I believe virtual reality (VR) is a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize ocean conservation and make the world a better place. My name is Dianna, and I am a computer science student at Florida Atlantic University. As the first in my family to pursue a bachelor's degree, I aspire to join the 4% of Hispanic women in the STEM workforce. I am a proud member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and Latinas in Tech, which have supported me through my educational journey. My fascination with VR began in September 2021 when I was dog-sitting for a business owner who had a VR headset. Intrigued, I tried it on and was captivated by its immersive environment. The ability of VR to create engaging and impactful experiences was clear to me. Virtual reality has the potential to significantly change the way people interact with the world and each other. Growing up near the coast, I have always been passionate about the ocean. My experience as a pharmacy tech and starting my own swimwear business taught me the importance of sustainable practices. VR can simulate the underwater world, allowing users to experience the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems firsthand. This immersive experience can foster a deeper emotional connection to the ocean, inspiring action against climate change and pollution. For instance, VR can create virtual tours of coral reefs, showcasing the vibrant life that depends on these ecosystems and the devastating effects of coral bleaching. This can be a powerful educational tool, helping students and the public understand the urgency of marine conservation. Additionally, VR can train marine biologists and conservationists, providing a safe environment to practice techniques for reef restoration and wildlife rescue. Inspired by VR, I purchased my own headset and decided to pursue a degree in computer science. My goal is to become a UX or software developer for companies focused on environmental and social good, eventually transitioning into the VR space to combine my passion for technology and marine conservation. Virtual reality inspires me with its potential to make the world a better place. By supporting my studies, you are helping me contribute to innovative solutions for environmental challenges. Thank you for considering my application.

It was just me and my mom growing up, but having God made us feel less alone. Being raised as a Christian instilled in me many core values about treating others kindly and bringing positivity to anyone I meet. I am a Christian and continue to put my faith in Jehovah because I would not be where I am now without him. Since I don't have a lot of family around me, it was easy to have anxiety about my future. I learned quickly that if I wanted materialistic things like a cell phone, I was financially responsible for myself. I had to remember that I would eventually be responsible for my mom when she transitioned into her senior years. A verse that comforts me till today is Matthew 6:34: "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Instead of sulking, I started a business right after high school, and during that time, I got my associate's. It took faith that God would be there for me as I tried this exciting endeavor. I made swimwear with a sewing machine and sold it online. I reinvest the profits into materials made by small businesses in the USA and spread awareness about ocean conservation. This side hustle helped me buy my first car. It helped me achieve more confidence in myself and my abilities. I transitioned into social media management because of the success of my eCommerce business and lived in a beautiful apartment. I worked with clients who also value ocean conservation. One of them is a sustainable salmon farm that is fair trade certified and has over five different eco-certifications. What I did is important. However, I felt that I needed more room to grow. I wanted to do something other than social media management as a career since it can be very competitive and superficial. Over time, my anxiety about the future started creeping in. I always had God with me, but I fell into a dark place in those last months. I wasn't sure what to do to stop it. One day, I was sobbing on my balcony because I couldn't contain it anymore. I prayed to him with such raw emotion, and the trees started to thrash around me. It felt so powerful that I stopped crying. Since then, I always try to actively pray more and read the bible to develop a better relationship with God. Technology made learning more accessible for me growing up, and I always wanted to obtain a degree in computer science. It helped me overcome many challenges and lowered the entry barrier for better opportunities. With the way the world is, most people can relate to the feeling of uncertainty. This is why I am working on a project influenced by the seven dimensions of wellness. Users can work on their goals and track their habits while discouraging negative ones. Upon graduation, I plan to make it into an application that people can use or serve as an example of my software development skills to showcase to a company with the same values as me, working towards social or environmental good. I am still taking care of my mom's expenses, and any contributions will help alleviate some of the financial pressure for me to focus on my projects and studies. Thank you, I hope to be considered.

Since high school, I've always been interested in pursuing a computer science degree. As a first-generation student, I felt I couldn't afford to go to a university without going into debt, so I started my career journey in marketing. I enjoy marketing and have done social media management for several years. I wanted problem-solving and the ability to create things, so when I decided to reenroll in college, pursuing a computer science degree seemed like a no-brainer. I always found technology exciting, especially design aspects where the process is intuitive and helpful. My goal is to work at a reputable company and, while I gain more experience, venture out to run my own company. I want to work somewhere like the Moonshot factory as a software developer or UX designer. The Moonshot Factory focuses on designing solutions that impact the world. One example is working on a project to convert seawater into a renewable fuel source. They research and develop schemes that utilize technology. I enjoy UX design because I want to create a user-friendly product. At school, I'm learning more and more about software development with different programming languages, which is very satisfying once I can bring an idea to life. I would be the best candidate because I have a passion for computer science and would use this scholarship toward my future in this industry. Like Chris, I care about the people around me and want to help those around me. I am fortunate to be part of Latina in tech and SHPE, which are both strong communities of support for people similar to me. This scholarship would contribute to traveling for the 2024 SHPE Convention and towards the remainder of my tuition. The 2024 SHPE (Society of Hispanic Engineers) Convention trip, which most of my Hispanic peers can receive a job or interviews after attending in person. It provides workshops and a chance to listen to leaders at top companies. As a Latina in tech, networking with people is half of the battle when getting my first entry-level position, and attending this convention would help me tremendously. Thus, this scholarship would alleviate my financial pressure towards the travel expenses. Thank you, and I hope to be considered for this scholarship award.

I'm not a single mother, but I've been raised by one and with my degree I hope to financially support her as she enters her senior years. My purpose for pursuing a higher education stems from breaking generational poverty and creating a future that allows me to be impactful. I'm Dianna. I'll be the first in my family to pursue a bachelor's degree at an American University. According to the National Science Foundation, Hispanic workers represented 15% of the total STEM workforce in 2021. The numbers of Hispanic women in tech are far less. That doesn't deter me from going after a degree in computer science. With my degree, I hope to become a software developer or data scientist and work on projects that I care about. The companies I aim to work for will care about making sustainable innovations in energy consumption or providing environmental good. I believe that I am deserving of this award because I love what I am learning at my university and have worked hard to get where I am. Along with being a full-time student, I would clean houses, dog-sit, and work as a social media manager to help my mom alleviate some of her financial stress and for me to be financially independent. As rent and living costs continue to increase, scholarships like this one will contribute to paying my school's tuition and transportation costs. Thank you, and I hope to be considered.

Hello! As a women going into tech, I'm excited to shake up the industry with diversity and use technology innovations to combat some of the challenges we face pertaining to education and marine conservation. Since May 2022, I've been attending Florida Atlantic University to finish pursuing a higher education and obtain my bachelors in Computer Science. My motivating factor has been my mom and being the first in my family to have a bachelors degree from a university. Since high-school, I knew that my life and priorities were different from my peers. Although college was always encouraged, as a first generation student the finanical and college system was confusing. Fortunately, attending my community college allowed me to explore different areas of my personality and taught me more about navigating the college system. As I attended, my initial career choice was in medicine. Yet, in college I was reinstating the Art Alliance in order to allow other students to share their interests in different forms of art, teaching students how to work on the potters wheel with clay, and developing a e-commerce business with swimwear that I made myself. Going into the medical field allowed me to help people, and is a stable career path so why wasn't I satisfied? I applied to the Medical Sonography program, the only program at my community college that I was interested in, I was rejected. The moment I received that email, the feeling that came over me was neutral. It was a bit of a blow to my ego, but I knew in my heart that the right career would allow me to express my creativity, hone in on my leadership skills, and develop multiple hard skills. After receiving my associates, and the pandemic happening. My interest in finishing my bachelors waned because my ambition and work I was doing would create the opportunities I was looking for. For the last two years, it has and continues to do so. My swimwear business was a perfect example to social media marketing agencies and prospecting clients that I was able to create a community and brand. I transitioned into a social media manager talking as the voice of companies that value sustainability in ocean conservation. However, not every social media client can be as awesome as the people I'm working for now. My aspirations are even bigger, instead of talking about how important it is to value sustainability to protect marine environments. I want to create the solutions that can help regenerate these environments through technology, and design applications through virtual reality that can be use as a visual asset for education. With my dad being deceased, and growing up in an unstable household because my mom struggled to support me during my adolescent years. It has been a motivating factor for me to pay her back for all the sacrifices she's made to raise me on her own. When I started my e-commerce business, it was to be an example that no matter your background. If you are determine and can persevere, you can live a life of abundance. I chose computer science, throughout my life. As I developed throughout the years, so has technology. From my first computer, phone, laptop, and now virtual reality headset. I've always been fascinated with virtual reality concepts since I was a kid. Growing up in poverty, I've always dreamt of a place to escape too. Which is why I became engrossed with gaming, the internet, social media, etc. That being said, my choice in majoring in computer science is really work on the issues that the world is facing today, not distract ourselves from them. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I hope that this entry can give you a better sense of who I am and who I strive to me.