This award honors the memory of Joseph A. Terbrack, whose life as a devoted son, brother, husband, and father was cut short by ALS in 2023. ALS is a progressive nerve disease affecting about 5 in 100,000 Americans annually, claiming over 6,000 lives each year and causing profound pain for families. As a recent high school graduate about to attend college, I apply for this scholarship inspired by Joseph’s legacy and its impact on my family. My mother was diagnosed with ALS in September of 2025, and her rapid decline transformed our lives. Starting with muscle twitches and fatigue, she became paralyzed within months, mirroring the disease’s swift progression. At 15, I became her primary caregiver, dedicating hundreds and thousands of hours to administering medication, assisting with mobility and daily care. School was secondary, sacrificed to prevent falls and manage respiratory emergencies, forcing me to abandon extracurriculars and typical adolescence. My childhood has been overshadowed by doctors, physical therapy, and watching the woman I love deteriorate. This experience reflects how ALS affects entire families, causing pain, role reversals, loneliness, and emotional hardship. Our home, once lively, is now filled with breathing machines and unspoken anxieties. My father works extra shifts to cover expenses, while I carry the emotional burden. Caring for her has reshaped our family, moving us from thriving to just surviving. ALS infiltrates family life, often forcing children into adult roles, creating distance and crisis. I’ve seen friends withdraw out of confusion, leaving me isolated and humiliated. However, from this struggle, I have gained resilience and compassion. Watching my mother’s determination, even to play games with speech difficulties, has taught me that strength lies in confronting vulnerabilities. These lessons, supported by community and honest communication, help me cope. Despite losing typical teenage experiences, i started supporting peers virtually through a ALS teen support group. I have started following the ALS association and been starting to advocate for more ALS awareness and plan to start advocacy programs in my school and provide future resources for family's like mine. This scholarship would ease the financial burden of caregiving, allowing me to focus on my education and future plans. In Joseph Terbrack’s spirit, I want to turn my hardship into advocacy, Supporting ALS groups, creating resources for young caregivers, and helping other children avoid sacrificing their childhoods. Better family support strategies can empower those affected, and I aim to lead such change. I seek this scholarship to honor Joseph’s life and shed light on families devastated by ALS. My journey from caregiver to scholar demonstrates perseverance and resilience. With your support, I will rebuild my future and work to improve others’ lives, ensuring no child endures the heartbreak I have faced.

Getting a college degree is my chance to rewrite my family's future and uplift my community. As a Puerto Rican-Bolivian woman raised in Maryland by immigrant parents, I share struggles common to many Latino students: limited access to guidance and financial resources, along with prejudices that contribute to lower graduation rates among Hispanics. Yet, earning a degree can significantly reduce income and wealth gaps between Hispanic and white households. Enrolling in FIT's Fashion Business Management program will equip me with essential skills in marketing, global promotions, and product development. This knowledge will not only help me succeed but also serve as a path for other first-generation students to build lasting wealth through fashion industry careers. If I cannot afford FIT, I plan to develop skills through similar means. I am already designing patterns inspired by my cultural heritage, producing seasonal collections, and running an online clothing business. I strongly believe in sustainability, using natural dyes that align with growing consumer demand for eco-conscious fashion. Leaders now combine sustainability with business-savvy traits I seek to develop. College will provide a platform to establish an environmentally conscious clothing line featuring Puerto Rican and Bolivian patterns, helping reduce fashion waste. Education empowers minority-owned businesses and fosters Hispanic representation through sustainable revenue growth. My broader goal is to demonstrate that underserved minorities can achieve success by creating jobs and offering ethically produced fashion, challenging stereotypes that we lack a place in design and innovation. FIT will help turn my creative ideas into a viable business, translating concepts into tangible outcomes. Despite financial hardship, family responsibilities, and industry barriers—primarily faced by minorities-scholarship support will remove obstacles and strengthen my commitment. Investing in a motivated minority student like me redefines success: honoring heritage while promoting sustainability, uplifting Hispanic communities, and fostering innovation. Higher education will break the cycle of poverty I was born into, transforming ideas into wealth, empowering me, and securing my future. I am driven to bring representation and empowerment to an exclusive industry. With the right resources, I can make a measurable impact, showing minority students that success in creative and entrepreneurial fields is attainable. A scholarship is crucial to blend cultural pride, environmental responsibility, and business acumen into sustainable, culturally rooted fashion. This support will leverage education to uplift marginalized voices, foster innovation, and create economic empowerment rooted in my identity. In conclusion, a scholarship will harness my talent to uplift my community, challenge stereotypes, and pioneer sustainable fashion. By investing in my potential, you support a future where heritage, sustainability, and entrepreneurship intersect for underserved communities.

My dream of starting a clothing line is strongly influenced by my Puerto Rican and Bolivian heritage, proving that personal background can contribute to business goals in the fast-paced fashion industry. I, as a daughter of Puerto Rican and Bolivian parents, take tremendous pride in my culture, and it will certainly show in my sketches by including vivid details, such as the elegant skirts of Bolivian chola style or the rich colors of Puerto Rican bomba cloth. I aim to earn a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Business Management from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), known for its rigorous programs in fashion marketing, entrepreneurship, global supply chains, and product development. If the FIT opportunity fails to materialize, I am eager to attend a similar school with the appropriate course offerings. It would perfectly align with my plan of a sustainable brand built with recycled fabrics, changeable seasonal styles, and an online presence designed to share untold cultural stories. The ever-increasing cost of college presents extreme challenges to minority and low-income students like myself, as a small number will eventually reach higher education than others. Scholarships help in such endeavors, providing access for those who would not have it otherwise. A significant turning point, solidifying my commitment to empowering others through fashion, occurred several years ago, when my adopted step-cousin Haylie, who became pregnant at the age of 15, was disowned by her father and was left with nothing in the city shelter in our city. Already battling the stigmas of teen pregnancy, Haylie was feeling shame and isolation and was experiencing a complete loss of self-confidence due to the unfamiliar changes in her body and uncertain future, similar to many other young women like her. Using my skills in sewing recycled fabrics and in sketching culturally inspired looks, I was able to design her one-of-a-kind pregnancy clothes, a loose dress blending pollera elements in my grandmother’s finds and our family wraps embellished with bomba patterns, and send them to her to inspire and celebrate her strength, beauty, and roots in an environmentally conscious way. While giving Haylie the outfits, I was able to talk and guide her, providing her with styling tips and alterations to flatter her new shape and helping her embrace her new life as a mother with dignity. Initially, Haylie flourished, with a boost in self-esteem, she was able to show off photos of her maternity pictures to those at the shelter, offering support and shedding positive energy throughout our family. Unfortunately, she eventually ran away from the shelter, and her location is currently unknown, but I am hopeful that she is okay and doing well. This moment taught me that fashion is more than simply stylish garments; it is a method of strength, blending traditions and business to improve lives, just like new Latin designers combine ancient craftsmanship and modern styles. The scholarship that I am applying for will enable every student an opportunity to earn a higher education. Your help will allow me to attend FIT debt-free so that I may take courses in Inventory Management and Global Marketing, develop my brand-making jobs that support traditions, and give back. My story proves that opportunities such as these are what translate cultural dreams into accomplishments for all involved. Thank you for believing in my story.

To me, being an "IT" girl, as described by Tamika Angelica Nurse in her inspiring books The IT Girl Rules: It’s Getting Haute in Here and The IT Girl Rules: Get Hired and Stay Hired, means showing confident ambition and the ability to uplift others while pursuing my dreams. It’s about becoming a superwoman who blends cultural roots with modern innovation, turning challenges into fashion successes. In my fashion career, I plan to follow key "it" girl rules, such as networking boldly and focusing on myself. These ideas appear in entrepreneurial guides that highlight personal style and strong mindsets for women in competitive fields. These principles will guide me as I work toward a Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Business Management at the Fashion Institute of Technology. There, I plan to study fashion marketing, sales management, entrepreneurship, global marketing, inventory management, and product development skills that are vital for launching my sustainable clothing line inspired by Puerto Rican and Bolivian heritage. My journey has been shaped by challenges as a proud Puerto Rican-Bolivian young woman raised in Maryland. I navigated the complexities of a bicultural identity in a society that often overlooks Latin American nuances. Growing up, I dealt with racism in my community, When i was a child in Elementary School I dealt with many people mocking me for being Latina, They often would call me things like "beaner" and say "go back to your country" and i always felt to Spanish for them but when i came home i felt too white because i couldn't speak Spanish and some of my family could only speak Spanish and i was never able to communicate with them. Balancing school work while volunteering and trying to find jobs, babysitting, and doing small things around my neighborhood, it tested my determination, especially during my mother's ALS diagnosis, which added emotional and financial stress. As an underrepresented minority, I also faced bias in school clubs. My designs combining Andean textiles with urban streetwear were dismissed as "niche." However, I overcame these obstacles through perseverance and proactive efforts. Drawing from studies on resilient minority women entrepreneurs, I learned strategies like self-reliance and building community networks, similar to Bolivian indigenous designers who turn marginalization into strength. I taught myself to sew using YouTube, repurposing recycled fabrics into garments that celebrate my heritage, like colorful huipiles transformed into eco-friendly bomber jackets. This experience improved my skills and built my portfolio. I secured volunteer positions at church fashion drives where I styled outfits for underprivileged girls, which deepened my passion for service. Looking ahead, I want to make a strong impact on my community by launching "SAGE☆," a clothing line that uses my recycled materials to create seasonal collections infused with Latin American designs. My goal is to promote sustainability and cultural pride in the fashion industry. Inspired by successes like Bolivian pollera couture at New York Fashion Week, I want to offer workshops that teach Latina teens sewing and entrepreneurship, helping to bridge generational gaps and economic divides. As a Latina entrepreneur, my brand will prioritize ethical practices, such as fair wages and zero-waste production, in line with the call for strong female-led ventures in fashion. By developing an online store and growing my business through FIT's entrepreneurship training, I aim to hire local immigrant women, donate proceeds to Maryland youth programs, and inspire "IT" girls across the country to mix heritage with hard work. This scholarship will help me advance toward FIT and honor Tamika's legacy by showing that dedication, passion, and purpose can change fashion for underrepresented voices.

My journey in fashion design has been shaped by my mixed background. I have a Puerto Rican father and a Bolivian mother, which gives me pride as a Puerto Rican-Bolivian-American from Maryland. Growing up in a home where two cultures blended inspired my interest in fashion. I watched my parents incorporate the vibrant elements of Latin American culture into their everyday lives. This included the intricate embroidery found in Bolivian aguayos and the striking vejigantes costumes from Puerto Rico. To me, fashion is more than just clothing. It allows me to celebrate my heritage while progressing forward. I believe this realization is why I decided to pursue fashion design. As a child, I was always amazed by how clothes reflect identity and class. This understanding led me to admire Latin American artists who use local patterns in their work. They inspired me to create designs influenced by Andean and Caribbean elements. To gain hands-on experience, I taught myself to make clothes from old materials, turning them into unique fashion statements similar to the Brazilian Gaucho style. This not only improved my technical skills in pattern making and inventory management but also sparked my passion for starting an eco-friendly business, especially with the rising trend of upcycling in fashion. My ultimate goal is to earn a bachelor's degree in fashion business management at FIT. The rigorous academic program covers fashion marketing, logistics, and product design, all crucial for success in the fashion industry. FIT’s focus on innovative methods through interdisciplinary education gives students a competitive edge. Combining business skills with creativity is vital in fashion. If FIT does not accept me, I will seek similar opportunities at other colleges. However, the scholarship is critical because I am a sophomore from a working-class background, and I need help to follow my creative path. My involvement in fashion has been transformative. It has taught me resilience and the value of community. Designing seasonal collections with Latino-inspired elements, such as a rebozo made from recycled polyester, has boosted my confidence. I have created prototypes for a website that has sold items to my relatives and peers. The fashion industry has also emphasized the importance of strategic planning, such as identifying trends and ethically sourcing materials, which are essential in fashion design. Ultimately, fashion design allows me to merge my Puerto Rican-Bolivian heritage with business skills. I create designs that celebrate diversity and sustainability. This craft has fueled my passion and changed my life by teaching me discipline, creativity, and vision. With this scholarship, I can continue my studies and support the next generation of culturally inspired designers who will shine on runways and in galleries worldwide.