As a mother of three young children and a full-time Electrical Engineering student at the University of Michigan, I am pursuing a mission that blends personal responsibility with a broader vision for change. I want to use radar and wireless technologies to protect vulnerable populations—particularly women and children—in public spaces, so they can move through the world with a greater sense of safety and freedom. Women face constant calculations about their safety in everyday situations—walking alone at night, commuting, or entering unfamiliar places. My goal is to design systems that transform safety from a reactive response into a proactive shield. I envision technologies that can detect threats early, locate missing individuals, and send real-time alerts to prevent harm. Whether it’s public transit hubs equipped with discreet detection systems or wearable devices that instantly notify trusted contacts, I want to integrate engineering solutions into daily life so safety becomes the standard, not the exception. I am also deeply aware that women are vastly underrepresented in my field. In many classrooms and labs, I am one of the few women present. That reality motivates me to excel not only for my own career but also to serve as an example for other women who may be considering STEM fields. Representation matters—it shifts expectations, opens doors, and proves that innovation thrives when diverse perspectives are included from the start. Balancing this ambition with motherhood requires precision and persistence. My mornings start early to prepare my children for the day, my afternoons are spent in lectures or labs, and my nights are often dedicated to homework after bedtime routines are done. This balancing act strengthens my determination, reminding me daily why safe communities matter and why women’s voices must be central in shaping our shared future. This scholarship would not only ease the financial pressures of pursuing my degree while raising a family, but it would also affirm that my work matters—both the technical innovations I aim to create and the example I hope to set. The changes I want to bring are personal and systemic: personal in the sense that they will protect individuals in moments of vulnerability, and systemic in that they will help redefine the role of women in engineering. My children deserve a world where safety is not a privilege and seeing women lead in technology is normal. By combining my education, my life experience, and my commitment to innovation, I intend to help create that world—one design, one system, and one breakthrough at a time.

Before I was old enough to drive, I already knew how to manage a household, take care of myself, and keep going when things felt impossible. I was raised by a single parent who showed me that persistence could carry you through any circumstance. Now, as a mother of three young children and a full-time Electrical Engineering student at the University of Michigan, I’m carrying that same resilience forward—proving to my kids, and to myself, that challenges don’t have to limit your dreams. Balancing parenting and engineering school is not a side story to my education—it’s the defining feature of it. My mornings start before sunrise to prepare my kids for the day. By the time I reach class, I’ve already handled a dozen responsibilities that demand focus, patience, and problem-solving—skills that serve me just as much in the lab as they do at home. When the day ends for most people, mine shifts into homework, dinner, and bedtime routines before I open my laptop again to study into the night. I am pursuing my degree with a specific mission: to use radar and other wireless technologies to design safety systems that protect vulnerable populations, especially children and women. These tools could help prevent harm, locate missing individuals, and strengthen community safety—goals rooted in my own experience of knowing what it means to feel unprotected. This is not just a career path for me; it’s a way to turn my education into something that could save lives. Being both a student and a parent forces me to operate with precision. I’ve learned to prioritize what matters most, make the most of limited resources, and keep moving forward when the easier option would be to stop. These are not abstract values—they’re daily habits shaped by necessity, sharpened by ambition, and sustained by the knowledge that my children are watching me. This scholarship would provide more than financial relief—it would be an investment in someone who is determined to multiply the impact. My education will change my family’s trajectory, but the technology I aim to create has the potential to protect others far beyond my own home. I grew up watching one strong parent keep going for me. Now my children are watching me do the same for them. That legacy of resilience and purpose is the foundation of my life, my education, and the future I’m building. I am deeply grateful for every opportunity to build this future.

Resilience has been the constant thread through every chapter of my life. As a full-time Electrical Engineering student at the University of Michigan and a mother of three young children, I balance early mornings filled with coursework, afternoons of caregiving, and late nights of studying. My life may not follow the traditional path of a student, but I believe the unconventional road has given me a deeper strength, sharper focus, and a powerful reason to succeed. I want my children to see that perseverance, kindness, and self-belief can transform challenges into opportunities. I know firsthand how limited access to resources and opportunities can shape a person’s future. This is why my career ambitions extend far beyond personal success. My goal is to work with radar and other wireless technologies to develop safety solutions that protect the most vulnerable members of society—particularly children and women. These could include systems to help locate missing individuals, detect and deter potential threats, and provide real-time safety alerts. Technology has the power to save lives, and I am committed to using my education and skills to ensure it does. This journey has not been without sacrifice. Balancing tuition costs, childcare expenses, and living necessities means that every dollar is stretched and every decision carefully weighed. I have learned to be resourceful—managing my time with precision, setting clear priorities, and remaining disciplined even on days when exhaustion tempts me to stop. Yet no matter the obstacle, my determination to graduate remains unshaken. I want my children to know that their mother never gave up, and that they, too, can persist in the face of adversity. The values at the heart of the Doc & Glo legacy—resilience, kindness, and self-belief—mirror my own. Resilience, for me, is waking up each day ready to take another step toward my goals, no matter how steep the climb. Kindness means showing compassion to others who are navigating their own challenges, as well as giving myself grace when I fall short. Self-belief is holding onto my vision for the future even when the present feels uncertain. These values are not abstract ideals; they are guiding principles that I live out daily. Receiving the Doc & Glo Scholarship would mean more than financial support—it would be an affirmation that the work I am doing, both in the classroom and in my home, matters. It would allow me to focus more on my studies and less on the constant balancing act of finances, enabling me to push forward in developing the skills and knowledge that will allow me to make a meaningful impact in the field of safety technology. I imagine a future where my designs contribute to a world in which parents have greater peace of mind, communities are more secure, and children and women are safer because of the tools we’ve built. My education is the first step toward that future. With this scholarship, I will be able to take that step with more stability and confidence, knowing that I am not walking this path alone. The legacy of Doc & Glo is one of courage, compassion, and commitment to making a difference. If given the honor of being selected, I will carry that legacy forward, dedicating my work to protecting those who need it most, and inspiring others—especially my children—to believe that they, too, can create change.

I am a mother of three young children and a full-time electrical engineering student at the University of Michigan. Going back to school while raising a family has been one of the hardest and most meaningful choices I’ve made. Each day, I’m motivated by a desire to build a better life for my children and use my education to help protect vulnerable children in our communities. Being a student-parent comes with many sacrifices, and the financial burden is one of the heaviest. Between tuition, rent, and childcare, there are times when I feel stretched beyond my limits. I don’t have extra income or family support to fall back on, and every dollar is carefully planned. Some weeks, even small expenses become obstacles. Still, I remain committed because I know what’s at stake—not just my future, but my children’s too. This scholarship would ease a burden I carry daily. It would provide stability for my family and allow me to fully focus on my education. It would also help me take advantage of academic opportunities that I currently have to pass up because of financial constraints. I want to be fully present in my classes and gain the knowledge I need to make a real difference—not just to earn a degree, but to create meaningful impact. This kind of support makes a real difference. Last semester, I earned a place on the Engineering Dean’s List at the University of Michigan—while pregnant with my third child. That recognition wasn’t just a personal achievement; it was a reflection of what becomes possible when students like me are given the opportunity to succeed despite overwhelming odds. A scholarship like this helps make those possibilities real. It enables student-parents and other underrepresented students to stay enrolled, stay focused, and ultimately go on to make meaningful contributions in their communities and fields. My dream is to use engineering to improve safety and wellbeing for children. Whether it’s through developing better communication systems or creating protective technologies, I want my work to reflect my heart. I believe engineering can be more than technical—it can be deeply human. Being considered for this scholarship means more than words can express. Your support would help lighten the load I carry and encourage me to keep going even when it’s hard. It would remind me that I’m not alone in this journey—and that there are people who believe in students like me. Thank you so much for this opportunity and for investing in the futures of families like mine.

I am an Electrical Engineering student at the University of Michigan, a single mother of three—Roman, Tarek, and Merek—and a proud Native American woman. My goal as an engineer is simple but important: to design technology that keeps people safe. I’m focusing my studies on electromagnetic waves, wireless systems, and tracking technologies because I believe these areas can play a huge role in preventing accidents and saving lives. My decision to pursue engineering was shaped by two key experiences: being a mom and my work as an EMT. As a mother, I naturally think about safety, especially for children. But one call as an EMT changed the way I saw the role of technology in protecting people. We responded to a two-year-old drowning, and even though we worked as fast as we could, I couldn’t stop thinking about how quickly everything had happened. The family had only looked away for a moment. I kept asking myself what could have made a difference—an alert system, a wearable sensor, or even a simple tracking device that could have given them a warning in time. That call stayed with me, and it’s a big part of why I chose this field. I never want to forget what it felt like to wish there had been one more way to help. My favorite engineer is Nikola Tesla, not just because of his brilliance but because of how far ahead of his time he was in imagining wireless energy and communication. His work inspires me to think bigger about what’s possible with EM waves and signal transmission. The same principles that allow us to send information across the world instantly could also be used to create better safety systems—whether that’s real-time tracking for emergency response, early-warning alerts for dangerous situations, or connected devices that quietly protect families. Balancing full-time engineering studies with raising three kids isn’t easy, but it gives purpose to everything I’m learning. Every lecture on antennas, wave propagation, or wireless system design feels connected to the larger goal of using these skills for something meaningful. I hope to one day work on technologies that give parents peace of mind and help emergency services respond faster, especially in situations involving children. For me, engineering isn’t just about building new devices; it’s about solving real problems. My path may look different from others, but that perspective—coming from both motherhood and emergency medical work—pushes me to focus on practical solutions that can save lives. That’s the kind of engineer I’m working to become.

Some of my best memories growing up are from traveling to basketball tournaments with our tribal team. There was such excitement every time we packed up for a game—family, friends, and neighbors all coming together to cheer each other on. When we weren’t traveling, I spent hours playing basketball on the rez with friends and cousins, running from one house to another, stopping by my auntie’s or Nana’s for food, warming up leftovers, and then rushing back outside to play until it was too dark to see the hoop. Helping my auntie run her Indian taco truck at tournaments is another memory I carry with me. I didn’t think much of it as a kid, but looking back, those moments taught me what it meant to be part of a Native community. People laughed, shared meals, and supported one another, not just at games but in everyday life. That sense of belonging, of being connected to something bigger than yourself, is one of the greatest gifts of being Native, and it’s something I want my children to grow up knowing too. I have three sons—Roman, Tarek, and Merek—and raising them as proud tribal members is one of the most important responsibilities I have. I want them to feel the same love and connection I grew up with, to know that being Native means you are never just standing on your own—you carry the strength of your people with you. It’s not just about our family; it’s about honoring where we come from and helping keep that sense of community alive for the next generation. Even though I live away from home while I finish my degree in electrical engineering, I still feel that support. It’s in the encouragement I get from family and in the quiet reminder that my work now isn’t only for me. Some days are hard, especially as a single mom balancing school and parenting, but I think of my community and my children, and that keeps me going. I want them to see that education and opportunity are within reach for us, even in fields where we aren’t always represented. After I graduate, I hope to return and talk to students at home, something my auntie at the Boys and Girls Club has already offered to help with. I want to share what I’ve learned, not to stand out, but to remind others—especially Native girls—that they don’t have to choose between who they are and what they want to achieve. We can carry our culture with us wherever we go. What drives me most isn’t personal achievement but the hope that my children, and other Native kids, will grow up proud and confident in who they are. When I think of my own childhood—running between games, sharing food, laughing with family—that sense of warmth and connection is what I want for them. Everything I’m doing now is just one small way of honoring that and helping carry it forward.