One of my biggest reasons why I attend South Carolina State University is the way the school makes me feel like I'm part of a family. Back in the summer of 2022, freshly graduated out of high school, despite a 3.25 GPA with honors in engineering and multiple acceptances to colleges, it was a struggle finding the most suitable college for me. After a friend advised me to look for HBCU's containing my major, one of the most recommended schools was South Carolina State. After a late application, I was accepted into the university; Not only was I accepted, but I also was met at my house by two former alumni from SC State's National Alumni Association representing the Atlanta chapter. They personally congratulated me and invited me to their annual cookout held by other members of the National Alumni Association representing the Atlanta chapter. No other school that I was accepted to, in-state or out-of-state, provided that one-on-one personal connection with me other than SCSU, and it stood out to me so well that attending was such an easy decision for me. Another reason why I was inspired to attend SC State is because of the potential I seen. SC State has a rich history of producing influential people who make many differences in the community, regardless of the major. While attending the cookout, I connected with many other successful alumni as they shared their words of wisdom in regards to life and my future at SCSU. One example of the connections that I made is when I was formally introduced to John Funny, a former SC State alumni who is CEO of Grice Consulting Group, a well-known engineering consulting firm with an office in Atlanta. John eventually invited me for a job shadowing and told me the fundamentals of civil engineering and also shared with me his biggest pieces of advice to becoming the best possible civil engineer. It was from that moment, along with the influence of others at SCSU, that I understood that networking while in college is a concept that is crucial to furthering your career, and SCSU provided many connections for me during my tenure. Through simply communicating with other students, administrators, and others dedicated to the school, I've been able to position myself for great opportunities to come. One of the biggest examples of this is when I attended SC State's Internship Day held in Belcher Hall. I met with Jeff Howard and Jay Baldwin of RK&K, a highly accredited engineering firm with an office in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Through a brief productive conversation with Jeff and Jay, I was able to secure myself a paid summer internship with RK&K. I've been helping RK&K in their I-26 Widening Project, a $439 million dollar project involving the widening of one of South Carolina's most well-known highways in I-26. The project is set to be finished by 2027. Not only have SC State's connections with other companies put me in a good position off campus, but it's also put me in better positions on campus. On campus, I currently serve as a member of the Student Orientation Leadership Program at SCSU, a member of 101 Black Men at SCSU, a tutor of General Chemistry and English Composition at the Student Success Center for SCSU, and I'm currently heading into my junior year serving as a Residential Assistant for Earle Hall. In conclusion, SC State has been welcoming to the development of me as a hard-working college student and a prestigious Black man in society since day one; attending SCSU was the best decision I've made.

Engineering became a desired career path for me because of how unique it was and how it was all around me. Living in the Metro Atlanta area, I'm about 20 minutes south of Downtown Atlanta. Sometimes when my parents would have to go through Downtown Atlanta, I would admire the skyscrapers, bridges, and all of the structural pieces that make Atlanta the beautiful city it is today. It was from that moment that I knew that I wanted to pursue Civil engineering. Civil engineering has been a practice that I have continued to pursue even throughout high school, as I have learned designing with different software such as AutoCAD, Inventor, and other design software. Now, heading into my junior year of studying Civil Engineering at South Carolina State University, I am also in the process of completing a summer internship with Rummel, Klepper & Kahl (RK&K) a highly accredited engineering firm with an office in Orangeburg, South Carolina, located 6 minutes from campus. They have been working diligently on the process of inspecting the well-known I-26 Widening Project, a 4-year long project originally produced by the South Carolina Department of Transportation that is set to be completed by 2027. This project is also estimated to be over $400 million, recorded to be one of the most expensive projects in South Carolina history. I've been specializing in Erosion Control and Bridge Inspection, as I have been measuring silt fencing and inspecting construction companies during bridge demolition. During this internship I've learned about the importance of certain factors in civil engineering; from the environment to the people, they all come together in the process of a project. For me, seeing everything and everyone coincide in unison to live better and more advanced is something I'm a big advocate of. When I become an established civil engineer, I plan to give back to communities that played a part in raising me by giving the future of my community easier access to things that I wasn't able to experience in my upbringing. From recreational parks to libraries, I want to leave the best and biggest impression on children that live in my city and many other cities, because in the end, it is the children who are our true future and I believe that by nourishing and putting our future in a far better position, we are taking steps in the right direction in the goal to making the world a better place.

My name is Tugari Meggett and I am a junior civil engineering major from Atlanta, Georgia. I'm currently the oldest of three, and I am the first to attend college amongst my siblings. I plan to be the first out of my family to graduate college with a Bachelor's in Civil Engineering and I plan to continue my civil engineering career at an esteemed firm, specializing in erosion control or project management. Growing up, I've always been told that being the firstborn was going to bring about trials and tribulations that only the oldest could endure. Despite these trials and tribulations, I still am looked at as the first example that my siblings see, so I've understood at a young age that it is imperative that I set the best example for the younger siblings so they can become better than I was. I keep my siblings and family in general dear to my heart and they are one of my main reasons why I continue to keep going; I want them to know that everything that they've instilled into me has reaped beautifully. For my community, I treat the places I stay like home. Whether home is in Henry County, Georgia, or Orangeburg County, South Carolina, I have made it my business to be somebody within the community. I attend South Carolina State University, and I am an active member of 101 Black Men, a prominent organization in the university that is dedicated to the development of academically strong and culturally aware black men that are major positive influences to the communities that be. I've participated in many different activities involving the community, but one activity I enjoy the most is prepping food at the First Baptist Church in Orangeburg. They have their soup kitchen opened up once a week to feed the less fortunate in the Orangeburg community, and I assist with prepping the food for the people to eat. Seeing how many people come every week for a plate opens my eyes to how influential one can be to a community, and positive influence is something I'm a strong advocate for. That is why after completing college and working for an esteemed firm, I want to spend time giving back to the city that played a part in raising me as a man. From shelters to recreational parks to libraries, I want the future who currently lives in my city to get an even greater head start on the world around them than I did. I believe that educating and training up our future to become the best people that they can be is pivotal to making the world better one step at a time.

My name is Tugari Meggett, and I am an upcoming junior at South Carolina State University. I currently am majoring in Civil Engineering, and I plan to graduate with my Bachelor's in Civil Engineering and become a civil engineer specializing in Project Management or Erosion Control. Being black is something that I carry with me proudly no matter where I am, what I'm doing, or hard things are. I understand that as a Black man in America, I have a big target on my back every single time I step out of my house. I know that society already thinks less of me without even saying it. I know that they don't look at me as the next engineer for a esteemed firm, they limit their views to only an athlete, musician, or less. Despite this, I like providing the elect of surprise to society. I like to become that powerful message to society that you can't judge me off the color of my skin, and you can't control my destiny. At first, attending South Carolina State was a safety option for me; my original dream school was the Georgia Tech. But after completing my first two years at SC State, I have gone farther than I ever thought I go in my field of learning, and in life. From being awarded internship opportunities to meeting high-value people working for major companies all around the US and beyond, attending SC State has been one of the greatest decisions I've made.

Throughout my life, I have faced many obstacles in pursuit of the accolades I want to achieve and the lifestyle I want to live. One of my biggest obstacles were regarding school; it was a point in my life where I thought college was going to be something I could only wish to be in. After struggling to find my future college home for my entire senior year, I began to doubt the possibility of me becoming an engineer. It seemed like the minute the principal declared to the class of 2022 that we have graduated, reality hit me the hardest. I wasn't on any athletic scholarships for football, and I got accepted into a couple of schools but for financial reasons, attending those schools were a longshot. It put me in a place where I asked myself: "Did I do enough? What did I do wrong? Is college even for me?" That's when I began to start strengthening my relationship with God and my family. Despite my constant anxiety and uncertainty with not having any clue where my life was headed, I began to read my Bible frequently and be more active in my siblings life. One of the Bible verses that I read that impacted me the most during that summer was in Philippians 4:6, which states, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." It opened my eyes to the fact that doubt and anxiety only cloud your ability to see your future and limit your ability to let go of the intangibles and focus on what you can control. I began to understand that once I let go and let God work on the things that he can control, while I focus on the things that I can control, such as being there for my siblings and teaching them as much as I can about life, it leads you to success and a life that is much more stress-free than anything. Now that I am currently starting my sophomore year at South Carolina State University with honors and becoming one of the newest edition to one of the biggest organizations on campus, the Student Orientation Leadership program, I'm not only proud of myself for turning something that I thought was going to be a longshot a reality, but I'm thankful that I turned to God and my family to get over this obstacle in my life.

Volunteering changed my mindset in a way that has benefitted me in my social life and has also been a lifesaver for my mental health. Nearing the end of my senior year, with no athletic offers, academic acceptances or scholarships, my mind was plagued with the uncertainty of what direction my life would be headed. With barely any assistance from counselors or coaches to pursue college, I began to feel out of place and in a darker mental state as doubt began to settle in. Where was I going to go? What if I'm not good enough to go to college? What would it say about my life going forward? How could I set a good example for my younger siblings being in a place like this? Having this mentality on a day-to-day basis was damaging my mental health severely to the point where I wasn't even in the right headspace to do the things I enjoyed during my summer: I lost contact with a lot of my friends, I didn't go outside as much, and I was in a very low mood at almost every hour of the day. However, through God's grace I was able to pull myself out of this state through coaching. My brother began to play baseball during this time and it would be the only time I would get out of the house. During one of the practices, my dad emphasized that he felt like it would be a great help to not only the team, but my brother, if I helped out coaching the team. I was immediately skeptical to his input due to the fact that I've never played baseball a day in my life. However, since it was also my little brother's first time as well and he looks up to me, it couldn't hurt for me to bond with him through experiencing baseball for the first time together. One thing led to another, and I became the assistant coach of the team. I'm not a loud person, although the coach was, so I accepted the role as the stern but calming presence to the kids, specifically how I would talk to the kids as it was my little brother. The kids began to gravitate towards me and I began to feel like my old self again. The constant worry of the future began to diminish and I could focus on being there for my brother. It was not only a healthy experience for me, but to see my brother and his team develop their skills and become better on a daily basis, and also see the parents grew appreciative of my help and even help out themselves with post game activities showed me that volunteerism can provide a positive domino effect on a community, and that's something I take pride in. Despite our record, finishing that season knowing that the community is growing and the our kids' lives are positively impacted became the remedy I needed to get back on track and become the biggest helping hand possible. Now, I'm headed into my sophomore year at South Carolina State University, finishing my freshman year on honor roll and becoming one of the newest members of the Student Organization Leadership Program. Winning this scholarship would assist me vastly in my efforts to pay off my student loans and finish my degree in Civil Engineering while also becoming the helping hand I can be for the incoming Class of 2027.

If I was given the opportunity, one major thing I would do to improve my community is to host more community events within my city to try to avoid possible gentrification in the community. I've lived in McDonough, Georgia for 19 years; I have been trying to learn and understand the ins and out of my city, not only know my way around it, but to also notice the changes within it. After completing my freshman year of college at South Carolina State, I came home to find that there were many areas within McDonough that are currently under construction bringing about more companies and housing. These new building plans peaked my interest, as I began to realize that my city was beginning to become a landmark within Metro Atlanta. However, it became a topic of concern for me due to the possibly iminent process of gentrification upon the people of McDonough. The city has a lot of historical background, and contains a lot of people and housing communities that have stayed for a long time. If the property value, raised by the new modern housing built in McDonough, rises at a skyrocketing rate, it could be the end for those historic communities and it could push the people who were living in this community out because of not being able to live there financially. To combat this, I have learned that the upkeep of these communities make them less susceptible to gentrification. The ones in power are less likely to try to buyout a community that is well kept, and the people who live there are more likely to stay. McDonough hosts an annual Geranium Festival filled with a bunch of small business within the square, from food to pottery, inviting the entire McDonough community. I believe we can amplify and also educate the McDonough community by hosting bigger events such as concerts, donation drives, and even charity games. While hosting these events, we can have leaders from the city of McDonough inform the residents of the changes that are soon to commence within the city so that they're not left in the dark, and they can delegate what they feel is beneficial or detrimental to the people. This is important to me, because I love and take pride in my city. I also understand that as a civil engineer I have to interact with my community to make improvements within the city. I've seen firsthand how gentrification affects my people and I want to change that by assisting the people that matter the most: the community.

This year, a book that I have read and enjoyed is "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne. In this book, I learned a lot about how powerful and effective the law of attraction is. The law of attraction is simply an ideology in which thinking positive thoughts will result in positive rewards, and vice versa. The specific key to this law of attraction mindset is to keep your mind set on achieving your goals and claiming that you will achieve them, without any hesitant nature, or even words that might signal an ounce of doubt. This book not only broadened my perspective, but it changed my life. Growing up, my biggest fear has been being a failure. it is a fear that still haunts me to this day; being the oldest of three siblings, I knew that my younger sister and brother looked up to me, so I never wanted to be that "bad example/bad role model" in their lives. If they were going to know anything about their brother, they would know that he was a successful man who earned his success through hard work. I want to inspire them to work hard in their lives so that one day they can surpass me in success. In my coming of age, I began to realize that this crippling fear of setting a bad example in my siblings' eyes also sparked a lot of doubt within myself. When I made it to college, I was slightly disappointed in the fact that despite winning a scholarship, I still had to rely on loans to help me attend. For the longest, the thoughts ran rampant in my head: what if I fail my classes? What if I can't keep up? What if college wasn't for me? After reading The Secret, I learned that such thoughts only make your aspirations cloudy. One should claim that they will achieve whatever they want to achieve and will work towards their goal, regardless of the odds. Now, after passing all of my classes and making my school's Honor Roll, I see that the law of attraction is a simple yet powerful part of being successful in life. Not only has the law of attraction brought me the success I've been having, but reading in general has contributed to my success as well. Picking up a book can do wonders through a few words. Those words can change your mentality, your focus, and most importantly, your life.

My name is Tugari Meggett and I am a college sophomore from McDonough, Georgia currently attending South Carolina State University. I am a Civil Engineering major and I plan to graduate with my Master's in Civil Engineering by 2026. Growing up in Metro Atlanta, civil engineering has been a job that has been on the rise in the city, as Atlanta placed 6th in the top 10 Best Places for Civil Engineers. However, I am aware that many civil engineers in my city fit a certain demographic: male, average age of 40, and predominantly white. As a young Black man, I look to change that demographic. Winning this scholarship would help me advance the community of Black engineers, but it would also shine light and represent the brilliant young minds that HBCUs educate for the future. Coming out of high school, I faced one of my biggest cases of adversity when I was rejected from Georgia Tech. As someone who had high aspirations of being the first person in my family to graduate college, the news left me dejected for a long time. As the oldest of three, I wanted to set a positive example for my younger siblings; showing them a prime embodiment of someone successful who also happens to look like them was and still is a priority to my life. Despite the news, I refused to give up on my civil engineering aspirations, as I was eventually accepted into South Carolina State University. Attending SCSU opened my world to a plethora of brilliant minds that this HBCU has to offer, ranging from students currently attending to alumni who became civil engineers in my city. In my freshman year, I have been able to connect with many civil engineers within Atlanta, and I have participated in job shadowings to see how a civil engineer operates. Seeing all these things and being able to get mental experience firsthand motivated me, even more, to obtain my degree and prove that HBCUs are filled with many young brilliant minds like myself. With the awarding of this scholarship, I plan to represent my family and my university highly, using my skills to reinvent impoverished cities not only in the state of Georgia but around the US. Being near impoverished areas of Atlanta, I've seen firsthand how the community is affected strictly, specifically the youth that inhabits said area. I plan to enter the civil engineering force in the future and develop better areas for our youth, as they are the true key to a better future. In conclusion, winning this scholarship would be a blessing that would certainly be reciprocated unto HBCUs, the field of civil engineering, and the Black community.

The presence of STEAM throughout my schooling has impacted me greatly, as it has not only gotten me accepted into 8 universities of high prestige that are proficient in STEAM, but it also opened my eyes as to how I can use my knowledge from STEAM. It began as early as middle school when I found out that one of the best universities for engineering was located in the city of Atlanta, the Georgia Institute of Technology. After further research, I found out that they were one of the best universities for civil engineering, which enticed me to not only take steps to getting into Georgia Tech, but any other college in America who made a name off their civil engineering program. The science of civil engineering intrigued me mainly because of my desire to build. I enjoyed going around the heart of Atlanta and noticing the skyscrapers and bridges wondering how someone can make something so vast yet beneficial to people that resided in a city filled with a relatively high concentration of business and residents. From bridges that decongested the flow of traffic, to buildings where owners could further their places of business, the impact that engineering has on a community is visible yet advantageous. I began to take advantage of the opportunity to learn in this field when I took architectural classes during my freshman year. It was in that year that I was introduced to AutoCAD, and I learned the basics and how to operate the program. As I progressed into my years of high school I began to learn and understand the process of engineering as a whole, specifically the uses of problem solving. My engineering teacher also incorporated the architectural side of engineering, as he understood that it was going to be critical for me to understand since I wanted to major in civil engineering. After semesters of learning all that I could learn and taking all of the classes I needed to take to get closer to my major, core classes and electives, I amassed the achievement of being accepted into the Universities of Kansas, Central Missouri, and Iowa for engineering. For future plans, I still strive to get into Georgia Tech while also completing my final courses that assist me in my engineering. To get this scholarship would mean a lot to me, achieving my dream of becoming a civil engineer and being able to create pieces of work that benefit all communities, big or small. Not only do I plan to build for large cities and companies, but I also plan to be a strong presence in the smaller, less fortunate communities with the addition of shelters, thrift stores, grocery stores, and even building homes for families in the community who are struggling. I believe that with my knowledge in civil engineering, I can create something that's much bigger than just making profits off of measurements and materials bonded together to make structures. It can uplift people in every community and make the world a better place.

Civil rights activist Cesar Chavez once said, "We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own." The science of civil engineering intrigued me mainly because of my desire to build. I enjoyed going around the heart of Atlanta and noticing the skyscrapers and bridges wondering how someone can make something so vast yet beneficial to people that resided in a city filled with a relatively high concentration of business and residents. From bridges that decongested the flow of traffic, shops that kept small business alive and thriving, and even schools and recreational centers to keep the youth focused on their futures, the impact that engineering has on a community is visible yet advantageous. I began to take advantage of the opportunity to learn in this field when I took architectural classes during my freshman year. It was in that year that I was introduced to AutoCAD, and I learned the basics and how to operate the program. As I progressed into my years of high school I began to learn and understand the process of engineering as a whole, specifically the uses of problem solving. My engineering teacher also incorporated the architectural side of engineering, as he understood that it was going to be critical for me to understand since I wanted to major in civil engineering. Despite semesters of learning all that I could learn and taking all of the classes I needed to take to get closer to my major, core classes and electives, I wasn't accepted into Georgia Tech. I didn't let this one setback define my college career. I followed this setback up with 8 new acceptances to major universities, including the Universities of Coastal Carolina, Kansas, and even Iowa for engineering. Many of the these acceptances also came with merit awards along with the acceptances. However, as much as the merit awards help, they still don't cover all my tuition. With this scholarship I plan to overcome the challenge of student debt and get myself into the workforce of civil engineering to rebuild cities who have been stricken by natural disaster or even ongoing poverty and low funding. I think highly of the future that beholds us in society today; I strongly believe that their upbringing is critical to putting the future on the right track to even bigger successes than the ones who mentor the young minds. They shouldn't be robbed of their opportunity to thrive due to environmental issues. I plan to create something that's much bigger than just measurements and materials bonded together to make structures for a good price. I plan to uplift people in every community and give the future a better chance to succeed.

44th President Barack Obama once said, "The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.” If there's one thing life has shown me and continues to show me on multiple occasions, it's that time is always of the essence. Time waits for no person so when time presents us an opportunity, the decision to go above and beyond when seizing our opportunity is all in our hands. One moment that stood out to me was with my dream school, Georgia Tech. After further research, I found out that they were one of the best universities for civil engineering, which enticed me to not only take steps to getting into Georgia Tech, but any other college in America who made a name off their civil engineering program. The science of civil engineering intrigued me mainly because of my desire to build. I enjoyed going around the heart of Atlanta and noticing the skyscrapers and bridges wondering how someone can make something so vast yet beneficial to people that resided in a city filled with a relatively high concentration of business and residents. From bridges that decongested the flow of traffic, to buildings where owners could further their places of business, the impact that engineering has on a community is visible yet advantageous. I began to take advantage of the opportunity to learn in this field when I took architectural classes during my freshman year. It was in that year that I was introduced to AutoCAD, and I learned the basics and how to operate the program. As I progressed into my years of high school I began to learn and understand the process of engineering as a whole, specifically the uses of problem solving. My engineering teacher also incorporated the architectural side of engineering, as he understood that it was going to be critical for me to understand since I wanted to major in civil engineering. Despite semesters of learning all that I could learn and taking all of the classes I needed to take to get closer to my major, core classes and electives, I wasn't accepted into Georgia Tech. I didn't let this one setback define my college career. I followed this setback up with 8 new acceptances to major universities, including the Universities of Coastal Carolina, Kansas, and even Iowa for engineering. Many of the these acceptances also came with merit awards along with the acceptances. However, as much as the merit awards help, they still don't cover all my tuition. With this scholarship I plan to overcome the challenge of student debt and get myself into the workforce of civil engineering to rebuild cities who have been stricken by natural disaster or even ongoing poverty and low funding. I think highly of the future that beholds us in society today; I strongly believe that their upbringing is critical to putting the future on the right track to even bigger successes than the ones who mentor the young minds. They shouldn't be robbed of their opportunity to thrive due to environmental issues. I plan to create something that's much bigger than just measurements and materials bonded together to make structures for a good price. I plan to uplift people in every community and give the future a better chance to succeed.

The presence of STEAM throughout my schooling has impacted me greatly, as it has not only gotten me accepted into 8 universities of high prestige that are proficient in STEAM, but it also opened my eyes as to how I can use my knowledge from STEAM. It began as early as middle school when I found out that one of the best universities for engineering was located in the city of Atlanta, the Georgia Institute of Technology. After further research, I found out that they were one of the best universities for civil engineering, which enticed me to not only take steps to getting into Georgia Tech, but any other college in America who made a name off their civil engineering program. The science of civil engineering intrigued me mainly because of my desire to build. I enjoyed going around the heart of Atlanta and noticing the skyscrapers and bridges wondering how someone can make something so vast yet beneficial to people that resided in a city filled with a relatively high concentration of business and residents. From bridges that decongested the flow of traffic, to buildings where owners could further their places of business, the impact that engineering has on a community is visible yet advantageous. I began to take advantage of the opportunity to learn in this field when I took architectural classes during my freshman year. It was in that year that I was introduced to AutoCAD, and I learned the basics and how to operate the program. As I progressed into my years of high school I began to learn and understand the process of engineering as a whole, specifically the uses of problem solving. My engineering teacher also incorporated the architectural side of engineering, as he understood that it was going to be critical for me to understand since I wanted to major in civil engineering. After semesters of learning all that I could learn and taking all of the classes I needed to take to get closer to my major, core classes and electives, I amassed the achievement of being accepted into the Universities of Coastal Carolina, Charleston Southern, and Kansas for engineering. For future plans, I still strive to get into get in the workforce and attain a work study while also completing my final courses that assist me in my engineering. To get this scholarship would mean a lot to me, achieving my dream of becoming a civil engineer and being able to create pieces of work that benefit all communities, big or small. Not only do I plan to build for large cities and companies, but I also plan to be a strong presence in the smaller, less fortunate communities with the addition of shelters, thrift stores, grocery stores, and even building homes for families in the community who are struggling. I believe that with my knowledge in civil engineering, I can create something that's much bigger than just making profits off of measurements and materials bonded together to make structures. It can uplift people in every community and make the world a better place.

STEAM In My Community The presence of STEAM throughout my schooling has impacted me greatly, as it has not only gotten me accepted into 8 universities of high prestige that are proficient in STEAM, but it also opened my eyes as to how I can use my knowledge from STEAM. It began as early as middle school when I found out that one of the best universities for engineering was located in the city of Atlanta, the Georgia Institute of Technology. After further research, I found out that they were one of the best universities for civil engineering, which enticed me to not only take steps to getting into Georgia Tech, but any other college in America who made a name off their civil engineering program. The science of civil engineering intrigued me mainly because of my desire to build. I enjoyed going around the heart of Atlanta and noticing the skyscrapers and bridges wondering how someone can make something so vast yet beneficial to people that resided in a city filled with a relatively high concentration of business and residents. From bridges that decongested the flow of traffic, to buildings where owners could further their places of business, the impact that engineering has on a community is visible yet advantageous. I began to take advantage of the opportunity to learn in this field when I took architectural classes during my freshman year. It was in that year that I was introduced to AutoCAD, and I learned the basics and how to operate the program. As I progressed into my years of high school I began to learn and understand the process of engineering as a whole, specifically the uses of problem solving. My engineering teacher also incorporated the architectural side of engineering, as he understood that it was going to be critical for me to understand since I wanted to major in civil engineering. After semesters of learning all that I could learn and taking all of the classes I needed to take to get closer to my major, core classes and electives, I amassed the achievement of being accepted into South Carolina State University for engineering. For future plans, I still strive to get into the civil engineering workforce while also completing my final courses that assist me. To get this scholarship would mean a lot to me, achieving my dream of becoming a civil engineer and being able to create pieces of work that benefit all communities, big or small. Not only do I plan to build for large cities and companies, but I also plan to be a strong presence in the smaller, less fortunate communities with the addition of shelters, thrift stores, grocery stores, and even building homes for families in the community who are struggling. I believe that with my knowledge in civil engineering, I can create something that's much bigger than just making profits off of measurements and materials bonded together to make structures. It can uplift people in every community and make the world a better place.

2 time Oscar winner Denzel Washington once said "At the end, it's not about what you have or even what you've lifted up, who you've made better. It's about what you've given back." It's a quote that I carry with me throughout my life as I trek through my path to becoming a civil engineer. Granted, it isn't really recognized as a primal job option for people who consider being in a field where helping people is an everyday thing, compared to someone working as a firefighter or doctor. However, I plan to change that. Living in the southside of the Metro Atlanta area showed me the struggles that many lower income communities face on a daily basis. Lack of recreational centers for the children that live there, inadequate housing for homeowners, and more liquor stores and smoke shops that are placed to damage the community. With mt civil engineering degree, I plan to turn cities like that around for the better, designing better and affordable housing, creating more recreational centers, and substituting more of those drug businesses for places of work that could benefit the community, such as grocery stores, daycare centers, and even automotive shops. Ever since i showed interest in civil engineering and working with different designing softwares such as AutoDesk and Revit, I made it my business to find someway to change a community for the better. If there's one thing i want the world and society to take away from me when my time is up on this earth, it's that I did my absolute best for the future generation. I have always believed that the future shouldn't have to have to deal with the burden of not knowing where they're gonna sleep or what they're gonna eat. As tough as this life is, filled with obstacles left and right, I want every future child growing up in that community to be at peace with the fact they know where they can lay their head or where they can eat. The future deserves better.

Losing family members is never an easy thing. If there's anything I've learned from losing family members, it's that they serve as reminder that life is short and tomorrow is never promised. We need to live each day with the mindset that tomorrow is never promised. That moment of realization came to me when I heard how I lost my teammate and friend, Johnny Tolbert. My very first time meeting Johnny was at age 11, at an off-season workout for our rec team. Many kids that I normally met at these workouts were very outgoing and just eager to play, despite us being green to the sport of football. However, Johnny was a quiet kid; his soft-spoken personality mixed with his large stature was amusing to see, as he was most reminiscent of a gentle giant. As the season progressed, I began to asses him as a player. He wasn't the strongest or fastest kid on the team, but his work ethic separated him from a lot of kids, and it undoubtedly contributed to his presence in games. I was convinced that there wasn't anything in life that he did halfheartedly; whatever he did, it was done with his upmost effort. One example of his work ethic that I remember vividly was conditioning: a lineman's worst enemy. Our coach wanted us to run 2 laps around the field to end practice. I finished the laps before him, leaving only the linemen in last place to finish. Many of the linemen dreaded the conditioning so much that they would stop or walk, but Johnny would continue to run without stopping, despite his tears and weariness from the laps. He made sure that the job was done. It was at that moment where I gained a major amount of respect for Johnny, as I seen that he was determined to get a task done despite the struggles he faced, running off of pure determination. I admired that out of Johnny, and watching him changed my life. I began to take pride in putting my tasks and responsibilities first despite looking adversity in the face. It didn't only benefit me a person, but it also benefitted out team. Me and Johnny were part of the Panhandle Wildcats rec football team, in Clayton County, Georgia. We became a very close-knit team from the offseason to the postseason, and in 2015, we were able to call ourselves champions as we defeated the College Park Rams in the SPYFL Championship. Johnny had a standout game himself, as he had a sack and multiple tackles for loss. Despite the team disbanding and heading to different parks after the championship year, we still remained close. However, as time passed, I was notified by my parents that Johnny was hospitalized from a heat stroke that he suffered from a strenuous off-season workout. I remember going to the hospital to check on him and seeing him hooked up to machines, and seeing his parents on dismay. It concerned me greatly, but in the back of my mind I knew that the one thing Johnny was doing while on that hospital bed was fighting. This gentle giant that I knew wasn't going to let anything like this simply overtake him. Unfortunately, after a long battle, he passed away weeks later. Johnny was 12. It hurt me so deeply that a young soul like this had to leave this early, but it opened my eyes as to how short life really is. No one is promised the gift of waking up to see tomorrow. Therefore, we must fight for our dreams and turn them into realities today in the moments were we still have breath in our lungs. As I head into college, I carry this philosophy as well to remind myself of my goal and who im doing all of this for.

Since my freshman year of high school, I've dedicated myself to going to an HBCU and majoring in Civil Engineering. Civil Engineering has been a field of engineering I was first introduced to by living in the Metro Atlanta area and passing by one of the best schools for Civil Engineering: Georgia Tech. Ever since laying my eyes on the school and researching it, I've gained more and more interest in civil engineering, taking architectural classes and connecting with well-trained professors, working with different kinds of architectural software (AutoCAD, Revit, Homestyler) and learning about the different materials used to create certain structures. My ultimate goal is to put recreational centers and buildings in lower income cities to keep the youth off the streets once I get my degree. However, as I tried and tried to gain attention from Georgia Tech in hopes of getting admitted, I didn't feel special; It just felt like I was just another visitor. That's when i visited South Carolina State University. It was truly a place where I felt like I could thrive, as I was not only interested in the history of the university, but the connection I had towards the students in that area was important to me. I was able to have a good conversation with a SC State student who although was majoring in Mechanical and Structural Engineering, he also had the familiarity of working with Georgia Tech faculty and other universities, creating new projects. It was exciting to connect somebody from an HBCU who has a lot of experience in the fields of engineering and shares the same aspirations I do. From this experience, i plan to enroll into SC State. My ability to build relationships with like-minded thinkers to further myself is why attending HBCU's are important to me.

The presence of STEM throughout my schooling has impacted me greatly, as it has not only influenced me to get into schools who support the STEM program, but I have also gotten accepted into 3 universities of high prestige that are proficient in STEM and advocate for the works of the STEM program. It began as early as middle school when I found out that one of the best universities for engineering was located in the city of Atlanta, the Georgia Institute of Technology. After further research, I found out that they were one of the best universities for civil engineering, which enticed me to not only take steps to getting into Georgia Tech, but any other college in America who made a name off their civil engineering program. The science of civil engineering intrigued me mainly because of my desire to build. I enjoyed going around the heart of Atlanta and noticing the skyscrapers and bridges wondering how someone can make something so vast yet beneficial to people that resided in a city filled with a relatively high concentration of business and residents. From bridges that decongested the flow of traffic, to buildings where owners could further their places of business, the impact that engineering has on a community is visible yet advantageous. I began to take advantage of the opportunity to learn in this field when I took architectural classes during my freshman year. It was in that year that I was introduced to AutoCAD, and I learned the basics and how to operate the program. As I progressed into my years of high school I began to learn and understand the process of engineering as a whole, specifically the uses of problem solving. My engineering teacher also incorporated the architectural side of engineering, as he understood that it was going to be critical for me to understand since I wanted to major in civil engineering. After semesters of learning all that I could learn and taking all of the classes I needed to take to get closer to my major, core classes and electives, I amassed the achievement of being accepted into the Universities of Kansas, Central Missouri, and Iowa for engineering. For future plans, I still strive to get into Georgia Tech while also completing my final courses that assist me in my engineering. To get this scholarship would mean a lot to me, achieving my dream of becoming a civil engineer and being able to create pieces of work that benefit all communities, big or small. Not only do I plan to build for large cities and companies, but I also plan to be a strong presence in the smaller, less fortunate communities with the addition of shelters, thrift stores, grocery stores, and even building homes for families in the community who are struggling. I believe that with my knowledge in civil engineering, I can create something that's much bigger than just making profits off of measurements and materials bonded together to make structures. It can uplift people in every community and make the world a better place.

As a person who truly understands the battle with mental health, I try my best to make my friends and family feel loved. Mental health has gained infamous notoriety amongst the newer generation, as more and more victims of depression and suicide are mounting at frightening rates. The life that we all live, regardless of whatever background one comes from, is not lived without struggle of some sort. I believe that there's going to be some type of adversity that people will face in their lifetime, and it may take a toll on one person's mind. I also believe that in those moments where life seems the most taxing, a person just might need someone to reach out to, letting them know that they are simply not alone. Me personally, I do my part in making sure my people feel loved by reaching out to my family and friends, asking if they're ok and letting them know that I'm here for them. Even though they might not always open on the first attempt on me speaking, I believe that the effort that I show towards the people I love will keep their spirits high in knowing that they have someone to count on, and someone that loves them.

As a current high school senior recently getting accepted into the universities of Kansas, Central Missouri, and Iowa, I aspire to pursue and achieve my academic and athletic goals. I want to earn a degree in civil engineering and further myself in the workforce of civil engineering in hopes of having my own civil engineering firm, creating buildings that advance communities in need. Athletically, I've always had the most love for the game of football, and I intend to play professionally. To this day I am in search of not only an academic scholarship but an athletic scholarship to preferably an NCAA Division I program. I continue to hold these aspirations closely, as my biggest contributors to my yearning attitude towards my goals are my family and friends. They have always had my best interest at heart, and continued to support me through my hindrances, both self-inflicted and beyond my control. It would bring me great joy to not only reach my goals, further my education, and fulfill my purpose in life, but I desire to give back to the people who have supported and continue to support me as they are the true foundation for my future prominence.

The state of joy is important to my life. Living in a world where joy is not at times a thing you can just look around and see directly in your face, as much of the world is plagued with war, destruction, and mostly bad news. However, despite the rareness of pure joy, it is very much attainable. I believe that the highest concentration of joy comes through the positive actions of other people. I understand that life is unfortunately not completely filled with joy as much as want to. Some days are harder than others, and I know firsthand that as one person goes through a extended period without having some sort of joy in their life, it feels like being stuck in a hamster's wheel, where the weight of the world's obstacles become more and more continuous, almost as if it has a routine. In spite of living through these obstacles in life, I continue to do my best to bring joy to the lives of as many people as I can, because I've learned that the best part of having joy is what it contains inside of itself: strength. I believe that joy is the driving force for people to fight through the obstacles of life yearning for the opportunity to break from their previous hindrances and onto better days. Everyone has a place in this world, and everyone deserves to feel as much pure enjoyment as possible in this life if that is what they truly desire.

My name is Tugari Meggett, and I am a senior at Stockbridge High School. I grew up in Mcdonough, Georgia, the oldest of three siblings with a lifelong dream of playing professional football and becoming a civil engineer. Civil engineering has been a major of interest since i was first introduced to it through Georgia Tech. Once I was informed that the institution is labeled as one of the best engineering programs in the world, I immediately fell in love with the idea of attending such a prestigious school like this. I also became very fond of the athletic program they had, as I yearned for a school that not only has an exceptional and well-credited program in civil engineering, but a successful Division I program. For my future plans while attending this college, my degree is the main focus. I plan to get internships to engineering firms, gaining as much experience as I can in the area, and eventually getting a high-salary job in the civil engineering field. Once I have made enough and gained plenty of experience, I plan to take business into my own hands and start my own engineering firm. I want to give people the same doorways to this field of engineering as I currently aspire. I believe that from engineer to engineer, we can advance the world one blueprint at a time.