questions, the mirror—they all reminded me of that traumatic day. In an effort to reclaim my confidence, I endured several painful laser treatments to reduce the appearance of the scars. It was a long, physically and emotionally demanding process. I am grateful for the advancements in medical technology that made this healing possible. The work of the surgeons, the tools they used, and the systems that supported my care all contributed to restoring not just my face, but my spirit and quality of life. Going through that experience shaped who I am. I’ve learned how strong the human body is, how powerful our will to heal can be, and how essential community support is to human recovery. That’s what first inspired me to accept the opportunity to build a sculpture for the town I live in and explore a career in engineering. Engineering is not just a field of study, but it’s a way to create real, lasting change in people’s lives. I started to see engineering not as something abstract or theoretical, but as something deeply personal. The same way it helped me, it could help others. The 4-ft by 5–ft sculpture I built for the community of Port Washington, WI took me six months to develop, design and construct using CAD, a CNC plasma cutter, welding and other industrial equipment. The project required several engineering principles: creativity, precision, problem-solving, budgeting, critical thinking and design. It also demanded persistence and resourcefulness as I navigated obstacles that tested my technical skills, time management, and determination. The theme of the sculpture is inspiration. I want the people in my town to believe in themselves, and rise above their traumatic experiences. If you’d like to see me making the sculpture visit this link: https://youtu.be/GqZw60-f3eA My experience taught me how innovation in medicine can change lives, and support community members. The tools, technologies, and expertise used to rebuild my face inspired me to pursue engineering as a way to help others. Becoming a biomedical engineer will allow me to design solutions that improve lives and communities. Whether I’m lowering production costs, increasing machine efficiency, saving lives through technology, or refining surgical tools, I want my work to make a difference. Engineering, to me, is about purpose. It’s a way to turn challenges into opportunities and pain into progress. My scars no longer define me—they remind me of what I’ve overcome and why I want to build a better, more compassionate world through engineering. My scars are a reminder not only of what I’ve survived, but of what’s possible when innovation is driven by compassion.

When I was seven, I survived a near-fatal dog attack. One moment I was standing in a doorway, and the next, I was on the ground, curled into a ball, holding my face. Everything was a blur, but I remember the panic in the air, the shouting, the cold towels pressed against my skin, and the sound of sirens approaching. My lower eyelid had been torn in half, my cheek split open, my nose detached, and my upper lip shredded. A canine tooth was knocked out, and there were two deep puncture wounds in my neck—one of them just 0.76 millimeters from rupturing my carotid artery. Doctors later told my family how lucky I was to survive. After the initial emergency surgeries to repair my face, I went through years of follow-up procedures. The scars on my face became part of my daily reality. As I got older, I became increasingly self-conscious of my appearance. The stares, the questions, the mirror—they all reminded me of that traumatic day. In an effort to reclaim my confidence, I endured several painful laser treatments to reduce the appearance of the scars. It was a long, physically and emotionally demanding process. I am grateful for the advancements in medical technology that made this healing possible. The work of the surgeons, the tools they used, and the systems that supported my care all contributed to restoring not just my face, but my spirit and quality of life. Going through that experience shaped who I am. I’ve learned how strong the human body is, how powerful our will to heal can be, and how essential innovation is to human recovery. That’s what first inspired me to accept the opportunity to build a sculpture for the town I live in and explore a career in engineering. Engineering is not just as a field of study, but it’s a way to create real, lasting change in people’s lives. I started to see engineering not as something abstract or theoretical, but as something deeply personal. The same way it helped me, it could help others. The 4-ft by 5–ft sculpture I built for Port Washington, WI took me six months to developed, design and constructed sing CAD, a CNC plasma cutter, welding and other industrial equipment. The project required several engineering principles: creativity, precision, problem-solving, budgeting, critical thinking and design. It also demanded persistence and resourcefulness as I navigated obstacles that tested my technical skills, time management, and determination. The theme of the sculpture was resilience after my dog attack. I wanted the piece to evoke strength and adaptability while reflecting the harsh natural beauty of a once-industrialized fishing port. If you’d like to see me making the sculpture visit this link: https://youtu.be/GqZw60-f3eA My experience taught me how innovation in medicine can change lives. The tools, technologies, and expertise used to rebuild my face inspired me to pursue engineering as a way to help others. Becoming a mechanical engineer with a minor in biomedical or agricultural engineering will allow me to design solutions that improve lives and communities. Whether I’m lowering production costs, increasing machine efficiency, saving lives through technology, or refining tools for farmers, I want my work to make a difference. Engineering, to me, is about purpose. It’s a way to turn challenges into opportunities and pain into progress. My scars no longer define me—they remind me of what I’ve overcome and why I want to build a better, more compassionate world through engineering. My scars are a reminder not only of what I’ve survived, but of what’s possible when innovation is driven by compassion.