Growing up, education was always a primary point of emphasis in my family’s values. This was especially true for my late father, a proud Rattler and member of Omega Psi Phi, who instilled in me a deep appreciation for the transformative power of HBCUs. His belief in HBCUs’ impact on students’ lives shaped my understanding of education as more than just a personal endeavor and more towards finding a community, creating a legacy, and creating opportunities for those who come after us. Thus when I chose to attend Fisk University, it wasn’t only for its rich history; it was because I wanted to be part of something greater. From my first day, I was surrounded by people who challenged me to step up as a leader. Most notably, this same community played a pivotal role in helping me cope with the death of my father which served as a key turning point in my life during my freshman year. Before I knew it a year had passed and I found myself honoring his legacy by joining the Eta Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi and serving as President of my chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity while simultaneously directly impacting the campus of Fisk as Student Government Publications Director. Both roles left me with the valuable lesson that it’s not about elevating oneself but lifting others and that leadership is about service and collective growth. This impacted my approach to work and prepared me for future endeavors, including my first few internships and projects. My first internship with the Los Angeles Lakers was a pivotal experience that reinforced this purpose and clarified how I wanted to make an impact. While working on a social media strategy research project for over 25 professional sports teams, I saw firsthand how teamwork and collective vision lead to impactful results. The Lakers’ emphasis on collaboration showed me that success is built by bringing people together just as in my fraternity and school. This laid the groundwork for my next major collaboration with NASA as an HBCU White House Scholar. Alongside a diverse team, I helped pitch a financial literacy game that aimed to solve youth attention span issues by using NASA’s CBCM technology. Working on this project fueled my passion for leveraging teamwork to create innovative solutions that could directly benefit communities. Inspired by these experiences, I knew I wanted to make an impact utilizing digital design and business strategy. Thus I founded two businesses, "HBCU Designs" and "The Scholarship Champ," both of which are centered on empowerment and collaboration. Through HBCU Designs, I’ve been able to work closely with students and small businesses, helping them develop strong, lasting brand identities. Our team not only provides services like logos or marketing consultations; we work side-by-side with our clients to ensure their stories are authentically told and their goals achieved. This has profoundly impacted students who might not otherwise have the resources to build their brands. The Scholarship Champ similarly, focuses on access to education and improvement within the community. With this platform, we intend to help HBCU students find scholarships, and internships, and learn how to secure them. By helping students navigate these opportunities, I’m contributing to their academic and professional growth, which is crucial in leveling the playing field for minority students. All in all my ultimate purpose is to continue building platforms and opportunities that uplift not just individual students but the entire HBCU community as well as honor my late father and the many other mentors that have played a role in my life.

As a child, I always used to look up to my father. To me, he was the image of the perfect man. He had an entrepreneurial mindset, multiple sources of income, took care of his kids, and much more! It seemed as though there was no obstacle he couldn’t overcome as I watched him maintain a level head through various forms of adversity, always saying “It’s not about what happens to you but how you respond to it” whenever asked about his demeanor. Although he wasn’t in support of it, his constant ideas and innovative thinking initially led me to believe that I didn’t need school as long as I had creativity and his support to back me up. Unfortunately, it just so happened that the event that led me to change career goals and ultimately finish my educational journey was his untimely demise to suicide. Although this proved to be a tough situation to come to terms with, I knew he would want me to further my education. As such, in his memory, I’ve selected a double major in marketing and business at the illustrious Fisk University where I can apply my creativity alongside my problem-solving abilities. During this time, I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to intern for amazing companies such as the Los Angeles Lakers and extern with the Coca-Cola Company to help hone my skills in design, business knowledge, data analysis, and marketing. In these positions, I learned about the potential of visual storytelling to connect people with brands, inspiring me to start a business enterprise myself. Motivated by my God first, and my father's drive for me to be an entrepreneur second, I shortly established my own company, HBCU Designs. Our purpose is to empower HBCU students, who may not have access or the knowledge to do so, to cultivate a strong brand image by helping students develop their company logos, marketing consultation, photography, sports edits, creative edits of students, and much more. The knowledge I gained during my time with my father, both companies, coupled with what I’ve learned at Fisk assisted me greatly in the development of this company as when compared to other companies we place the utmost emphasis on consumer trends and what individuals at these respective HBCUs. All in all, going through such a challenging phase taught me more about resilience than any book could ever teach. My father used to say that education is the key, and therefore getting awarded this scholarship would not only fulfill his wish but also relieve us of the financial burdens brought about by his sudden death. If selected as one of the beneficiaries, it will serve as a stepping stone towards realizing both my academic and professional dreams, while at the same time allowing HBCU Designs to shine a bright. I am grateful for considering my application, and should you decide otherwise, please remember that with your help, it’s not about what happens to you but how you respond to it.

My father, as I grew up, was my primary example of resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurship. He managed several streams of income; he provided for us and stayed calm in the face of adversity. It seemed as though there was no obstacle he couldn’t overcome as I watched him maintain a level head through various forms of adversity, always saying “It’s not about what happens to you but how you respond to it” whenever asked about his demeanor. Although he wasn’t in support of it, his constant ideas and innovative thinking initially led me to believe that I didn’t need school as long as I had creativity and his support to back me up. Unfortunately, it just so happened that the event that led me to change career goals and ultimately finish my educational journey was his untimely demise to suicide. However, my perspective changed drastically with his untimely death by suicide. This devastating event compelled me to pursue my education, knowing he would have wanted me to further my academic journey. In his memory, I chose a double major in digital marketing and business at Fisk University. Here, I could blend my creativity with my problem-solving abilities. During my time at Fisk, I have been fortunate to intern with prestigious organizations like the Los Angeles Lakers and extern with the Coca-Cola Company. These experiences have honed my skills in design, business knowledge, data analysis, and marketing. I discovered the power of visual storytelling to connect people with brands, which inspired me to start my own business. Education is the greatest teacher of resilience I’ve ever known. It’s taken me on a ride of transformation equipping with tools for survival when faced against odds while providing knowledge needed succeed in life even amidst challenging circumstances; this belief resonates deeply within my heart because if there’s one thing he always said it was that “education key success” so receiving scholarship would not just honor his memory but help alleviate some financial strain caused by sudden absence resulting from death too soon. Should receive scholarship then it would serve as major stepping stone towards achieving both personal/professional goals simultaneously – higher education being made possible through you guys which means more opportunities get created! We want see flourish thus enabling them realize dreams they never thought possible before while at same time expressing much appreciation shown here today whether win award or not remember what matters most according wisdom passed down father generations: it’s not about what happens, but how react .

As a child, I always used to look up to my father. To me, he was the image of the perfect man. He had an entrepreneurial mindset, multiple sources of income, took care of his kids, and much more! It seemed as though there was no obstacle he couldn’t overcome as I watched him maintain a level head through various forms of adversity, always saying, “It’s not about what happens to you but how you respond to it” whenever asked about his demeanor. Although he wasn’t in support of it, his constant ideas and innovative thinking initially led me to believe that I didn’t need school as long as I had creativity and his support to back me up. Unfortunately, it just so happened that the event that led me to change career goals and ultimately finish my educational journey was his untimely demise by suicide. Although this proved to be a tough situation to come to terms with, I knew he would want me to further my education. As such, in his memory, I’ve selected a double major in digital marketing and business at the illustrious Fisk University, where I can apply my creativity alongside my problem-solving abilities. During this time, I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to intern for amazing companies such as the Los Angeles Lakers and extern with the Coca-Cola Company to help hone my skills in design, business knowledge, data analysis, and marketing. In these positions, I learned about the potential of visual storytelling to connect people with brands, inspiring me to start a business enterprise myself. Motivated by my God first and my father's drive for me to be an entrepreneur second, I shortly established my own company, HBCU Designs. Our purpose is to empower HBCU students, who may not have access to or the knowledge to do so, to cultivate a strong brand image by helping students develop their company logos through marketing consultation, photography, sports edits, creative edits of students, and much more. By offering services in logo creation, marketing consultation, photography, and creative editing, HBCU Designs provides students with practical skills and experiences that are valuable in the business world. This hands-on learning can be more impactful than traditional classroom education.      All in all, going through such a challenging phase taught me more about resilience than any book could ever teach. My father used to say that education is the key, and therefore getting awarded this scholarship would not only fulfill his wish but also relieve us of the financial burdens brought about by his sudden death. If selected as one of the beneficiaries, it will serve as a stepping stone towards realizing both my academic and professional dreams, while at the same time allowing HBCU Designs to shine bright.  I am grateful for considering my application, and should you decide otherwise, please remember that with your help, it’s not about what happens to you but how you respond to it.

As a child, I always used to look up to my father. To me, he was the image of the perfect man. He had an entrepreneurial mindset, multiple sources of income, took care of his kids, and much more! It seemed as though there was no obstacle he couldn’t overcome as I watched him maintain a level head through various forms of adversity, always saying “It’s not about what happens to you but how you respond to it” whenever asked about his demeanor. Although he wasn’t in support of it, his constant ideas and innovative thinking initially led me to believe that I didn’t need school as long as I had creativity and his support to back me up. Unfortunately, it just so happened that the event that led me to change career goals and ultimately finish my educational journey was his untimely demise to suicide. Although this proved to be a tough situation to come to terms with, I knew he would want me to further my education. As such, in his memory, I’ve selected a double major in digital marketing and business at the illustrious Fisk University where I can apply my creativity alongside my problem-solving abilities. During this time, I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to intern for amazing companies such as the Los Angeles Lakers and extern with the Coca-Cola Company to help hone my skills in design, business knowledge, data analysis, and marketing. In these positions, I learned about the potential of visual storytelling to connect people with brands, inspiring me to start a business enterprise myself. Motivated by my God first, and my father's drive for me to be an entrepreneur second, I shortly established my own company, HBCU Designs. Our purpose is to empower HBCU students, who may not have access or the knowledge to do so, to cultivate a strong brand image by helping students develop their company logos, marketing consultation, photography, sports edits, creative edits of students, and much more. The knowledge I gained during my time with my father, both companies, coupled with what I’ve learned at Fisk assisted me greatly in the development of this company as when compared to other companies we place the utmost emphasis on consumer trends and what individuals at these respective HBCUs. All in all, going through such a challenging phase taught me more about resilience than any book could ever teach. My father used to say that education is the key, and therefore getting awarded this scholarship would not only fulfill his wish but also relieve us of the financial burdens brought about by his sudden death. If selected as one of the beneficiaries, it will serve as a stepping stone towards realizing both my academic and professional dreams, while at the same time allowing HBCU Designs to shine a bright. I am grateful for considering my application, and should you decide otherwise, please remember that with your help, it’s not about what happens to you but how you respond to it.

Today we live in a world full of conflict and struggle, where people of all ages must develop certain skills to thrive. In my own experience, adversity provides individuals with these skills while simultaneously proving to be one of life's best teachers. Unfortunately, sometimes the wisdom from enduring hardship can leave one with many detrimental repercussions as sometimes individuals can go through truly life-changing experiences. I am no stranger to this as throughout my life I have been placed in various situations, which, thankfully I am blessed to say I have overcome. A time in which I had to overcome a significant challenge was when I went back to school after my father committed suicide. Although this proved to be an extremely difficult situation to come to terms with, my father already provided me with the wisdom and knowledge on how to get through this extremely rough page in my life. Keeping a positive mindset and looking at the glass as half-full instead of half-empty is one of the key principles he instilled in me and played the biggest role in coming to terms with his death. It is through this principle that I concluded that even though his suicide may have negatively impacted my family, it may have also inspired close friends and family to take their mental health more seriously. This in turn could mean that his suicide could prevent many others from taking their own lives. Despite the fact I wish I didn’t have to lose such a close member of my family, mental health is a topic that needs to be discussed more frequently, and if anything I am proud to say my father helped open some eyes to it. Today I am proud to say that I have not only persevered and ended the semester with a 3.7 GPA, but I have obtained my first internship with the Los Angeles Lakers as a Digital Content intern as well. Making it through such a hard phase of my life and seeing the light through the tunnel has not only taught me a great deal about my resilience, but more importantly, it has taught me to trust in God with all my heart. It is because of this that I believe I am very prepared for my future career as I believe whatever challenges may arise within my job as I now have confidence in myself and my ability to overcome any situation. This along with the fact that I can now say that I never let any situation deter me from achieving my goals gives me a lot of hope for my future. Many family members have asked and continue to ask how I was able to maintain such a strong sense of resolve during this time, but to me the answer was simple. I wanted to teach the lessons my father taught me to those who are going through and eventually will go on through the same pain as I have. The most significant point of emphasis was showing my close friends and family that life is not about what happens to you; it's about how you respond. Hopefully, I can continue to share the lessons my father taught me with the world and have a positive impact on my friends, co-workers, and family as he did during his short life. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and remember that it is not about what happens to you; it's about how you respond.

Growing up, I was often labeled as an extremely reflective and deep thinker. Whenever concepts came up, whether scientific, religious, or otherwise, I would always take it as an opportunity to delve deeper into their underlying meaning. Fast forward to my high school years and the same could be said about me and my introspective nature. It was around this time that I developed a deep interest in the power of marketing and how it influenced people's perceptions and buying behavior. I often found myself analyzing commercials and print ads, trying to understand how they appealed to their target audience. Little did I know that this fascination would eventually lead to opportunities beyond my wildest imagination. During my sophomore year of college, I was blessed to have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to intern with the Los Angeles Lakers as their first-ever summer intern. While with the Lakers, I learned about how to produce graphic design content, manage a social media page to perfection, gather data using various metrics, and further my knowledge about business and marketing to a degree I never thought to be attainable. I was even able to put these concepts into practice by proposing concepts, and layouts I also conducted a research project where I analyzed over 25 of the most popular sports teams across the NBA, NFL, and MLB and identified what caused their success as it relates to their social media pages and how the Lakers could apply some of their strategies to make their page better. Since this opportunity, I have taken it upon myself to be a sponge and learn as much as possible about managing a business and maintaining its brand image by taking courses in digital content creation, social media marketing, and data analysis. By placing myself in these positions, I've not only gained valuable insights and practical experience, but I’ve also gained the opportunity to work with prominent companies like the Coca-Cola Company, helping them develop their brand identity and create visually appealing marketing campaigns that resonate with their target audience. Placing my focus in these areas has also allowed me to identify my long-term career goal, which is to help business owners establish their brands, provide digital content for them, and help them reach their full potential. In conclusion, if I’m allowed to obtain this amazing scholarship it would help significantly in alleviating the financial strain caused by having to pay for school by myself. The funds would be extremely helpful in covering tuition, books, and other essential expenses, allowing me to complete my senior year with dedication and focus. Perhaps most notably, however, this scholarship would help tremendously with my career goals. With a double major in Business Management and Graphic Design, I aim to combine the creative and strategic skills I’ve learned throughout the past few years to make a lasting impact in the HBCU world. I would go about doing this by using whatever leftover money I have to purchase the proper software and items required to help students my age develop their businesses wherein I would assist them with creating their brand image, developing marketing schemes, creating flyers for events, provide photos to best represent their brand and research data insights relating to their businesses.

In a world full of conflict and struggle, people of all ages must develop certain skills to thrive. In my experience, adversity provides individuals with these skills while simultaneously continuing to prove to be one of life's best teachers. Unfortunately, sometimes the wisdom that comes from undergoing adversity can leave one with many detrimental repercussions. I am no stranger to this as throughout my life I have been placed in various situations which thankfully I've overcome but not without battle scars of my own. A time in which I demonstrated resolve amid adversity was when I went back to school after my father committed suicide. Although this was an extremely difficult situation to overcome, my father provided me with the wisdom and knowledge on how to get through this extremely rough page of my life. Keeping a positive mindset and looking at the glass as half full instead of half empty is one of the key principles he instilled in me and played the biggest role in overcoming his death. It is through this principle that I concluded that even though his suicide may have negatively impacted my family it may have also inspired close friends and family to take their mental health more seriously. This in turn could mean that his suicide could prevent many others from taking their own life. Today I am proud to say that I have not only persevered and ended the semester with a 3.7 GPA but I have obtained my first internship with the Los Angeles Lakers as a Digital Content intern as well. Many family members have asked and continue to ask how I was able to maintain such a strong sense of resolve during this time but to me the answer was simple. I wanted to teach the lessons my father taught me to those who are going through and eventually will go on through the same pain as I have. The biggest point of emphasis was showing my close friends and family that life is not about what happens to you, it's about how you respond. Hopefully, I can continue to share the lessons my father taught me with the world and have a positive impact on my friends and family as he did during his short life. Thank you for taking the time to read this and remember that life is not about what happens to you, it's about how you respond.

As children, we were all faced with the question of what we wanted to be when we grow up. Some may have responded, “a firefighter!” whereas others may have responded “a police officer.” As for me, at the young age of seven, I already had it set in my mind that I wanted to become a teacher. To this day, not only has my dream of teaching remained prominent but has been rectified. I have grown twice as passionate about becoming a teacher throughout these past few years after being exposed to different opportunities that allowed me to see what being an educator is like. Having a passion for teaching and a love for children are the reasons I feel I would be best suited for this occupation. This along with being able to have a positive impact on a child and helping them learn something that will be beneficial to them in the future is remarkable to me. My family has also played substantial roles in shaping my goal of becoming an educator. Before she was disabled, my mother was majored in marketing and made her presence known in sales. After being released from her job of 20 years, God revealed to her that her calling was to be a teacher and she began teaching in the afterschool program of my middle school. Watching her demeanor and watching her actually enjoying her occupation and impacting the lives of children and parents alike is a large reason I chose Primary Education as my major. Additionally, my grandmother, who was a middle school teacher for 20 years, played a pivotal role in my educational development. Without her daily hour of required reading and constant worksheets growing up, I would not be where I am today. Her work on my brother and me is why I seek to make a similar impact on children of all ages. Receiving this scholarship would help me attend either Fisk University or Florida A & M, both of which are illustrious colleges known for their Educational courses. During my time at one of these amazing colleges, this scholarship gives me the luxury of not having the additional burden of financial stress and would allow me to thrive in such an environment as I've shown to do in the past. Previously I was enrolled at Georgia Military College, which gave me little financial stress. Upon being there I averaged a 4.0 and participated in numerous extracurricular activities that benefitted the school substantially. While enrolled in one of these colleges I plan on obtaining my bachelor's degree and subsequently my Doctorate. Hopefully, with the help of this scholarship will help provide a multitude of opportunities not only for me but for parents, children, and people of all ages who have a willingness to learn.

Hello, my name is Robert Adams I am currently a student at Georgia Military College with a major in Education. I currently possess and plan on maintaining a 4.0 GPA and feel as if I have a lot to offer as it relates to Education in the future. Since the age of seven, I already had it set in my mind that I wanted to become a teacher. To this day, not only has my dream of teaching remained prominent but has also been rectified. I have grown twice as passionate about becoming a teacher throughout these past few years after being exposed to different opportunities that allowed me to see what being an educator is like. I feel that teaching is the occupation that would be best suited for me as being able to have a positive impact on a child and helping them learn something that will be beneficial to them in the future is remarkable. I am well aware that the road to becoming a teacher is long and hard, but it would all be worth it, in the long run, to see at least one of my former students become successful. In summary, I see myself being extremely successful in this field as it is a passion of mine and I believe it would not even seem like work for me. Upon obtaining my desired career I plan on excelling in it to the best of my ability each day. With your help, you will not only be assisting me in pursuing my own education but you will be helping the lives of many children as I promise I will not take this opportunity for granted and to positively impact children for the rest of my life. Thank you!

Hello, my name is Robert Adams I am currently a student at Georgia Military College with a major in Education. I currently possess and plan on maintaining a 4.0 GPA and feel as if I have a lot to offer as it relates to Education in the future. Since the age of seven, I already had it set in my mind that I wanted to become a teacher. To this day, not only has my dream of teaching remained prominent but has also been rectified. I have grown twice as passionate about becoming a teacher throughout these past few years after being exposed to different opportunities that allowed me to see what being an educator is like. I plan to achieve this goal of becoming a teacher by executing several protocols. First, I plan on obtaining my associate’s degree with a 4.0 GPA at GMC. Secondly, after GMC, I plan on attending Kennesaw State University to obtain my bachelor’s with a major in education. Thirdly, while I’m at Kennesaw I plan to engage in teacher training programs to gain exposure and work experience in classrooms and learn firsthand about what it takes to be a teacher. Fourthly, after attending Kennesaw, I plan on going to graduate school and obtaining my master’s degree to then eventually get my doctorate. Finally, I plan to get licensed so I can maintain flexibility in regards to choosing whether I want to work at a public or private school. Hopefully, I will be able to find a well-paying job as a teacher and be able to begin my career after I have completed all of these tasks. Upon obtaining my desired career, I plan on excelling in it to the best of my ability each day. I feel that teaching is the occupation that would be best suited for me since I have a passion for teaching as well as a love for children. Along with being able to have a positive impact on a child and helping them learn something that will be beneficial to them in the future is remarkable to me. I am well aware that the road to becoming a teacher is long and hard, but it would all be worth it, in the long run, to see at least one of my former students become successful. I also plan on becoming a college professor somewhere in my time as an educator and help college students learn In summary, I see myself being extremely successful in this field as it is a passion of mine and I believe it would not even seem like work for me. Once I obtain my desired career I plan on excelling in it to the best of my ability each day. After teaching in public schools for a certain amount of time, I most likely will begin my career as a college professor. As a professor, I would hopefully look to teach at a University in Florida such as Florida A & M University, and retire teaching after teaching at one of those institutions. With your help, you will not only be assisting me in pursuing my education but you will be helping the lives of many children as I promise I will not take this opportunity for granted and to positively impact children for the rest of my life. Thank you!