Attending the Number 1 Public HBCU in the country as a first-generation college student is an honor that I do not take lightly. My academic goal is to graduate with my degree in Biology, maintaining a high GPA and gaining as much experience as possible in the lab. My career goal is to become a research scientist focused on public health. I want to spend my life investigating why underserved communities face higher risks for chronic diseases and how we can use scientific research to create a more equal healthcare system. My passion for this field is deeply personal. I have watched my grandmother fight cancer four times, and both of my aunts battle breast cancer, with only one of them surviving. These losses made me realize that public health is not just about doctors giving out vaccines, it starts much earlier in the lab. I want to be the researcher who asks why Black women have the highest cancer mortality rates and why our neighborhoods are often flooded with fast food but lack "real food" and clean air. These are not just social issues, they are biological ones, and I want to use my education to find the evidence needed to fix them. Being a first-generation student has taught me how to be goal-driven even when things get tough. One of the biggest obstacles I faced was going nearly two years without health insurance. Because my mom got a small pay raise, we were kicked off Medicaid, even though we still couldn't afford private coverage. It was a scary time, but it made me realize how essential health insurance and public health resources really are. Luckily, I now have insurance through my university, which has allowed me to keep my focus where it belongs: on my research and my community impact. I believe that representation in the lab is the only way to ensure that public health breakthroughs actually work for everyone. When people who look like me are in the rooms where decisions are made, our specific needs are finally taken seriously. Winning this $1,000 scholarship would be a huge help in reaching my goals. It would allow me to spend more time in the lab and less time worrying about the financial barriers that often hold first-gen students back. I am ready to put in the work to become a scientist who doesn't just study life, but helps save it

Choosing to major in Biology at the Number 1 Public HBCU in the country was the most important decision of my life. I chose this field because I want to understand the "why" behind the health struggles I see in my community. Growing up, I watched my grandmother fight cancer four times, and I saw my aunts battle breast cancer too. I realized that a doctor giving a shot is just the end of the story. The real work starts in a lab with technology and research. I want to be the person at the microscope finding out why these diseases hit Black families so much harder. My short-term goal is to graduate with 3.0 GPA or higher and get hands-on experience in a research lab where I can learn how to use technology to study human cells. My long-term goal is to become a research scientist who focuses on health equity. I want to study how things like bad air quality, contaminated water, and "food deserts", where you can find a McDonald’s on every other corner but no fresh groceries actually change our biology. I want to use technology to prove that our environment is making us sick and then find a way to fix it from the inside out. Being an underrepresented minority in STEM has a huge effect on my goals. When I look at the people leading big tech and science companies, they rarely look like me. This makes me even more driven because I know that if we aren't in the room, our problems won't be a priority. Representation is the only way to make sure that new medicine and technology actually work for our DNA and our neighborhoods. My goal isn't just to have a career, it is to make sure that the next generation of Black scientists doesn't have to fight so hard just to be heard. This scholarship is essential because I have faced many financial hurdles. For nearly two years, I didn't even have health insurance because of a small pay raise my mom got that kicked us off Medicaid. It was a scary time where I felt like the system was working against us. While I luckily have insurance through my school now, the cost of being a STEM student is still very high. Between expensive lab kits, textbooks, and living expenses, the stress can be overwhelming. This $1,000 would help me focus on my research instead of worrying about my bank account. It would be an investment in a future scientist who is ready to use technology to save lives and bring real change to underserved communities.

Being a first-generation college student at the Number 1 Public HBCU in the country is a blessing, but it also comes with a lot of pressure. I am not just here to get a degree for myself, I am here to build a foundation for my family. As a Biology major, my goal is to become a research scientist. This dream is personal because cancer has torn through my family. I watched my grandmother fight cancer four different times before she finally passed away. Both of my aunts battled severe breast cancer, and while one survived, the other did not make it. While I am thankful I do not carry the same genetic trait, I am haunted by the question of why. Why is cancer so much more prominent and deadly for Black women compared to everyone else? I want to find the real reason why people of color face higher rates of sickness. It isn’t just a coincidence that our neighborhoods often have worse air quality and contaminated water. I also look at how "convenience" is used against us. Why is there a McDonald's on every corner in underserved areas, but no place to buy real, fresh food? These social factors are systemic problems that put us at risk before we even see a doctor. My drive to change this comes from my own struggle with the "insurance gap." For nearly two years, I went without health insurance because my mom got a small pay raise. To the government, that tiny increase meant we made "too much" for Medicaid, but it still wasn't enough to survive. Health insurance is essential, and luckily, I now have it through my school, but living in that gap was a scary experience that no grieving family should have to face. A lot of people don’t realize that health equity starts in the lab with researchers like me, not just with a doctor sticking you with a vaccine. By the time a patient gets to the clinic, the damage might already be done. I want to be at the very beginning of the process. I want to be the person in the lab asking why Black women have the highest cancer mortality rates and making sure our specific needs are researched from day one. I want to investigate how the lack of real food and clean air changes our biology and find solutions that are accessible to everyone, not just those with money. Representation in research is the only way to ensure the results actually work for us. I want to make sure that people who look like me are in the rooms where life-saving decisions are made. Winning this scholarship would be a major help in reaching these goals. Being first-gen means I don’t always have a financial safety net, and my past struggle with insurance makes me value every bit of support. This $1,000 would allow me to spend more time in the lab working toward my dream of being a scientist who saves lives. With your help, I can continue to work hard at my university and use my passion for biology to create a healthier future for my BIPOC neighbors and community.

Deciding to pursue a degree in Biology at the Number 1 Public HBCU in the country was the best decision of my life, but it came with obstacles that I did not expect. People often talk about the academic challenges of STEM, like the long hours in the lab or the difficult exams, but they rarely talk about the personal sacrifices required to stay on the path to success. For me, the biggest obstacle was the emotional and social shift of outgrowing my old environment. I realized early on that to become a research scientist who serves underserved communities, I had to distance myself from people who no longer served the person I was becoming. Leaving behind friends and social circles was a painful process. When you decide to move up in life, not everyone is ready or willing to go with you. I found myself in a position where my ambition was viewed as a distraction by those I used to be close with. I had to make the hard choice to protect my peace and my focus, even when it felt lonely. This social sacrifice was joined by a financial one. I have had to be extremely disciplined with my money, saving every dollar I can to cover the high costs of textbooks, lab equipment, and living expenses. Choosing to stay in to study or save money wasn't always the popular thing to do, but it was necessary for my future. I did not overcome these hurdles alone. I am lucky to have fellow STEM peers and supportive adults in my life who stepped in to guide me. My peers in the Biology department reminded me that I wasn’t alone in my struggles, and seeing their hard work motivated me to keep going. At the same time, the wise adults in my life gave me the advice I needed to stay strong when I felt like giving up. They helped me realize that outgrowing your past is just part of the journey toward excellence. They showed me that my drive was a strength, and they helped me stay focused on the bigger picture whenever I felt stressed about money or losing old friends. This scholarship would help me overcome the final barrier, which is the financial burden of my education. As a BIPOC student in a field where we are often underrepresented, I feel a deep responsibility to succeed. The $2,000 would allow me to spend less time worrying about my bank account and more time focusing on the scientific breakthroughs I want to achieve. By supporting my education, you are investing in a future scientist who has the courage to leave the past behind and the ambition to build a healthier future for every

Every day I walk across my campus, and know that I am blessed to be able to attend a 4-year university and the Number 1 Public HBCU in the U.S., I feel a great sense of responsibility. Being a Biology major is hard work, and it takes a lot of focus to keep my grades up. For me, getting a degree is about more than just a job, it is about staying strong through challenges and working toward a better future. My goal is to become a research scientist so I can help people in underserved communities. I want to use science to solve real problems for people who are often forgotten. I chose Biology because I want to understand how to make people healthier. I have seen how some neighborhoods do not get the same medical help as others, and I want to change that. Keeping a 3.0 GPA or higher shows that I am serious about my work, but it is not always easy. The cost of books, lab fees, and living expenses adds up quickly. Sometimes, the financial stress makes it hard to focus on my classes. This scholarship would be a huge help because it would let me spend more time in the lab and less time worrying about money. The Aikens family believes in faith and never giving up, and I try to live by those same values. There have been times when I wasn’t sure how I would pay for school, but my faith and my dream of helping others kept me going. I am determined to show that students from my background can lead the way in scientific discovery. Every hour I spend studying cells or running experiments is a step toward finding cures and health solutions for families like mine. I want my work to prove that where you come from shouldn't limit the quality of care you receive. To me, making an impact means using what I learn in school to give back. As a researcher, I want to study things that help people live better lives, especially in communities that do not have much. Winning this scholarship would mean a lot to me. It is not just about the money, it is a sign that someone believes in my dream. With your support, I can keep working hard at my university and get closer to my goal of being a scientist who serves the community. I am ready to put in the work, and this scholarship will help me stay focused on the finish line.