We continue to see that climate change is one of the biggest threats to the world that we live in at the moment. Whether it be the wildfires that have plagued California, the melting of the polar ice caps, the amount of pollution that we dump into our rivers and oceans, or the pollution that we put into the air that we breathe, we need to do a better job of preserving our precious planet for future generations. I believe that getting an education in Environmental Engineering would be the best way for me to help provide research and solutions to this global problem. I am eager to deepen my knowledge and help develop technologies, policies or processes, and best practices that will help to limit the pollution that we put into the air or water and find innovative and alternative ways to deal with the pollution that already exists. After getting my degree in environmental engineering at Northeastern University I will hope to go into a practice that can help get clean water to those that don’t have the readily available access that we do here in the United States. One way I could do this is through desalination plants and working on more efficient ways to desalinate that water from the ocean that is so abundant, but we can't use any of it because it's not clean water and we cannot drink it. This would help the world out so much by allowing places like the Middle East and Africa to have access to clean water that they never had before. My family has been instrumental in allowing me to find and pursue this passion. My dad’s encouragement motivated me to seek out the Northwestern Connecticut Land Conservancy, where I became a trail steward for the James Morrissey Family Nature Preserve and Tory’s Cave Trails and was able to help take care of and preserve the environment for our community to enjoy and deepen my knowledge of the history of the region. As my connection to nature grew, I joined the Mallory Preserve Trail crew that was working on a project in the mountains of Sherman, Connecticut. With my mentors, we worked towards our goal: making the paths accessible to visitors without leaving a trace. The importance of respecting the natural environment and leaving it undisturbed is an essential lesson I learned from this trail crew, one that motivates me to protect our planet. When we finished, I stood back to admire our work and realize that it would help people explore nature for years to come, long after I was gone. It was then, that I saw clearly that environmentalism is something that can be more than a hobby - it is possible to turn my passion into a lifelong mission. I’d also like to raise awareness and work to develop innovative solutions regarding the lowering of individuals' and corporations carbon footprints. Whether it be working towards reducing energy waste in homes and offices or industrial buildings, conserving and protecting our water sources, or developing alternative food production and transportation methods. Cutting our carbon emissions will help to ensure cleaner air, water, and food for future generations. Leveraging an Environmental Engineering degree would help provide me with the best opportunity to have an extremely positive impact on the world that we live in. With your scholarship, I will grow into a leader capable of fighting to protect and respect our Earth and those who inhabit it.

When thinking about a significant adversity I have faced, I can't help but recall when I was fifteen and plunged into a world of remote learning. Attending High School remotely was not commonplace and because the world turned on a dime no one seemed prepared for it. Schools did not have the schedules, technology, and leadership to make the timely decisions that families were looking for. Teachers we're balancing between home life and work for the first time and students we're just trying to make sense of it all, focus on their studies, and maintain their friendships. For me making sense of it was difficult, what seemed to be constantly changing and conflicting communications from the school, added a degree of anxiety that proper planning and well-thought-out communications could have diminished. I have always been someone who likes to make the most out of any opportunity and looking back this would be no different. Realizing early that continuous change would be part of the process for the foreseeable future allowed me to work on skills such as time management, flexibility, adaptability, and creativity, effectively adopting an entrepreneurial mindset of doing whatever it would take to succeed. The aspect of being able to focus on my studies for me was the easiest. I found that eliminating things such as travel time and defined lunch breaks, having all of my technology available, and being home, allowed me to focus on my school work, complete assignments early, spend extra time preparing for tests and quizzes, and complete all of it in a shorter amount of overall time. Looking back at the social aspect of remote learning and the impact on friendships was probably the most difficult element for me. Maintaining existing friendships and forging deeper bonds with those friends wasn't overly difficult. Luckily we live in an age where technology helps enable communication, many times we were able to study together, game together, and converse as we normally had without the face-to-face aspect. But what we missed out on and will never have the ability to regain, Is the development of new friendships. As I look back throughout my schooling I realize that every year several new friendships are developed and over time, some of those friends move on to other relationships and new ones fill that gap. but during these 15 months, it was very difficult to develop new friendships. Everyone was trying to figure it out, people became boxes or pictures on a screen the human interaction required to develop new friendships evaporated. I had watched my father work remotely for years and he had always said he thoroughly enjoyed it and would never go back to an office environment and I never really understood it. I think I understand a little better now, he and I share the ability to have a positive outlook on things Which helped me with remote learning and being able to adapt, overcome, and even excel. There will come a day when I no longer need to sit in classrooms, study for and take tests and cram for finals. Those things will come to an end at some point in my future and new tasks associated with the workforce will fill their place, but one thing this time has taught me is to never undervalue the power of relationships, the ability to meet new people, understand their experiences, have them understand yours and make lasting connections.

Writing about my passion a year ago, you’d be reading about playing baseball not about me coaching baseball but a lot can change in a year. I have been an avid baseball player my entire life and last summer was offered the opportunity to coach. I'll never forget the feeling I had as I was recruited to become the catching coach for a group of 13-year-old baseball players in my hometown. As I began to work with them I gained confidence in my ability to teach and be a good example to these kids. I felt a great sense of accomplishment becoming a part of the organization. I have worked with a group of 13-year-old young men who love the game as much as I do. I’m able to provide them an opportunity to get something that I was never able to have when I was their age, a coach/peer. A peer that is slightly older, and more experienced, but young enough to relate to closely – it is amazing to watch my players thrive based on the knowledge that I have given them, and to this day I have made a very positive impact on them as young men and ballplayers. As I can learn even more about the game while coaching, than as a player. I can execute new things now. I can teach what I learned and I'm still being taught because I'm not done playing baseball. I'm also able to go into the minds of my coaches that I've had before and learn that this is difficult. I also truly enjoy the satisfaction of being able to see the kids improve upon their skills and watch them grow as players and people. This was truly one of the best experiences of my life and I cannot wait to continue coaching for years to come and be able to see these kids as they become young adults and mature into the great players I know that they can be. Even when they don’t listen or are difficult, I take pride in knowing that they look up to me and I am setting an example for their future. These experiences have changed my life and shifted my perspective. Meeting new people, taking advantage of the opportunities around me, and educating myself about the importance of working with these players have inspired me . As I move on to college and beyond, I will continue exploring opportunities to contribute to the community through mentorship/tutoring programs,

My identity as a leader informs every part of my life. From my school’s Wingman Program, to my job as a baseball coach, to my role on DECA and my duties as an environmentalist, I am dedicating myself to making the world a better place. Participating in the Wingman Program at my school has strengthened my mentorship abilities. The Wingman Program is an inclusion program that brings groups of students together who might not otherwise interact. Through team building activities, I lead 30 of my peers out of their comfort zones so they can learn more about themselves and others. I was able to learn how to bring people together that would have never met and allow them to create brand new friendships. As a baseball coach, my responsibilities are similar. I have been an avid baseball player my entire life and just recently got the chance to coach for the first time. This is an amazing experience because it allows me to give younger players advice that I wish I had when I was their age – it is amazing to watch my players grow and thrive based on the knowledge and skills that I have given them. Even when they don’t listen or are difficult during practice, I take pride in knowing that they look up to me and I am setting a good example for their future. Coaching baseball has taught me a lot about collaboration; this is a skill that is also very important as a member of DECA, an organization that prepares students for careers in business-related fields. Along with my partner, Joseph, I tackle business problems and learn about different areas of business work, such as marketing and accounting. During competitions, Joseph and I have to work together to problem-solve in real-world settings. This is when my leadership side kicks in: I learn to take criticism, adapt to my partner’s needs, and take responsibility for my part of the team, lessons that serve me not only in DECA but in baseball and the Wingman Program as well. Finally, my leadership culminates in my role as an environmentalist. As a trail steward and conservationist, I am an advocate for the environment. I use the skills that I have learned in all of my other leadership roles: bringing people together, problem-solving, and thinking critically. As a second-year college student, I plan to contribute to the campus community through mentorship programs and I will continue the mission I have started as a Wingman and baseball coach through different initiatives, making deeper connections with my peers and excelling in a place where I will grow into a leader capable of fighting to protect and respect our Earth and those who inhabit it.

We all know climate change is one of the biggest threats to the world that we live in at the moment. Whether it be the wildfires that have plagued California, the melting of the polar ice caps, the amount of pollution that we dump into our rivers and oceans or the pollution that we put into the air that we breathe. I believe that getting an education in Environmental Engineering from Northeastern would be the best way for me to help solve this problem. I am eager to help develop technologies or processes that are both environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. Oceans are essential to all life on Earth. They play a hugely important role in the production of oxygen and the absorption of carbon dioxide. The oceans also play a significant part in our freshwater supplies and help to regulate the climate and weather patterns. Protecting this invaluable resource is of critical importance. I will hope to go into a practice that can help get clean water to those that don’t have the readily available access that we do here in the United States. One way I could do this is through desalination plants and working on more efficient ways to desalinate that water that comes from the ocean that is so abundant, but we can't use any of it because it's not clean water and we cannot drink it. This would help the world out so much by allowing those places like the Middle East and Africa to have access to clean water that they never had before. I’d also like to raise awareness and work to develop innovative solutions regarding the lowering of individuals' and corporations carbon footprints. Whether it be working towards reducing energy waste in homes and offices or industrial buildings, conservation and protection of our water sources or developing alternative food production and transportation methods. Cutting our carbon emissions will help to ensure cleaner air, water and food for future generations. We live in a country that has one of the largest carbon footprint rates in the world, we also happen to be one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world and I feel we are capable of significantly doing better. I am encouraged by looking around the world and knowing that I could do better and that I could help people who need it. Leveraging an Environmental Engineering degree would help provide me with the best opportunity to have an extremely positive impact on the world that we live in. With your scholarship, I will grow into a leader capable of fighting to protect and respect our Earth and those who inhabit it.

I was 15 when I went on my first hike. My hometown of New Milford is located in the Housatonic Valley, where mountains, rivers, and forests converge to create a beautiful natural backdrop. However, I did not decide to start hiking the trails of New Milford until the isolation of COVID began to take its toll on me; I was simply expecting to pass a few hours each week by getting outside. Instead, I found a deep passion that would begin to shape my future. On my first hike, Tower Trail at Mt. Tom State Park, I was joined by my mom, dad, and sister. We were completely unprepared for the hot, sticky air that slowed our breathing and caused beads of sweat to bubble on our foreheads as we walked. I worried that the mountainous trail would be too much to handle. Yet, as we hiked, the physical strain started to fade away. Instead, I began to notice the trees — sideways trees growing out of rocks, fallen trees creating a web in the sky. When we reached the end of the trail, I felt an inner peace that I had never experienced. From this point on, I was hooked. With my dad by my side, I traveled across Connecticut and New York, traversing the terrain of the Northeast. The mighty Appalachian mountains have left their mark on the geological ecosystem here; the lower mountain ranges and lush valleys that we journeyed through all traced back to their great peaks. As we hiked the Lake Waramaug Loop, and the Candlewood Trail, I shared with my dad my desire to take my newfound love of nature to the next level. My dad’s encouragement motivated me to seek out the Northwestern Connecticut Land Conservancy (NCLC), where I became a volunteer trail steward for the James Morrissey Family Nature Preserve and Tory’s Cave Trails. Simple tasks such as maintaining access to the only marble cave in Connecticut and monitoring protected areas for specific animal species deepened my knowledge of the history of the region. As time went by, I came to know these trails like the back of my hand and gained confidence in my ability as a steward. As my connection to nature grew, I joined the Mallory Preserve Trail crew that was working on a project in the mountains of Sherman, Connecticut. I learned that back in the Ice Age, the Northeast was home to giant glaciers that manipulated the landscape, which is why Sherman is so rocky and rugged today. As we conversed, we worked towards our goal: making the paths accessible to visitors without leaving a trace. The importance of respecting the natural environment and leaving it undisturbed is an essential lesson I learned from this trail crew, one that motivates me to protect our planet. When we finished, I stood back to admire our work and realize that it would help people explore nature for years to come, long after I was gone. Then, I saw clearly that environmentalism is something that can be more than a hobby - it is possible to turn my passion into a lifelong mission. These experiences have changed my life and shifted my perspective. Meeting new people, taking advantage of the beauty that is around me, and educating myself about its value have inspired me to take my interest to the next level. As I move through college and beyond, I will continue exploring and maintaining the beauty of our natural world while deepening my knowledge through a career in environmental engineering.

In August I began my college journey at Northeastern University, pursuing a degree in Environmental Engineering. As a student, environmentalist, and leader, I hope to dedicate my life to creating a world that is respectful of the environment. Environmental Engineering fascinates me and by combining two passions of mine, engineering, and the environment, through my PLTW experience and my love of conservancy, I realized that I could become a part of the solution. At Northeastern I plan to use the skills that I have developed in all of my other leadership roles: bringing people together, problem-solving, and thinking critically, to contribute to the campus community through mentorship/tutoring programs and I will continue the mission I have started. My first environmental experience was in 2021 when I was building trails. I joined the Mallory Preserve Trail crew that was working on a project in the mountains of Sherman, Connecticut. From my mentors on the trail, I learned that back in the Ice Age, the Northeast was home to giant glaciers that manipulated the landscape, which is why Sherman is so rocky and rugged today. They taught me about which types of animals are native to the area and we practiced bird calls for the White-Breasted Nuthatch and the Eastern Wood Pewee. We worked towards our goal: making the paths accessible to visitors without leaving a trace. The importance of respecting the natural environment and leaving it undisturbed is an essential lesson I learned from this trail crew, one that motivates me to protect our planet. We were taught to be mindful in building trails and natural stairways to preserve and not interfere with the natural movement of water. When we finished, I stood back to admire our work and realized that it would help people explore nature for years to come, long after I was gone. Then, I saw clearly that environmentalism is something that can be more than a hobby - it is possible to turn my passion into a lifelong mission. As my connection to nature grew, I reached out to the Northwestern Connecticut Land Conservancy, where I became a trail steward for the James Morrissey Family Nature Preserve and Tory’s Cave Trails. Simple tasks such as maintaining access for area residents and monitoring protected areas for specific animal species deepened my knowledge of the history of the region. As time went by, I came to know these trails like the back of my hand and gained confidence in my ability as a steward. This past summer I was fortunate enough to be awarded a Land Steward internship program with them where I helped maintain and protect 13,000 acres of vast, connected natural areas, 21 public hiking preserves, 41 working farms, and over 3,000 acres of habitat for rare and endangered species. My family has been instrumental in allowing me to find and pursue this passion. My dad’s encouragement motivated me to seek out the Northwestern Connecticut Land Conservancy initially. I think the best advice I could give to family and friends would be simple: small changes are important. Consciously reduce your water usage, lower your heat and raise your AC settings, RECYCLE and find those small changes that help lower your carbon footprint. Leveraging an Environmental Engineering degree would help provide me with the best opportunity to have an extremely positive impact on the world that we live in. With your scholarship, I will grow into a leader capable of fighting to protect and respect our Earth and those who inhabit it.

30 years from now, future generations will be preparing to inherit this planet and I aspire to provide them with a more sustainable environment than we have today.

We all know climate change is one of the biggest threats to the world that we live in at the moment. Whether it be the wildfires that have plagued California, the melting of the polar ice caps, the amount of pollution that we dump into our rivers and oceans or the pollution that we put into the air that we breathe, we need to do a better job of preserving our precious planet for future generations. My first environmental experience was when I was building trails last summer. I joined the Mallory Preserve Trail crew that was working on a project in the mountains of Sherman, Connecticut. From my mentors on the trail, I learned that back in the Ice Age, the Northeast was home to giant glaciers that manipulated the landscape, which is why Sherman is so rocky and rugged today. They taught me about which types of animals are native to the area and we practiced bird calls for the White-Breasted Nuthatch and the Eastern Wood-Pewee. We worked towards our goal: making the paths accessible to visitors without leaving a trace. The importance of respecting the natural environment and leaving it undisturbed is an essential lesson I learned from this trail crew, one that motivates me to protect our planet. We were taught to be mindful in building trails and natural stairways to preserve and not interfere with the natural movement of water. When we finished, I stood back to admire our work and realized that it would help people explore nature for years to come, long after I was gone. Then, I saw clearly that environmentalism is something that can be more than a hobby - it is possible to turn my passion into a lifelong mission. As my connection to nature grew, I reached out to the Northwestern Connecticut Land Conservancy, where I became a trail steward for the James Morrissey Family Nature Preserve and Tory’s Cave Trails. Simple tasks such as maintaining access for area residents and monitoring protected areas for specific animal species deepened my knowledge of the history of the region. As time went by, I came to know these trails like the back of my hand and gained confidence in my ability as a steward. I believe that getting an education in Environmental Engineering would be the best way for me to help provide research and solutions to this global problem. I am eager to deepen my knowledge and help develop technologies, policies or processes and best practices that will help to limit the pollution that we put into water and find innovative and alternative ways to deal with the pollution that already exists. I am interested in helping develop technologies or processes that will help create buildings that are both environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. Building construction and facilities management with a strong focus on being built with a high degree of environmental efficiency continue to be important. Additionally, building construction needs to incorporate more water-conserving appliances and mechanical systems to help preserve one of the earth's most critical natural resources. We happen to be one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world and I feel we are capable of significantly doing better. Leveraging an Environmental Engineering degree would help provide me with the best opportunity to have an extremely positive impact on the world that we live in. Your scholarship will allow me to get closer to my passions, and my career goals and grow into a leader capable of fighting to protect and respect our Earth and those who inhabit it. Thank you for your consideration.

My identity as an athlete informs every part of my life. I’ve always been seen as the underdog in sports, I was too thin, too slow and not strong enough. But one thing my parents taught me is that I have the ability to work harder than everyone else and still excel. From starting my baseball journey at four years old to my job as a baseball coach, I am dedicating myself to paying it forward and my work ethic will help me accomplish that. I have been an avid baseball player my entire life and just recently got the chance to coach for the first time. This is an amazing experience because it allows me to give younger players advice that I wish I had when I was their age – it is amazing to watch my players grow and thrive based on the knowledge and skills that I have given them. Even when they don’t listen or are difficult during practice, I take pride in knowing that they look up to me and I am setting a good example for their future. This was truly one of the best experiences of my life and I cannot wait to continue coaching for years to come. I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction in being able to see the kids improve upon their skills and watch them grow as players and people. I am also able to learn even more about the game, from a coach's perspective. I can execute new skills now, I can teach what I’ve learned, and I'm still learning. I'm also able to better understand the mindset of the coaches that I've had before and understand it's not as easy as I thought it was. I have a greater amount of respect for my coaches. Today, I still love the game of baseball. I just don't get to play it as much, but I know it can still have a large impact on my life, through coaching, mentoring, continuing to learn and by putting in the work. Through sports, I have built a great network of friends, with whom I share common interests and push each other to live our best lives. As a college student, I hope to contribute to the campus community through mentorship programs and I will continue the mission I have started as a baseball coach through different initiatives, making deeper connections with my peers and excelling in a place where I will grow into a leader capable of fighting to foster growth in others.

The characteristic I value the most in myself is that of being a leader and not just leading by example but also encouraging others to give one hundred percent. My identity as a leader informs every part of my life. From my school’s Wingman Program to my job as a baseball coach, to my role on DECA and my duties as an environmentalist, I am dedicating myself to making the world a better place. Participating in the Wingman Program at my school has strengthened my mentorship abilities. The Wingman Program is an inclusion program that brings groups of students together who might not otherwise interact. Through team building activities, I lead 30 of my peers out of their comfort zone so they can learn more about themselves and others. I was able to learn how to bring people together that would have never met and allow them to create brand new friendships. As a baseball coach, my responsibilities are similar. I have been an avid baseball player my entire life and just recently got the chance to coach for the first time. This is an amazing experience because it allows me to give younger players advice that I wish I had when I was their age – it is amazing to watch my players grow and thrive based on the knowledge and skills that I have given them. Even when they don’t listen or are difficult during practice, I take pride in knowing that they look up to me and I am setting a good example for their future. Coaching baseball has taught me a lot about collaboration; this is a skill that is also very important as a member of DECA, an organization that prepares students for careers in business-related fields. Along with my partner, Joseph, I tackle business problems and learn about how different areas of the fieldwork, such as marketing and accounting. During competitions, Joseph and I have to work together to problem-solve in real-world settings. This is when my leadership side kicks in: I learn to take criticism, adapt to my partner’s needs, and take responsibility for my part of the team, lessons that serve me not only in DECA but in baseball and the Wingman Program as well. Finally, my leadership culminates in my role as an environmentalist. As a trail steward and conservationist, I am an advocate for the environment. I use the skills that I have learned in all of my other leadership roles: bringing people together, problem-solving, and thinking critically. While here at college, I plan to contribute to the campus community through mentorship programs and I will continue the mission I have started as a Wingman and baseball coach through different initiatives, making deeper connections with my peers and excelling in a place where I will grow into a leader capable of fighting to protect and respect our Earth and those who inhabit it.

We all know climate change is one of the biggest threats to the world that we live in at the moment. Whether it be the wildfires that have plagued California, the melting of the polar ice caps, the amount of pollution that we dump into our rivers and oceans or the pollution that we put into our air that we breathe, we need to do a better job of preserving our precious planet for future generations. I am interested in helping develop technologies or processes that will help create buildings that are both environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. Building construction and facilities management with a strong focus on being built with a high degree of environmental efficiency continue to be important. Additionally, building construction needs to incorporate more water-conserving appliances and mechanical systems in order to help preserve one of the earth's most critical natural resources. I am also interested in the practice of improving the environmental effectiveness of desalination plants so that they can continue to get clean water to those who don’t have readily available access as we do here in the United States. Finding alternative uses or disposal techniques for the brine waste will help to ensure a more sustainable planet. My first environmental experience was in 2021 when I was building trails. I joined the Mallory Preserve Trail crew that was working on a project in the mountains of Sherman, Connecticut. From my mentors on the trail, I learned that back in the Ice Age, the Northeast was home to giant glaciers that manipulated the landscape, which is why Sherman is so rocky and rugged today. They taught me about which types of animals are native to the area and we practiced bird calls for the White-Breasted Nuthatch and the Eastern Wood Pewee. We worked towards our goal: making the paths accessible to visitors without leaving a trace. The importance of respecting the natural environment and leaving it undisturbed is an essential lesson I learned from this trail crew, one that motivates me to protect our planet. We were taught to be mindful in building trails and natural stairways to preserve and not interfere with the natural movement of water. When we finished, I stood back to admire our work and realized that it would help people explore nature for years to come, long after I was gone. Then, I saw clearly that environmentalism is something that can be more than a hobby - it is possible to turn my passion into a lifelong mission. As my connection to nature grew, I reached out to the Northwestern Connecticut Land Conservancy, where I became a trail steward for the James Morrissey Family Nature Preserve and Tory’s Cave Trails. Simple tasks such as maintaining access for area residents and monitoring protected areas for specific animal species deepened my knowledge of the history of the region. As time went by, I came to know these trails like the back of my hand and gained confidence in my ability as a steward. This past summer I was fortunate enough to be awarded a Land Steward internship program with them where I helped maintain and protect 13,000 acres of vast, connected natural areas, 21 public hiking preserves, 41 working farms, and over 3,000 acres of habitat for rare and endangered species. I believe that getting an education in Environmental Engineering would be the best way for me to help provide research and solutions to these global problems. I am eager to deepen my knowledge and help develop technologies, policies or processes and best practices that will help to limit the pollution that we put into water and find innovative and alternative ways to deal with the pollution that already exists. We happen to be one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world and I feel we are capable of significantly doing better. Leveraging an Environmental Engineering degree would help provide me with the best opportunity to have an extremely positive impact on the world that we live in. Your scholarship will allow me to get closer to my passions, and my career goals and grow into a leader capable of fighting to protect and respect our Earth and those who inhabit it. Thank you for your consideration.

We all know climate change is one of the biggest threats to the world that we live in at the moment. Whether it be the wildfires that have plagued California, the melting of the polar ice caps, the amount of pollution that we dump into our rivers and oceans or the pollution that we put into our air, we need to do a better job of preserving our precious planet for future generations. I believe that getting an education in Environmental Engineering would be the best way for me to help provide research and solutions to this global problem. I am eager to deepen my knowledge and help develop technologies, policies or processes and best practices that will help to limit the pollution that we put into the air or water and find innovative and alternative ways to deal with pollution that already exists. After getting my degree in Environmental Engineering at Northeastern University I will hope to go into a practice that can help get clean water to those that don’t have the readily available access that we do here in the United States. One way I could do this is opening up desalination plants and working on more efficient ways to desalinate that water that comes from the ocean that is so abundant, but we can't use any of it because it's not clean water and we cannot drink it. This would help the world out so much by allowing those places like the Middle East and Africa Have access to clean water that they never had before. My family has been instrumental in allowing me to find and pursue this passion. My dad’s encouragement motivated me to seek out the Northwestern Connecticut Land Conservancy, where I became a trail steward for the James Morrissey Family Nature Preserve and Tory’s Cave Trails and was able to help take care of and preserve the environment for our community to enjoy and deepen my knowledge of the history of the region. As my connection to nature grew, I joined the Mallory Preserve Trail crew that was working on a project in the mountains of Sherman, Connecticut. The importance of respecting the natural environment and leaving it undisturbed is an essential lesson I learned from this trail crew, one that motivates me to protect our planet. When we finished, I stood back to admire our work and realize that it would help people explore nature for years to come, long after I was gone. It was then, I saw clearly that environmentalism is something that can be more than a hobby - it is possible to turn my passion into a lifelong mission. I’d also like to raise awareness and work to develop innovative solutions regarding the lowering of individuals and corporations carbon footprints. Whether it be working towards reducing energy waste in homes and office or industrial buildings, conservation and protection of our water sources or developing alternative food production and transportation methods. Cutting our carbon emissions will help to ensure cleaner air, water and food for future generations. We live in a country that has one of the largest carbon footprint rates in the world, we also happen to be one of the most technology advanced countries in the world and I feel we are capable of significantly doing better. I am encouraged by looking around at the world and knowing that I could do better and that I could help people who need it. With your scholarship, I will grow into a leader capable of fighting to protect and respect our Earth and those who inhabit it.

We all know climate change is one of the biggest threats to the world that we live in at the moment. Whether it be the wildfires that have plagued California, the melting of the polar ice caps, the amount of pollution that we dump into our rivers and oceans or the pollution that we put into our air that we breathe, we need to do a better job of preserving our precious planet for future generations. I believe that getting an education in Environmental Engineering would be the best way for me to help provide research and solutions to this global problem. I am eager to deepen my knowledge and help develop technologies, policies or processes and best practices that will help to limit the pollution that we put into the air or water and find innovative and alternative ways to deal with pollution that already exists. After getting my degree in Environmental Engineering at Northeastern University I will hope to go into a practice that can help get clean water to those that don’t have the readily available access that we do here in the United States. One way I could do this is opening up desalination plants and working on more efficient ways to desalinate that water that comes from the ocean that is so abundant, but we can't use any of it because it's not clean water and we cannot drink it. This would help the world out so much by allowing those places like the Middle East and Africa Have access to clean water that they never had before. Other areas of Environmental safety with water that intrigue me are improving the efficiency associated with agricultural Irrigation technology and wastewater treatment technology. My family has been instrumental in allowing me to find and pursue this passion. My dad’s encouragement motivated me to seek out the Northwestern Connecticut Land Conservancy, where I became a trail steward for the James Morrissey Family Nature Preserve and Tory’s Cave Trails and was able to help take care of and preserve the environment for our community to enjoy and deepen my knowledge of the history of the region. As my connection to nature grew, I joined the Mallory Preserve Trail crew that was working on a project in the mountains of Sherman, Connecticut. With my mentors we worked towards our goal: making the paths accessible to visitors without leaving a trace. The importance of respecting the natural environment and leaving it undisturbed is an essential lesson I learned from this trail crew, one that motivates me to protect our planet. When we finished, I stood back to admire our work and realize that it would help people explore nature for years to come, long after I was gone. It was then, I saw clearly that environmentalism is something that can be more than a hobby - it is possible to turn my passion into a lifelong mission. Leveraging an Environmental Engineering degree would help provide me with the best opportunity to have an extremely positive impact on the world that we live in. With your scholarship, I will grow into a leader capable of fighting to protect and respect our Earth and those who inhabit it.

My identity as a mentor informs every part of my life. From my school’s Wingman Program, to my job as a baseball coach, I am dedicating myself to pay it forward. Participating in the Wingman Program at my school has strengthened my mentorship abilities. The Wingman Program is an inclusion program that brings groups of students together who might not otherwise interact. Through team building activities, I lead 30 of my peers out of their comfort zone so they can learn more about themselves and others. As a baseball coach, my responsibilities are similar. I have been an avid baseball player my entire life and just recently got the chance to coach for the first time. This is an amazing experience because it allows me to give younger players advice that I wish I had when I was their age – it is amazing to watch my players grow and thrive based on knowledge and skills that I have given them. I take pride in knowing that they look up to me and I am setting a good example for their future. As a blackbelt in Tung Soo Do, I am often called upon to teach and train with the more inexperienced belts. Teaching and leading them through forms and helping educate them on proper self defense techniques, has been rewarding for me, as I love watching them grow and working towards their goal of one day becoming a blackbelt. As a future college student I hope to contribute to the campus community through mentorship programs and I will continue the mission I have started as a Wingman and baseball coach through different initiatives, making deeper connections with my peers and excelling in a place where I will grow into a leader capable of helping to foster growth in others.

Writing about something that fuels me at this time last year, you’d be reading about playing baseball, but a lot can change in a year. I have been an avid baseball player my entire life and last summer I was offered the chance to coach as part of the local baseball organization I play for. Over this past year, I have been working with a group of 13-year-old kids who love the game as much as I do. I’m able to provide these young athletes with an opportunity to get something that I was never able to have when I was their age, a coach/peer. A peer that is slightly older, more experienced, but young enough to closely relate to – it is amazing to watch my players thrive based on the knowledge and skills that I have taught them. I am also able to learn even more about the game, from a coaches perspective. I can execute new skills now, I can teach what I’ve learned, and I'm still learning. I'm also able to better understand the mindset of the coaches that I've had before and understand it's not as easy as I thought it was. I have a greater amount of respect for my coaches. This was truly one of the best experiences of my life and I cannot wait to continue coaching for years to come. I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction in being able to see the kids improve upon their skills and watch them grow as players and people.

We all know climate change is one of the biggest threats to our world that we live in at the moment. Whether it be the amount of pollution that we dump into our rivers and oceans or the pollution that we put into our air that we breathe. I believe that a career in Environmental Engineering would be the best way for me to help solve this problem. I am eager to help develop technologies or processes that will help to limit the pollution that we put into the air or water and find alternative ways to deal with pollution that already exists. I’d also like to raise awareness and work to develop innovative solutions regarding the lower of individuals and corporations carbon footprints. Whether it be working towards reducing energy waste in homes and buildings or developing alternative food production and transportation methods. We live in a country that has one of the largest carbon footprint rates per person in the world, we also happen to be one of the most technology advanced countries in the world and I feel we are capable of significantly doing better. Leveraging a career in Environmental Engineering would help provide me with the best opportunity to have an extremely positive impact on the world that we live in.

We all know climate change is one of the biggest threats to our world that we live in at the moment. Whether it be the amount of pollution that we dump into our rivers and oceans or the pollution that we put into our air that we breathe. I believe that getting an education in Environmental Engineering would be the best way for me to help solve this problem. I am eager to help develop technologies or processes that will help to limit the pollution that we put into the air or water and find alternative ways to deal with pollution that already exists. I’d also like to raise awareness and work to develop innovative solutions regarding the lowering of individuals and corporations carbon footprints. Whether it be working towards reducing energy waste in homes and buildings or developing alternative food production and transportation methods. We live in a country that has one of the largest carbon footprint rates in the world, we also happen to be one of the most technology advanced countries in the world and I feel we are capable significantly doing better. Leveraging an Environmental Engineering degree, would help provide me with the best opportunity to have an extremely positive impact on the world that we live in.