When thinking about my past, my present, and my future, I am drawn to a couple of core beliefs that have been instilled in me: (1.) find your passion and work hard to fulfill your dreams and (2.) always find ways to serve others and work to make the world a better place. In my younger days, I had wonderful experiences working alongside my dad, mom, and brother on several community efforts. Some of my fondest memories came through a project my brother and I started called the “Elfinator” in which we worked to provide Christmas gifts and spread holiday cheer to the residents of the state hospital and one of the nursing homes in my hometown of Glasgow. Several of my little league teammates and friends joined in to create cards and distribute the gifts. I was in my early elementary years then, but I still remember the happiness this project gave me. Just a few years later, in January of 2015, less than a year after relocating to Brownsville, my father was killed by a drunk driver. My life changed instantly in many, many ways. My mom took a “no excuses” approach to my upbringing almost immediately. I had just days earlier turned 11, and my special needs brother was 15 at the time. Though we were in a very low place, my mom said that event would not be the excuse for us to slide. We continued to be pushed to succeed in all areas of our lives, and that push encouraged me to find my love of basketball and my passion for business. We never stopped seeking opportunities to serve our community either, and I even found times to blend all those things together as demonstrated in my work with two groups refurbishing an area park and providing community basketball tournaments and camps. Throughout high school, I have been active in many school organizations and athletic teams and have worked diligently to maintain a 4.0 GPA. This past year, I have stretched myself into more substantial leadership roles including being a part of the KHSAA Student-Athlete Advisory Council, my basketball team’s team captain, and a mentor in the Southcentral Kentucky Team Focus Chapter (a group that works to provide guidance for young men without father figures in their lives). I have found many chances to network with both peers and professionals, and those experiences have definitely shaped who I am and who I want to be. Today, I am thankful to say I will be continuing my academic and athletic careers at Asbury University in the fall. I plan to follow in my father’s footsteps and pursue a career in business. I will be majoring in Business and Marketing with an emphasis in Sports Management and playing basketball. I intend to take advantage of the MBA extension Asbury offers and then will enter the workforce with those core beliefs from my childhood zeroed in, giving 100% in all I do at home, at work, and in my community.

When thinking about my past, my present, and my future, I am drawn to a couple of core beliefs that have been instilled in me: (1.) find your passion and work hard to fulfill your dreams and (2.) always find ways to serve others and work to make the world a better place. In my younger days, I had wonderful experiences working alongside my dad, mom, and brother on several community efforts. Some of my fondest memories came through a project my brother and I started called the “Elfinator” in which we worked to provide Christmas gifts and spread holiday cheer to the residents of the state hospital and one of the nursing homes in my hometown of Glasgow. Several of my little league teammates and friends joined in to create cards and distribute the gifts. I was in my early elementary years then, but I still remember the happiness this project gave me. Just a few years later, in January of 2015, less than a year after relocating to Brownsville, my father was killed by a drunk driver. My life changed instantly in many, many ways. My mom took a “no excuses” approach to my upbringing almost immediately. I had just days earlier turned 11, and my special needs brother was 15 at the time. Though we were in a very low place, my mom said that event would not be the excuse for us to slide. We continued to be pushed to succeed in all areas of our lives, and that push encouraged me to find my love of basketball and my passion for business. We never stopped seeking opportunities to serve our community either, and I even found times to blend all those things together as demonstrated in my work with two groups refurbishing an area park and providing community basketball tournaments and camps. Throughout high school, I have been active in many school organizations and athletic teams and have worked diligently to maintain a 4.0 GPA. This past year, I have stretched myself into more substantial leadership roles including being a part of the KHSAA Student-Athlete Advisory Council, my basketball team’s team captain, and a mentor in the Southcentral Kentucky Team Focus Chapter (a group that works to provide guidance for young men without father figures in their lives). I have found many chances to network with both peers and professionals, and those experiences have definitely shaped who I am and who I want to be. Today, I am thankful to say I will be continuing my academic and athletic careers at Asbury University in the fall. I plan to follow in my father’s footsteps and pursue a career in business. I will be majoring in Business and Marketing with an emphasis in Sports Management and playing basketball. I intend to take advantage of the MBA extension Asbury offers and then will enter the workforce with those core beliefs from my childhood zeroed in, giving 100% in all I do at home, at work, and in my community. Thank you for consideration of my scholarship application.

I’ll never forget rushing to the door to greet my dad one night and instead having my mom and I met at the door by a deputy. He was there to tell us Dad had been killed by a drunk driver. My mom fell to the floor in shock. My autistic brother had a rage outburst. I stood in disbelief. My dad, my hero, was gone without warning. I had just days earlier turned 11, and my life—the whole family existence—changed in an instant. I could have easily become a statistic: the boy in a single parent financially challenged home who went down the wrong path. Instead, with the nudging of just a few people, I persevered and fought through that battle. The loss of my father in 2015 has been one of my main motivating influences in my life. From a very young age, I remember wanting to be like my father, but after losing him, I have strived even harder to reach a level of success he’d be proud of and maintain his strong ethical values. Going through middle and high school without a father was not easy. Having to go through so many important life events without him was hard, but it made me focus in on my goals much harder. In my heart, I always felt like I living a life Dad would be proud of. We had just moved to our home in a new town when Dad was killed. I was homeschooled and didn’t know many people, so when I did enroll in the public high school here my freshman year, the transition was tough. Living in a small community where names matter also made the fight much harder to reach my level is success. My mom has raised my brother and me to have no-excuses attitudes, so while I have maybe had to press harder and fight for things more than some, I know I appreciate what I’ve earned more than many would, too. In my high school career, I have maintained a 4.0 in an honors curriculum and have earned the respect of my peers and community leaders for my drive to succeed and desire to make a positive difference in my world. In spite of all the adversities I’ve faced, I have received three offers to continue my academic and athletic careers in college which is something that doesn’t happen a lot to folks here. This achievement is something I know my father would be beaming with pride about because of the strength and determination it took to earn the opportunity. I consider myself very blessed to have earned a spot to play basketball at my top pick school where I will be in a tremendous business program on an accelerated track to my MBA. At this point, I am stepping out in faith as the cost of attendance is only half met, but just as I have the last eight years, I’m going to push through and fight for my dream. I know that my achieving the next level education will allow me to help provide for my mom and brother who both have health issues, and it will help me continue to work for individuals and families who need encouragement and advocate for people who can’t advocate for themselves. I have been the underdog many times in life, and I have every intention of continuing to fight for underdogs who need a hand up and a voice. My main efforts thus far have been with the homeless, foster teens, and other underprivileged youth in my area. Just having one person make an effort and fight on your behalf can make a world of difference in your heart. I’ve lived it and know firsthand what that encouragement can do. It is my responsibility to return that love. Have no excuses. Fight for what you want. Live in a way that will raise others up. All things my dad believed in, my mom encourages, and I want to continue to do. Thank you for considering my application.