I’m currently a student at the University of Colorado Boulder, enrolled in the Leeds School of Business and majoring in Business. My expected graduation date is 2028, and I plan to pursue a master’s degree in business or finance afterward. Although I initially planned to study structural engineering, I made a last-minute decision to shift to business because I felt deeply called to this path. It wasn’t just a change of interest; it was a shift in vision. Business, especially finance, is where I realized I could blend problem-solving with leadership to make a lasting impact. Every summer since I started working, I’ve been involved in my family’s timber framing company. A business built from the ground up using extremely creative methods for raising capital in its early years. That hands-on experience taught me discipline, teamwork, and how to approach problems with a practical mindset. Watching my family navigate the realities of entrepreneurship, especially the challenge of securing funding without traditional support, opened my eyes to how resourceful and resilient small business owners have to be just to survive. It also rooted me in the value of building something that lasts, whether it is a physical structure or a long-term financial strategy. That mindset now drives my goals in finance. In the short term, I want to enter the world of private investing, gaining firsthand experience in evaluating deals, working with clients, and learning how thoughtful capital allocation can shape the future of businesses and communities. My long-term goal is to launch my own investment firm that focuses on alternative investments and wealth-building for small business owners, particularly those who are overlooked by traditional funding channels. I want to help entrepreneurs like the ones I grew up around not only access capital, but also receive strategic guidance that empowers them to scale sustainably and preserve what they’ve built for future generations. Alternative investments excite me because they combine creativity, strategy, and real-world impact. Unlike traditional finance, which often feels abstract, alternative investments put you closer to the decisions that shape companies and lives. I am drawn to private equity and venture capital because they allow you to recognize potential early, support innovation, and become an active partner in building something meaningful. I love the idea of ownership, long-term thinking, and the creativity it takes to turn calculated risks into transformational opportunities. These investments are where finance becomes both personal and visionary. Still, I recognize that access to this field is far from equal. One of the biggest barriers facing underrepresented asset managers is the lack of access to networks and mentorship. So much of the investment world runs on relationships, and too many smart, capable people are left out simply because they do not have the right connections. Building structured mentorship pipelines, where emerging managers from all backgrounds can learn from industry leaders, would help bridge that gap. At the same time, institutional investors and limited partners should commit to transparency. By tracking who receives funding and holding themselves accountable to diversity benchmarks, they can help drive meaningful change. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. That is the problem we need to solve. If I had the chance to shadow any investor for a year, it would be Robert F. Smith. As the founder of Vista Equity Partners, his investment strategy is known for being highly disciplined and focused on operational excellence. I would want to understand how he applies system-level thinking to software and technology investing, and how his team identifies underperforming assets and transforms them into thriving businesses. His ability to blend analytical rigor with hands-on operational focus is something I hope to learn and apply in my own future work. If I were not pursuing a career in finance, I would return to engineering, most likely structural engineering. I have always been drawn to design, physics, and the satisfaction of solving real-world problems with precision and creativity. My summers in timber framing taught me how rewarding it is to build things that last. Whether it is constructing homes or shaping investment portfolios, I am guided by the same values: integrity, responsibility, and a drive to create structures, literal or financial, that support others over time. Finance is my chosen path, but I will never forget the value of hard work, hands-on experience, and the responsibility that comes with leadership. This scholarship would be an investment in the foundation I am building now and in the impact I hope to have for years to come.

At the very top of the umbrella, community service is a way to give back to my community, which has supported me so far in my life and development. It has become a way for me to get to know those who grow and live alongside me in a way I might otherwise get the chance to do. I have met amazing town members while participating in many different forms of community service. I have tilled and planted community gardens with grandmothers who remember me as a small child. I have packed boxes of local food for those experiencing food insecurity next to young adults who are attending our local university and new fathers experiencing parenthood for the first time. I have helped put on annual fundraisers for our elementary school PTA, and have gotten to experience full-circle moments when I watch the same wide smiles grow on the kids' faces that appeared on mine many years ago. I have worked alongside some of the most well-respected mountain biking endurance athletes in our community for a non-profit trail advocacy organization. I have directly coached and mentored young elementary-age children in our recreational department's soccer program, and I have worked alongside National Honor Society students, helping them with their volunteering hours, even when I was not part of NHS. My experience with community service in my town has allowed me to expand not only my understanding of all of the different needs within my community but also my ability to be an active participant in helping in whatever way I am needed. I have met so many different people, and have enjoyed a much clearer picture of all of the people and entities that make up my town as a whole. My goal of a degree in finance allows me a multifaceted way of giving back to my community. I am deeply interested in personal finance, and I want to ensure that I provide my financial advice services to those who otherwise may not be able to afford it. Those who could benefit most from help with their finances are not always in a position to start that journey. I am confident that I can be a part of changing that. I am looking forward to setting up my business model where my practice works with low-income individuals and families, as I want everyone to learn how to manage their finances in a healthy and productive way. I am also very interested in real estate. Growing up in a tourist community, I saw firsthand the difficulty families had finding housing. By focusing on helping those who live and work in my community with secure housing, I can assist in keeping my town alive and vibrant, continuously growing in a healthy way. I have immediately jumped into volunteering in my college community. I am a member of Alpha Phi Omega, our local service fraternity, and have volunteered for multiple events through my organization since beginning my freshman year. As I am just beginning my career path, I know that obstacles might arise. I might not own my own business. I might find myself in a sector that I wasn't planning on. I might pivot and then pivot some more, landing in a place I didn't expect. I know that at the end of the day, I want to ensure that I am giving back to my community by providing financial assistance. I am determined to use where I end up for good. I want to make sure that I help others, just as my community helped me growing up.

As the child of self-employed parents, I have witnessed firsthand the drive and determination it takes to succeed. My parents created their business from the ground up, living in (literally) a van while finishing up college, starting their company from my backyard where I was raised, muddling through the recession when my sister was born, and making sure that we always were taken care of, even when things got tough. I have admired my parent's focus, commitment to their family, and longing to give back to their community. I remember them always being the business that the community came to during their fundraisers. I remember them making sure that they took care of their employees and their families during the pandemic. I remember thinking once that they cared more about the town than me, but I soon realized that they were giving back to those who shaped me into who I am today. Juggling honors classes in school, concurrent enrollment at our local university, and full-time athletics, I had to be creative with my community service choices. It wasn't ever easy, but it was certainly rewarding. I have worked with those experiencing food insecurity, our community gardens, our local on-profit trail advocacy organization that is dedicated to maintaining and expanding the singletrack mountain biking experience of my hometown area, our local recreation department with their junior soccer program, as well as our elementary school PTA's annual fundraiser, and our National Honor Society students, even when I wasn't a part of NHS. I am planning to pursue my degree in finance. I want to be able to provide low-income individuals and families with financial advice services that they might not otherwise be able to receive. I have worked all year applying to as many scholarships as I could. I have yet to receive any, but there are so many deserving high school students out there, the decision must be overwhelming. I decided against an out-of-state college that gave me a large merit scholarship, for an in-state school because I wanted to be closer to my family. This scholarship will help me receive my finance degree and alleviate some of the burden that my parents and I will have with paying for school. My mom and dad have worked so hard to give me a wonderful life, and I would love to help them by having fewer student loans that can cause so much stress for all of us. My parents have worked hard to get where they are today, and I admire their sacrifices to support their children. By helping to pay my way through school, I will take some future stress off of the table for them. This is a small way of thanking them for everything they have given to me. I appreciate your consideration for this scholarship.

At the very top of the umbrella, community service is a way to give back to my community, which has supported me so far in my life and development. It has become a way for me to get to know those who grow and live alongside me in a way I might otherwise get the chance to do. I have met amazing town members while participating in many different forms of community service. I have tilled and planted community gardens with grandmothers who remember me as a small child. I have packed boxes of local food for those experiencing food insecurity next to young adults who are attending our local university and new fathers experiencing parenthood for the first time. I have helped put on annual fundraisers for our elementary school PTA, and have gotten to experience full-circle moments when I watch the same wide smiles grow on the kids' faces that appeared on mine many years ago. I have worked alongside some of the most well-respected mountain biking endurance athletes in our community for a non-profit trail advocacy organization. This annual bike race/fundraiser brings mountain bikers from all over to race up to 64 miles on singletrack. It is committed to preserving and developing the singletrack experience for all who live in and visit our vibrant community. I have directly coached and mentored young elementary-age children in our recreational department's soccer program, and I have worked alongside National Honor Society students, helping them with their volunteering hours, even when I was not part of NHS. My experience with community service in my town has allowed me to expand not only my understanding of all of the different needs within my community but also my ability to be an active participant in helping in whatever way I am needed. I have met so many different people, and have enjoyed a much clearer picture of all of the people and entities that make up my town as a whole. My goal of a degree in finance allows me a multifaceted way of giving back to my community. I am deeply interested in personal finance, and I want to ensure that I provide my financial advice services to those who otherwise may not be able to afford it. Those who could benefit most from help with their finances are not always in a position to start that journey. I am confident that I can be a part of changing that. I am looking forward to setting up my business model where my practice works with low-income individuals and families, as I want everyone to learn how to manage their finances in a healthy and productive way. I am also very interested in real estate. Growing up in a tourist community, I saw firsthand the difficulty families had finding housing. By focusing on helping those who live and work in my community with secure housing, I can assist in keeping my town alive and vibrant, continuously growing in a healthy way. As I am just beginning my career path, I know that obstacles might arise. I might not own my own business. I might find myself in a sector that I wasn't planning on. I might pivot and then pivot some more, landing in a place I didn't expect. I know that at the end of the day, I want to ensure that I am giving back to my community by providing financial assistance. I am determined to use where I end up for good. I want to make sure that I help others, just as my community helped me growing up.

Running has been a huge part of my life and has profoundly impacted my social and emotional reactions to life and how I move forward when things get tough. I started running distance in middle school to stay conditioned for my true love at the time, soccer. I started off slow, negative, and socially awkward. However, with motivation from my parents, I stuck with it all throughout middle school. I earned many podium finishes as a reward for the work I had put in, and I still made time to help my soccer team achieve many outstanding victories. Each year, as I got faster and more comfortable with the team, I realized that my love of cross country and track increased exponentially. My coaches were passionate, my teammates were supportive, and I was determined to improve myself every day, on and off the tracks and courses. I was deeply pressured to commit full-time to soccer or running by the time I reached high school. It was a decision that was looming over me, and I was not looking forward to making that stressful call. As a freshman, I finally made the tough decision to quit soccer to run full-time. High school cross country was just as awkward to begin with as I felt my middle school years were. The team was full of people I had never met before, my competitors were much faster, and I had to cope with being at the bottom of the grade hierarchy again. However, I adapted to the situation. Nevertheless, each subsequent year, I ran faster, got closer to the team, and qualified for more prestigious races. My team had become a family. A family that pushed me to grow and helped develop my skills. One moment in my running career that not only stuck with me, but also helped spark a self-reflection period, occurred at the end of my freshman cross-country season. Regionals were standing in the way of qualifying for the State Championships. Due to COVID-19, our coach informed the team that only the top six runners would attend. The top five were already set. A wrestler running for off-season training and I were tied for the sixth spot. We met with our coach to decide which athlete to take, and I sacrificed my spot because I knew it would be his last chance to run, and I would have many more years. Soon after, this teammate got into a car accident, rendering him unable to run. I filled the empty spot. At regionals, I beat my PR by over a minute, and my team made it to state. This taught me adaption and grace. I was so happy that I could give up my spot to help further a teammates position and need, but I was also so proud that I was able to contribute such an important piece of the puzzle during this season. Another time that substantially affected my mindset occurred in my junior season. I was experiencing major burnout, feeling unmotivated, and I found myself always complaining at practice. I saw no time improvement, which made my mindset worse and made me dread daily practices. I felt I was letting everyone down. The realization that I would not be a four-time state qualifier flipped a switch. I realized that the positivity, hard work, and consistency I had been working on were the key to my success. After this period of deep self-reflection, I altered how I looked at running. I transitioned from seeking the podium at all times to having as much fun as possible; instead of beating myself up over bad results, I learned from them. I also created a running schedule to keep me motivated and accountable. This period helped break through a barrier that has held many other athletes back from reaching their full potential. When people ask me how I have fun putting myself through excruciating pain just to run, I always say that the pain I experience at the end of a race is the most rewarding feeling ever. Distance running has changed my life. The memories, friends, and habits I created through this sport are truly the most important things I have ever achieved.