Some people leave a legacy through awards or public achievements. Others, like Kalia D Davis, leave a legacy through the way they made people feel and the lives they lifted along the way. When I learned about who she was, her work ethic, her kindness, her leadership, it made me pause and think about the kind of person I want to become. I hope to live with that same sense of purpose, to show up for others the way she did, and to build a life that reflects excellence not only in accomplishments but in character. My name is Timothy Hamp the Second, and I am a senior at Saint Marys College High School in Berkeley, California. If there is one thing people notice about me, it is that I try to give my best in everything I do. I am driven in the classroom, on the soccer field, in music, and in the ways I serve others. I try to stay grounded and grateful because many people have invested in me, and I want to honor that by how I carry myself. Sports are a huge part of my identity. I have played varsity soccer for four years and was named All League Most Valuable Player as a sophomore. Soccer taught me how to keep working even when I am tired, how to stay calm under pressure, and how important it is to support your teammates. Some of my strongest memories are not from scoring goals but from encouraging a teammate or helping someone stay confident during a tough match. I believe Kalia understood that same spirit, because athletes learn early that attitude and effort matter just as much as talent. Academically, I challenge myself with Honors, Advanced Placement, and community college courses, and I maintain above a 3.6 GPA. Education has always been important in my family, and I try to approach it as an opportunity that can shape my future if I stay committed. A major part of my growth came from The Hidden Genius Project. I completed their eighteen-month immersion program where I learned coding, business fundamentals, financial literacy, and leadership. During the program, I created a business idea and later won best pitch in my track. What impacted me even more was the mentorship. Having adults who believed in me helped me believe in myself. That inspired me to return as a Youth Educator, where I now mentor younger boys who are learning technology and entrepreneurship. Seeing them succeed means a lot to me. I also give back through music. I play eight instruments and am the first chair tenor saxophone in the Saint Mary's Jazz Ensemble. At my former elementary school, I volunteer as a band assistant and help younger students learn their instruments. Watching a student smile when they understand something they struggled with reminds me why service matters. For my senior project, I created a podcast for teens focused on financial literacy and preparing for college. My internship with Play Black Wall Street showed me how important financial knowledge is, especially for youth who may not receive that information at home. I want to make it easier for students to understand money and feel confident about their future. This scholarship would help me pursue a business degree with a focus on entrepreneurship and social impact. It would ease financial pressure on my family and allow me to stay focused on school. This scholarship would keep living out the values that shaped Kalia D Davis life. To work hard, lift others, and build a legacy that makes people proud.

Cancer is something I knew about in theory, but it did not feel real until it touched my family. My grandmother passed away from stage four cancer, and I later learned she kept her illness a secret because she did not want me to worry or lose focus in school. Even while she was hurting, she continued to push me to stay disciplined and to use my gifts to help others. Her quiet strength and her deep belief in education changed the way I see my future and the kind of man I want to become. She always encouraged me to take advantage of opportunities, especially ones connected to leadership and learning. That motivation is what led me to join The Hidden Genius Project. I completed their 18-month immersion program where I learned coding, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and how to build solutions that matter. During the program, I created my own business platform and eventually won best pitch in my track. But the biggest gift was the mentorship. I was surrounded by people who saw potential in me before I fully saw it in myself. It reminded me of the way my grandmother believed in me, and it made me want to pour that same energy into others. After graduating from the program, I returned as a Youth Educator to mentor younger Black boys who were just beginning their journeys in technology and business. Some came in unsure of their abilities. Others struggled with confidence. I worked beside them, helped them solve problems, and encouraged them when they felt stuck. Watching them grow made me realize how powerful it is when someone takes the time to guide you. Mentorship became not just something I received, but something I wanted to give. I also mentor through music as a band assistant at my former K through eight school. Teaching younger students how to read music, practice with patience, and trust their sound helps me stay connected to the idea that growth happens when someone feels supported. This year I expanded my impact through my senior project, a podcast focused on financial literacy and college planning. My internship with Play Black Wall Street has shown me how financial knowledge and entrepreneurship can shape the path of a young person's life. I want students to have information that can steady their futures, especially if they come from low-income backgrounds like many families in my community. I earned my Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do just one month before my grandmother passed. Completing the five hundred acts of kindness required for it taught me discipline and service, lessons that became even more meaningful after losing her. Her battle with cancer and the strength she carried every day taught me that purpose matters more than struggle. My goal is to honor her legacy by building a career that expands mentorship, financial literacy, and opportunity for youth who need someone to believe in them. I want the work I do to reflect the love and guidance she gave me, and I hope to carry her spirit forward through the lives I uplift.

ne of the biggest issues I see among young people in my community is the feeling of being disconnected and overlooked. A lot of teens spend hours scrolling on their phones, trying to find confidence or direction from a screen. What many of them really need is a mentor, someone who listens, encourages them, and helps them see what they cannot yet see in themselves. I understand that feeling, which is why I became committed to supporting youth the way mentors supported me. My first opportunity to do this came through The Hidden Genius Project. After completing their 18-month immersion program, I returned as a Youth Educator to mentor younger Black boys who were just beginning to learn technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Some entered the room unsure of their abilities, afraid to speak up or take risks. I made it my mission to show them that their ideas mattered. When a student struggled with code, I worked beside him until he succeeded. When another hesitated to present, I practiced with him until he felt confident. Watching students who were once quiet begin to lead discussions showed me how powerful mentorship can be. I also mentor through music. As a band assistant at my former K through eight school, I help younger musicians learn how to read music and play with confidence. Many walk in nervous, worried about making mistakes. Seeing them grow more comfortable, lift their heads, and believe in their sound reminds me that young people blossom when someone invests time in them. This year, I expanded my impact through my senior project, a podcast focused on college planning, financial literacy and college readiness. Many teens are overwhelmed by money, scholarships, and planning for their future, so I created a platform that gives practical guidance in a friendly and relatable way. My internship with Play Black Wall Street strengthened this work by helping me understand how financial knowledge can transform lives. It motivated me to share those tools with students who may not receive them anywhere else. My goal is to create programs that combine mentorship, financial literacy, and underserved youth. I want to help teens replace uncertainty and endless scrolling with confidence, community, and real opportunities. Young people grow when they know they are not alone. I want to continue being the person who helps them see a future worth striving for.

Going to college means stepping into a future that generations before me could only imagine. My grandparents and great-grandparents left Little Rock, Arkansas, during the Jim Crow era because they wanted the next generation to live with more freedom and opportunities than they ever received. They carried memories of poll taxes, intimidation, and closed doors but they also carried hope. To me, college is not just a personal milestone. It represents the continuation of their journey. It is proof that the sacrifices made long before I was born mattered, and that I am responsible for moving our family further toward the opportunities they dreamed of. College also represents growth and independence. As a student balancing AP, honors, and community-college courses along with varsity soccer and music, I’ve learned how to manage my time, stay disciplined, and keep pushing when things get tough. Being first-chair tenor saxophone in my school’s band and performing at places like Oakland's Yoshi’s Jazz Club taught me that talent only takes you so far, but progress comes from repetition, humility, and late nights practicing the same passage until it sounds the way I know it should. Music shaped my patience, confidence, and ability to connect with others. It showed me that leadership doesn’t always come from standing in front, but from setting a standard people can trust. The Hidden Genius Project deepened that understanding of leadership. Being selected as one of just 24 students in the Richmond cohort changed the way I see myself and my community. Hidden Genius pushed me into spaces—technology, entrepreneurship, coding, business presentations—where I didn’t always feel confident at first. But it gave me mentors who looked like me, believed in me, and expected excellence from me. It taught me how to think critically, collaborate, troubleshoot ideas, and build solutions that respond to real problems. Most importantly, it showed me what it looks like when Black boys are given the tools, support, and expectations to succeed. That experience is a big part of why I want to go to college: I want to build pathways for others the same way those mentors built them for me. My desire to give back has guided many of my choices. Working with Play Black Wall Street as an intern helped me understand both the struggle and the creativity behind economic empowerment in Black communities. I taught younger students about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and the legacy of Black-owned businesses. Helping kids understand concepts like budgeting, ownership, and investing showed me how powerful knowledge can be—not just for one person, but for entire communities. Giving back is not something I plan to do “after I’m successful”; it is something I’m committed to doing along the way. That is why going to college matters. I’m not going just to earn a degree. I’m going to study business so I can build programs, organizations, and opportunities that make life better for others especially young people who don’t always get access to mentors, resources, or networks. I want to learn how industries move, how organizations grow, and how leadership can open doors for entire communities. Going to college is my chance to honor the people who paved the road for me and to commit myself to helping the next generation walk it more confidently. It is the bridge between where my family started and where I plan to take us. And it is the foundation I need to lead, serve, and give back in ways that truly matter.