The Jim Maxwell Memorial Scholarship is deeply meaningful to me because it reflects values that have guided my life long before I ever imagined studying abroad: faith, perseverance, and service through growth. As a financially underprivileged international undergraduate student, pursuing higher education requires more than ambition. It requires steady faith during moments when giving up would have been easier. I am Sheina Beryl Musanase; I grew up in a household where education was highly valued, but never guaranteed. There were moments when financial uncertainty made the future feel fragile, and plans had to be adjusted constantly. During those times, my faith became my foundation. It was not only expressed through prayer, but through discipline. Showing up, staying consistent, and believing that effort paired with trust would eventually open doors became part of my daily life. Faith taught me to keep moving forward even when I could not clearly see the outcome. One of the most defining moments of my journey was leaving my home country to study at the University of Arizona. I remember the weight of that decision clearly, the excitement mixed with fear, knowing that once I arrived, I would be responsible for managing not just my academics, but my finances, independence, and resilience. The reality of out of state tuition, housing costs, and academic materials set in quickly. There were nights spent carefully reviewing expenses and wondering how I would make everything stretch through the semester. In those moments, faith grounded me. It reminded me why I chose this path and helped me stay focused when anxiety threatened my motivation. My faith has also shaped how I respond to challenges academically. When coursework becomes overwhelming or pressure builds around maintaining strong performance, I lean on the values my faith instilled in me. Patience, self control, and trust in steady progress helps me continue without burning out. Each small academic success, completing a difficult course, staying enrolled full time, pushing through exhaustion, feels like a quiet triumph rooted in faith. This scholarship would ease the financial strain that often puts students like me at risk of having to pause or compromise their education. More importantly, it would allow me to continue my studies with stability and peace of mind, knowing that my commitment and perseverance are being supported. Looking ahead, I plan to continue using my faith as a guiding force in reaching greater heights, not only academically, but personally and professionally. My goal is to build a future where my education allows me to serve others with integrity and purpose (especially with my studies in cybersecurity, in this world's rising cyber crime rate). In honoring Jim Maxwell’s legacy, this scholarship would help me continue a journey shaped by faith, resilience, and the belief that meaningful impact begins with quiet perseverance.

Forging Paths in Shadows: A Vision for Cyber Equity My name is Sheina Beryl Musanase. I’m a Rwandan undergraduate student at the University of Arizona, majoring in Cyber Operations with a minor in Defense and Forensics. As a young Black woman in STEM, I carry with me a deep respect for knowledge, a drive to protect the vulnerable, and a vision of creating safer digital spaces for underserved communities. I care about access; who gets it, who doesn’t, and how that shapes opportunity and identity. One issue I feel deeply connected to is digital vulnerability in underserved regions, especially in Africa. While more people now use the internet to connect, work, and learn, many don’t have the tools to protect themselves online. Cybercrime, surveillance, and digital misinformation often go unchecked in places with limited cybersecurity education. For me, it’s personal. I come from a place rich in culture and resilience, but not always in resources. I’ve seen how fast tech is growing, and how far behind some communities are left. If I had the power to change this, I’d start by building localized cybersecurity awareness programs in African high schools and universities. These wouldn’t just teach coding or IT basics; they’d focus on practical digital safety, data protection, and cyber ethics. I also dream of helping develop user-friendly cybersecurity tools that work in low-bandwidth areas, with instructions in local languages. Long-term, I hope to create a mentorship network for young African women in tech, connecting them with global experts and opportunities. I chose Cyber Operations because I want to be part of the solution. When I got my first personal device in fifth grade, I didn’t just use it; I wanted to understand it. Over time, I became curious about how systems are protected, how hackers think, and how digital investigations work. I was especially drawn to the idea of defending others. Cybersecurity isn’t just about tech; it’s about trust, ethics, and justice. That’s why I’m also studying forensics, to understand how we trace digital harm and hold people accountable. One of my main goals in the next five years is to join a cybersecurity research lab or government agency focused on cyber threat intelligence. To get there, I plan to earn key certifications (like Security+ and CEH), complete internships, and gain experience in incident response and digital investigations. I also want to stay active in outreach, teaching workshops, mentoring, and sharing resources in multiple languages: English, French, and Kinyarwanda. Education has helped me find purpose. It taught me that I don’t have to separate my background from my ambition, they can grow together. Through classes, I’ve learned to think critically, challenge assumptions, and explore how technology shapes society. Outside the classroom, I’ve learned just as much - from conversations with peers, mentors, and family; about resilience, identity, and impact. Being a woman in STEM has shown me both barriers and breakthroughs. Sometimes I’m the only Black girl in the room. But I’ve learned to see that as strength, not a setback. I’ve found power in my voice, especially when I use it to lift others. My journey has made me more confident, but also more compassionate. I know what it feels like to be overlooked, and that’s why I work hard to be seen and to help others be seen too. Leadership to me means stepping up, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s about responsibility, not titles. I’ve led group projects, organized peer study sessions, and helped classmates understand cybersecurity concepts. I also try to lead by example; staying curious, showing up for others, and staying grounded in my values. A moment that shaped me was when I first moved to the U.S. for college. I had to adapt fast; to a new culture, language pace, and academic system. I didn’t always feel prepared, but I stayed focused, asked for help, and built support around me. That experience taught me how to be resourceful, flexible, and patient with myself. Now, whenever I face something hard, I remind myself how far I’ve already come. If I’m awarded this scholarship, it would ease financial stress and allow me to invest more fully in my academic path and vision. I could afford certification programs, attend cybersecurity conferences, and dedicate more time to research and mentoring. More than anything, this scholarship would be a vote of confidence - a reminder that someone believes in my vision and wants to help me build it. I’m not just studying to enter the tech world, I’m studying to reshape it. To bring security where there is silence. To make space where others feel invisible. And to remind young girls like me that we belong in every room, even the ones we have to build ourselves.