I realized at a young age that I was different than most kids. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. I would create projects of my own with anything I could get my hands on, such as Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things with these objects. This enthusiasm flowed over to elementary school where math and science became my favorite subjects. This passion has also influenced my interest in engineering because it involves critical thinking that uses math and science skills. I have been fortunate that high school has offered me the opportunity to continue to work on more complex projects such as designing and building a functional roller coaster, a catapult, and a CO2 dragster. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. As I have gotten older, I have realized that what draws me to these fields of study is that they explain so much about the world around us. I am a Hispanic born and raised in Houston, Texas. I remember one day at a very young age my family and I were driving to an Astros baseball game. On the way there, we drove through Houston's very intricate road system and through the downtown area. I remember looking at the elevated roads and high buildings in astonishment, wondering how they were built. I would also stare out of my window and see other cars driving by, imagining the inner parts of them and how they functioned. As I got older, I never saw everyday objects without wondering how they were created. For example, when my parents had an Apple iPod to play music, I was intrigued at how I could press a button and the music of my choice would play. When my uncle took me for a ride on his motorcycle, I stared at the detailed parts that made up the motorcycle and wondered how they worked. The more I saw, the more I wanted to learn. I set a high goal of applying to the Honors engineering program, of which I was accepted. Despite having a very challenging first year at Texas A&M, I obtained a 4.0 both semesters. As a result of my GPA, I was given first choice of which engineering field I wanted to pursue. After much consideration, I chose mechanical engineering. Having now completed 5 semesters and one summer class, I have attained all A's, 1 B, and 1 C to an overall 3.89. My parents instilled in me at a very early age the importance an education. My parents realized in my elementary years I was academically gifted. As a result, they have made known the importance my gift can have on society. I aspire to become an example to other Hispanics in the engineering field. As my career progresses, I hope to be put in a position to hopefully mentor and possibly hire other gifted Hispanic engineers. My knowledge and passion for math, science, solving problems, and creating are what drive me to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. With the help of your scholarship, I would take a closer step to becoming an engineer to better our world.

I realized at a young age that I was different than most kids. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. I would create projects of my own with anything I could get my hands on, such as Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things with these objects. This enthusiasm flowed over to elementary school where math and science became my favorite subjects. This passion has also influenced my interest in engineering because it involves critical thinking that uses math and science skills. I have been fortunate that high school has offered me the opportunity to continue to work on more complex projects such as designing and building a functional roller coaster, a catapult, and a CO2 dragster. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. As I have gotten older, I have realized that what draws me to these fields of study is that they explain so much about the world around us. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I remember one day at a very young age my family and I were driving to an Astros baseball game. On the way there, we drove through Houston's very intricate road system and through the downtown area. I remember looking at the elevated roads and high buildings in astonishment, wondering how they were built. I would also stare out of my window and see other cars driving by, imagining the inner parts of them and how they functioned. As I got older, I never saw everyday objects without wondering how they were created. For example, when my parents had an Apple iPod to play music, I was intrigued at how I could press a button and the music of my choice would play. When my uncle took me for a ride on his motorcycle, I stared at the detailed parts that made up the motorcycle and wondered how they worked. The more I saw, the more I wanted to learn. Despite having a very challenging first year at Texas A&M, I obtained a 4.0 both semesters. As a result of my GPA, I was given first choice of which engineering field I wanted to pursue. After much consideration, I chose mechanical engineering. Having now completed 5 semesters and one summer class, I have attained all A's, 1 B, and 1 C to an overall 3.89. My knowledge and passion for math, science, solving problems, and creating are what drive me to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. After completing my undergraduate program, I plan on working full time while also working towards obtaining an MSE degree. With the help of your scholarship, I would take a closer step to becoming an engineer to better our world.

I realized at a young age that I was different than most kids. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. I would create projects of my own with anything I could get my hands on, such as Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things with these objects. This enthusiasm flowed over to elementary school where math and science became my favorite subjects. This passion has also influenced my interest in engineering because it involves critical thinking that uses math and science skills. I have been fortunate that high school has offered me the opportunity to continue to work on more complex projects such as designing and building a functional roller coaster, a catapult, and a CO2 dragster. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. As I have gotten older, I have realized that what draws me to these fields of study is that they explain so much about the world around us. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I remember one day at a very young age my family and I were driving to an Astros baseball game. On the way there, we drove through Houston's very intricate road system and through the downtown area. I remember looking at the elevated roads and high buildings in astonishment, wondering how they were built. I would also stare out of my window and see other cars driving by, imagining the inner parts of them and how they functioned. As I got older, I never saw everyday objects without wondering how they were created. For example, when my parents had an Apple iPod to play music, I was intrigued at how I could press a button and the music of my choice would play. When my uncle took me for a ride on his motorcycle, I stared at the detailed parts that made up the motorcycle and wondered how they worked. The more I saw, the more I wanted to learn. Despite having a very challenging first year at Texas A&M, I obtained a 4.0 both semesters. As a result of my GPA, I was given first choice of which engineering field I wanted to pursue. After much consideration, I chose mechanical engineering. Having now completed 5 semesters and one summer class. I have attained all A's, 1 B and 1 C to an overall 3.89. My knowledge and passion for math, science, solving problems, and creating are what drive me to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. With the help of your scholarship, I would take a closer step to becoming an engineer to better our world.

Leadership is a quality in which a person is held to higher standards. Since peers look up to their leaders, leaders must be prepared to guide them and to set a positive example. Teamwork is the ability to cooperate with anyone while also being efficient at the assigned task. Sportsmanship is having respect for people, especially when they are on the opposite team or have opposing beliefs. All of these qualities require an individual to go above and beyond in all things they do. I have exemplified and embodied these characteristics through the sports I played. I firmly believe what I learned through sports has highly influenced myself on my excellence in my studies. In middle school, I was elected by my teammates as a team captain for my football team. I had to be a leader both on and off the field to set positive examples for them. I would always lead warm-up lines and get my team going when whether we were up or down. I would also keep my grades above a 90 to show that an individual can be both a successful student and athlete. When I entered high school, I played both football and baseball. In both sports, I had to lead my teammates on the field. If there were ever any disagreements between players, I would intervene to calm the situation. Both sports are a team effort, so I learned how to work well with fellow teammates even if we did not agree often. In both middle school and high school, I made sure both my team and I treated the other team with respect, even if we did not receive similar treatment. Playing football and baseball all these years has allowed me to embody the characteristics of leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship. My participation in baseball during my junior and senior year has more than influenced my career goals. My first college course was during my sophomore year of high school. I got an idea of what a college class would be like, and it was one of the first difficult classes I took. Junior year proved to be more demanding when I enrolled in four college-level classes. I had to manage my time between hours of homework every night, after-school practices and games, and volunteer activities. I remember one particular week when my high school baseball team had an out-of-town tournament. This did not excuse me from my responsibilities at school. I had to ask my teachers for work I would miss while I was gone. I ended up having to complete two group projects, an essay, and classwork that were all due when I got back to school. I worked on pieces of the projects, wrote my essay, and completed classwork in the hotel room while my teammates played videogames and enjoyed time at the pool. As soon as I got back into town, I met with my groups and completed the projects that were due the next day. I had many similar late nights filled with homework after coming home from a practice or a game, but I remained focused on my goal of striving to be my best and maintaining all A’s. Forming relationships with others in sports has been the true influence of how I relate to my family. Learning to get along with other people of different personalities in sports has shown me how to speak and act around immediate and extended family. Participation in sports has not only lead to a lifetime of friendships, but certainly lessons needed to have a successful and meaningful life.

I realized at a young age that I was different than most kids. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. I would create projects of my own with anything I could get my hands on, such as Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things with these objects. This enthusiasm flowed over to elementary school where math and science became my favorite subjects. This passion has also influenced my interest in engineering because it involves critical thinking that uses math and science skills. I have been fortunate that high school has offered me the opportunity to continue to work on more complex projects such as designing and building a functional roller coaster, a catapult, and a CO2 dragster. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. As I have gotten older, I have realized that what draws me to these fields of study is that they explain so much about the world around us. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I remember one day at a very young age my family and I were driving to an Astros baseball game. On the way there, we drove through Houston's very intricate road system and through the downtown area. I remember looking at the elevated roads and high buildings in astonishment, wondering how they were built. I would also stare out of my window and see other cars driving by, imagining the inner parts of them and how they functioned. As I got older, I never saw everyday objects without wondering how they were created. For example, when my parents had an Apple iPod to play music, I was intrigued at how I could press a button and the music of my choice would play. When my uncle took me for a ride on his motorcycle, I stared at the detailed parts that made up the motorcycle and wondered how they worked. The more I saw, the more I wanted to learn. Despite having a very challenging first year, I obtained a 4.0 both semesters. As a result of my GPA, I was given first choice of which engineering field I wanted to pursue. After much consideration, I chose mechanical engineering. I am also very interested in pursuing co-op opportunities during my undergraduate years to begin gaining real work experience. After completing my undergraduate program, I plan on working full time while also working towards obtaining an MSE degree. My knowledge and passion for math, science, solving problems, and creating are what drive me to pursue a career in engineering.

Legacy has many meanings, but to each individual it can greatly vary. For me, it means continuing the positive influences a person was known for. Even though I have been extremely fortunate to have two great parents, teachers, counselors, coaches and family, I have my mother's legacy I would love to continue. Her hard work, Catholic beliefs and her dedication to our family are my reasons of why I would strive to continue her legacy. My mother graduated college with a finance degree and has been a commercial banker since graduating. She graduated with a 3.20 and has always stressed the importance of working hard and achieving high grades. Since I started elementary school, she encouraged me to maintain all A’s and to not settle for less than that. She taught me the importance of completing my school work first before I took to methods of entertainment. Her lessons and high standards that she expected of me eventually carried over to my own expectations. She stressed the importance of maintaining a strong GPA, and as a result, I graduated high school with all A's which included many dual credit courses. At the end of my first year at college, I finished with a 4.0 to begin my pursuit of my mechanical engineering degree. Now, I settle for nothing less than an A, and I set high standards for myself because if I do not shoot for the stars, I am never going to get there. I was born into a Catholic family and attended faith formation classes since I was five years old. I became confirmed at the age of seventeen. The journey to becoming a confirmed Catholic was long, but it taught me many lessons in life. At a young age I learned the basics of the Catholic faith and what God means in our lives. As I got older, I learned that helping those in need is a big part of our faith. I witnessed my mother helping our church during their annual Fall festival, volunteering at our local high school and cooking countless meals to families who contracted Covid during the pandemic. Her dedication to helping others has been a foundation of her legacy. I am eager to continue learning at a higher level and earning a BSE degree. I am also very interested in pursuing co-op opportunities during my undergraduate years to begin gaining real work experience. After completing my undergraduate program, I plan on working full time while also working towards obtaining an MSE degree. Having a college education can open numerous doors to fulfilling my life’s goals as a civil engineer. As a National Hispanic Scholar and future college graduate, I aspire to represent the STEM field well. I am certain that as a Texas A&M graduate from their college of engineering, my future will be limitless towards achieving contributions to this world. My mother's legacy of her hard work, her Catholic faith and dedication to her family are the foundation to begin my own legacy.

Without a doubt, the most helpful piece of financial advice I have received is to live below my means. I received this advice from my parents as they are avid Dave Ramsey listeners. To continue my knowledge of personal finance, I took the online course called Foundations of Personal Finance offered by Dave Ramsey. As I ventures into college this past fall, I began using this advice. After having a graduation party, I was gifted money as well as gift cards. Many my age would entertain themselves until all the money and value of the cards was gone. I, however, have used some of the cards to buy new clothes and essential items needed for my time in college. Most of the money given to me was put into my new checking account where I was given a debit card. My parents are teaching me to not have a credit card and instead learn to use the money I have wisely. In order to continue my teaching of handling money below my means, my parents are giving me $100 per week to use for groceries and the occasional dinner at a restaurant. Despite having a meal plan at college, there will be times where it is not feasible to get to campus to eat. Having an apartment on campus with a weekly allowance will prepare myself for life to handle money with a finite amount of money. I find it crucial to develop superior habits of handling money at an early age. Having the guidance of my parents along with the knowledge gained from the Dave Ramsey course will certainly allow myself the lifelong discipline of living below my means.

Find something you love to do, so much you would do it for free, do it well and people will pay you for it. Happiness comes in many different forms, and I firmly believe that if one's career is something they truly enjoy doing, they will have a very enjoyable life. In today's rat race of a world, many people try to follow the almighty dollar to provide a sense of security and what things they can do with a bigger bank account. As the years go by, they would eventually realize that having more wealth did not bring the happiness they had envisioned. However, had they pursued something they really loved doing, their love and quality of life could have been enhanced despite a lower income. Part of life is always coming across different decisions to make. Spending roughly half of one's life working, one should greatly consider what would make them truly happy versus a larger income doing something not as satisfying.

I am pursuing an engineering degree because of my passion for math and science. I have enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things work. This has always fascinated me because my dream has always been to be a part of major projects that will significantly improve the world in which we live. I realized at a young age that I was different than most kids. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. I would create projects of my own with anything I could get my hands on, such as Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things with these objects. This enthusiasm flowed over to elementary school where math and science became my favorite subjects. This passion has also influenced my interest in engineering because it involves critical thinking that uses math and science skills. I have been fortunate that high school has offered me the opportunity to continue to work on more complex projects such as designing and building a functional roller coaster, a catapult, and a CO2 dragster. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. As I have gotten older, I have realized that what draws me to these fields of study is that they explain so much about the world around us.

During my junior year in high school, I was enrolled in four college-level classes. I was also playing baseball for our junior varsity and varsity high school teams, having practices and games every day of the school week. Making time for schoolwork and sports was never really a challenge for me until then. I had to find ways to participate in the busy schedule of the baseball program while also completing hours of homework every day after school. One of the most challenging times I faced was when our varsity team went to an out-of-town tournament for four days. This did not excuse me from my responsibilities at school. I had to ask my teachers for work I would miss while I was gone. I had two group projects and an essay due the following week. I worked on my essay and pieces of the group projects in the hotel room in the evenings while my teammates enjoyed time at the pool. As soon as I got back into town, I met with my groups and worked into the night to finish the projects which were due the next day. I had many similar late nights filled with homework after finishing practice or a game, but I kept a strong mind by focusing on my goal of striving to always do my best and maintaining all As. The opportunity to take advanced-level courses while participating in high school sports has helped me learn how to persevere through challenging situations and develop into a well-rounded individual.

I was born into a Catholic family and attended faith formation classes. I became confirmed at the age of seventeen. The journey to becoming a confirmed Catholic was long, but it taught me many lessons in life. At a young age I learned the basics of the Catholic faith and what God means in our lives. As I got older, I learned that helping those in need is a big part of our faith. One of my most memorable volunteer activities has been participating in Navidad en el Barrio (Christmas in the Neighborhood), a local organization providing food and Christmas gifts to families and children in need. Currently, Navidad En El Barrio has more than 50 Houston Independent School District elementary schools that choose 40 children who are known to live at a poverty level. Throughout the year, many fundraising activities take place to raise money. Such fundraising activities include a silent auction at an awards banquet, a bowling competition around Halloween, a golf tourney in November, plus various others throughout the year. A yearly Christmas program is held where the kids are brought from their schools on a Saturday morning in December to the George R. Brown convention center near downtown Houston. The Christmas program includes many volunteers such as myself and countless police officers. I was directly exposed to children in need of basic daily essentials that many of us take for granted. As part of the process, the children are asked to write 3 wishes they have for Christmas at their schools a month before the program. I was humbled as I read children’s selfless Christmas wish lists that included basic necessities like food, shoes for a sibling, medicine for a sick grandparent, or employment for a parent. Some of these wishes are granted yearly by the volunteers of this organization. These wishes are given to the children at the Christmas program. Examples include providing a new bed to avoid family members sleeping on the floor, wheel chairs for disabled family members, gift cards to grocery stores to help with necessities, and many other selfless requests. After the conclusion of people performing on stage, the children are led to an area roughly half the size of a football field. Each school is led by their liaison to a circle for each school. Each child is given four gifts which have been wrapped. I was amazed at how selfless some of these children are. For example, many chose to not open their gifts, and instead, wanted to wait to share with their siblings at home. I saw first-hand how simple acts of kindness and giving can bring such joy and happiness to others. In addition, I volunteered as a concession stand helper at various sporting events while I attended high school. Also, I was an assistant coach to the incoming freshmen summer baseball team, worked a booth at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church's fall festival, placed U.S. flags at gravesites at the National Veteran Cemetery for Flags for Fallen Vets, and helped at the Houston Food Bank. After earning a degree in engineering, I plan to serve as a mentor to high school students to help guide them. I further plan to join volunteer activities of the company I will work for.

I was born into a Catholic family and have been attending faith formation classes since I was five years old. I became confirmed at the age of seventeen. The journey to becoming a confirmed Catholic was long, but it taught me many lessons in life. At a young age I learned the basics of the Catholic faith and what God means in our lives. As I got older, I learned that helping those in need is a big part of our faith. One of my most memorable volunteer activities has been participating in Navidad en el Barrio (Christmas in the Neighborhood), a local organization providing food and Christmas gifts to families and children in need. Currently, Navidad En El Barrio has more than 50 Houston Independent School District elementary schools that choose 40 children who are known to live at a poverty level. Throughout the year, many fundraising activities take place to raise money. Such fundraising activities include a silent auction at an awards banquet, a bowling competition around Halloween, a golf tourney in November, plus various others throughout the year. In addition, I have volunteered as a concession stand helper at various sporting events at my high school, an assistant coach to the incoming freshmen summer baseball team, worked a booth at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church's fall festival, placed U.S. flags at gravesites at the National Veteran Cemetery for Flags for Fallen Vets, and helped at the Houston Food Bank. Volunteering allows a chance to see how helping those less fortunate can benefit from my actions.

I was born into a Catholic family and have been attending faith formation classes since I was five years old. I became confirmed at the age of seventeen. The journey to becoming a confirmed Catholic was long, but it taught me many lessons in life. At a young age I learned the basics of the Catholic faith and what God means in our lives. As I got older, I learned that helping those in need is a big part of our faith. One of my most memorable volunteer activities has been participating in Navidad en el Barrio (Christmas in the Neighborhood), a local organization providing food and Christmas gifts to families and children in need. Currently, Navidad En El Barrio has more than 50 Houston Independent School District elementary schools that choose 40 children who are known to live at a poverty level. Throughout the year, many fundraising activities take place to raise money. Such fundraising activities include a silent auction at an awards banquet, a bowling competition around Halloween, a golf tourney in November, plus various others throughout the year. In addition, I have volunteered as a concession stand helper at various sporting events at my high school, an assistant coach to the incoming freshmen summer baseball team, worked a booth at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church's fall festival, placed U.S. flags at gravesites at the National Veteran Cemetery for Flags for Fallen Vets, and helped at the Houston Food Bank. Volunteering allows a chance to see how others less fortunate can get help they need.

I realized at a young age that I was different than most kids. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things. Naturally math and science became my favorite subjects. This passion has also influenced my interest in engineering because it involves critical thinking that uses math and science skills.

Without a doubt, the most helpful piece of financial advice I have received is to live below my means. I received this advice from my parents as they are avid Dave Ramsey listeners. To continue my knowledge of personal finance, I took the online course called Foundations of Personal Finance offered by Dave Ramsey. As I venture into college this fall, I have begun using this advice. After having a graduation party, I was gifted money as well as gift cards. Like many people my age, most would entertain themselves until all the money and value of the cards was gone. I, however, have used some of the cards to buy new clothes and essential items needed for my time in college. Most of the money given to me was put into my new checking account where I was given a debit card. My parents are teaching me to not have a credit card and instead learn to use the money I have wisely. In order to continue my teaching of handling money below my means, my parents are giving me $100 per week to use for groceries and the occasional dinner at a restaurant. Despite having a meal plan at college, there will be times where it is not feasible to get to campus to eat. Having an apartment with a weekly allowance will prepare myself for life to handle money with a finite amount of money. I find it crucial to develop superior habits of handling money at an early age. Having the guidance of my parents along with the knowledge gained from the Dave Ramsey coarse will certainly allow myself the lifelong discipline of living below my means.

Without a doubt, the most helpful piece of financial advice I have received is to live below my means. I received this advice from my parents as they are avid Dave Ramsey listeners. To continue my knowledge of personal finance, I took the online course called Foundations of Personal Finance offered by Dave Ramsey. As I venture into college this fall, I have begun using this advice. After having a graduation party, I was gifted money as well as gift cards. Like many people my age, most would entertain themselves until all the money and value of the cards was gone. I, however, have used some of the cards to buy new clothes and essential items needed for my time in college. Most of the money given to me was put into my new checking account where I was given a debit card. My parents are teaching me to not have a credit card and instead learn to use the money I have wisely. In order to continue my teaching of handling money below my means, my parents are giving me $100 per week to use for groceries and the occasional dinner at a restaurant. Despite having a meal plan at college, there will be times where it is not feasible to get to campus to eat. Having an apartment with a weekly allowance will prepare myself for life to handle a finite amount of money. I find it crucial to develop superior habits of handling money at an early age. Having the guidance of my parents along with the knowledge gained from the Dave Ramsey coarse will certainly allow myself the lifelong discipline of living below my means.

I realized at a young age that I was different than most kids. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. I would create projects of my own with anything I could get my hands on, such as Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things with these objects. This enthusiasm flowed over to elementary school where math and science became my favorite subjects. This passion has also influenced my interest in engineering because it involves critical thinking that uses math and science skills. I have been fortunate that high school has offered me the opportunity to continue to work on more complex projects such as designing and building a functional roller coaster, a catapult, and a CO2 dragster. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. As I have gotten older, I have realized that what draws me to these fields of study is that they explain so much about the world around us. This has always fascinated me because my dream has always been to be a part of major projects that will significantly improve the world in which we live. I found school to be easy and received straight As every year. It was when I started taking college-level courses and playing sports at the same time that I began to be faced with challenges that I eventually learned to overcome. My first college course was during my sophomore year of high school. I got an idea of what a college class would be like, and it was one of the first difficult classes I took. Junior year proved to be more demanding when I enrolled in four college-level classes. I had to manage my time between hours of homework every night, after-school practices and games, and volunteer activities. I remember one particular week when my high school baseball team had an out-of-town tournament. This did not excuse me from my responsibilities at school. I had to ask my teachers for work I would miss while I was gone. I ended up having to complete two group projects, an essay, and classwork that were all due when I got back to school. I worked on pieces of the projects, wrote my essay, and completed classwork in the hotel room while my teammates played videogames and enjoyed time at the pool. As soon as I got back into town, I met with my groups and completed the projects that were due the next day. I had many similar late nights filled with homework after coming home from a practice or a game, but I remained focused on my goal of striving to be my best and maintaining all As. The opportunity to take advanced-level courses while participating in high school sports has helped me learn how to persevere through challenging situations and develop into a well-rounded individual. I am a passionate and hard-working person. My dream is to become a successful engineer who designs and creates magnificent projects in communities across America. I am eager to continue learning at a higher level and earning a BSE degree. I am also very interested in pursuing co-op opportunities during my undergraduate years to begin gaining real work experience. After completing my undergraduate program, I plan on working full time while also working towards obtaining an MSE degree. Having a college education can open numerous doors to fulfilling my life’s goals as a civil engineer. As a National Hispanic Scholar and college graduate, I aspire to represent the STEM field well. I am certain that as a Texas A&M graduate from their college of engineering, my future will be limitless towards achieving contributions to this world. My knowledge and passion for math, science, solving problems, and creating and having my college education, are what will drive me to excel towards the goals I have envisioned.

I realized at a young age that I was different than most kids. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. I would create projects of my own with anything I could get my hands on, such as Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things with these objects. This enthusiasm flowed over to elementary school where math and science became my favorite subjects. This passion has also influenced my interest in engineering because it involves critical thinking that uses math and science skills. I have been fortunate that high school has offered me the opportunity to continue to work on more complex projects such as designing and building a functional roller coaster, a catapult, and a CO2 dragster. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. As I have gotten older, I have realized that what draws me to these fields of study is that they explain so much about the world around us. Now that I am a senior in high school, I realize this passion for engineering has been in me since I was a little kid. I began my dedication to becoming an engineer with specific classes I chose. While some electives offered at my high school hold more weight in GPA than the engineering courses in which I was enrolled, I feel that these engineering classes helped prepare me for the career field that I want to continue to study. I am eager to continue learning at a higher level and earning a BSE degree. I am also very interested in pursuing co-op opportunities during my undergraduate years to begin gaining real work experience. After completing my undergraduate program, I plan on working full time while also working towards obtaining an MSE degree. My knowledge and passion for math, science, solving problems, and creating are what drive me to pursue a career in engineering. It has always been my dream to attend Texas A&M University for its well-renowned engineering program. I have been accepted and have prepared well in high school to succeed in college to complete my degree. My dream is to become a successful engineer who designs and creates magnificent projects in communities across America. With the help of your scholarship, I would take a closer step to becoming a civil engineer to better our world.

I realized at a young age that I was different than most kids. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. I would create projects of my own with anything I could get my hands on, such as Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. This enthusiasm flowed over to elementary school where math and science became my favorite subjects. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. As I have gotten older, I have realized that what draws me to these fields of study is that they explain so much about the world around us. This has always fascinated me because my dream has always been to be a part of major projects that will significantly improve the world in which we live. I am eager to continue learning at a higher level and earning a BSE degree. I am also very interested in pursuing co-op opportunities during my undergraduate years to begin gaining real work experience. After completing my undergraduate program, I plan on working full time while also working towards obtaining an MSE degree. It has always been my dream to attend Texas A&M University for its well-renowned engineering program to become a civil engineer. I have been accepted and have prepared well in high school to succeed in college to complete my degree. My knowledge and passion for math, science, solving problems, and creating are what drive me to pursue a career in engineering. I was born into a Catholic family and have been attending faith formation classes since I was five years old. I recently became confirmed at the age of seventeen. The journey to becoming a confirmed Catholic was long, but it taught me many lessons in life. At a young age I learned the basics of the Catholic faith and what God means in our lives. As I got older, I learned that helping those in need is a big part of our faith. Community is everything and everyone that you are surrounded by. As a resident of Houston, Texas, the population is very diverse. As a result, many nationalities and economic backgrounds are represented. The enhancement of a community can develop from the actions and commitment of people helping others. As an active member of my high school’s National Honor Society, we as individuals, participate in numerous activities to support others in our community. In addition, I have volunteered as a concession stand helper at various sporting events at my high school, an assistant coach to the incoming freshmen summer baseball team, worked a booth at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church's fall festival, placed U.S. flags at gravesites at the National Veteran Cemetery for Flags for Fallen Vets, and helped at the Houston Food Bank. Our community would struggle without the help of volunteers. Currently during our pandemic, I have seen on television numerous families waiting in long lines for food to be placed in their vehicles by volunteers in cities throughout our country. The news shows families waiting hours for a box of food. Without the help of individuals and corporations providing and dispersing the food, many individuals would struggle to find food for their family. Examples like this continue to inspire me to remain actively involved in volunteer events in my community. In the future, I will stay involved in organizations that continue to help our community. In addition, I hope to have the financial means to help the less fortunate.

I realized at a young age that I was different than most kids. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. I would create projects of my own with anything I could get my hands on, such as Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things with these objects. This enthusiasm flowed over to elementary school where math and science became my favorite subjects. This passion has also influenced my interest in engineering because it involves critical thinking that uses math and science skills. I have been fortunate that high school has offered me the opportunity to continue to work on more complex projects such as designing and building a functional roller coaster, a catapult, and a CO2 dragster. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. As I have gotten older, I have realized that what draws me to these fields of study is that they explain so much about the world around us. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I remember one day at a very young age my family and I were driving to an Astros baseball game. On the way there, we drove through Houston's very intricate road system and through the downtown area. I remember looking at the elevated roads and high buildings in astonishment, wondering how they were built. I would also stare out of my window and see other cars driving by, imagining the inner parts of them and how they functioned. As I got older, I never saw everyday objects without wondering how they were created. For example, when my parents had an Apple iPod to play music, I was intrigued at how I could press a button and the music of my choice would play. When my uncle took me for a ride on his motorcycle, I stared at the detailed parts that made up the motorcycle and wondered how they worked. The more I saw, the more I wanted to learn. Now that I am a senior in high school, I realize this passion for engineering has been in me since I was a little kid. I began my dedication to becoming an engineer with specific classes I chose. While some electives offered at my high school hold more weight in GPA than the engineering courses in which I was enrolled, I feel that these engineering classes helped prepare me for the career field that I want to continue to study. I am eager to continue learning at a higher level and earning a BSE degree. I am also very interested in pursuing co-op opportunities during my undergraduate years to begin gaining real work experience. After completing my undergraduate program, I plan on working full time while also working towards obtaining an MSE degree. My knowledge and passion for math, science, solving problems, and creating are what drive me to pursue a career in engineering. It has always been my dream to attend Texas A&M University for its well-renowned engineering program. I have been accepted and have prepared well in high school to succeed in college to complete my degree. My dream is to become a successful engineer who designs and creates magnificent projects in communities across America.

How do you begin to thank the person who has had a tremendous influence on what you have accomplished? People who achieve success rarely do it alone. Even though I have been extremely fortunate to have two great parents, teachers, counselors, coaches and family, I have my mother to thank for my determination in achieving my educational goals. Since I started elementary school, she encouraged me to maintain all A’s and to not settle for less than that. She taught me how to be a hard worker and put the importance of completing my school work first before I took to methods of entertainment. Her lessons and high standards that she expected of me eventually carried over to my own expectations. Now, I settle for nothing less than an A, and I set high standards for myself because if I do not shoot for the stars, I am never going to get there. From a young age, she could tell I was different. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. As a result, my mother would purchase items to stimulate my mind. I would create projects of my own with Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things with these objects. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. Through my school years, she is the one who would help with difficulties I had with certain classes. For instance, during my sophomore year, I took World History AP, my most difficult course in high school. There were reading assignments and answering questions that perplexed the both of us. She said that material was more difficult than any class she took in college. As a senior this year, I realize how important my mother has been throughout my school years. For example, my mother would regularly confirm my grades online. She stressed the importance of maintaining a strong GPA, and as a result, I have received nothing but A's in all of my classes which included many dual credit courses. On October 1, I was informed of my acceptance into my dream school, Texas A&M University's college of engineering. Without my mother's help, it would not have been possible. From filling out the application of admittance, to the difficult task of writing a unique essay about myself, my mother was there to make sure everything was done to perfection. My mother's dedication to aid in my education has taught me that one must work hard to pursue their goals to achieve success. I am eager to continue learning at a higher level and earning a BSE degree. I am also very interested in pursuing co-op opportunities during my undergraduate years to begin gaining real work experience. After completing my undergraduate program, I plan on working full time while also working towards obtaining an MSE degree. Having a college education can open numerous doors to fulfilling my life’s goals as a civil engineer. As a National Hispanic Scholar and college graduate, I aspire to represent the STEM field well. I am certain that as a Texas A&M graduate from their college of engineering, my future will be limitless towards achieving contributions to this world. My knowledge and passion for math, science, solving problems, and creating plus having my college education, are what will drive me to excel towards the goals I have envisioned. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have a mother like mine. Her devotion and guidance through my school years undoubtedly make her my role model.

People who achieve success rarely do it alone. Even though I have been extremely fortunate to have two great parents, teachers, counselors, coaches and family, I have my mother to thank for my determination in achieving my educational goals. Since I started elementary school, she encouraged me to maintain all A’s and to not settle for less than that. She taught me how to be a hard worker and put the importance of completing my school work first before I took to methods of entertainment. Her lessons and high standards that she expected of me eventually carried over to my own expectations. Now, I settle for nothing less than an A, and I set high standards for myself because if I do not shoot for the stars, I am never going to get there. From a young age, she could tell I was different. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. As a result, my mother would purchase items to stimulate my mind. I would create projects of my own with Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things with these objects. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. Through my school years, she is the one who would help with difficulties I had with certain classes. For instance, during my sophomore year, I took World History AP, my most difficult course in high school. There were reading assignments and answering questions that perplexed the both of us. She said that material was more difficult than any class she took in college. As a senior this year, I realize how important my mother has been throughout my school years. For example, my mother would regularly confirm my grades online. She stressed the importance of maintaining a strong GPA, and as a result, I have received nothing but A's in all of my classes which included many dual credit courses. On October 1, I was informed of my acceptance into my dream school, Texas A&M University's college of engineering. Without my mother's help, it would not have been possible. She led me every step of the way. From filling out the application, to the difficult task of writing an essay about myself, my mother was there to make sure everything was done to perfection. I am eager to continue learning at a higher level and earning a BSE degree. I am also very interested in pursuing co-op opportunities during my undergraduate years to begin gaining real work experience. After completing my undergraduate program, I plan on working full time while also working towards obtaining an MSE degree. My knowledge and passion for math, science, solving problems, and creating are what drive me to pursue a career in engineering. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have a mother like mine. Her devotion and guidance through my school years undoubtedly make her my role model.

I realized at a young age that I was different than most kids. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. I would create projects of my own with anything I could get my hands on, such as Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things with these objects. This enthusiasm flowed over to elementary school where math and science became my favorite subjects. This passion has also influenced my interest in engineering because it involves critical thinking that uses math and science skills. I have been fortunate that high school has offered me the opportunity to continue to work on more complex projects such as designing and building a functional roller coaster, a catapult, and a CO2 dragster. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. As I have gotten older, I have realized that what draws me to these fields of study is that they explain so much about the world around us. This has always fascinated me because my dream has always been to be a part of major projects that will significantly improve the world in which we live. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I remember one day at a very young age my family and I were driving to an Astros baseball game. On the way there, we drove through Houston's very intricate road system and through the downtown area. I remember looking at the elevated roads and high buildings in astonishment, wondering how they were built. I would also stare out of my window and see other cars driving by, imagining the inner parts of them and how they functioned. As I got older, I never saw everyday objects without wondering how they were created. For example, when my parents had an Apple iPod to play music, I was intrigued at how I could press a button and the music of my choice would play. When my uncle took me for a ride on his motorcycle, I stared at the detailed parts that made up the motorcycle and wondered how they worked. The more I saw, the more I wanted to learn. My knowledge and passion for math, science, solving problems, and creating are what drive me to pursue a career in engineering. It has always been my dream to attend Texas A&M University for its well-renowned engineering program. I have been accepted and have prepared well in high school to succeed in college to complete my degree. With the help of your scholarship, I would take a closer step to becoming a civil engineer to better our world.

I was holding myself up on the side of a rocky cliff in Honolulu, Hawaii; the cold grey water sat about thirty feet below me. After one big last step to my right, I was on the rock platform where I would jump. A flood of adrenaline rushed through my body as I was about to jump into the water that looked like it was fifty feet below. With everything I had in me, I pushed off the platform and fell straight to the water, the cold blanket of it wrapping around my body as I submerged.

I was born into a Catholic family and have been attending faith formation classes since I was five years old. I recently became confirmed at the age of seventeen. The journey to becoming a confirmed Catholic was long, but it taught me many lessons in life. At a young age I learned the basics of the Catholic faith and what God means in our lives. As I got older, I learned that helping those in need is a big part of our faith. One of my most memorable volunteer activities has been participating in Navidad en el Barrio (Christmas in the Neighborhood), a local organization providing food and Christmas gifts to families and children in need. My dad's uncle, a retired Houston Police Officer, began the organization in the 1980's as a spinoff to Blue Santa. Blue Santa was part of the Houston Police Department to give gifts during the Christmas holidays where police officers nominated families in need. Currently, Navidad En El Barrio has more than 50 Houston Independent School District elementary schools that choose 40 children who are known to live at a poverty level. Throughout the year, many fundraising activities take place to raise money. Such fundraising activities include a silent auction at an awards banquet, a bowling competition around Halloween, a golf tourney in November, plus various others throughout the year. A few weeks ago, I volunteered for the golf tourney held Saturday, November 7. I helped unload and setup supplies, refilled coolers with drinks for the golfers, and served tamales for breakfast. A yearly Christmas program is held where the kids are brought from their schools on a Saturday morning in December to the George R. Brown convention center near downtown Houston. The Christmas program includes many volunteers such as myself and countless police officers. I was directly exposed to children in need of basic daily essentials that many of us take for granted. As part of the process, the children are asked to write 3 wishes they have for Christmas at their schools a month before the program. I was humbled as I read children’s selfless Christmas wish lists that included basic necessities like food, shoes for a sibling, medicine for a sick grandparent, or employment for a parent. Some of these wishes are granted yearly by the volunteers of this organization. These wishes are given to the children at the Christmas program. Examples include providing a new bed to avoid family members sleeping on the floor, wheel chairs for disabled family members, gift cards to grocery stores to help with necessities, and many other selfless requests. After the conclusion of people performing on stage, the children are led to an area roughly half the size of a football field. Each school is led by their liaison to a circle for each school. Each child is given four gifts which have been wrapped. I was amazed at how selfless some of these children are. For example, many chose to not open their gifts, and instead, wanted to wait to share with their siblings at home. I saw first-hand how simple acts of kindness and giving can bring such joy and happiness to others. I am a passionate and hard-working person who cares about both other students as well as the staff at my high school. Lately, I have been working with the school’s math department by preparing and organizing a new shipment of calculators. I taught myself how to use the new calculators, and I have been tasked with teaching the math department staff how to operate them. They are the newest graphing calculators available and come with the newest technology. Not only do I help the school staff, but I also help the students. I frequently assist classmates with school work when they are confused on a topic or are struggling with a class. I do my best to make sure they are able to clearly understand the topic. Those that are more gifted academically should strive to assist those who struggle. In addition, I have volunteered as a concession stand helper at various sporting events at my high school, an assistant coach to the incoming freshmen summer baseball team, worked a booth at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church's fall festival, placed U.S. flags at gravesites at the National Veteran Cemetery for Flags for Fallen Vets, and helped at the Houston Food Bank. Our society would not function without the help of volunteers. Currently during our pandemic, many families have been waiting in long lines for food placed in their vehicles by volunteers in cities throughout our country. Examples like this continue to inspire me to remain actively involved in volunteer events in my community.

People who achieve success rarely do it alone. Even though I have been extremely fortunate to have two great parents, teachers, counselors, coaches and family, I have my mother to thank for my determination in achieving my educational goals. Since elementary school, she is the one that has encouraged me to maintain all A’s and to not settle for less than that. She taught me how to be a hard worker and put the importance of completing my school work first before I took to methods of entertainment. Her lessons and high standards that she expected of me eventually carried over to my own expectations. Now, I settle for nothing less than an A, and I set high standards for myself because if I do not shoot for the stars, I am never going to get there. From a young age, she could tell I was different. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. I enjoyed creating, building, solving problems, and figuring out how things worked. As a result, my mother would purchase items to stimulate my mind. I would create projects of my own with Legos, K’nex, and even popsicle sticks. It would monopolize my time for hours, but I never grew tired of building and creating things with these objects. The process of learning what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigued me. As a senior this year, I realize how important my mother has been throughout my four years. For example, my mother would confirm my grades online regularly. She stressed the importance of maintaining a strong GPA, and as a result, I have received nothing but A's in all of my classes which included many dual credit courses. Recently I was informed of my acceptance into my dream school, Texas A&M University's college of engineering. Without my mother's help, it would not have been possible. She led me every step of the way. From filling out the application to the difficult task of writing an essay about myself, my mother was there to make sure everything was done to perfection. As I finish my senior year and approach graduation, I know that my accomplishments would not have been possible without the guidance of my mother.

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. While most children played as a means of entertainment, I was more curious in figuring out how toys functioned and the detail that went into their design. Now that I am a senior in high school, I realize this passion for engineering has been in me since I was a little kid. By growing up in Houston and seeing the everyday objects around me, I developed an inspiration to figure out how they were created. The process of learning what works, what doesn’t work and why, and figuring out ways to make modifications and improvements intrigues me. What draws me to these fields of study is that they explain so much about the world around us. What has influenced my interest in engineering the most is my knowledge and passion for math and science. This has always fascinated me because my dream has always been to be a part of major projects that will significantly improve the world in which we live. I have made all A's in high school taking the most advanced classes. I am eager to continue learning at a higher level and earning a BSE degree. After completing my undergraduate program, I plan on working full time while also working towards obtaining an MSE degree. My knowledge and passion for math, science, solving problems, and creating are what drive me to pursue a career in engineering. I have always been passionate about baseball. I started playing at a very young age, and for the last thirteen years it has been an important part of my life. When I began to play for my high school team, I entered a new stage of the sport. The competition became more rigorous, which meant I had to work harder to be the best player I could be. To accomplish this, I began working out and practicing more. I often went to the gym with my dad or lifted weights while I was in our football program. In addition, I was fortunate enough to attend Dynamic Sports Training. DST, as it is known to many, has a baseball-focused strength training program. Many Houston Astros players use DST during their off season training. Having been professionally instructed on multiple ways to strength train, it allows myself to compete at the varsity level. For example, I noticed the baseballs I was hitting would travel much further and faster. I began to realize what I could accomplish. At first, I saw this process as more of a need and did not think much of it except as extra work. However, over time I began to enjoy it and saw it more as a want rather than a need. To this day, I still enjoy working out at the gym. I now have a group of friends who get together about three times a week to work out at LA Fitness and hang out. It is something I always look forward to and enjoy doing.