Who am I? One would assume that Sydney Heidelberg is a white girl with a German last name. However, that is not the case. I am comical, an avid reader, violinist, inquisitive scholar, and a descendant of a small rural town in Mississippi named Heidelberg after former slave owners with a passion for science. Prior to moving to Seattle, my bedroom had been a laboratory: filled with scientific books, magnifying glass, a microscope and chemistry kits. Whether I was locating the Big and Little Dipper in the night, watching my butterfly eggs go through metamorphosis and releasing them every spring, learning about the seed coat and embryo of my lima bean experiment in the kitchen, collecting an assortment of rocks, or dissecting an octopus at 5th grade summer camp, science excites me. I have always had a fascination with science centered around an inquisitive mindset. Biology gives me a way to ask: How are organisms wired to adapt? I can inquire if the enzyme amylase inhibits the effects of coffee on protein digestion. Thursday afternoons were my favorite time of the week when Biology Club took place Scalpel. Dissecting scissors. Forceps. Rubber bands. Pins. Each item was meticulously placed on the silver tray. There was the sound of rubber gloves slapping against my skin as I prepared myself for another day of dissection. Although it was a bittersweet thing to undertake, I still smiled in excitement as I walked through the door, eager to unlock the mysteries of the animal cadaver. Wilbur was a 110-day old fetal pig I had named after my favorite childhood character from Charlotte’s Web. I was tasked to examine his organs and internal structures. As I followed Mrs. VonBargen’s instructions, I fell into the familiar focus I get when diving into a hands-on project. Whether building do-it-yourself storage space out of cardboard or taking apart a stalling fan to repair, I have always enjoyed crafting and restoring things with my hands. What I enjoyed the most about dissecting Wilbur was more than locating where the liver or the heart was. It was about how I connect the dots in my IB Biology class. I would inquire: Why is there green fecal matter in a fetal pig’s rectum? How is the cecum larger in a pig than a human? These were unknown questions I was determined to solve, and I did. Like the scalpel that rested in my hands, I am ready to cut through the surface and uncover profound insights as a future biology major on a premed track. This scholarship will support my efforts and when the time permits, I too will pay it forward for a student interested in science.

My career aspirations may evolve over time; however, I envision a career as a cardiologist. The field of cardiology fascinates me because of its complexity and the role the heart has in keeping the body alive. I am eager to contribute to advancements in cardiovascular medicine through research which I am currently doing with a mentor and volunteering at Snoqualmie Valley Hospital. Heart disease runs in my family, and this propels me to learn more. Participating in the monthly Doctor for a Day program through the University of Washington solidifies my desire to become a doctor while collaborating and shadowing with healthcare professionals at Harborview Medical Center. I have enjoyed using microscopes, studying cell biology, and dissecting frogs, pigs, squid, and sheep brains in my IB Biology class this academic year. I hope to gain collegial relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives while connecting with professors in my dream university on a pre-med track. The firsthand experience in college labs and research will allow me to deepen my understanding of how the body works. College offers the opportunity to engage in student-led activities and community involvement while discovering my own identity. My goal is to major in biology and pursue a minor in Chinese language and string performance. This scholarship will support my efforts as a continuous learner, further my journey of biological discovery in college, and make an impact on medicine within my community. My cultural identity informs my views when it comes to healthcare and propels my desire to be a physician. If given the opportunity to earn this distinguished award, I would use the proceeds to assist with my tuition at my dream school. My goal is to complete my undergraduate degree and continue my volunteering and shadowing efforts while in college. As a member of the United Negro College Fund student project portfolio and Doctor for A Day in Seattle for marginalized scholars, I will share my story as an alumna and inspire them that dreams can come true. Recently I experienced the dismissal of concerns due to my skin color by a white male dermatologist. This doctor took a flashlight out to look at my hands and stated he needed light to see my skin which was embarrassing and stated his experiences working with melanin people is limited. Unfortunately, there are no black dermatologists in Washington state. If patients see someone who looks like them, perhaps they would feel more comfortable and trusting to seek early medical assistance. Health care systems need more people of color, so patients feel like their concerns are valid and heard. I plan to be an active listener and hear patients' concerns. This bright light scholarship would literally uplift my world and reframe my thoughts as I search for another dermatologist. As a cardiologist, I plan to play my violin as a form of music therapy to patients to decrease anxiety. Like Ella Fitzgerald once sang, “Brighten the Corner Where You Are,” is what I aspire to do as a physician. Furthermore, I will advocate for people to become organ donors so perhaps grandmothers of color like mine would still be alive. Furthermore, when the time comes to pay it forward, I will invest in others by providing a scholarship in her name, Marian Yvonne Mozell.

My career aspirations may evolve over time; however, I envision a career as a cardiologist. The complexity of the heart fascinates me. I am eager to contribute to advancements in cardiovascular medicine through research I am currently doing with a mentor and volunteering at Snoqualmie Valley Hospital. Heart disease runs in my family, and this propels me to learn more. Participating in the monthly Doctor for a Day program through the University of Washington solidifies my desire to become a doctor while collaborating and shadowing with healthcare professionals at Harborview Medical Center. I have enjoyed using microscopes, studying cell biology, and dissecting frogs, pigs, squid, and sheep brains in my IB Biology class this academic year. My goal is to major in biology and pursue a minor in Chinese language. This KC Med Bridge scholarship will support my laboratory fees and cover the costs of textbooks. The firsthand experience in college labs and research will allow me to deepen my understanding of how the body works. College offers the opportunity to engage in student-led activities and community involvement while discovering my own identity. I hope to gain collegial relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives while connecting with professors in my dream university on a pre-med track. Furthermore, I will advocate for people becoming organ donors so grandmothers like mine would still be alive and when the time comes to pay forward. I will invest in others by providing a scholarship in her name, Marian Mozell.

Who am I? One would assume that Sydney Yvonne Heidelberg is a white, blonde, blue eyed girl with a German last name. However, that is not the case. I am from the deep south who migrated with my family to Washington state in 2018 and puts an effort to excel academically within an environment disproportionate to my ethnicity while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. When my parents decided to have a child in their latter years, they discussed the importance of biases regarding names of African American children. My parents researched names that would harness the spirit of Heidelberg and decided on Sydney. I am fortunate to have my maternal grandmother's middle name. My mother tells me that my name is a place of origin, and I am going somewhere. I am comical, an avid reader, violinist, inquisitive scholar, and a descendent of a rural town in Mississippi named Heidelberg after former slave owners. I am a pastry chef who loves to read recipes, guinea pig mom, violinist, and a book worm who aspires to be a cardiologist. I enjoy reading cookbooks and creating dishes to make individual’s mouths salivate. Everywhere I go, you will notice I always have a book in my hands. My favorite genres are Historical Fiction, Historical Non-Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Mythology, Literary Fiction, Manga, and now Poetry has arrested my attention. Since I plan to become a physician, I am currently reading Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington that reveals the abuse of medical experimentation on African Americans who were willing or unwilling subjects. How do I acquire all these reading materials? My mother is the advocate. She has made the most significant impact in my life by instilling a love of reading. Mother has placed my feet on a path of knowledge since birth by ensuring I learned how to read at an early age and by making sure I had a library card. My bedroom has always been filled with books. Often my mother would say, “I will go broke for you by buying a book.” My most vivid memories in elementary school would encompass a Friday trip to Barnes and Noble. I would curl up with a good book and enjoy delicious treats at Starbucks. Sometimes mom would purchase a book if funds were available and if not, I would finish the book the subsequent week at the bookstore or check out the book at our local library. My cultural identity informs my views when it comes to healthcare and propels my desire to be a physician. If given the opportunity to earn this distinguished award, I would use the proceeds to assist with my tuition at my dream school. My goal is to complete my undergraduate degree and continue my volunteering and shadowing efforts while in college. As a member of the United Negro College Fund student project portfolio and Doctor for A Day in Seattle for marginalized scholars, I will share my story as an alumna and inspire them that dreams can come true. Recently I experienced the dismissal of concerns due to my skin color by a white male dermatologist. This doctor took a flashlight out to look at my hands and stated he needed light to see my skin which was embarrassing and stated his experiences working with melanin people is limited. Unfortunately, there are no black dermatologists in Washington state. If patients see someone who looks like them, perhaps they would feel more comfortable and trusting to seek early medical assistance. Health care systems need more people of color, so patients feel like their concerns are valid and heard. I plan to be an active listener and hear patients' concerns. The Eric W. Larson Memorial Scholarship would literally uplift my world and reframe my thoughts as I search for another dermatologist. My career aspirations may evolve over time; however, I envision a career as a cardiologist. The field of cardiology fascinates me because of its complexity and the role the heart has in keeping the body alive. I am eager to contribute to advancements in cardiovascular medicine through research which I am currently doing with a mentor and volunteering at Snoqualmie Valley Hospital. Heart disease runs in my family, and this propels me to learn more. Participating in the monthly Doctor for a Day program through the University of Washington solidifies my desire to become a doctor while collaborating and shadowing with healthcare professionals at Harborview Medical Center. I have enjoyed using microscopes, studying cell biology, and dissecting frogs, pigs, squid, and sheep brains in my IB Biology class this academic year. I hope to gain collegial relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives while connecting with professors in my dream university on a pre-med track. The firsthand experience in college labs and research will allow me to deepen my understanding of how the body works. College offers the opportunity to engage in student-led activities and community involvement while discovering my own identity. My goal is to major in biology and pursue a minor in Chinese language and string performance. I need this financial scholarship like I need air to breathe to accomplish my college goals in becoming a doctor. This scholarship will support my efforts as a continuous learner, further my journey of biological discovery in college, and make an impact on medicine within my community. I know it will be challenging to become a cardiologist as a Black female in a dominated world of white male doctors when the percentage of Black physicians is around 5.7%. I plan to play my violin as a form of music therapy to patients to decrease anxiety. Like Ella Fitzgerald once sang, “Brighten the Corner Where You Are,” is what I aspire to do. Furthermore, I will advocate for people to become organ donors so perhaps grandmothers of color like mine would still be alive and when the time comes to pay it forward. I will invest in others by providing a scholarship in her name, Marian Yvonne Mozell.

My career aspirations may evolve over time; however, I envision a career as a cardiologist. The field of cardiology fascinates me because of its complexity and the role the heart has in keeping the body alive. I am eager to contribute to advancements in cardiovascular medicine through research which I am currently doing with a mentor and volunteering at Snoqualmie Valley Hospital. Heart disease runs in my family, and this propels me to learn more. Participating in the monthly Doctor for a Day program through the University of Washington solidifies my desire to become a doctor while collaborating and shadowing with healthcare professionals at Harborview Medical Center in the neurology department. I have enjoyed using microscopes, studying cell biology, and dissecting frogs, pigs, squid, and sheep brains in my IB Biology class this academic year. I hope to gain collegial relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives while connecting with professors in my dream university on a pre-med track. The firsthand experience in college labs and research will allow me to deepen my understanding of how the body works. College offers the opportunity to engage in student-led activities and community involvement while discovering my own identity. My goal is to major in biology and pursue a minor in Chinese language and string performance. This scholarship will support my efforts as a continuous learner, further my journey of biological discovery in college, and make an impact on medicine within my community. My cultural identity informs my views when it comes to healthcare and propels my desire to be a physician. If given the opportunity to earn this distinguished award, I would use the proceeds to assist with my tuition at my dream school. My goal is to complete my undergraduate degree and continue my volunteering and shadowing efforts while in college. As a member of the United Negro College Fund student project portfolio and Doctor for A Day in Seattle for marginalized scholars, I will share my story as an alumna and inspire them that dreams can come true. Recently I experienced the dismissal of concerns due to my skin color by a white male dermatologist. This doctor took a flashlight out to look at my hands and stated he needed light to see my skin which was embarrassing and stated his experiences working with melanin people is limited. Unfortunately, there are no black dermatologists in Washington state. If patients see someone who looks like them, perhaps they would feel more comfortable and trusting to seek early medical assistance. Health care systems need more people of color, so patients feel like their concerns are valid and heard. I plan to be an active listener and hear patients' concerns. This Zachary Scheppat Memorial Scholarship would literally uplift my world and reframe my thoughts as I search for another dermatologist. As a cardiologist, I plan to play my violin as a form of music therapy to patients to decrease anxiety. Like Ella Fitzgerald once sang, “Brighten the Corner Where You Are,” is what I aspire to do as a physician. Furthermore, I will advocate for people to become organ donors so perhaps grandmothers of color like mine would still be alive and when the time comes to pay it forward, I will invest in others by providing a scholarship in her name.