I have been wrestling since the third grade, and over the past nine years the sport has become more than competition—it has shaped me as both an athlete and a leader. Now, I’m in a position to coach and mentor younger wrestlers. My years of practice allow me to demonstrate techniques clearly, and when I see someone struggling, I step in to guide them. Helping others improve has shown me that the time I spent perfecting my craft can be used to support the success of others. Beyond teaching skills, I work to be a role model. When coaches speak, I listen and stay focused, showing younger athletes the importance of respect and perseverance. Wrestling is demanding, but I remind them that hard work and challenges make us stronger. Outside the wrestling room, I continue to lead by example. Whether cheering for teammates or maintaining a positive attitude, I aim to uplift those around me. Having influence over others motivates me to hold myself to a higher standard and encourage others to do the same. Wrestling has taught me discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Although I will not compete at the collegiate level, I’m not stepping away from the sport. I plan to stay involved by coaching youth or high school wrestlers or by refereeing while in college. Giving back to the wrestling community that shaped me matters, and I’m committed to supporting the next generation just as others supported me.

Born and raised in Harrisburg, PA, I have always been passionate about Legos, video games, and sports ~ specifically, wrestling and soccer. I am also deeply committed to being a THON Fundraiser Participant where I am engaged in year-long fundraising activities and awareness for pediatric cancer, culminating in a 12-hour high-energy, no-sitting event raising funds for Four Diamonds families to fight childhood cancer with $71,760.14 being raised by Bishop McDevitt students my Junior year and $84,557.40 raised my Senior year. I am also a Special Olympics Athlete “Buddy”, Bishop McDevitt JH Wrestling Tournaments Youth Volunteer and an elite club wrestling mentor. I am enrolled in a rigorous College Prep curriculum, including 22 Honors classes over my four years of high school including those related to STEM - Honors Algebra I & II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry I & II, Physics, C# and Video Game Design and I maintain a 3.812 GPA. Outside of the classroom, I am actively involved in National Honor Society, 4-Year Varsity Lettermen Wrestling, Elite Club Wrestling, JV and Varsity Soccer, Travel Soccer, Christian Service Club, Young Engineers Society, Student Ambassador, Spanish Club, French Club, Altar Server and I have been a captain of my high school JV soccer team, travel soccer teams, and co-captain of my elite club wrestling team. My hard work and dedication have resulted in several notable achievements, including the opportunity to travel, compete and place with both my high school and club wrestling teams at some of the most prestigious tournaments in the country including Powerade, Escape the Rock, and NHSCA Duals, just to name a few. I am particularly proud of being a Varsity starter on a high school team that has been 3x District Champions, 2x 3rd place PA State Champions and nationally ranked 9th in the country my Junior year and 15th in the country my Senior year. As an individual, I have been a PIAA Sectional, District and Regional placer and have been the Recipient of the Coaches Award for leadership, character, high academics, and the ability to elevate my teammates. All of the above has been accomplished while holding down a part-time job as a busser for the past three years at Lancaster Brewing Company. Now that I have turned 18, I have been promoted to server and am currently being trained as a bartender. Looking towards the future, I plan to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering at West Virginia University's Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering as an Honors College student beginning Fall of 2026. I am excited to continue learning and exploring through hands-on opportunities and internships in engineering. I am excited to pursue this career because it brings together everything I love: logic, creativity, design, and innovation. My goal is to make a positive impact whether it's designing infrastructure, developing technology or simply creating things that make life easier for others. Becoming the recipient of the Kalia D. Davis Memorial Scholarship would allow me to continue developing these skills without the added stress of financial strain. It would support my ability to focus on my coursework, athletics, clubs, and community service as I prepare for a future in engineering.

I have been wrestling since the third grade, and over the past nine years the sport has become more than just competition; it has become a way to grow as both an athlete and a leader. Today, I am in a position where I can help coach and mentor younger wrestlers. My years of practice with moves and techniques allow me to demonstrate skills clearly, and when I see someone struggling or practicing incorrectly, I step in to guide them. Helping others improve has taught me that the time I spent perfecting my craft can be used to inspire and support the success of others. Beyond teaching techniques, I strive to act as a role model. When coaches speak, I listen attentively, showing younger athletes the importance of respect, focus, and perseverance. Wrestling is demanding, but I encourage them not to complain when the work gets hard, reminding them that challenges only make us stronger. Outside the wrestling room, I continue to lead by example. Whether cheering for teammates or maintaining a positive attitude, I aim to uplift those around me. Over the years, I have realized that having influence over others motivates me to hold myself to a higher standard and I encourage others to do the same. Wrestling has shaped me into someone who values discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Although I will not be wrestling at the collegiate level, I’m not stepping away from the sport I love. I plan to stay involved by coaching youth or high school wrestlers or by refereeing while in college. Giving back to the wrestling community that shaped me matters, and I’m committed to supporting the next generation just as others supported me. Honors Algebra 2 was one of the toughest academic challenges I have faced in high school. The teaching style didn’t match how I learn best, and the tests often covered material that felt unclear or unfamiliar. Even though I sought tutoring, asked questions, and used online resources to fill in the gaps, I still ended up with a D, missing a C by just one grade point. It was discouraging to put in so much effort and still fall short of the outcome I hoped for. At the time, it felt like a setback that overshadowed the hard work I had put into my other classes. That difficult year taught me resilience. Instead of letting one grade define my abilities or my confidence, I used it as motivation to grow. I proved that growth by earning As and Bs in my other honors math classes. The strategies I learned from my struggles in Algebra 2, asking questions early, reviewing material consistently, and seeking help without hesitation, have made me a stronger student. What once felt like a failure has become one of the most meaningful learning experiences of my high school career. Honors Algebra 2 didn’t stop me; it pushed me to become more disciplined, more proactive, and more resilient. It taught me that setbacks are temporary, but the lessons you take from them can shape your future success. Today, I see that challenge not as a defining moment of defeat, but as a turning point that helped me grow into the student I am now; someone who doesn’t give up, even when the path gets difficult. That resilience now guides everything I do. I balance honors coursework with a part-time job, leadership in wrestling, volunteer work, and the responsibility of applying to over ninety scholarships to help fund my education. I’ve learned to stay disciplined, ask for help early, and push forward even when the path is difficult.

My sister is exactly 1 year, 1 month, and 26 days older than me. This tiny gap was just enough for her to claim the TV remote, declare herself referee of every game, and become my first rival and closest friend. When we were younger, two things could calm our wild energy: Disney’s Fantasia and Pixar Short Films. To start the show without the other was unthinkable. Sophia, being older, declared herself the “remote keeper.” She'd rewind to her favorite short films and rarely let me do the same, unless I stole the remote. We’d build forts out of blankets, pillows, and basement furniture and watch those films late into the night. Even then, I wasn't just playing, I was building. While Fantasia and Pixar sparked our imaginations, I was more intrigued by how the fort stayed standing than what was on the screen. We settled disagreements with backyard competitions. Thus began the "Lengel Summer Olympics," our backyard pool games judged by our endlessly patient dad. We held underwater breath-holding challenges, competed in handstand contests, and dove for scattered coins; no goggles allowed! I learned early that problem-solving and strategy were just as important as speed or strength. I quickly realized that cleverness could outmatch speed and began analyzing the angles, spacing, and the best place to push off the pool wall. I started viewing challenges differently; not as obstacles, but as puzzles to be solved. That same competitive spark followed us into the living room, where our wild energy gave way to a sense of wonder. After the pool, we’d curl up with our mom to watch Cupcake Wars. While Sophia's focus was on frosting and sprinkles, I was fixated on the display stands; how they were built and why they didn’t collapse. I didn’t want to bake the cupcakes, I wanted to build the structures that held them up. Even as a kid, I found myself more interested in the structure that held the creation together than in the creation itself. That fascination only grew. But nothing compared to Legos! They were my first tools. Our “Lego Battles” would last for hours. Sophia gave up eventually, not because she didn’t enjoy it, but because she couldn’t beat me. I had a natural instinct for designing stable, complex structures. What started with Lego Duplo blocks evolved into detailed sets that I still build today. I’ve always loved the process of turning small parts into something functional and beautiful. Since those early days, I have been an obsessive creator, builder, and problem-solver. Looking back, I realize all those moments of fort-building, competitions, and Lego sessions were more than just play. They were the foundation for my passion for engineering. Whether I was constructing a Lego tower or analyzing why my pool handstand wasn’t straight enough, I was always thinking structurally, critically and creatively. Today, I want to build on that foundation. I’m excited to pursue engineering because it brings together everything I love: logic, creativity, design, and innovation. I want to learn how to solve real-world problems with the same curiosity and passion that filled my childhood. Whether it’s designing infrastructure, developing technology, or simply creating things that make life easier for others, I know I’ve found my place in engineering. And whenever I need inspiration, I can still hear Sophia yelling from the basement: “Give me the remote back!”, a reminder that the urge to build, compete, and create has always been a part of me.

My sister is exactly 1 year, 1 month, and 26 days older than me. This tiny gap was just enough for her to claim the TV remote, declare herself referee of every game, and become my first rival and closest friend. When we were younger, two things could calm our wild energy: Disney’s Fantasia and Pixar Short Films. To start the show without the other was unthinkable. Sophia, being older, declared herself the “remote keeper.” She'd rewind to her favorite short films and rarely let me do the same, unless I stole the remote. We’d build forts out of blankets, pillows, and basement furniture and watch those films late into the night. Even then, I wasn't just playing, I was building. While Fantasia and Pixar sparked our imaginations, I was more intrigued by how the fort stayed standing than what was on the screen. We settled disagreements with backyard competitions. Thus began the "Lengel Summer Olympics," our backyard pool games judged by our endlessly patient dad. We held underwater breath-holding challenges, competed in handstand contests, and dove for scattered coins. I learned early that problem-solving and strategy were just as important as speed or strength. I quickly realized that cleverness could outmatch speed and began analyzing the angles, spacing, and the best place to push off the pool wall. I started viewing challenges differently; not as obstacles, but as puzzles to be solved. That same competitive spark followed us into the living room, where our wild energy gave way to a sense of wonder. After the pool, we’d curl up with our mom to watch Cupcake Wars. While Sophia's focus was on frosting and sprinkles, I was fixated on the display stands; how they were built and why they didn’t collapse. I didn’t want to bake the cupcakes, I wanted to build the structures that held them up. Even as a kid, I found myself more interested in the structure that held the creation together than in the creation itself. But nothing compared to Legos! They were my first tools. Our “Lego Battles” would last for hours. Sophia gave up eventually, not because she didn’t enjoy it, but because she couldn’t beat me. I had a natural instinct for designing stable, complex structures. What started with Lego Duplo blocks evolved into detailed sets that I still build today. I’ve always loved the process of turning small parts into something functional and beautiful. Since those early days, I have been an obsessive creator, builder, and problem-solver. Looking back, I realize all those moments of fort-building, competitions, and Lego sessions were more than just play. They were the foundation for my passion for engineering. Whether I was constructing a Lego tower or analyzing why my pool handstand wasn’t straight enough, I was always thinking structurally, critically and creatively. Today, I want to build on that foundation. I’m excited to pursue engineering because it brings together everything I love: logic, creativity, design, and innovation. I want to learn how to solve real-world problems with the same curiosity and passion that filled my childhood. Whether it’s designing infrastructure, developing technology, or simply creating things that make life easier for others, I know I’ve found my place in engineering. What were once backyard games, a basement fort or a Lego challenge has become a way I understand the world and how I hope to improve it. And whenever I need inspiration, I can still hear Sophia yelling from the basement: “Give me the remote back!”, a reminder that the urge to build, compete, and create has always been a part of me.