My name is Zaragosa Maldonado. I am a 42-year-old husband and father of two growing daughters. I am half Hispanic half white. I would have to say in my early and younger childhood that was one of my biggest roadblocks. My dad was full Hispanic, and my mom was white. I was born and raised in a small rural farm community. There were other Mexican families in our town, but we were the only Maldonado's. I had no family that lived in town or even close by for that matter. My mom's family disowned her when they found out my dad was Hispanic. I never knew her side of the family. Even still to this day. The other Mexican kids in town always picked on my and told me I wasn't Hispanic because I wasn't like them, full blooded. That's how it always was. I think it shaped me in a way to be more driven. I always wanted to show all those people that said I wasn't one of them that I could do great things. I always wanted to show my mom's family that they missed out. That when I did do great things they could never claim to be a part of that. They were never there for me, so they don't get to claim my achievements. It has always been important to me to be the first in my family. To make the few family members I did have proud. I did achieve that. I graduated high school and went to the community college. It took me 3 years, but I earned my associates degree in broadcasting. Yes, I was the first one in my family to earn a college degree of any kind, but I always felt I wasn't whole. That it wasn't legit because it wasn't a bachelor's degree. Every job application has the requirement of a bachelor's degree. I always felt good about what I accomplished but I never felt whole. It was good but not good enough. After turning 40 I looked at some things that I felt I needed to accomplish for me. One of them was getting that bachelor's degree. I wanted to still be the first Maldonado to get one and with my daughter now 11 years old that window is shrinking. I mean she may not want to go to college and that's fine. I want her to do what makes her happy. I would really love for her to go but at the end of the day I want her to do what makes her happy. So, I have been taking a few classes at a time and I am almost there. I just need a little financial help so I can take a few more classes than just one at a time so I can get this done before my daughters get one. I want to Be the first Maldonado. My wife has a bachelors and a master's, so I want my girls to be the first Maldonado's with both parents having a bachelor's degree. I always put my family first and have looked at this journey as only mine and I could only do it as long as it doesn't take away from what my kids need and want. I don't want to take money from our family funds that they need for dance and sports and all the things they need to do that I didn't get to do as a kid. That is why I just need a little help to get to the finish line. thank you for considering me.

My name is Zaragosa Maldonado. I am a 42-year-old husband and father of two growing daughters. I have worked in local broadcast news for 21 years. I have been doing it longer now than I haven't been. Now I know there are probably many younger applicants that are just as or even more deserving of a scholarship than me and in the past, I would've just not applied for help but finishing this bachelor's degree in journalism has become my main priority only second to my family. I am an only child. Born to two 17-year-old parents that had to go to night school to just graduate high school. We were lower class. My parents never went to college and as far as I know my grandparents were barely high school educated. Education was something that was looked at as a way to get out of the cycle and move up the ladder and do better things. In high school took all the AV classes so I could always be a part of doing the daily announcements, shooting the sports games and even doing the class senior video. I loved making highlight tapes for teammates and even did a special highlight video for my high school football team my senior year because we won the 1998 Class B State Championship. I was able to attend the local community college for free because of a scholarship I won in the 5th grade called, The Possible Dream Scholarship at Delta College. If not for that opportunity I know I wouldn't have attended college. It took me 3 years to get my associates in broadcasting while I worked at the PBS station on campus, but I earned it. After graduation I had no job and didn't know what I was going to do. I wanted to make movies. My professor called and said the local TV station was looking for temporary employees and they wanted to know who his best students where and that he gave them my name. They called and I got a temporary job at the Local TV station WNEM TV5. It was amazing. I had grown up my whole life watching that station. I knew all the faces and names and now I was going to work with them. It took me 4 years to earn a full-time job, but I worked there for 13 years. Even becoming the union president. I honed my craft by sending myself to NPPA school and worked my way to a bigger market in Detroit. After spending 21 years in the business, I want to make it better. I want to make a difference. Unfortunately, unless I have a bachelor's degree no one takes me seriously. I want to eliminate the opportunity for them to tell me no just because I don't have a bachelor's degree. I have gone back to school to earn my bachelor's in journalism, and I am almost there. I want to be the first one in my family to get a bachelor's degree before my daughters beat me. It's important to me to show them that whenever you want you can challenge yourself to be better. And you can achieve it. I also want to lead people in this industry as a leader that came from the rank and file. Every day before my daughters go to school, I tell them Don't be afraid to try, to raise your hand, to ask questions don't be afraid to fail and DON"T BE AFAID TO BE GREAT. I want to show them dad can be great too. Thank you.

I know the scholarship info states sports broadcasting or sports journalism, but I am only a journalism major. I do not have an option for one or the other, so my major is just journalism. But as broadcast news evolves the likelihood that one only lives in the sports world is highly unlikely and that is why I want to still try and apply. I hope I can earn your consideration. My name is Zaragosa Maldonado. I am a 42-year-old husband and father of two growing daughters. I have worked in local broadcast news for 21 years. I have been doing it longer now than I haven't been. Now I know there are probably many younger applicants that are just as or even more deserving of a scholarship than me and in the past, I would've just not applied for help but finishing this bachelor's degree in journalism has become my main priority only second to my family. I am an only child. Born to two 17-year-old parents that had to go to night school to just graduate high school. We were lower class. My parents never went to college and as far as I know my grandparents were barely high school educated as well. Education was something that was looked at as a way to get out of the cycle and move up the ladder and do better things. In high school took all the AV classes so I could always be a part of doing the daily announcements, shooting the sports games and even doing the class senior video. I loved making highlight tapes for teammates and even did a special highlight video for my high school football team my senior year because we won the 1998 Class B state Championship. I was able to attend the local community college for free because of a scholarship I won in the 5th grade called, The Possible Dream Scholarship at Delta College. If not for that opportunity I know I wouldn't have attended college. It took me 3 years to get my associates in broadcasting while I worked at the PBS station on campus, but I earned it. After graduation I had no job and didn't know what I was going to do. I wanted to make movies. My professor called and said the local TV station was looking for temporary employees and they wanted to know who his best students where and that he gave them my name. They called and I got a temporary job at the Local TV station WNEM TV5. It was amazing. I had grown up my whole life watching that station. I knew all the faces and names and now I was going to work with them. It took me 4 years to earn a full-time job, but I worked there for 13 years. Even becoming the union president. I honed my craft by sending myself to NPPA school and worked my way to a bigger marked in Detroit. After spending 21 years in the business, I want to make it better. I want it to be more than what it is. Unfortunately, unless I have a bachelor's degree no one takes me seriously. So, I want to eliminate the opportunity for them to tell me no. I have gone back to school to earn my bachelor's in journalism, and I am almost there. I want to be the first one in my family to get a bachelor's degree. I also want to lead people in this industry as a leader that came from the rank and file. Thank you.

I know the scholarship info states sports broadcasting or sports journalism, but I am only a journalism major. I do not have an option for one or the other, so my major is just journalism. But as broadcast news evolves the likelihood that one only lives in the sports world is highly unlikely and that is why I want to still try and apply. I hope I can earn your consideration. My name is Zaragosa Maldonado. I am a 42-year-old husband and father of two growing daughters. I have worked in local broadcast news for 21 years. I have been doing it longer now than I haven't been. Now I know there are probably many younger applicants that are just as or even more deserving of a scholarship than me and in the past, I would've just not applied for help but finishing this bachelor's degree in journalism has become my main priority only second to my family. I am an only child. Born to two 17-year-old parents that had to go to night school to just graduate high school. We were lower class. My parents never went to college and as far as I know my grandparents were barely high school educated as well. Education was something that was looked at as a way to get out of the cycle and move up the ladder and do better things. In high school took all the AV classes so I could always be a part of doing the daily announcements, shooting the sports games and even doing the class senior video. I loved making highlight tapes for teammates and even did a special highlight video for my high school football team my senior year because we won the 1998 Class B state Championship. I was able to attend the local community college for free because of a scholarship I won in the 5th grade called, The Possible Dream Scholarship at Delta College. If not for that opportunity I know I wouldn't have attended college. It took me 3 years to get my associates in broadcasting while I worked at the PBS station on campus, but I earned it. After graduation I had no job and didn't know what I was going to do. I wanted to make movies. My professor called and said the local TV station was looking for temporary employees and they wanted to know who his best students where and that he gave them my name. They called and I got a temporary job at the Local TV station WNEM TV5. It was amazing. I had grown up my whole life watching that station. I knew all the faces and names and now I was going to work with them. It took me 4 years to earn a full-time job, but I worked there for 13 years. Even becoming the union president. I honed my craft by sending myself to NPPA school and worked my way to a bigger marked in Detroit. After spending 21 years in the business, I want to make it better. I want it to be more than what it is. Unfortunately, unless I have a bachelor's degree no one takes me seriously. So, I want to eliminate the opportunity for them to tell me no. I have gone back to school to earn my bachelor's in journalism, and I am almost there. I want to be the first one in my family to get a bachelor's degree. I also want to lead people in this industry as a leader that came from the rank and file. Thank you.

I know the scholarship info states sports broadcasting or sports journalism, but I am only a journalism major. I do not have an option for one or the other, so my major is just journalism. But as broadcast news evolves the likelihood that one only lives in the sports world is highly unlikely and that is why I want to still try and apply. I hope I can earn your consideration. My name is Zaragosa Maldonado. I am a 42-year-old husband and father of two growing daughters. I have worked in local broadcast news for 21 years. I have been doing it longer now than I haven't been. Now I know there are probably many younger applicants that are just as or even more deserving of a scholarship than me and in the past, I would've just not applied for help but finishing this bachelor's degree in journalism has become my main priority only second to my family. I am an only child. Born to two 17-year-old parents that had to go to night school to just graduate high school. We were lower class. My parents never went to college and as far as I know my grandparents were barely high school educated as well. Education was something that was looked at as a way to get out of the cycle and move up the ladder and do better things. In high school took all the AV classes so I could always be a part of doing the daily announcements, shooting the sports games and even doing the class senior video. I loved making highlight tapes for teammates and even did a special highlight video for my high school football team my senior year because we won the 1998 Class B state Championship. I was able to attend the local community college for free because of a scholarship I won in the 5th grade called, The Possible Dream Scholarship at Delta College. If not for that opportunity I know I wouldn't have attended college. It took me 3 years to get my associates in broadcasting while I worked at the PBS station on campus, but I earned it. After graduation I had no job and didn't know what I was going to do. I wanted to make movies. My professor called and said the local TV station was looking for temporary employees and they wanted to know who his best students where and that he gave them my name. They called and I got a temporary job at the Local TV station WNEM TV5. It was amazing. I had grown up my whole life watching that station. I knew all the faces and names and now I was going to work with them. It took me 4 years to earn a full-time job, but I worked there for 13 years. Even becoming the union president. I honed my craft by sending myself to NPPA school and worked my way to a bigger marked in Detroit. After spending 21 years in the business, I want to make it better. I want it to be more than what it is. Unfortunately, unless I have a bachelor's degree no one takes me seriously. So, I want to eliminate the opportunity for them to tell me no. I have gone back to school to earn my bachelor's in journalism, and I am almost there. I want to be the first one in my family to get a bachelor's degree. I also want to lead people in this industry as a leader that came from the rank and file. Thank you.