I have been volunteering for a special needs sports team for two years. This organization is called the Shoals Stars and is led by Mrs. Courtney Akins. She started this group several years ago in hopes of giving students with disabilities opportunities to compete in sports. This group has changed my life! I have always been very involved with sports and very competitive. I play both volleyball and soccer in high school. When I was younger I played basketball, softball and soccer. When I started working with this special needs team it changed my thinking. I had so many questions! Such as why these kids should not get a chance to play sports? Why can't recreation departments start up more special needs teams? If I got to play as a kid, why should kids with disabilities not be able to? This is a huge need in our communities! The team I work with plays baseball, basketball, and flag football. I am there to help oversee the players and help them understand the basics of the game. I love being able to interact with them. I especially love when they make a basket, hit the ball, or have any success on the field. The happiness they exhibit makes my heart fill with joy!! It is an amazing feeling. The players have an array of disabilities. Some have physical disabilities and some have mental disabilities. It is important to be able to connect with the players so a bond is created. When the players understand that you are there to help and root for them an instant connection is made. I love being a part of this group and look forward to staying connected with all my players! One night I remember in particular was when our team played basketball at our local university. This was a huge deal for our players because they got to play on a real Division 1 basketball court! They were so excited and so were their parents. The college basketball players even came and interacted with our players. They were so involved and patient with our kids. We invited the community and had a great turnout. We even had some local cheerleaders come to cheer them on as well! It was an amazing night! Since I have been a part of this community service organization I have felt led that this is the path I want to take. I feel certain that I want to work with students that have disabilities. I hope to get my degree in Special Education and make a difference in their lives. I feel that winning this scholarship would help my family out so much. I am the oldest of three children in my family. All three of us want to attend college, but the rising costs are making it difficult for my family. Education is very important to my family. My parents are hopeful that all three of their children go to college and major in something they love and can help make this world a better place.

I have been volunteering for a special needs sports team for two years. This organization is called the Shoals Stars and is led by Mrs. Courtney Akins. She started this group several years ago in hopes of giving students with disabilities opportunities to compete in sports. This group has changed my life! I have always been very involved with sports and very competitive. I play both volleyball and soccer in high school. When I was younger I played basketball, softball and soccer. When I started working with this special needs team it changed my thinking. I had so many questions! Such as why these kids should not get a chance to play sports. Why can't recreation departments start up more special needs teams? If I got to play as a kid, why should kids with disabilities not be able to? This is a huge need in our communities! The team I work with plays baseball, basketball, and flag football. I am there to help oversee the players and help them understand the basics of the game. I love being able to interact with them. I especially love it when they make a basket, hit the ball, or have any success on the field. The happiness they exhibit makes my heart fill with joy!! It is an amazing feeling. The players have an array of disabilities. Some have physical disabilities and some have mental. It is important to be able to connect with the players so a bond is created. When the players understand that you are there to help and root for them an instant connection is made. I love being a part of this group and look forward to staying connected with all my players! One night I remember in particular was when our team played basketball at our local university. This was a huge deal for our players because they got to play on a real Division 1 basketball court! They were so excited and so were their parents. The college basketball players even came and interacted with our players. They were so involved and patient with our kids. We invited the community and had a great turnout. We even had some local cheerleaders come to cheer them on as well! It was an amazing night! Since I have been a part of this community service organization I have felt led that this is the path I want to take. I feel certain that I want to work with students who have disabilities. I hope to get my degree in Special Education and make a difference in their lives. I feel that winning this scholarship would help my family out so much. My mother is in education and my father is a local business owner in our town. I am the oldest of three children in my family. All three of us want to attend college, but the rising costs are making it difficult for my family. Education is very important to my family. My parents are hopeful that all three of their children go to college and major in something they love and can help make this world a better place.

I have been volunteering for a special needs sports team for two years. This organization is called the Shoals Stars and is led by Mrs. Courtney Akins. She started this group several years ago in hopes of giving students with disabilities opportunities to compete in sports. This group has changed my life! I have always been very involved with sports and very competitive. I play both volleyball and soccer in high school. When I was younger I played basketball, softball and soccer. When I started working with this special needs team it changed my thinking. I had so many questions! Such as why these kids should not get a chance to play sports. Why can't recreation departments start up more special needs teams? If I got to play as a kid, why should kids with disabilities not be able to? This is a huge need in our communities! The team I work with plays baseball, basketball, and flag football. I am there to help oversee the players and help them understand the basics of the game. I love being able to interact with them. I especially love it when they make a basket, hit the ball, or have any success on the field. The happiness they exhibit makes my heart fill with joy!! It is an amazing feeling. The players have an array of disabilities. Some have physical disabilities and some have mental. It is important to be able to connect with the players so a bond is created. When the players understand that you are there to help and root for them an instant connection is made. I love being a part of this group and look forward to staying connected with all my players! One night I remember in particular was when our team played basketball at our local university. This was a huge deal for our players because they got to play on a real Division 1 basketball court! They were so excited and so were their parents. The college basketball players even came and interacted with our players. They were so involved and patient with our kids. We invited the community and had a great turnout. We even had some local cheerleaders come to cheer them on as well! It was an amazing night! Since I have been a part of this community service organization I have felt led that this is the path I want to take. I feel certain that I want to work with students who have disabilities. I hope to get my degree in Special Education and make a difference in their lives. I feel that winning this scholarship would help my family out so much. My mother is in education and my father is a local business owner in our town. I am the oldest of three children in my family. All three of us want to attend college, but the rising costs are making it difficult for my family. Education is very important to my family. My parents are hopeful that all three of their children go to college and major in something they love and can help make this world a better place.

Pursuing a college education is very important to me. My mother is a school counselor and she has impressed on me the value of education. Getting a degree is something that no one can take away from you. Not only will it help me with a career path but it will help me make relationships that may help me get a job one day. I am a very dedicated student and I have high hopes of getting into college and getting a degree. Right now I hope to get my degree in Special Education and help students with disabilities. I am working with a special needs sports group right now and it has helped me to have hands-on experience with students that have special needs. My ultimate goal is to be a teacher in the special education department. I want to be able to work with students. It will make me happy to see students set goals for themselves and achieve their goals. I also want to work with their parents and help them be able to help their children. I feel that there may be a disconnect between parents and their students. Sometimes a simple talk can help a parent figure out what their child needs to be successful in the classroom. I hope that I can achieve my goals and make a difference in the lives of others. Being involved with community service has increased my leadership skills greatly. I have helped with many activities that have required me to oversee certain groups. One in particular is the Stardust Cub Community Service Organization. I am the Vice President of this organization and it has allowed me to demonstrate leadership skills. We have over 60 members. My main job is to oversee our fundraising committee. I have helped with the organization of a 5K race, selling over 1200 mums, raffle tickets, and sing-a-long performances. The sing-a-long performance is a fundraiser benefiting our philanthropy Shoals Stars. Shoals Stars is a sports team for students who have disabilities. We have students in this group from several different counties. Last year we raised over $5000. We have high hopes we can exceed this amount this year. We also raise money to fund three scholarships for our senior members. This organization has taught me so much about organization, leadership, and giving back to our community. I have a new sense of helping others and I am very grateful for being a part of such a wonderful group.

Pursuing a college education is very important to me. My mother is a school counselor and she has impressed me the value of education. Getting a degree is something that no one can take away from you. Not only will it help me with a career path but it will help me make relationships that may help me get a job one day. I am a very dedicated student and I have high hopes of getting into college and getting a degree. Right now I hope to get my degree in Special Education and help students with disabilities. I am working with a special needs sports group right now and it has helped me to have hands-on experience with students that have special needs. My ultimate goal is to be a teacher in the special education department. I want to be able to work with students. It will make me happy to see students set goals for themselves and achieve their goals. I also want to work with their parents and help them be able to help their children. I feel that there may be a disconnect between parents and their students. Sometimes a simple talk can help a parent figure out what their child needs to be successful in the classroom. I hope that I can achieve my goals and make a difference in the lives of others. Some of my family members never had the opportunity to go to college, so I am hoping that I will receive a scholarship that will help me achieve my goals. Most of the women in my extended family were caretakers and stayed in the home. Being a homemaker is a huge responsibility so I do not want to disrespect anyone that stays at home. My mother balances a full-time job and raises three children, so I know firsthand how hard it can be to be a homemaker. College is so expensive and since I am one of three children in my family I worry a lot about our family’s finances. . My parents are always talking about how important it is to go to college and we have explored the rising costs of a college education. Also, being one of three I feel that college may put a financial burden on my family. I certainly do not want to do that to my parents. I would love to be able to receive this scholarship to help me achieve my goals and lessen the burden on my family.

My name is Sara Kathryn Elliott. I am a senior at Florence High School. I am very active in my school and community. I have played volleyball and soccer for the last 7 years. I have also played club soccer and volleyball during the off-season of each sport. I was selected as a student ambassador at my high school. I am the vice-president of a community service organization in my town. I am also very active in service projects in my community. One community group I have spent an enormous amount of time with is the Shoals Stars. It is a special needs sports group. I assist kids that have a disability on the softball field, basketball court, and football field. I have gotten very close with these students, and it has helped me decide that I want to be a special education teacher. I am also very active in my church. I keep the nursery and work with the preschool ministry. This has helped me realize that I love children and can see myself working with kids in the future. I am the oldest child in my family. I have two younger brothers. All three of us are very active in sports. My mom has always been there for all three of us and expressed how important education is. Many of my family members are teachers and work in the school system. My mother is a school counselor, my aunt is a 5th-grade teacher, and my grandmother is a special needs teacher. With all of this being said, I feel as if teaching is in my blood. My family has always expressed to me how important the education field is. There will always be a need for teachers, because of the continued need for learning. It is so important for all kids of all ages to earn an education. I am very interested in becoming a teacher. I know when I grow up I want to help people for a living. I have always wanted to be in the teaching field. When I was younger, I used to play school with my friends and little brothers. As I have gotten older, I have realized how rewarding the teaching profession is. Working with special needs children has opened my eyes and made me realize how important special education is. Children with special needs deserve the same opportunity as mainstream children do. I hope that if I am awarded a scholarship I will be able to meet my goal of becoming a teacher in the future.

I have been playing volleyball since I was 12 years old. I love the sport. I had no idea that when I began playing I would end up playing the sport through high school. I have played on several different travel teams as well as every year in school. I have learned so much on and off the court. The game itself is so rewarding. I love the feeling when you get a "kill" or an awesome serve. It's just a feeling I will never forget. The best part of the game though, is that it is a team sport. Your team has to have the right chemistry to be successful. I have been on some winning teams and some challenging teams. Over all the years I have played, I have noticed that the most successful ones are the ones where everyone works together and are 'all in' no matter what. You have to trust your teammates. You have to work together and everyone has to have a good attitude. I have learned so much about teamwork, getting along with others, and listening while being on a volleyball team. These are attributes that are very important in life, not just on the court. When thinking about a career I feel that I possess a lot of qualities that I learned being on a volleyball team. Some of these include being on time, being dressed appropriately, and knowing how to communicate. My coaches have served as my boss. I have learned how to talk to them, how to take directions, and how to be a coachable player. In the workforce, these are the same qualities needed to be successful. My senior year I turned my ankle. I was going up for a block and came down the wrong way. It happened during practice a week before the season began. I was devastated. I was hurt. I went to get it checked and was thankful that it wasn't broken, but it kept me from practicing and starting my senior year. I was so upset. I took care of it by putting ice on it every night. I continued to go to every practice and every game even though I couldn't play. That was hard! I was disappointed. I wanted to be out on that court so bad. After a couple of weeks, my ankle got better and I was able to play. I am an outside hitter, and I was ready to get back in the game. I have learned so much about life playing volleyball. The ups and downs and everything in between. I have met a lot of people and made a lot of lifelong friends.

I am a go-getter! I feel that every day is a gift and that I should try and do my best every day. I am a High School senior and very active in my school and community. I play varsity volleyball and soccer. I work hard at my sports. I try to do my best whether I am on the court, field, or on the bench. I try to cheer on my teammates if I am not in the game. I love being a part of a team. I am very competitive and love the game. I am always one to cheer others on and want to win! I am very active in the Stardust Community Service Organization. I serve as the vice president. I have many duties including planning fundraisers and finding organizations for our club members to work with. Some of the most recent things are club has done is work closely with a community-wide special needs sports team. Our members help students who have a range of mental and physical disabilities. Some have Down syndrome, are physically handicapped, have autism, and we even have a blind student. These kids get to play on a team and compete in basketball, softball, and kickball games. I love working with these students. It gives me so much joy when I see them excel on the field or on the court! I also have helped organize a 5K Run to raise money for reading literacy and one for autism. I am a runner myself and enjoy organizing these types of events. I love seeing runners of all ages enjoy the sport of running. It is a sport that you need zero equipment and one you can do for the rest of your life. I have met so many young and old runners in my community who love the events and support them for different causes. I am very active in my church. I work in the nursery on Sunday mornings. I love getting to spend time with our preschool department. I think it is so much fun to work with these little ones while their parents get a break while they get to go to worship. I have also helped organize Christmas presents for needy children in our school. This is always a huge event in our school. I help buy, and wrap presents. and deliver them. This has always made a huge impression on me. I love to see their eyes light up once they get presents. There is nothing better than seeing the happiness of a child.

Pursuing a college education is very important to me. My mother is a school counselor and she has impressed on me the value of education. Getting a degree is something that no one can take away from you. Not only will it help me with a career path but it will help me make relationships that may help me get a job one day. I am a very dedicated student and I have high hopes of getting into college and getting a degree. Right now I hope to get my degree in Special Education and help students with disabilities. I am working with a special needs sports group right now and it has helped me to have hands-on experience with students that have special needs. My ultimate goal is to be a teacher in the special education department. I want to be able to work with students. It will make me happy to see students set goals for themselves and achieve their goals. I also want to work with their parents and help them be able to help their children. I feel that there may be a disconnect between parents and their students. Sometimes a simple talk can help a parent figure out what their child needs to be successful in the classroom. I hope that I can achieve my goals and make a difference in the lives of others. Some of my family members never had the opportunity to go to college, so I am hoping that I will receive a scholarship that will help me achieve my goals. Most of the women in my extended family were caretakers and stayed in the home. Being a homemaker is a huge responsibility so I do not want to disrespect anyone that stays at home. My mother balances a full-time job and raises three children, so I know firsthand how hard it can be to be a homemaker. College is so expensive and since I am one of three children in my family I worry a lot about our family’s finances. . My parents are always talking about how important it is to go to college and we have explored the rising costs of a college education. Also, being one of three I feel that college may put a financial burden on my family. I certainly do not want to do that to my parents. I would love to be able to receive this scholarship to help me achieve my goals and lessen the burden on my family.

I have been volunteering for a special needs sports team for two years. It has changed my life! I have always been very involved with sports and very competitive. I play both volleyball and soccer in high school. When I was younger I played basketball, softball and soccer. When I started working with this special needs team it changed my thinking. I had so many questions! Such as why these kids should not get a chance to play sports? Why can't recreation departments start up more special needs teams? If I got to play as a kid, why should kids with disabilities not be able to? This is a huge need in our communities! The team I work with plays baseball, basketball, and flag football. I am there to help oversee the players and help them understand the basics of the game. I love being able to interact with them. I especially love when they make a basket, hit the ball, or have any success on the field. The happiness they exhibit makes my heart fill with joy!! It is an amazing feeling. The players have an array of disabilities. Some have physical disabilities and some have mental. It is important to be able to connect with the players so a bond is created. When the players understand that you are there to help and root for them an instant connection is made. I love being a part of this group and look forward to staying connected with all my players! One night I remember in particular was when our team played basketball at our local university. This was a huge deal for our players because they got to play on a real Division 1 basketball court! They were so excited and so were their parents. The college basketball players even came and interacted with our players. They were so involved and patient with our kids. We invited the community and had a great turnout. We even had some local cheerleaders come to cheer them on as well! It was an amazing night! I feel that winning this scholarship would help my family out so much. My mother is in education and my father is a local business owner in our town. I am the oldest of three children in my family. All three of us want to attend college, but the rising costs are making it difficult for my family. Education is very important to my family. My parents are hopeful that all three of their children go to college and major in something they love and can help make this world a better place.

My mother, Millicent Elliott has been a very influential woman in my life. She is a school counselor and has worked in the public school setting for 15 years. She works very hard at her job and I am very proud of her. She got her undergraduate degree in Family and Consumer Science Education and then went to graduate school to complete her school counseling degree. She is a very influential person in my life because she does work outside the home. Many of the other women in her family stayed at home to raise their families. I do not think that that was a bad choice, but I am very thankful my mother chose to work outside the home because I have seen how she can do both. She has three very active children and works a full- time job. Back in the old days, most women did not have the opportunity to work and I hate that for them. Women today do and I am very thankful. I plan to further my education and work and if God willing will have a family too. My mother has shown me how to balance work and family and although some days have been hard, she has done it with grace and dignity. I am very proud of the life she has given my two brothers and me. I know she has to juggle a lot. We are all involved in sports and other extracurricular activities. She rarely misses anything. I know she has a lot on her plate because she is a vital part of her school. A lot of people think that just because she works in a school she gets off during the summers. That is completely untrue. Teachers and school counselors work a lot during the summer months. To tell the truth I don't think she ever gets off. She is constantly helping others. At school, I try to let others know that just because we are women we don't have to settle. We can go to college or enter the workforce and do whatever we are interested in. In today's society, it is so important for women to share their talents and thoughts with the world. Women are sometimes overlooked for certain jobs and I don't think that is right. When a person interviews for a job I feel like the person who is most qualified should get the job. It should not matter if the person is male or female. I hope that women across the globe will be inspired to go for that degree, or go for that job and feel confident that the person gets the job or degree because they worked hard and not because of their gender.

I will always remember my great-grandmother, Mrs. Etta Ruth Mullendore. We called her Mimmie. Mimmie was a huge influence in my life. She was a mother of three girls. She was the valedictorian of Mississippi College for Women back in the 1940's. She was a teacher, and avid piano player. She was an amazing cook and homemaker as well. Mimmie knew the value of family. We always ate Sunday lunch together. She made sure her grandchildren were fed, loved, and felt respected. Mimmie grew up in a very small town in Mississippi during the depression. I remember her telling me stories about how her mother would not eat dinner so that there would be enough food for her and her siblings. This amazed me! She also told me how they had to ration not only food but clothing, and other supplies. One thing in particular she told me was that when wrapping Christmas presents she had to use just a little tape and a barley enough paper to cover the gift. To this day I only use a little bit of tape and paper when wrapping gifts. She was very involved in her church and made sure we were present and asked us questions to make sure we understood. Although I was still a very young girl when she died I will never forget her. She was the glue to our family. All holidays were at her house. She cooked fabulous meals and we all sat around the table together. My family is very large and as I look back on it, it is amazing how long we kept up that tradition. Mimmie was a very religious woman and helped me form my religious beliefs at a young age. I am very thankful for that because I feel that that is something that is not as important these days. Mimmie was an amazing lady who cooked, sewed, and kept our family running. I can only dream of being like her one day. I hope to instill moral values into my family and hold them accountable for their actions. I hope that when I pass on , people will think of me like they did my great-grandmother. She was not only loving and caring, the entire town she lived in was respected. She was an amazing woman that helped others and really used her time wisely. She never wasted a second no matter what the task was. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship. I would be thrilled to be a recipient.