Giving and Growing by Avery Walker I may have been volunteering and growing in Grand County for as long as I remember, but I finally found my passion when I started working a year and 1/2 ago for a local Property Management office. If it wasn't for the housing and employee shortage in our community and the fact that I started online school due to Covid, I probably never would have had the opportunity to become an accounting clerk. I started making copies and doing the mail and there was such a need, I just kept getting promoted and earning more advanced job responsibilities. This inspired me to study Business and Public Administration with a minor in entrepreneurial studies at Grand Canyon University. I want to find problems that are affecting our community and work with passionate knowledgeable people to execute positive improvements on others and the community I live in. I have grown up seeing the value of service and plan on continuing to volunteer and serve my whole life. I’ve been volunteering for as long as I can remember with my family, friends and fellow church members so it just makes sense to me to continue during college and after I graduate. When I helped with local winter decorations, volunteered for health fairs or when I helped with food or cleanup for the 4th of July BBQ in the park, it felt good to give and I felt valued. A lot of my friends or the people I grew up with volunteered at church, the Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce and it just made sense to me to do the same and it was fun and it felt good to help. I enjoyed volunteered weekly with our local church by running the audio/video equipment and I even videoed MPHS football games. In fact, Grand Canyon University (GCU) is my top college not just because of affordability, but also because their vision is to cultivate a compassionate community by serving others in a way that promotes the welfare of all. GCU has multiple fundraisers for good causes, blood drives, a big Habitat for Humanity volunteer group, and many more volunteering platforms for both students and faculty so I will have many good options in college to learn more, make new friends and serve. I’ve learned so much from working and volunteering in my community and I plan on giving back when I graduate by creating a small business and/or working in public administration. Then I want to join a service organization like the Rotary or Lions club. I want to continue to learn, grow, and give back to my community because I am who I am because of the leaders I got to learn from and the community I grew up in. I am lucky to have grown up in Granby and have been inspired by so many that have volunteered and given so much to make Grand County better and that’s why I’ve chosen to study Business and Public Administration. I have a lot to offer, and I know that I will take the skills, love of small business and my dedication to service to college and beyond. I just need scholarships and a good education to reach my goals. Thank you for your time and for giving to help students.

My unique qualities stem from my autism, dyslexia and ADD and it’s made me who I am today. I was hospitalized in middle school due to my depression and suicidal idolization and that’s when I was first diagnosed. If others were to describe me, I would think they’d tell you about my slow, meticulous, and thoughtful nature. I’m detail oriented and I have very good manners. I’m described as quirky and I think of unique questions and ways to solve problems. I’ve sometimes been called a robot or weird. To be honest, I’ve never liked these words or how well they describe me. Because of my learning and mental health struggles, I have always needed to figure out a different way to do things and nothing has ever been easy, but this made me stubborn and unwilling to give up. My learning difficulties don’t define me, but they helped make me who I am. I didn’t believe in myself or realize how much I had learned until I started working a year and 1/2 ago as an accounting clerk for a local property management office. My parents are involved with the local Rotary club, so I've been volunteering for as long as I can remember. For example, I've assisted with yearly health fairs and the Rotary 4th of July BBQ in the park that raises scholarship funds for local students. In addition, I was also a volunteer for the local MPHS football team where my dad is a coach, and my sister is a football manager. I filmed all the Friday home and away football games. Moreover, I volunteered weekly with our local church by running the audio/video equipment. I didn’t know what I was capable of, but within six months of working in this small accountant office, I was promoted to an accountant clerk. This was the biggest accomplishment of my life and gave me a passion for business and finding ways to make everything more efficient for everyone. Juggling school and my accounting job was very challenging. I was trained on new responsibilities every day, but I found myself forgetting important tasks that I had already been trained on. I had to adapt to succeed so I began creating procedures for my work tasks. My procedures were so helpful, I was even given the responsibility to train other employees. I was the youngest in my office, but found that people were coming to me for help and this made me feel amazing. I utilized my calendar and scheduled appointments, alarms, and reminders to keep me on track. I had everything saved and organized online so that if I was at home or in the office, I could always access my work from anywhere and this was helpful to my whole team. Now, I am even more confident in my abilities and I am proud to apply for this scholarship. I have a lot to offer, but I just need scholarships and a good education to reach my goals. I’m a realist. I’m not a talker. I’m not a people pleaser. I’m an ethical, creative, and hardworking problem solver which is why I’ve chosen to study Business and Public Administration. I want to find problems that are affecting our community and work with passionate knowledgeable people to execute positive improvements and support others like me so they know what is possible when all seems lost.

Giving and Growing by Avery Walker I may have been volunteering and growing in Grand County for as long as I remember, but I finally found my passion when I started working a year and 1/2 ago for a local Property Management office. If it wasn't for the housing and employee shortage in our community and the fact that I started online school due to Covid, I probably never would have had the opportunity to become an accounting clerk. I started making copies and doing the mail and there was such a need, I just kept getting promoted and earning more advanced job responsibilities. This inspired me to study Business and Public Administration with a minor in entrepreneurial studies at Grand Canyon University. I want to find problems that are affecting our community and work with passionate knowledgeable people to execute positive improvements on others and the community I live in. I have grown up seeing the value of service and plan on continuing to volunteer and serve my whole life. I’ve been volunteering for as long as I can remember with my family, friends and fellow church members so it just makes sense to me to continue during college and after I graduate. When I helped with local winter decorations, volunteered for health fairs or when I helped with food or cleanup for the 4th of July BBQ in the park, it felt good to give and I felt valued. A lot of my friends or the people I grew up with volunteered at church, the Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce and it just made sense to me to do the same and it was fun and it felt good to help. I enjoyed volunteered weekly with our local church by running the audio/video equipment and I even videoed MPHS football games. In fact, Grand Canyon University (GCU) is my top college not just because of affordability, but also because their vision is to cultivate a compassionate community by serving others in a way that promotes the welfare of all. GCU has multiple fundraisers for good causes, blood drives, a big Habitat for Humanity volunteer group, and many more volunteering platforms for both students and faculty so I will have many good options in college to learn more, make new friends and serve. I’ve learned so much from working and volunteering in my community and I plan on giving back when I graduate by creating a small business and/or working in public administration. Then I want to join a service organization like the Rotary or Lions club. I want to continue to learn, grow, and give back to my community because I am who I am because of the leaders I got to learn from and the community I grew up in. I am lucky to have grown up in Granby and have been inspired by so many that have volunteered and given so much to make Grand County better and that’s why I’ve chosen to study Business and Public Administration. I have a lot to offer, and I know that I will take the skills, love of small business and my dedication to service to college and beyond. I just need scholarships and a good education to reach my goals. Thank you for your time and for giving to help students.

Giving and Growing by Avery Walker I may have been volunteering and growing in Grand County for as long as I remember, but I finally found my passion when I started working a year and 1/2 ago for a local Property Management office. If it wasn't for the housing and employee shortage in our community and the fact that I started online school due to Covid, I probably never would have had the opportunity to become an accounting clerk. I started making copies and doing the mail and there was such a need, I just kept getting promoted and earning more advanced job responsibilities. This inspired me to study Business and Public Administration with a minor in entrepreneurial studies at Grand Canyon University. I want to find problems that are affecting our community and work with passionate knowledgeable people to execute positive improvements on others and the community I live in. I have grown up seeing the value of service and plan on continuing to volunteer and serve my whole life. I’ve been volunteering for as long as I can remember with my family, friends and fellow church members so it just makes sense to me to continue during college and after I graduate. When I helped with local winter decorations, volunteered for health fairs or when I helped with food or cleanup for the 4th of July BBQ in the park, it felt good to give and I felt valued. A lot of my friends or the people I grew up with volunteered at church, the Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce and it just made sense to me to do the same and it was fun and it felt good to help. I enjoyed volunteered weekly with our local church by running the audio/video equipment and I even videoed MPHS football games. In fact, Grand Canyon University (GCU) is my top college not just because of affordability, but also because their vision is to cultivate a compassionate community by serving others in a way that promotes the welfare of all. GCU has multiple fundraisers for good causes, blood drives, a big Habitat for Humanity volunteer group, and many more volunteering platforms for both students and faculty so I will have many good options in college to learn more, make new friends and serve. I’ve learned so much from working and volunteering in my community and I plan on giving back when I graduate by creating a small business and/or working in public administration. Then I want to join a service organization like the Rotary or Lions club. I want to continue to learn, grow, and give back to my community because I am who I am because of the leaders I got to learn from and the community I grew up in. I am lucky to have grown up in Granby and have been inspired by so many that have volunteered and given so much to make Grand County better and that’s why I’ve chosen to study Business and Public Administration. I have a lot to offer, and I know that I will take the skills, love of small business and my dedication to service to college and beyond. I just need scholarships and a good education to reach my goals. Thank you for your time and for giving to help students.

My parents are involved with the local Rotary club, so I've been volunteering for as long as I can remember. For example, I've assisted with yearly health fairs and the Rotary 4th of July BBQ in the park that raises scholarship funds for local students. In addition, I was also a volunteer for the local MPHS football team where my dad is a coach, and my sister is a football manager. I filmed all the Friday home and away football games. Volunteering gave me confidence and I loved helping and finding ways to solve problems, but I didn’t know what I was capable of. I didn’t believe in myself or realize how much I had learned until I started working a year and 1/2 ago as an accounting clerk for a local property management office. Within six months of working in this small accountant office, I was promoted to an accountant clerk. This was the biggest accomplishment of my life and gave me a passion for business and finding ways to make everything more efficient for everyone. Juggling school and my accounting job was very challenging. I was trained on new responsibilities every day, but I found myself forgetting important tasks that I had already been trained on. I had to adapt to succeed so I began creating procedures for my work tasks. My procedures were so helpful, I was even given the responsibility to train other employees. I was the youngest in my office, but found that people were coming to me for help and this made me feel amazing. I utilized my calendar and scheduled appointments, alarms, and reminders to keep me on track. I had everything saved and organized online so that if I was at home or in the office, I could always access my work from anywhere and this was helpful to my whole team. In 2020, our small community was devastated by the East Troublesome Fire. In 4 days, the fire went from 10,000 acres to 187,000 acres. We were evacuated and although 366 homes and hundreds of structures were lost, we were lucky that our home was saved. Fire continues to be a fear in our community. The forests surrounding our small town have dead trees due to the pine beetle epidemic. If I had a year to tackle any issue in my community, I would organize teenagers and volunteers in the community to help clean up. We could create mulch or chop the dead trees up for firewood. We could offer the firewood free to those that need it. Many homes in our county still use firewood as a heat source. We could also sell the firewood/mulch and use to help the victims of the fire or we could use the funding to replant trees which would help with erosion. After the fire, I volunteered to hand out water and collect food donations. If I could change one thing in my community, it would be to show others the value of volunteering. Part of the reason I am confident is because I feel that I am of use. I have been volunteering since I was young and while I often felt that I didn't fit in socially in school, I fit in fine when working side by side with other volunteers. I loved that I could help others whether handing out water after the fire or stepping in as a videographer for the football team when they couldn't find anyone else to help. "See a need, fill a need".

Giving and Growing by Avery Walker I may have been volunteering and growing in Grand County for as long as I remember, but I finally found my passion when I started working a year and 1/2 ago for a local Property Management office. If it wasn't for the housing and employee shortage in our community and the fact that I started online school due to Covid, I probably never would have had the opportunity to become an accounting clerk. I started making copies and doing the mail and there was such a need, I just kept getting promoted and earning more advanced job responsibilities. This inspired me to study Business and Public Administration with a minor in entrepreneurial studies at Grand Canyon University. I want to find problems that are affecting our community and work with passionate knowledgeable people to execute positive improvements on others and the community I live in. I have grown up seeing the value of service and plan on continuing to volunteer and serve my whole life. I’ve been volunteering for as long as I can remember with my family, friends and fellow church members so it just makes sense to me to continue during college and after I graduate. When I helped with local winter decorations, volunteered for health fairs or when I helped with food or cleanup for the 4th of July BBQ in the park, it felt good to give and I felt valued. A lot of my friends or the people I grew up with volunteered at church, the Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce and it just made sense to me to do the same and it was fun and it felt good to help. I enjoyed volunteered weekly with our local church by running the audio/video equipment and I even videoed MPHS football games. In fact, Grand Canyon University (GCU) is my top college not just because of affordability, but also because their vision is to cultivate a compassionate community by serving others in a way that promotes the welfare of all. GCU has multiple fundraisers for good causes, blood drives, a big Habitat for Humanity volunteer group, and many more volunteering platforms for both students and faculty so I will have many good options in college to learn more, make new friends and serve. I’ve learned so much from working and volunteering in my community and I plan on giving back when I graduate by creating a small business and/or working in public administration. Then I want to join a service organization like the Rotary or Lions club. I want to continue to learn, grow, and give back to my community because I am who I am because of the leaders I got to learn from and the community I grew up in. I am lucky to have grown up in Granby and have been inspired by so many that have volunteered and given so much to make Grand County better and that’s why I’ve chosen to study Business and Public Administration. I have a lot to offer, and I know that I will take the skills, love of small business and my dedication to service to college and beyond. I just need scholarships and a good education to reach my goals. Thank you for your time and for giving to help students.

Giving and Growing by Avery Walker I may have been volunteering and growing in Grand County for as long as I remember, but I finally found my passion when I started working a year and 1/2 ago for a local Property Management office. If it wasn't for the housing and employee shortage in our community and the fact that I started online school due to Covid, I probably never would have had the opportunity to become an accounting clerk. I started making copies and doing the mail and there was such a need, I just kept getting promoted and earning more advanced job responsibilities. This inspired me to study Business and Public Administration with a minor in entrepreneurial studies at Grand Canyon University. I want to find problems that are affecting our community and work with passionate knowledgeable people to execute positive improvements on others and the community I live in. I have grown up seeing the value of service and plan on continuing to volunteer and serve my whole life. I’ve been volunteering for as long as I can remember with my family, friends and fellow church members so it just makes sense to me to continue during college and after I graduate. When I helped with local winter decorations, volunteered for health fairs or when I helped with food or cleanup for the 4th of July BBQ in the park, it felt good to give and I felt valued. A lot of my friends or the people I grew up with volunteered at church, the Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce and it just made sense to me to do the same and it was fun and it felt good to help. I enjoyed volunteered weekly with our local church by running the audio/video equipment and I even videoed MPHS football games. In fact, Grand Canyon University (GCU) is my top college not just because of affordability, but also because their vision is to cultivate a compassionate community by serving others in a way that promotes the welfare of all. GCU has multiple fundraisers for good causes, blood drives, a big Habitat for Humanity volunteer group, and many more volunteering platforms for both students and faculty so I will have many good options in college to learn more, make new friends and serve. I’ve learned so much from working and volunteering in my community and I plan on giving back when I graduate by creating a small business and/or working in public administration. Then I want to join a service organization like the Rotary or Lions club. I want to continue to learn, grow, and give back to my community because I am who I am because of the leaders I got to learn from and the community I grew up in. I am lucky to have grown up in Granby and have been inspired by so many that have volunteered and given so much to make Grand County better and that’s why I’ve chosen to study Business and Public Administration. I have a lot to offer, and I know that I will take the skills, love of small business and my dedication to service to college and beyond. I just need scholarships and a good education to reach my goals. Thank you for your time and for giving to help students.

Giving and Growing by Avery Walker A Leader sees a need and fills that need, leads by example and is responsible and dedicated to making things better for everyone. If it wasn't for the housing and employee shortage in our community and the fact that I started online school due to Covid, I probably never would have had the opportunity to become an accounting clerk. I started making copies and doing the mail and there was such a need, I just kept getting promoted and earning more advanced job responsibilities. This inspired me to study Business and Public Administration with a minor in entrepreneurial studies at Grand Canyon University. I want to find problems that are affecting our community and work with passionate knowledgeable people to execute positive improvements on others and the community I live in. I have grown up seeing the value of service and plan on continuing to volunteer and serve my whole life. I’ve been volunteering for as long as I can remember with my family, friends and fellow church members so it just makes sense to me to continue during college and after I graduate. When I helped with local winter decorations, volunteered for health fairs or when I helped with food or cleanup for the 4th of July BBQ in the park, it felt good to give and I felt valued. A lot of my friends or the people I grew up with volunteered at church, the Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce and it just made sense to me to do the same and it was fun and it felt good to help. I enjoyed volunteered weekly with our local church by running the audio/video equipment and I even videoed MPHS football games. In fact, Grand Canyon University (GCU) is my top college not just because of affordability, but also because their vision is to cultivate a compassionate community by serving others in a way that promotes the welfare of all. GCU has multiple fundraisers for good causes, blood drives, a big Habitat for Humanity volunteer group, and many more volunteering platforms for both students and faculty so I will have many good options in college to learn more, make new friends and serve. I’ve learned so much from working and volunteering in my community and I plan on giving back when I graduate by creating a small business and/or working in public administration. Then I want to join a service organization like the Rotary or Lions club. I want to continue to learn, grow, and give back to my community because I am who I am because of the leaders I got to learn from and the community I grew up in. I am lucky to have grown up in Granby and have been inspired by so many leaders that have volunteered and given so much to make Grand County better and that’s why I’ve chosen to study Business and Public Administration. I have a lot to offer, and I know that I will take my leadership skills, love of small business and my dedication to service to college and beyond. I just need scholarships and a good education to reach my goals. Thank you for your time and for giving to help students.

Uniquely me My unique qualities stem from my autism, dyslexia and ADD and it’s made me who I am today. I was hospitalized in middle school due to my depression and suicidal idolization and that’s when I was first diagnosed. If others were to describe me, I would think they’d tell you about my slow, meticulous, and thoughtful nature. I’m detail oriented and I have very good manners. I’m described as quirky and I think of unique questions and ways to solve problems. I’ve sometimes been called a robot or weird. To be honest, I’ve never liked these words or how well they describe me. Because of my learning and mental health struggles, I have always needed to figure out a different way to do things and nothing has ever been easy, but this made me stubborn and unwilling to give up. My learning difficulties don’t define me, but they helped make me who I am. I didn’t believe in myself or realize how much I had learned until I started working a year and 1/2 ago as an accounting clerk for a local property management office. My parents are involved with the local Rotary club, so I've been volunteering for as long as I can remember. For example, I've assisted with yearly health fairs and the Rotary 4th of July BBQ in the park that raises scholarship funds for local students. In addition, I was also a volunteer for the local MPHS football team where my dad is a coach, and my sister is a football manager. I filmed all the Friday home and away football games. Moreover, I volunteered weekly with our local church by running the audio/video equipment. I didn’t know what I was capable of, but within six months of working in this small accountant office, I was promoted to an accountant clerk. This was the biggest accomplishment of my life and gave me a passion for business and finding ways to make everything more efficient for everyone. Juggling school and my accounting job was very challenging. I was trained on new responsibilities every day, but I found myself forgetting important tasks that I had already been trained on. I had to adapt to succeed so I began creating procedures for my work tasks. My procedures were so helpful, I was even given the responsibility to train other employees. I was the youngest in my office, but found that people were coming to me for help and this made me feel amazing. I utilized my calendar and scheduled appointments, alarms, and reminders to keep me on track. I had everything saved and organized online so that if I was at home or in the office, I could always access my work from anywhere and this was helpful to my whole team. Now, I am even more confident in my abilities and I am proud to apply for this scholarship. I have a lot to offer, but I just need scholarships and a good education to reach my goals. I’m a realist. I’m not a talker. I’m not a people pleaser. I’m an ethical, creative, and hardworking problem solver which is why I’ve chosen to study Business and Public Administration. I want to find problems that are affecting our community and work with passionate knowledgeable people to execute positive improvements and support others like me so they know what is possible when all seems lost.

We only have one doggy daycare in Granby and they are not accepting new clients. This is a problem because we have a ski resort and tourism is a big part of our economy. Visitors bring their dogs and there is no support for them in Granby at this time and many locals also need this service. So I created a business plan which I hope to continue to develop as I attend GCU's CoAngelo's school of business. I plan on majoring in Business with a minor in entrepreneurial studies. Walker's Doggy Daycare would fill a need in my community. Walker's Doggy Daycare is a business that aims to provide a safe and comfortable boarding facility for dogs in Granby, Colorado. The business will collaborate with local vets and groomers to ensure the best possible care for the animals. The business plan is aimed at solving the problem of pet owners who need to go out of town and have no one to take care of their pets or towards vacationers visiting Grand County and they need a dog sitting while they are skiing or enjoying tourist activities. The company's main competitors are Mountain Mongrels, who are well-known by locals but are no longer accepting new customers. Walker's Doggy Daycare aims to differentiate itself by offering personalized care, pricing strategy, and collaborating with local vets and groomers. The target customers are pet owners who live in Granby and need a safe and comfortable place for their dogs to stay while they are away. The main channels to reach customers are through the local SkyHigh News newspaper company and Facebook. Market The revenue projections for the first year range from $100,000 to $300,000, with a profit margin of 10% to 20%. In the second year, the average revenue is expected to range from $200,000 to $500,000, with a profit margin of 15% to 20%. In the third year, the average revenue is expected to range from $300,000 to $700,000, with a profit margin of 20% to 30%. Strengths / Weaknesses The strengths of the business plan include offering additional services, competitive advantage, and customer satisfaction. The weaknesses include increased costs, limited reach, and coordination challenges. To make the plan more compelling, the business should highlight its unique selling points, offer a comprehensive range of services, and provide personalized customer service. The plan should also include a detailed marketing strategy that leverages social media and local advertising to reach customers in the Granby area.

Hello. I’m Avery Walker. Beastie is my 2 year old Moyen Poodle that acts as my emotional support animal and I’m thrilled to be able to take her to college with me because she is essential for my mental health and wellbeing. My disability is Autism but I wasn’t diagnosed until middle school when I was hospitalized due to depression and suicidal ideation. At that time, I was also diagnosed with ADD and autism and I started getting help to improve my life. At the hospital was the first time I really heard about pet therapy. Autism is a neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder, which means that it affects people in different ways and to different degrees. Some people with autism may have difficulty with social interaction and communication, while others may have repetitive behaviors or very specific interests. For me, I struggled with sensory processing and understanding emotions and social interactions. My processing speeds were slow and I’ve had speech from the age of 3 to 16. Since I was 3, I’ve been working with flashcards and specialists to learn facial expressions so I could better understand the emotions of people around me. As I grew up, I often didn’t know the appropriate reactions. I didn’t know what to do if a friend was hurt or angry with me. People confused me, but animals did not. My senior dog grew too old to go on long walks so a few years ago, I got Beastie. Beastie is 25 pounds of fluffy love. Anytime I need comfort or if I’m having trouble sleeping or exercise, Beastie is there. When I was younger, I was called weird. I was bullied and excluded. I was even called a robot. After years of therapy, training and assistance from friends, family and teachers, I “pass”. Many new people I meet don’t know that I have a disability. I pass because every day, I think about how to react. I’ve memorized appropriate social cues, but it is exhausting because social interactions don’t come naturally to me. I have to constantly be analyzing situations so I can figure out the best response. Beastie is my relief and when I’m with Beastie, I can be myself always. Today, I want people to know that even though someone is autistic, they can live fulfilling lives and an emotional support dog can help regulate emotions, give comfort, relieve anxiety, and help with sleep and exercise. The best thing I can do to help people with autism is to admit that I have a disability and help them see other ways to make their lives better. Autism doesn’t have to limit us. We are capable of making connections. We can be successful. I’ve learned so many strategies and now I’m graduating with a 3.9 GPA and I’m going to Grand Canyon University to study Business and Public Administration. I’ve been concurrently enrolled at a local community college for my senior year and I’ve even worked in an accounting office and trained others! I’m known as patient, well-mannered, smart and calm. This is NOT how I was known when I was younger. Autism and depression does not have to be a roadblock to success and I will be an advocate for others. My depression was a signal that I needed help and luckily, I was able to get it. Early diagnosis and intervention can help individuals with depression and autism. They can develop skills and strategies to manage their symptoms. We can live fulfilling lives too, especially when we have a loyal and loving dog by our side.

Hello. I’m Avery Walker. Beastie is my 2 year old Moyen Poodle that acts as my emotional support animal and I’m thrilled to be able to take her to college with me because she is essential for my mental health and wellbeing. My disability is Autism but I wasn’t diagnosed until middle school when I was hospitalized due to depression and suicidal ideation. At that time, I was also diagnosed with ADD and Autism and I started getting help to improve my life. At the hospital was the first time I really heard about pet therapy. Autism is a neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder, which means that it affects people in different ways and to different degrees. Some people with autism may have difficulty with social interaction and communication, while others may have repetitive behaviors or very specific interests. For me, I struggled with sensory processing and understanding emotions and social interactions. My processing speeds were slow and I’ve had speech from the age of 3 to 16. Since I was 3, I’ve been working with flashcards and specialists to learn facial expressions so I could better understand the emotions of people around me. As I grew up, I often didn’t know the appropriate reactions. I didn’t know what to do if a friend was hurt or angry with me. People confused me, but animals did not. My senior dog grew too old to go on long walks so a few years ago, I got Beastie. Beastie is 25 pounds of fluffy love. Anytime I need comfort or if I’m having trouble sleeping or exercise, Beastie is there. When I was younger, I was called weird. I was bullied and excluded. I was even called a robot. After years of therapy, training and assistance from friends, family and teachers, I “pass”. Many new people I meet don’t know that I have a disability. I pass because every day, I think about how to react. I’ve memorized appropriate social cues, but it is exhausting because social interactions don’t come naturally to me. I have to constantly be analyzing situations so I can figure out the best response. Beastie is my relief and when I’m with Beastie, I can be myself always. Today, I want people to know that even though someone is autistic, they can live fulfilling lives and an emotional support dog can help regulate emotions, give comfort, relieve anxiety, and help with sleep and exercise. The best thing I can do to help people with autism is to admit that I have a disability and help them see other ways to make their lives better. Autism doesn’t have to limit us. We are capable of making connections. We can be successful. I’ve learned so many strategies and now I’m graduating with a 3.9 GPA and I’m going to Grand Canyon University to study Business and Public Administration. I’ve been concurrently enrolled at a local community college for my senior year and I’ve even worked in an accounting office and trained others! I’m known as patient, well-mannered, smart and calm. This is NOT how I was known when I was younger. Autism and depression does not have to be a roadblock to success and I will be an advocate for others. My depression was a signal that I needed help and luckily, I was able to get it. Early diagnosis and intervention can help individuals with depression and autism. They can develop skills and strategies to manage their symptoms. We can live fulfilling lives too, especially when we have a loyal and loving dog by our side.

I’m Not a Robot Hello. I’m Avery Walker. Beastie is my 2 year old Moyen Poodle that acts as my emotional support animal and I’m thrilled to be able to take her to college with me because she is essential for my mental health and wellbeing. My disability is Autism but I wasn’t diagnosed until middle school when I was hospitalized due to depression and suicidal ideation. At that time, I was also diagnosed with ADD and Austism and I started getting help to improve my life. At the hospital was the first time I really heard about pet therapy. Autism is a neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder, which means that it affects people in different ways and to different degrees. Some people with autism may have difficulty with social interaction and communication, while others may have repetitive behaviors or very specific interests. For me, I struggled with sensory processing and understanding emotions and social interactions. My processing speeds were slow and I’ve had speech from the age of 3 to 16. Since I was 3, I’ve been working with flashcards and specialists to learn facial expressions so I could better understand the emotions of people around me. As I grew up, I often didn’t know the appropriate reactions. I didn’t know what to do if a friend was hurt or angry with me. People confused me, but animals did not. My senior dog grew too old to go on long walks so a few years ago, I got Beastie. Beastie is 25 pounds of fluffy love. Anytime I need comfort or if I’m having trouble sleeping or exercise, Beastie is there. When I was younger, I was called weird. I was bullied and excluded. I was even called a robot. After years of therapy, training and assistance from friends, family and teachers, I “pass”. Many new people I meet don’t know that I have a disability. I pass because every day, I think about how to react. I’ve memorized appropriate social cues, but it is exhausting because social interactions don’t come naturally to me. I have to constantly be analyzing situations so I can figure out the best response. Beastie is my relief and when I’m with Beastie, I can be myself always. Today, I want people to know that even though someone is autistic, they can live fulfilling lives and an emotional support dog can help regulate emotions, give comfort, relieve anxiety, and help with sleep and exercise. The best thing I can do to help people with autism is to admit that I have a disability and help them see other ways to make their lives better. Autism doesn’t have to limit us. We are capable of making connections. We can be successful. I’ve learned so many strategies and now I’m graduating with a 3.9 GPA and I’m going to Grand Canyon University to study Business and Public Administration. I’ve been concurrently enrolled at a local community college for my senior year and I’ve even worked in an accounting office and trained others! I’m known as patient, well mannered, smart and calm. This is NOT how I was known when I was younger. Autism and depression does not have to be a roadblock to success and I will be an advocate for others. My depression was a signal that I needed help and luckily, I was able to get it. Early diagnosis and intervention can help individuals with depression and autism. They can develop skills and strategies to manage their symptoms. We can live fulfilling lives too, especially when we have a loyal and loving dog by our side.

I’m Not a Robot Hello. I’m Avery Walker. Beastie is my 2 year old Moyen Poodle that acts as my emotional support animal and I’m thrilled to be able to take her to college with me because she is essential for my mental health and wellbeing. My disability is Autism but I wasn’t diagnosed until middle school when I was hospitalized due to depression and suicidal ideation. At that time, I was also diagnosed with ADD and Austism and I started getting help to improve my life. At the hospital was the first time I really heard about pet therapy. Autism is a neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder, which means that it affects people in different ways and to different degrees. Some people with autism may have difficulty with social interaction and communication, while others may have repetitive behaviors or very specific interests. For me, I struggled with sensory processing and understanding emotions and social interactions. My processing speeds were slow and I’ve had speech from the age of 3 to 16. Since I was 3, I’ve been working with flashcards and specialists to learn facial expressions so I could better understand the emotions of people around me. As I grew up, I often didn’t know the appropriate reactions. I didn’t know what to do if a friend was hurt or angry with me. People confused me, but animals did not. My senior dog grew too old to go on long walks so a few years ago, I got Beastie. Beastie is 25 pounds of fluffy love. Anytime I need comfort or if I’m having trouble sleeping or exercise, Beastie is there. When I was younger, I was called weird. I was bullied and excluded. I was even called a robot. After years of therapy, training and assistance from friends, family and teachers, I “pass”. Many new people I meet don’t know that I have a disability. I pass because every day, I think about how to react. I’ve memorized appropriate social cues, but it is exhausting because social interactions don’t come naturally to me. I have to constantly be analyzing situations so I can figure out the best response. Beastie is my relief and when I’m with Beastie, I can be myself always. Today, I want people to know that even though someone is autistic, they can live fulfilling lives and an emotional support dog can help regulate emotions, give comfort, relieve anxiety, and help with sleep and exercise. The best thing I can do to help people with autism is to admit that I have a disability and help them see other ways to make their lives better. Autism doesn’t have to limit us. We are capable of making connections. We can be successful. I’ve learned so many strategies and now I’m graduating with a 3.9 GPA and I’m going to Grand Canyon University to study Business and Public Administration. I’ve been concurrently enrolled at a local community college for my senior year and I’ve even worked in an accounting office and trained others! I’m known as patient, well mannered, smart and calm. This is NOT how I was known when I was younger. Autism does not have to be a roadblock to success and I will be an advocate for others. My depression was a signal that I needed help and luckily, I was able to get it. Early diagnosis and intervention can help individuals with depression and autism. They can develop skills and strategies to manage their symptoms. We can live fulfilling lives too, especially when we have a loyal and loving dog by our side.

There is Hope Hello. I’m Avery Walker. Beastie is my 2 year old Moyen Poodle that acts as my emotional support animal and I’m thrilled to be able to take her to college with me because she is essential for my mental health and wellbeing. My disability is Autism but I wasn’t diagnosed until middle school when I was hospitalized due to depression and suicidal ideation. At that time, I was also diagnosed with ADD and Autism and I started getting help to improve my life. At the hospital was the first time I really heard about pet therapy. Autism is a neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder, which means that it affects people in different ways and to different degrees. Some people with autism may have difficulty with social interaction and communication, while others may have repetitive behaviors or very specific interests. For me, I struggled with sensory processing and understanding emotions and social interactions. My processing speeds were slow and I’ve had speech from the age of 3 to 16. Since I was 3, I’ve been working with flashcards and specialists to learn facial expressions so I could better understand the emotions of people around me. As I grew up, I often didn’t know the appropriate reactions. I didn’t know what to do if a friend was hurt or angry with me. People confused me, but animals did not. My senior dog grew too old to go on long walks so a few years ago, I got Beastie. Beastie is 25 pounds of fluffy love. Anytime I need comfort or if I’m having trouble sleeping or exercise, Beastie is there. When I was younger, I was called weird. I was bullied and excluded. I was even called a robot. After years of therapy, training and assistance from friends, family and teachers, I “pass”. Many new people I meet don’t know that I have a disability. I pass because every day, I think about how to react. I’ve memorized appropriate social cues, but it is exhausting because social interactions don’t come naturally to me. I have to constantly be analyzing situations so I can figure out the best response. Beastie is my relief and when I’m with Beastie, I can be myself always. Today, I want people to know that even though someone is autistic, they can live fulfilling lives and an emotional support dog can help regulate emotions, give comfort, relieve anxiety, and help with sleep and exercise. The best thing I can do to help people with autism is to admit that I have a disability and help them see other ways to make their lives better. Autism doesn’t have to limit us. We are capable of making connections. We can be successful. I’ve learned so many strategies and now I’m graduating with a 3.9 GPA and I’m going to Grand Canyon University to study Business and Public Administration. I’ve been concurrently enrolled at a local community college for my senior year and I’ve even worked in an accounting office and trained others! I’m known as patient, well mannered, smart and calm. This is NOT how I was known when I was younger. Autism does not have to be a roadblock to success and I will be an advocate for others. My depression was a signal that I needed help and luckily, I was able to get it. Early diagnosis and intervention can help individuals with autism. They can develop skills and strategies to manage their symptoms. We can live fulfilling lives too, especially when we have a loyal and loving dog by our side.

I’m Not a Robot Hello. I’m Avery Walker. Beastie is my 2 year old Moyen Poodle that acts as my emotional support animal and I’m thrilled to be able to take her to college with me because she is essential for my mental health and wellbeing. My disability is Autism but I wasn’t diagnosed until middle school when I was hospitalized due to depression and suicidal ideation. At that time, I was also diagnosed with ADD and Austism and I started getting help to improve my life. At the hospital was the first time I really heard about pet therapy. Autism is a neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder, which means that it affects people in different ways and to different degrees. Some people with autism may have difficulty with social interaction and communication, while others may have repetitive behaviors or very specific interests. For me, I struggled with sensory processing and understanding emotions and social interactions. My processing speeds were slow and I’ve had speech from the age of 3 to 16. Since I was 3, I’ve been working with flashcards and specialists to learn facial expressions so I could better understand the emotions of people around me. As I grew up, I often didn’t know the appropriate reactions. I didn’t know what to do if a friend was hurt or angry with me. People confused me, but animals did not. My senior dog grew too old to go on long walks so a few years ago, I got Beastie. Beastie is 25 pounds of fluffy love. Anytime I need comfort or if I’m having trouble sleeping or exercise, Beastie is there. When I was younger, I was called weird. I was bullied and excluded. I was even called a robot. After years of therapy, training and assistance from friends, family and teachers, I “pass”. Many new people I meet don’t know that I have a disability. I pass because every day, I think about how to react. I’ve memorized appropriate social cues, but it is exhausting because social interactions don’t come naturally to me. I have to constantly be analyzing situations so I can figure out the best response. Beastie is my relief and when I’m with Beastie, I can be myself always. Today, I want people to know that even though someone is autistic, they can live fulfilling lives and an emotional support dog can help regulate emotions, give comfort, relieve anxiety, and help with sleep and exercise. The best thing I can do to help people with autism is to admit that I have a disability and help them see other ways to make their lives better. Autism doesn’t have to limit us. We are capable of making connections. We can be successful. I’ve learned so many strategies and now I’m graduating with a 3.9 GPA and I’m going to Grand Canyon University to study Business and Public Administration. I’ve been concurrently enrolled at a local community college for my senior year and I’ve even worked in an accounting office and trained others! I’m known as patient, well mannered, smart and calm. This is NOT how I was known when I was younger. Autism does not have to be a roadblock to success and I will be an advocate for others. My depression was a signal that I needed help and luckily, I was able to get it. Early diagnosis and intervention can help individuals with autism. They can develop skills and strategies to manage their symptoms. We can live fulfilling lives too, especially when we have a loyal and loving dog by our side.

I’m Not a Robot Hello. I’m Avery Walker. Beastie is my 2 year old Moyen Poodle that acts as my emotional support animal and I’m thrilled to be able to take her to college with me because she is essential for my mental health and wellbeing. My disability is Autism but I wasn’t diagnosed until middle school when I was hospitalized due to depression and suicidal ideation. At that time, I was also diagnosed with ADD and Austism and I started getting help to improve my life. At the hospital was the first time I really heard about pet therapy. Autism is a neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder, which means that it affects people in different ways and to different degrees. Some people with autism may have difficulty with social interaction and communication, while others may have repetitive behaviors or very specific interests. For me, I struggled with sensory processing and understanding emotions and social interactions. My processing speeds were slow and I’ve had speech from the age of 3 to 16. Since I was 3, I’ve been working with flashcards and specialists to learn facial expressions so I could better understand the emotions of people around me. As I grew up, I often didn’t know the appropriate reactions. I didn’t know what to do if a friend was hurt or angry with me. People confused me, but animals did not. My senior dog grew too old to go on long walks so a few years ago, I got Beastie. Beastie is 25 pounds of fluffy love. Anytime I need comfort or if I’m having trouble sleeping or exercise, Beastie is there. When I was younger, I was called weird. I was bullied and excluded. I was even called a robot. After years of therapy, training and assistance from friends, family and teachers, I “pass”. Many new people I meet don’t know that I have a disability. I pass because every day, I think about how to react. I’ve memorized appropriate social cues, but it is exhausting because social interactions don’t come naturally to me. I have to constantly be analyzing situations so I can figure out the best response. Beastie is my relief and when I’m with Beastie, I can be myself always. Today, I want people to know that even though someone is autistic, they can live fulfilling lives and an emotional support dog can help regulate emotions, give comfort, relieve anxiety, and help with sleep and exercise. The best thing I can do to help people with autism is to admit that I have a disability and help them see other ways to make their lives better. Autism doesn’t have to limit us. We are capable of making connections. We can be successful. I’ve learned so many strategies and now I’m graduating with a 3.9 GPA and I’m going to Grand Canyon University to study Business and Public Administration. I’ve been concurrently enrolled at a local community college for my senior year and I’ve even worked in an accounting office and trained others! I’m known as patient, well mannered, smart and calm. This is NOT how I was known when I was younger. Autism does not have to be a roadblock to success and I will be an advocate for others. My depression was a signal that I needed help and luckily, I was able to get it. Early diagnosis and intervention can help individuals with autism. They can develop skills and strategies to manage their symptoms. We can live fulfilling lives too, especially when we have a loyal and loving dog by our side.

Uniquely Me My unique qualities stem from my autism, dyslexia and ADD and it’s made me who I am today. I was hospitalized in middle school due to my depression and suicidal idolization and that’s when I was first diagnosed. If others were to describe me, I would think they’d tell you about my slow, meticulous, and thoughtful nature. I’m detail oriented and I have very good manners. I’m described as quirky and I think of unique questions and ways to solve problems. I’ve sometimes been called a robot or weird. To be honest, I’ve never liked these words or how well they describe me. Because of my learning and mental health struggles, I have always needed to figure out a different way to do things and nothing has ever been easy, but this made me stubborn and unwilling to give up. My learning difficulties don’t define me, but they helped make me who I am. I didn’t believe in myself or realize how much I had learned until I started working a year and 1/2 ago as an accounting clerk for a local property management office. My parents are involved with the local Rotary club, so I've been volunteering for as long as I can remember. For example, I've assisted with yearly health fairs and the Rotary 4th of July BBQ in the park that raises scholarship funds for local students. In addition, I was also a volunteer for the local MPHS football team where my dad is a coach, and my sister is a football manager. I filmed all the Friday home and away football games. Moreover, I volunteered weekly with our local church by running the audio/video equipment. I didn’t know what I was capable of, but within six months of working in this small accountant office, I was promoted to an accountant clerk. This was the biggest accomplishment of my life and gave me a passion for business and finding ways to make everything more efficient for everyone. Juggling school and my accounting job was very challenging. I was trained on new responsibilities every day, but I found myself forgetting important tasks that I had already been trained on. I had to adapt to succeed so I began creating procedures for my work tasks. My procedures were so helpful, I was even given the responsibility to train other employees. I was the youngest in my office, but found that people were coming to me for help and this made me feel amazing. I utilized my calendar and scheduled appointments, alarms, and reminders to keep me on track. I had everything saved and organized online so that if I was at home or in the office, I could always access my work from anywhere and this was helpful to my whole team. Now, I am even more confident in my abilities and I am proud to apply for this scholarship. I have a lot to offer, but I just need scholarships and a good education to reach my goals. I’m a realist. I’m not a talker. I’m not a people pleaser. I’m an ethical, creative, and hardworking problem solver which is why I’ve chosen to study Business and Public Administration. I want to find problems that are affecting our community and work with passionate knowledgeable people to execute positive improvements and support others like me so they know what is possible when all seems lost.

Hello. I’m Avery Walker. My disability is Autism but I wasn’t diagnosed until middle school when I was hospitalized due to depression and suicidal idealization. At that time, I was also diagnosed with ADD and Austism and I started getting help to improve my life. . Autism is a neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder, which means that it affects people in different ways and to different degrees. Some people with autism may have difficulty with social interaction and communication, while others may have repetitive behaviors or very specific interests. For me, I struggled with sensory processing, Clothing and sounds and smells really upset me when I was younger. I also struggled understanding emotions and social interactions. My processing speeds were slow because it took me a while to figure things out and I’ve had speech services from the age of 3 to 16. Since I was 3, I’ve been working with flashcards and specialists to learn facial expressions so I could better understand the emotions of people around me. As I grew up, I often didn’t know the appropriate reactions to certain situations. For example, I didn’t know what to do if a friend was hurt or if someone was angry with me. I couldn’t respond and I didn’t know what to say or do. I had to work with my parents and teachers to role play and practice these situations. I even joined theater so I could learn to act more like others and I had to practice making eye contact. Things that came easily to others had to be taught to me. When I was younger, I was called weird. I was bullied and excluded. I was even called a robot by friends. But after years of therapy, training and assistance from friends, family and teachers, I “pass”. Many people now don’t know that I have a disability. They don’t believe I’m autistic if I tell them. I pass because every day, I think about how to react. I’ve memorized appropriate social cues, but it is exhausting because social interactions don’t come naturally to me and I have to constantly be analyzing situations so I can figure out the best response. Today, I want people to know that even though someone is autistic, they can live fulfilling lives. The best thing I can do to help people with autism is to admit that I have a disability. I think it’s important to tell others that autism doesn’t have to mean that we are weird. We are capable of making connections. We can be successful. I was so relieved when I found out that my family doctor was autistic. If an autistic person could be a doctor, I could do anything too. I’ve learned so many strategies and now I’m graduating with a 3.9 GPA and I’m going to a great college. I’ve been concurrently enrolled at a local community college. I’ve even worked in an accounting office and trained others! I’m known as patient, well mannered, smart and calm. This is NOT how I was known when I was younger. I’m successful and autism doesn't have to stop anyone from reaching their dreams. My family and I cried when we found out I was diagnosed with autism. We were sad because we didn’t know what could be done or how much I could grow. My depression was a signal that I needed help and luckily, I was able to get it. Early diagnosis and intervention can help individuals with autism. They can develop skills and strategies to manage their symptoms. We can live fulfilling lives too.