In the wise words of Coretta Scott King, she once said: “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” My desire to pursue a career in the field of Forensics stems from a lifelong commitment to helping others and creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and capable. That sense of responsibility shaped my passion for service and continues to guide the impact I hope to make in the Forensic Field. My biggest life goal is to become a Forensic Pathologist. I'm drawn to this field not just because of the science, but because of the impact it has on families who are facing unimaginable loss. In today's world, there are constant stories of deaths, missing persons, and unsolved cases going on. Becoming a forensic pathologist would give me the chance to be able to provide clarity and closure to families who need answers. I want to be someone who helps bring truth to situations where people feel confused, scared, or forgotten. My passion for this work began when I took my first forensic class in high school. From the hands-on lessons working with blood spatter and hair analysis to watching documentaries about real cases, I found myself completely engaged. Seeing how forensic professionals used evidence to move cases forward showed me how essential their work is. Even watching Forensic Files made me realize how powerful it is when a case is solved, and a family secures the closure they have been waiting for. Embarking on this career path, I envision my education as the foundational first steps on my journey. I intend to purposely gather every ounce of knowledge necessary for my success, starting with obtaining my bachelor's degree and afterwards pursuing medical school. This continues to allow me to delve deeper into the intricacies of the field. I believe that hands-on experience is crucial; it's through practical application that I will truly hone my skills and deepen my understanding of the knowledge I acquire. I am a freshman at Western Kentucky University majoring in Criminology. My goals are to create safe spaces and communities, and to become a person who brings light even when it's dark. I'm determined to be a part of that process. I want to help families understand what happened to their family member and not be left in the dark, giving them the answers they deserve. This career would allow me to serve communities in a meaningful way. Forensics also mixes in my love for mystery. I love being able to put together pieces of a puzzle to find the whole picture; being in this field gives me the chance to work and love my job. With scholarship support, I can focus on my studies, reduce the financial stress of college, and stay committed to reaching my goal. Becoming a forensic pathologist isn’t just a career choice for me; it's the future I'm determined to build. I am committed to growing, learning, and making a positive impact, and I hope you will consider supporting me on this important journey.

My journey has been shaped by the help of my mentors who believed in me, communities who trusted youth to help them, and experiences that taught me exactly how powerful my voice and actions are. I want to continue to be there for others; this scholarship would help me stay focused on the future I am determined to build. My academic accomplishments weren't always the best, and I didn't start with the confidence I have today. For the longest time, I chose the easiest classes because I didn't think I belonged in anything more challenging. I assumed the more advanced classes were for the students who naturally had the gift of being smart and were confident in themselves. I never thought about me fitting into those classes, but at the end of the year, he urged me to take higher-level math classes, reminding me that I was smart and hardworking enough to take those elevated courses. He pointed out I was always asking questions and pushing through units I didn’t grasp well, making me realize that I could build that smartness and confidence I saw in the other kids. That gave me the courage to apply to those Advanced, AP, and Dual Credit classes I’d never thought about taking, and each one helped me build the confidence I once thought I lacked. I learned that intelligence and confidence are not traits you are born with; they are skills you develop through persistence and courage. That support didn’t just stop with schoolwork; it expanded into clubs. I limited myself to one, but he encouraged me to get more involved. He wanted me to experience leadership, community, and the feeling of belonging to something bigger than myself. This led me to being chosen for a leadership role in Black Student Union (BSU), giving me that experience for three years. BSU gave me a space to grow as a leader, support students of color, and create a place where people felt seen and valued. It also gave me the chance to help my underclassmen encourage themselves, as my teacher did for me. We organized cultural events, ran clothes drives for homeless shelters, and built a strong team that cared. Leading BSU taught me how to communicate, plan, collaborate, and advocate. I wanted to build on that; I joined new organizations that helped me find my voice and meet people who shared my goals. This later led me to join a non-profit organization that raises money for minority non-profits and plans a large community event created to honor Breonna Taylor. On top of being a student, I was a part of my track team for 3 years as well. Track taught me how to balance responsibilities, manage my time, and maintain discipline. It gave me a physical outlet during stressful times and made me stay grounded while juggling school, academics, clubs, nonprofit work, and athletics. It opened my eyes to how youth leadership can create real change and how collective actions can strengthen communities. Even with all of my responsibilities after and during school, connected with the nonprofit. Working in a restaurant for four years also played a major role in shaping my work ethic and sense of responsibility. Starting at a young age, learned how to handle fast-paced environments and communicate with customers and work as part of a team under pressure. Restaurant work taught me patience, professionalism, and how to stay calm even when situations become stressful or demanding. Balancing long shifts with school, clubs, and athletics pushed me to develop strong time management skills and a level of discipline that has carried into every part of my life. Now, as a freshman at Western Kentucky University majoring in Criminology, I carry all of these lessons with me. My goals are to create safe spaces, support communities, and become someone who brings light even in dark situations. Becoming a Forensic Pathologist would allow me to provide clarity and closure to families who need them. Helping people feel seen and cared for is something I strive for, and it motivates me to work hard academically and personally. I believe I am a strong candidate for this scholarship because of my passion for helping others and the effort I put into everything I have accomplished academically, personally, and within my community. This scholarship would help me continue my education, reduce financial stress, and stay focused on becoming a Forensic Pathologist, a career that will allow me to serve families and communities in meaningful ways. I am committed to growing, learning, and making a positive impact, and I hope you will consider supporting me on this important journey.

Submitted via a video link

In the wise words of Coretta Scott King, she once said “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” My desire to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector comes from a lifelong commitment to helping others and creating spaces where people feel seen, supported and capable. I learned early that leadership is not about titles it's about stepping up, staying grounded and making sure people don't feel alone. That sense of responsibility shaped my passion for service and continues to guide the impact I hope to make in the nonprofit world. My involvement in organizations like Black Student Union, and Future Ancestors showed me how powerful community driven can be. Planning clothes drives for homeless shelters, organizing cultural events, and creating safe spaces that taught me that change isn't always huge and dramatic action, but small and consistent efforts. That type of work makes me passionate about helping others, while also continuing to grow. Every organization and club I surround myself with connects back to those two big things. Being a part of Future Ancestors gave me the opportunity to have both of my passions in one area. Through this group, I was able to support my community by being able to raise money for non-profit organizations and helping put on a large event accessible for everyone. Contributing to something that directly impacts people motivates me and keeps me passionate about the work I'm a part of. Future Ancestors also gave me the ability to grow skills like communication, public speaking, lead meetings and ask important questions. All of those skills are foundations for how I show up in other spaces, especially Black Student Union. Using what I learned, I helped make BSU a more welcoming and safer place for students. Our membership grew because we built a strong, intentional, student-led team that cared about the community. Helping others and continuing to personally grow is what drives me. I also hope to connect my nonprofit work with my long-term goals in criminology and forensic investigation. working in the nonprofit sector would allow me to address these problems before they become a crisis. I want to help build programs that support youth, provide resources for families and make opportunities for people who need them. Ultimately, I want my work to make people feel empowered and seen. I want to help communities recognize their own strength and potential. Whether it's from organizing a community event, supporting youth programs or advocating for resources. My goal is to create environments where people feel safe, valued and seen building better futures.