For DonorsFor Applicants
user profile avatar

Stephanie Murillo

1,125

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

Bio

My name is Stephanie, and I'm a first-generation college student who wants to major in forensic science. I've been applying for scholarships, and I am currently in an internship program called Road to Hire that supports me with my college applications, including the FAFSA, RDS, and other forms. My goal is to enroll in college and earn a B.S. in Criminal Justice or Forensic Science after graduating high school Some of my hobbies are reading, listening to music, and crocheting.

Education

Phillip O Berry Academy Of Technology

High School
2020 - 2024

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Majors of interest:

    • Chemistry
    • Criminology
    • Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Law Enforcement

    • Dream career goals:

    • Guest Advocate

      Target
      2023 – Present1 year
    • Intern

      Mecklenburg County Pretrial Services
      2023 – 2023

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      CMPD Explorers Post — Sargent
      2023 – Present

    Future Interests

    Volunteering

    Rompe Las Fronteras Scholarship
    My name is Stephanie Murillo, and I am a high school senior attending Phillip O. Berry. I am the first generation in my family to attend college. I plan to attend the University of North Carolina-Charlotte for four years and major in criminal justice. I have always had a passion for forensics, investigative work, and police work. Every night, my mom and I would watch crime series while cuddled up on the couch with popcorn and Coca-Cola in hand, trying to solve the case before it was over. We would compete against one another, and the winner would be the one who solved the case just before it was revealed. We even bought a Forensic File game called Unsolved Case Files to solve together, and she would often say, "It's like putting together a puzzle; you have all the pieces; all you have to do now is piece it together. I want to work as a crime scene investigator because I enjoy problem-solving, assessing situations, and piecing together evidence to put together a bigger picture.   I attended a week-long program at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, CMPD High School Academy, to learn more about being an officer and the criminal justice system. I got to know Officer Alvarez. He is a homicide detective for the CMPD. I asked him about CSI and homicide work, and he suggested he could take me along for a ride-along one day so I could learn more about it. I also attended a weeklong summer program at George Mason University in Virginia about CSI and law called NYLF Law & CSI in 2022. I was nominated to attend this program, and I enjoyed it. We had guest speakers coming from all around the world, including John E. Douglas, the FBI’s criminal profiler. It was a great experience, and talking to John E. Douglas expanded my knowledge in the forensic science field. He talked about his cases, including Dennis Rader (a BTK killer) and David Berkowitz (the son of Sam).   Finding the truth, obtaining justice, and providing the victims' families with closure are the main objectives of my future career. Finding the missing pieces of a puzzle by carefully gathering, examining, and interpreting information is a mentally and emotionally exciting reward. Looking ahead, I'm enthusiastic about having the opportunity to expand my education and gain professional forensic educational experience.    I witnessed, while growing up, the sacrifices my family made for me to have the opportunities that they never had. I have a great work ethic and a strong determination to succeed because of their determination and resilience. My parents are both from Honduras and migrated to the U.S. to chase their dreams. They went through many obstacles and challenges to make my life simpler than what they had growing up. They made sure I had everything I needed to succeed, and without them, I wouldn’t have made it to the point I am at right now. My identity as a first-generation Latin American student has impacted my future goals. It's hard being a first-generation student because my parents didn’t know how to help me apply for FAFSA or apply to colleges.    My identity as a first-generation Latin American student motivates me to change the world. It motivates me to put in more effort at work, push for changes, and encourage others to follow their passions despite any obstacles they may encounter.  I aspire to appear as a role model for other students from similar backgrounds, demonstrating to them that it's possible to follow their passions and succeed in professions that are usually underrepresented by minorities.
    Disney Channel Rewind Scholarship
    If I had to create a crossover episode featuring Disney Channel shows, I would choose Jessie and K.C. Undercover. The episode will be divided into two parts. Part 1 would start on K.C. Undercover, and Part 2 would be on Jessie. The episode begins at Cooper's house when the family receives a call from headquarters about a mysterious group that is stealing from random people's penthouses in New York City. The Coopers are put in charge because they are the best undercover spies who can solve the mystery and catch the thieves. The Coopers head to New York City while K.C.'s best friend Marissa stays behind to housesit. The Coopers stay in the penthouse where the thief's actions occur. The penthouse is also where Jessie and the Ross kids live. At night, while everyone is sleeping, the Coopers do their undercover work and enter Jessie's penthouse. K.C. finds the jewels stolen by the thieves inside Jessie's penthouse Jessie is awoken and frightened because strangers are in her house and she starts to freak. K.C. starts to question her and Jessie is taken aback by K.C.'s accusations, and tries to explain that she's just a nanny living in the penthouse. K.C. doesn't believe her and decides to call the headquarters because she thought she found the thieves. The people at Headquarters arrive at Jessie's house and start investigating them. Turns out that K.C.'s assumptions were wrong and Jessie was not the thief, but how did the jewels get there? Jessie and K.C. team up to find out who framed Jessie. Part 2: On Jessie As we transition into Jessie, we get a recap of what happened in K.C. Undercover, and it starts with Jessie agreeing to work together alongside K.C. to clear her name since she was framed. They find a hidden door in the penthouse during the investigation that leads to a hidden room where the thieves have been hiding. K.C. figured that the thieves knew that the Coopers were catching on so they decided to frame Jessie to throw the Coopers off. They find a hidden door in the penthouse during the investigation that leads to a hidden room where the thieves have been hiding. When they face the thieves, they find that they are a group of skilled criminals who have been conducting their heists using advanced technology. K.C. goes to confront them, and Jessie stays behind because she's scared that the Ross kids will end up in the crossfire between them. K.C. thought about that, and Jessie and she devised a plan that wouldn't include the kids. The kids overheard their conversation and decided to help out. They wanted to confront the thieves to make K.C. and Jessie proud, but it failed miserably, Luke got caught and chained up to a wall along with Zuri and Emma. Ravi and Mr.Kipling ended up in a cage. Jessie goes to pick up the kids after school only to realize that they never ended up going to school. She asked Bertram where the kids were. Bertram explains that he overheard the kids talking about a secret door and thieves but he assumed they were just playing around. Jessie tells the Coopers about this and they go and confront the thieves. K.C. and her family use all their gadgets and defeat the thieves and rescue the Ross kids. Jessica later thanks the Coopers for saving the kids, and she invites them for dinner in her penthouse. In the end, the Coopers return home, and Jessie and the Ross kids continue living their lives.
    Paschal Security Systems Criminal Justice Scholarship
    My name is Stephanie, and I'm a first-generation college student who wants to major in forensic science. I've been applying for scholarships, and I am currently in an internship program called Road to Hire that supports me with my college applications, including the FAFSA, RDS, and other forms. My objective is to enroll in college and earn a B.S. in chemistry or forensics after graduating.   Since I was a little child, my mother and I have been watching all varieties of true crime shows, like Forensic Files, Criminal Minds, Unsolved Crimes, etc. She used to say, "It's like a puzzle; you have all the pieces; you just have to put it together." My motivation to pursue this job and work as a forensic scientist or FBI agent is inspired by my mother's passion for true crime.       Through my work in criminal justice, I aim to have a positive impact on the world. I will do this by solving crimes and bringing down the crime rate so that citizens can feel comfortable in their homes. I am aware that crime rates are increasing globally and that citizens of many places feel threatened and frightened in their homes. I would love to change that so everyone can feel safe and sound in their own home.      My initial goal is to obtain a job. I am aware that I need to gain knowledge and experience in this field, so up to this point, I have been active in my community and have completed an internship with Mecklenburg County, my home county. I completed an internship with Pre-trial Services, which worked with people who were charged but proved innocent. The program's objective was to get these individuals out of custody and help them reintegrate into society. I was able to learn more about the workforce and the history of my county's criminal justice system because of this.       Working with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), the police department in my home city, was another activity I did to expand my knowledge and expertise. I was able to learn about the job of a police officer and gain experience with some of their strategies while attending their Latino Police Academy. I currently attend the CMPD Explores program, which enables me to collect volunteer hours, interact with the local community, and learn more about the duties of a police officer. I also attended George Mason University as part of an Envision Program to study law and CSI. Attending the summer class greatly helped my understanding of crime scenes and legal procedures. Overall, my main goal is to help the community by reducing crime rates and providing for their needs. I've always had a passion for criminal justice and want to pursue a career in it. I want to work in CSI or as an FBI agent. Throughout my work in criminal justice, I believe I can have a significant impact on society and help to create a better world.