I was born and raised on the lower Kenai Peninsula, a place where the rivers cut through thick spruce forests. Winter nights stretch endlessly while offering a snowscape that not too many get to see, let alone ride for miles on a snowmachine. Growing up here shaped me in ways that go far beyond geography—it taught me resilience, independence, and the value of community. From the time I could run, I was chasing something—whether it was a ball, a puck, the salmon runs, or simply the last hours of daylight. Sports became my language. Hockey on frozen lakes, wrestling in cramped gyms, football under extreme weather conditions, extensive travel to villages during basketball in the long winters, the start of baseball when there was snow on fields for opening day, or the sun stayed high in the sky without the need for field lights. I didn’t just play one sport; I played them all, because in a place like this, competition is not just about winning but about testing yourself against the elements. It is traveling with your crew, testing your mental and physical limits, and beating the odds. Traveling across Alaska for games and tournaments meant more than just road trips—it meant crossing mountains, ferries, and sometimes frozen runways. I have seen villages where the entire community gathers to cheer on their team, and cities where the pace of life feels like the storybooks from grade school. Each journey reminded me of how vast and diverse Alaska is, and how fortunate I am to call one corner of it home. But my story isn’t only about sports. It’s also about giving back. Volunteering at the local community center taught me that success is shared. I remember, from the age of eight, riding my bike or walking from school to meet at the community center, where I would be put to the task of whatever the latest need was. Whether laying weed mats and setting irrigation lines for the local gardens, or helping move donations for the outreach center, I learned that leadership comes from doing alongside what you are asking others to do. When there is work to do, it comes from showing up for others. One of my proudest moments was bringing home the 2024 football state championship with my team. It wasn’t just about the trophy—it was about proving what a group of kids from a small town could do when they worked relentlessly for each other. That win carried the pride of an entire community, and I carry that pride with me still. My background is more than rural roots, more than sports statistics, more than the long Alaskan winters. It’s about growing up in a place where challenges build character, where community means survival, and where perseverance defines who you are. My identity is inseparable from this land, this community, and the lessons I’ve learned both on and off the field. Without sharing this part of me, my application would be incomplete—because this is not just where I come from, it’s who I am.

I was sitting in a dugout, 100 miles north of Anchorage Alaska, getting ready to take the field for the Region Championship game when the notification for this scholarship dinged. My coach yelled; ”Burns put that phone away and get your head in the game! We’re going to need you to pitch today!” The truth is , I had my phone out to make absolutely sure my parents knew exactly how to get here.This is my senior year and last baseball games of my high school career. We are paired up against our arch rival and one more chance to trump these chumps. We have pitched out our best pitcher, to get this far, and I am happy to take the mound. Nothing is better than being given this opportunity to play a major role in a clutch situation. OK, they are actually a pretty stacked team, the number one seed here, and we have battled and lost to them twice this year! My dad has always said; “You just have to catch them this one time CJ” … or “Rise to the occasion, competition only makes you stronger!” Baseball in rural Alaska is different. The season starts when the fields thaw and end when all the kids and coaches have to take off and go fishing. My dad was my first coach and he taught me to love the game. He coached me and my friends all the way through Little League. These were great times and we all had a blast. Every season he talked my mom into doing the book, learning all the rules, and even backing him up when he argued calls. She shagged balls when we were short players and always had plenty of good food around. I have loved baseball because it is the sport that brought my friends and so many other kids into my family. You can play the game with any number of players and in just about any open space. This offered every kid the opportunity to jump in and take a “swing” at a summer of fun. I would be extremely honored to be considered for the Brett Brackel Memorial Scholarship. The award would also honor my grandfather, Michael Burns, who was an outstanding player for Mississippi State. He passed the passion on to my father snd I hope to do the same with my kids. This scholarship is a tribute to a great man and I will honor him in my collegiate endeavors snd education. Thank for your consideration given to this application. Warm Regards Steven (CJ) Burns

I was born and raised on the Lower Kenai Peninsula, where spruce forests meet winding rivers and winter nights stretch into the late morning. Moose walk through my yard, sandhill cranes return every spring, and snowmachine trails run for miles across landscapes most people never see. Growing up here shaped me in ways that go far beyond scenery. Alaska taught me resilience, independence, and the value of community—and those lessons are what guide my career goals today. From the time I could run, I was always chasing something: a ball, a puck, the salmon runs, or the last minutes of daylight. Sports became the way I understood the world. Hockey on frozen lakes, wrestling in cramped gyms, football in harsh weather, basketball in remote villages, and baseball on snowy fields taught me discipline, grit, and teamwork. Traveling for games meant crossing mountains, boarding ferries, or waiting on frozen runways. These experiences didn’t just show me Alaska—they taught me how to handle adversity, care for a team, and to lead. Growing up here also means being connected to the community in a hands-on way. Volunteering at our local community center from the time I was eight shaped my understanding of what it means to contribute. I’d bike or walk there after school and do whatever job was needed: laying weed mats for the garden, setting irrigation lines, hauling donations for the outreach center. I learned that leadership isn’t about telling others what to do—it’s about standing shoulder-to-shoulder and doing the work with them. One of my proudest moments came when our football team brought home the 2024 state championship. That victory wasn’t just a trophy; it was proof of what a group of kids from a small town can accomplish when they work relentlessly for each other. We carried the pride of an entire community, and I still carry that with me today. These experiences have guided my choice of career path. I plan on becoming an academic athlete and plan to pursue finance, aviation, and business management. This will allow me to combine the problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience I’ve built with a future that serves others. I’m passionate about this path because it feels like a natural extension of what Alaska has taught me: to be resourceful, to work with purpose, and to contribute to something larger than myself. Throughout high school, I’ve learned to live by the motto: “Seek depth, not just distance.” This became important during a time when I was stretched too thin with classes, sports, volunteering, and work. I realized that moving fast wasn’t the same as truly learning or growing. So I chose to focus deeply on what mattered most—asking better questions in class, committing fully to the sports that shaped me, and building real relationships instead of collecting acquaintances. I don’t want to go through college or trade school just checking off requirements; I want to engage deeply, understand fully, and develop skills that will make a difference. Paying it forward is central to why I’m pursuing this path. Holden William Bettis is remembered for his ambition, heart, and commitment to others, and I want my life to reflect those same values. My goal is to return to Alaska—either full-time or seasonally—and use my skills to support rural communities like the one that raised me. In the end, my identity is inseparable from Alaska—its people, its challenges, and its beauty. This isn’t just where I come from; it’s who I am. And it’s why I’m committed to a future built on hard work, meaningful purpose, and giving back to the community that shaped me