Every Sunday, when I visited my grandparents, the piano was there in the living room. Every Sunday without fail from the age of 18 months, I was sucked into spending hours sitting at it and studying it. No matter what happened in my life that week, it was always there ready to teach me something new. Every week, I cleaned off the dust and began to play. My curiosity peaked, and I tried to teach myself something new. This 1890 Bradley and Sons piano sparked my curiosity, and from the first time I touched the ivories, I knew that music was going to be my future. The primary way music has impacted my life is through composition. I began composing during an assignment in the middle school choir. I quickly fell in love; it felt as if I had the entire world at my fingertips, and I could tell my own stories. Composing quickly became a reason to learn about music theory. Even though my school doesn’t offer a music theory class, I learned through asking questions and researching. The best part is, that I can share my knowledge and passion with others, and it's this feeling of calmness and the joy I bring to others that fuels this passion. After my degree, I hope to compose for various ensembles and have my music played around the world. Another way that music has influenced my career is through performance. I have learned more than I ever would have thought I would because of band, music camps, and youth orchestra. I have made many friends through our shared passion for music, and I can’t imagine my life without them. One of them even inspired me to compose more; this friend’s word of affirmation started a whole new era of my career and inspired me to challenge myself. I recently wrote a piece for a string orchestra that the orchestra at my school will perform in May, and it gave me a new perspective on music. I have also learned a lot about writing for different instruments from jazz band and my friends who play other instruments. My friends even inspired me to share my compositions with the world through social media and no matter what to keep going. My friends have been an instrumental (and very vocal) part of my musical journey and have always been pushing me forward. I also love to perform myself as well. I was lucky enough to be a member of the Iowa All-State Band and various other honor bands in high school. When I pick up my oboe and perform, nothing else matters. I feel a sense of calmness and love for my craft and it reminds me why I work so hard to perfect it. I long to work with other people who are just as passionate as me about our craft, learning from them, and applying it to my playing. I long to share my music with the world whether that be through performance, composition, or perhaps a bit of both. In the future, I plan on composing and majoring in oboe performance and mathematics at the University of Missouri Kansas City for my undergrad. I plan to go to grad school in Europe after completing my undergrad. Eventually, I would like to be a second oboe/English horn or a conductor for a major symphony orchestra and still have some time to compose and perform in chamber ensembles as well bringing my love of music to others around the world.

Every Sunday, when I visited my grandparents, the piano was there in the living room. Every Sunday without fail from the age of 18 months, I was sucked into spending hours sitting at it and studying it. No matter what happened in my life that week, it was always there ready to teach me something new. Every week, I cleaned off the dust and began to play. My curiosity peaked, and I tried to teach myself something new. This 1890 Bradley and Sons piano sparked my curiosity, and from the first time I touched the ivories, I knew that music was going to be my future. The primary way music has impacted my life is through composition. I began composing during an assignment in middle school choir. I quickly fell in love; it felt as if I had the entire world at my fingertips, and I could tell my own stories. Composing quickly became a reason to learn about music theory. Even though my school doesn’t offer a music theory class, I learned through asking questions and researching. The best part is, that I can share my knowledge and passion with others, and it's this feeling of calmness and the joy I bring to others that fuels this passion. Another way that music has influenced my career is through performance. I have learned more than I ever would have thought I would because of band, music camps, and youth orchestra. I have made many friends through our shared passion for music, and I can’t imagine my life without them. One of them even inspired me to compose more; this friend’s word of affirmation started a whole new era of compositions and inspired me to challenge myself. These compositions have opened up new opportunities with my teachers and other peers. I recently wrote a piece for string orchestra that the orchestra at my school read, and it gave me a new perspective on music. I have also learned a lot about writing for different instruments from jazz band and my friends who play other instruments. I feel like I can make a difference in the world by writing music to give others some comfort, and ease, and give performers the joy that we all have when we play, and learn a lot along the way. As expected, balancing my academic and musical pursuits can be a struggle. I usually balance these activities by doing certain ones at certain times of day and prioritizing based on due dates and audition dates. Usually, I like to practice very early in the morning or use practice as an outlet after a rough day. I am also quite passionate about academics, excelling in both math and history from a young age. Also, I enjoy merging my academic and musical responsibilities by taking a music class, listening to music while doing homework, or using music as a reward for completing an academic assignment. So far, this strategy has worked out well for me getting me through an Associate’s Degree, while in high school, from Iowa Western Community College. In the future, I plan on composing and majoring in oboe performance and mathematics at the University of Missouri Kansas City for my undergrad. I would like to be a second oboe/english horn or a conductor for a major symphony orchestra and still have some time to compose and perform in chamber ensembles as well bringing my love of music to others around the world.

It seemed to be any other ordinary summer Sunday, but it was about to change my perspective. I was invited to the Evening Musicale Potluck and was bringing some freshly baked, warm, chocolate chunk brownies and my oboe that I always packed just in case. I set my brownies on the counter and sat at the table, but before I could start a conversation, Mr. Russo burst into the room. He needed my help. The oboist in our local community band was sick and they needed a sub. They needed my help. After careful consideration, I decided the potluck could wait. When opportunity knocks, I always open the door. Before I knew it, I was driving to the park where the concert would take place. I found the band, introduced myself, and set up. The director was relieved that Mr. Russo found me and that I was willing to help. During the concert, I couldn't help but notice the amount of people attending. The audience was mostly older people who couldn't get around very well. No matter how many notes the band missed, they were all smiling, delighted by our music. After we finished, a few of them came up to me and told me that this was their only chance to hear live music and that the band did a wonderful job. I was saddened by the fact that this was their only chance to hear live music. Most of the opportunities for hearing music in my area are in the town over. Plus, the ticket prices to see a lot of these shows are usually prohibitive. I saw that day how much the community band meant to my town and wondered how we could make a bigger impact. As a result of this event, I would love to see more free fine arts events advertised in my town. Music is one thing that can bring us all together and let us forget about the wild things that life is throwing at us for a while. I know that when I play, my mission is to bring good music to all who will listen. I also know that I would like to see more events like the community band performance for the people in our town. I am hoping that someday soon, the community band will get to perform for other groups that don't always get the chance to see and hear live music such as nursing home residents. Many of these people don't get to interact with people very much nevertheless see live music and it would be an amazing feeling to bring music to them.

I find Kalia D. Davis to be a very inspiring person. Her drive and passion for excellence resonates with me on multiple levels and I feel like had we met, we would have been good friends with similar values. When I heard about this scholarship, I felt a deep connection to Kalia's life and her mission of excellence in everything she did. At my school, I am a member of the symphonic, jazz, pep, and marching bands. Band has taught me many things especially the importance of goal setting and not only hard work but consistent, hard, smart work. Band is a very intricate activity like the military or sports and every individual improvement makes a positive contribution to the group and every member's work matters. In band, I strive to be the best musician and person that I can be. Through this determination and work, I have accomplished my goal of making the All-State Band and the community Youth Symphony. Also, much like Kalia, I strive for excellence in academics as well as my work. At my school, I have maintained a high GPA while taking dual enrollment courses and remaining active in my community. I am an AP Scholar and I will have my associate's degree from a local community college by the time I graduate high school thanks to my drive and hard work. I also have been an active community member through my work. I am a soccer referee for the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. I strive for excellence in every game I officiate knowing that I owe the players and coaches my best and that the quality of my work is integral to their experience. Through officiating and maintaining high academic standards I have learned the value of hard, consistent, and smart work along with how important confidence and good leadership are in any setting. Much like Kalia, I also share a passion for community outreach. I am a volunteer musician at my church and have been for three years. I hold myself to a high standard knowing that my work directly makes a positive impact on my community and is something that I can be proud of. My mother always tells me that when you work hard and give expecting nothing in return, life has a funny way of rewarding you and making your sacrifice worthwhile. I believe that Kalia and I have both lived with this mission of working hard and helping others through whatever means we can. Currently, I am preparing to go to university to study mathematics and oboe performance. I hope to make a meaningful difference in the world either through music or mathematics and use my drive and passion for excellence to help me get there. This scholarship would mean a lot to me as my dad has been unemployed since July 2024, and my family has been struggling financially. However, I know that much like Kalia, I can work my way through hard times, grow, and make a difference in my community. This scholarship would help with my financial needs so I can focus my hard work and determination to learn as much as I can spend my time making a difference in my community and share my knowledge and passion for what I do with the world much like Kalia did.

We owe each other everything that we can give. Everyone brings completely different gifts, talents, preferences, and viewpoints to the world and no two people or gifts are ever completely the same so we must maximize our gifts and use them to improve our world. As my mother always says, “When you give or volunteer expecting nothing in return, you’ll usually get opportunities that you would have never dreamed of otherwise”. In the following years, I have had two opportunities to experience the importance of giving. My 7th grade math teacher was one of the first people who demonstrated to me what we owe each other. I was an exemplary math student in an accelerated class. I was bored; I always completed assignments quickly; I felt hungry for more. My teacher noticed this hunger and helped me get into a more appropriate class. However, Algebra 1 was not considered appropriate for a seventh grader. Ultimately, I tested out of Algebra 1 that year to take Geometry the following year which set me up in the position I am in today: taking Calculus III as a senior in high school. I plan on taking more courses in math in the future. I received this opportunity because of my teacher’s selfless efforts. A year later, I was presented with an opportunity to give. I was in 8th grade, and our priest Father Kottas, announced to the church that the music ministry was going to start up again after the pandemic, but he needed people who wanted to be music ministers to join. I was delighted at the opportunity to volunteer at church and I loved playing music. I joined not knowing what to expect and, it was not easy at first. I was playing with musicians of varying levels who struggled to stay together. I was able to bring my experience playing in band at school and chamber music to the group and help us keep the melody together at mass. Over time, I also learned how to mentally transpose music, develop my ear, and make connections with other musicians in the area. I would have never been armed with the knowledge, or the musicianship I have if I had never thought that it was my duty to contribute what I could and join the music ministry. Over the years, music and math have taught me about the importance of giving both on the receiving side and the giving side. I know that without the giving and receiving of these gifts, I would not be in the position I am in today; preparing to enter college and refine these gifts so that I can give back and help others get places that they never would have dreamed of otherwise.

I parked my car in the gravel parking lot near the fields, and walked out, setting my soccer bag and water bottle behind the goal, and checking my phone to see the game details while the teams were warming up. To my horror, I realized I was the only referee not only for this game but all of the games on this field for the entire day. These were U14 and U19 games that I would have to do by myself. I had never been the center on a U19 before, not to mention doing it solo. I nervously grabbed my whistle and walked confidently to the field to check-in. It was going to be a hard day, but I was determined to continue my mission to bring quality officiating to as many people as I could. Looking back, that was one of my favorite soccer memories. It built my confidence in officiating higher stakes games in older age divisions that would end up serving me well later and garnering me more respect in the local referee community. I saw and learned a lot in my first year as an Iowa High School Athletic Association referee. I refined my skills and mechanics as an assistant referee, from keeping my flag still as I ran up the lines, to holding it in the proper hand all the time. I saw many intricate plays, traps, and even a game where the center referee gave out four red cards and eight yellow cards. Over the years, soccer officiating has taught me: to always be prepared for anything because you never know what the next minute brings, to always be respectful because you never know what someone is going through, and how much respect you earn when respect is what you give everyone no matter what they say to you in the moment, to stand your ground even if you’re standing alone, and to always be confident. After all, if you’re confident, others will follow you. I also developed a greater respect for officials, due to the level of athleticism and mental stamina required to officiate the game without substitutes or breaks. After my first season, I knew I wanted to continue which brings me to where I am today. I am certified for my second season with the Iowa High School Athletic Association, and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, and my fifth year as a grassroots soccer referee. I hope to continue refereeing far into the future, hopefully officiating at the state tournament, getting certified to do high school matches in Missouri, and becoming an official NCAA referee. Even though I’m planning on majoring in mathematics and oboe performance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, I plan on being a soccer referee at a high level for years to come. Later in college, I aspire to get a regional referee license and work my way up. I dream that someday I will be in the World Cup, not as a player, but as a referee bringing my quality of officiating and love of the game with every whistle of every match along the way.

Every Sunday, when I visited my grandparents, the piano was there in the living room. Every Sunday without fail from the age of 18 months, I was sucked into spending hours sitting at it and studying it. No matter what happened in my life that week, it was always there ready to teach me something new. Every week, I cleaned off the dust and began to play. My curiosity peaked, and I tried to teach myself something new. This 1890 Bradley and Sons piano sparked my curiosity, and from the first time I touched the ivories, I knew that music was going to be my future. The primary way music has impacted my life is through composition. I began composing during an assignment in middle school choir. I quickly fell in love; it felt as if I had the entire world at my fingertips, and I could tell my own stories. Composing quickly became a reason to learn about music theory. Even though my school doesn’t offer a music theory class, I learned through asking questions and researching. The best part is, that I can share my knowledge and passion with others, and it's this feeling of calmness and the joy I bring to others that fuels this passion. Music has also strengthened my education and beliefs about my church. I became involved in my church's music ministry during my freshman year because we needed more musicians after many retired. Being a church musician, I learned different musical skills like transposition and how to be a chamber musician. However, being at church and playing the hymns on my various instruments, I felt a deeper connection with God. When I was at church, God was within me and my music. I have been inspired to write music based on different books of the bible. Without being a church musician, I know that my faith wouldn’t be as strong as it is. It has also shown me the importance of community service and how to use my gifts to bring my love of music to others and see their smiles. Another way that music has influenced my career is through performance. I have learned more than I ever would have thought I would because of band, music camps, and youth orchestra. I have made many friends through our shared passion for music, and I can’t imagine my life without them. One of them even inspired me to compose more; this friend’s word of affirmation started a whole new era of compositions and inspired me to challenge myself. These compositions have opened up new opportunities with my teachers and other peers. I recently wrote a piece for string orchestra that the orchestra at my school read, and it gave me a new perspective on music. I have also learned a lot about writing for different instruments from jazz band and my friends who play other instruments. I feel like I can make a difference in the world by writing music to give others some feelings of comfort, and ease, and give performers the joy that we all have when we play, and learn a lot along the way. In the future, I plan on composing and majoring in oboe performance and mathematics at the University of Missouri Kansas City for my undergrad. I would like to be a second oboe/English horn or a conductor for a major symphony orchestra and still have some time to compose and perform in chamber ensembles as well bringing my love of music to others around the world.

Every Sunday, when I visited my grandparents, the piano was there in the living room. Every Sunday without fail from the age of 18 months, I was sucked into spending hours sitting at it and studying it. No matter what happened in my life that week, it was always there waiting for me, ready to listen to my successes and frustrations. Every week, I cleaned off the dust and began to play, peace filled my soul and brought a sense of calm. This 1890 Bradley and Sons piano had given me a new way to express myself, and from the first time I touched the ivories, the piano ushered me into an odyssey with profound impacts on my creations, beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. The primary way I express myself through music is through composition. I began composing during an assignment in middle school choir. I quickly fell in love; it felt as if I had the entire world at my fingertips, and I could tell my own stories. Composing quickly became an avenue for me to express my feelings and my reactions to life. I found that in my lowest points of life, I could rely on my compositions to lift me and bring me to this supernatural, perfect, realm of calmness. The best part is that I can share that feeling with others, and it's this feeling of calmness and the joy I bring to others that fuels this passion. Music has strengthened my beliefs and relationships through my church. I became involved in my church's music ministry during my freshman year because we needed more musicians after many retired. Being a church musician, I learned different musical skills and how to be a chamber musician. However, being at church and playing the hymns on my various instruments, I felt a deeper connection with God. When I was at church, God was within me and my music. I have written music based on different books of the bible and am currently working on a mass. Music has also given me more relationships within my church community; the other musicians are always there for me, the first ones to show up and support my friends and me at band events. Another way that music has influenced my relationships is through performance. I have more friends than I ever would have thought I would because of band, music camps, and youth orchestra. I have made many friends through our shared passion for music, and I can’t imagine my life without them. One of them even inspired me to compose more; this friend’s word of affirmation started a whole new era of compositions and inspired me to challenge myself. These compositions have opened up new relationships with my teachers and other peers. I recently wrote a piece for string orchestra that my school orchestra read, and it has given me a new perspective on music. I feel like I can make a difference in the world through writing music to give others feelings of comfort and give performers, myself included, the joy that we all have when we play just like my favorite composers have done for centuries. In the future, I plan on keeping up with my compositions, and plan to major in oboe performance and mathematics at the University of Missouri Kansas City for my undergrad and hopefully go to Europe for my masters. I would like to be a second oboe/English horn or a conductor for a major symphony orchestra and still have some time to compose and perform in chamber ensembles as well.

Every Sunday, when I visited my grandparents, the piano was there in the living room. Every Sunday without fail from the age of 18 months, I was sucked into spending hours sitting at it and studying it. No matter what happened in my life that week, it was always there waiting for me, ready to listen to my successes and frustrations. Every week, I cleaned off the dust and began to play, peace filled my soul and brought a sense of calm. This 1890 Bradley and Sons piano had given me a new way to give back to the community and from the first time I touched the ivories, the piano ushered me into a journey with profound impacts on my expression and helped me give back to my community. The primary way I express myself through music is through composition. I began composing during an assignment in middle school choir. I quickly fell in love; it felt as if I had the entire world at my fingertips, and I could tell my own stories. Composing quickly became an avenue for me to express my reactions to life. I found that in my lowest points of life, I could rely on my compositions to lift me and bring me to this supernatural, perfect, realm of calmness. The best part is that I can share that feeling with others, and it's this feeling of calmness and the joy I bring to others that fuels this passion. Music has helped me give back through my church. I became involved in my church's music ministry during my freshman year because we needed more musicians after many retired. Being a church musician, I was a volunteer playing music at mass every week. It felt good to give back to my church community by sharing my gift and love for music with the rest of the parish and knowing that they appreciated my work. Playing at church has also inspired me to write a mass and refine my craft along the way bringing the glory of God to the people through music. Another way that music has helped me give back is through performance. I have made many friends through our shared passion for music in band and orchestra, and I can’t imagine my life without them. One of them even inspired me to compose more; this friend’s word of affirmation started a whole new era of compositions and inspired me to show them to the world and hopefully transform the world of music. In these compositions, I love to experiment with different and often unorthodox instrumentation like a trio for Violin, English Horn, and Clarinet, and hope to show the world that classical music is timeless and ever-evolving. I recently wrote a piece for string orchestra that the orchestra at my school read, and it gave me a new perspective on music. I felt like I was able to serve my school by writing a piece for our orchestra. I feel like I can make a difference in the world by writing music to give others some feelings of comfort, and ease and give performers the joy that we all have when we play just like my favorite composers have done for centuries. In the future, I plan on composing and majoring in oboe performance and mathematics at the University of Missouri Kansas City for my undergrad. I hope to be a second oboe/English horn or a conductor for a major symphony orchestra and continue to compose and perform in chamber ensembles as well.

Every Sunday, when I visited my grandparents, the piano was there in the living room. Every Sunday without fail from the age of 18 months, I was sucked into spending hours sitting at it and studying it. No matter what happened in my life that week, it was always there ready to teach me something new. Every week, I cleaned off the dust and began to play. My curiosity peaked, and I tried to teach myself something new. This 1890 Bradley and Sons piano sparked my curiosity, and from the first time I touched the ivories, I knew that music was going to be my future. The primary way music has impacted my educational journey is through composition. I began composing during an assignment in middle school choir. I quickly fell in love; it felt as if I had the entire world at my fingertips, and I could tell my own stories. Composing quickly became a reason to learn about music theory. Even though my school doesn’t offer a music theory class, I learned through asking questions and researching. The best part is, that I can share my knowledge and passion that feeling with others, and it's this feeling of calmness and the joy I bring to others that fuels this passion. Music has also strengthened my education and beliefs about my church. I became involved in my church's music ministry during my freshman year because we needed more musicians after many retired. Being a church musician, I learned different musical skills like transposition and how to be a chamber musician. However, being at church and playing the hymns on my various instruments, I felt a deeper connection with God. When I was at church, God was within me and my music. I have been inspired to write music based on different books of the bible. Without being a church musician, I know my faith wouldn’t be as strong as it is. It has also given me more relationships within my church community; the other musicians are like grandparents to me. They are always there for me, and the first ones to show up and support my friends and me at band events. Another way that music has influenced my education is through performance. I have learned more than I ever would have thought I would because of band, music camps, and youth orchestra. I have made many friends through our shared passion for music. One of them even inspired me to compose more; this friend’s word of affirmation started a whole new era of compositions and inspired me to challenge myself. These compositions have opened up new opportunities with my teachers and other peers. I recently wrote a piece for string orchestra that the orchestra at my school read, and it gave me a new perspective on music. I have also learned a lot about writing for different instruments from jazz band and my friends who play other instruments. I feel like I can make a difference in the world by writing music to give others some feelings of comfort, and ease, and give performers the joy that we all have when we play, and learn a lot along the way. In the future, I plan on keeping up with my compositions, and plan to major in oboe performance and mathematics at the University of Missouri Kansas City for my undergrad and later get my master's. I hope to be a second oboe/English horn or a conductor for a major symphony orchestra and still have some time to compose and perform in chamber ensembles as well.

Every Sunday, when I visited my grandparents, the piano was sitting in the living room. Every Sunday without fail from the age of 18 months, I was sucked into spending hours sitting at it and studying it. No matter what happened that week, it was always there waiting for me, ready to listen to my successes and frustrations. Every week, I cleaned off the dust and began to play, peace filled my soul and brought a sense of calm. This 1890 Bradley and Sons piano gave me a new way to express myself. From the first time I touched the ivories, the piano ushered me into a journey with profound impacts on my creations, beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations.  The primary way I express myself through music is through composition. I began composing during an assignment in middle school choir. I quickly fell in love; it felt as if I had the entire world at my fingertips, and I could tell my own stories. Composing quickly became an avenue for me to express my feelings and my reactions to life. I found that in my lowest points of life, I could rely on my compositions to lift me and bring me to this supernatural, perfect, realm of calmness. The best part is that I can share that feeling with others, and it's this feeling of calmness and the joy I bring to others that fuels this passion.  Music has strengthened my beliefs and relationships through my church. I became involved in my church's music ministry during my freshman year because we needed more musicians after many retired. Being a church musician, I learned different musical skills like transposition and how to be a chamber musician. However, being at church and playing the hymns on my various instruments, I felt a deeper connection with God. When I was at church, God was within me and my music. I have written music based on the bible and am currently working on a mass. Without being a church musician, I know that my faith wouldn’t be as strong as it is. It has also given me more relationships within my church community; the other musicians are like grandparents to me. They are always there for me and the first ones to support my endeavors.   Another way that music has influenced my relationships is through performance. I have more friends than I ever would have thought because of band, music camps, and youth orchestra. I have made many friends through our shared passion for music, and I can’t imagine my life without them. One of them even inspired me to compose more; this friend’s word of affirmation started a whole new era of compositions and inspired me to challenge myself. These compositions opened up new relationships with my teachers and other peers. I recently wrote a piece for string orchestra that the orchestra at my school got to read, and it has given me a new perspective on music. I feel like I can make a difference in the world by writing music, giving others feelings of comfort, and ease, and giving performers the joy that we all have when we play, just like my favorite composers have done for centuries.  In the future, I plan to keep composing, major in oboe performance, and mathematics at the University of Missouri Kansas City for my undergrad and hopefully go to Europe for my masters.  I would like to be a second oboe/English horn or a conductor for a major symphony orchestra and still have some time to compose and perform in chamber ensembles as well.