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Iyeneobong ESSIEN

565

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Finalist

Bio

I have set goals which defines my passions. I am passionate about many things in life. Growing up in Nigeria as a child before relocating to US for my high schools I have witnessed first hand the challenges faces by many out of school children in Nigeria. I am passionate about offering my support in actions that will help these children to get to school and get education. I have been passionate about golf since I was introduced to the game from the age of 5. I have represented Nigeria in many international junior golfing events including the 2022 R&A Junior Open in Scotland; and the 2022 Champion of Champion World Golf championship invitational in Northern Ireland; finishing second. I am equally passionate about STEM education. I have the ambition & passion to be a role model to the many youths – especially the girl children in Nigeria - who, unlike me, have not had the opportunities I have had in golf and education. I have the ambition to study Electrical Engineering at the University while playing collegiate golf. After my studies, I aspire to play professional golf or work as an engineer. I also have the ambition of giving back to society through golf and STEM education. I am most passionate about obtaining an engineering degree and playing professional golf thereafter.

Education

Taft School

High School
2021 - 2024

Taft School

High School
2021 - 2024

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Majors of interest:

    • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing

    • Dream career goals:

      Sports

      Golf

      Varsity
      2011 – 202413 years

      Future Interests

      Advocacy

      Volunteering

      Philanthropy

      Entrepreneurship

      Hulede Collegiate Golf Scholarship
      1) Basketball is my second passion after golf. At school in Abuja Nigeria, I played soccer and basketball. I was looking for a sport that would complement golf; a team sport that is more physically demanding; fast paced; a sport that will enhance my athletic ability and help me with motor coordination, eye-to-ball coordination; help with endurance and much more. Basketball fits more than soccer into all of the above needs. I had to drop playing soccer because it’s dangerous for me as a girl; also I was the only girl playing with the boys. I started playing basketball at the age of 9 in Nigeria before I relocated to Taft School, Watertown, CT in 2021. I am part of the Taft Girls’ JV basketball team. I really enjoy playing basketball with my friends. Basketball has helped me in acquiring team building skills, ball-to-eye-coordination, mental conditioning, communication and social skills with leadership roles skill sets. It has helped me to build my physical fitness and endurance. Basketball has enhanced my golf development; it helps me to block-out-the-noise and promotes strong mental conditioning skills, especially when I am putting as putting represents about 50 percent of the scoring in golf. I am able to caddie for myself on a golf course without too many physical challenges. Basketball has made me a better golfer. The team player skill will help me in collaborating and working with teams on small-to-large scale projects in my future studies and career in engineering and investment banking. 2) It is common to hear the loud sound of exhilarating shouts (noises) “NEPA” from children and adults alike echoing through the air in many districts, cities, and at times villages across the length and breadth of Nigeria after a power outage. The duration of power restoration could be very unpredictable; from a few hours, through days, and at times, the outages could last for months. Most of the power generated in Nigeria (3,970MW) is not transmitted because of dilapidated and old transmission lines which have not been upgraded in decades due to many reasons and causes. Many homes and businesses in Nigeria rely on privately generated power supplies. Running generating sets is very expensive and emissions cause environmental hazards. The desire to study Electrical engineering is borne through experiences I had as a child living in Nigeria. I want to make my contribution in helping to solve the problems of incessant power failures in Nigeria. Living in Nigeria I thought that power failures were normal until I traveled to NY where I was born. My father told me that in NY there were hardly any power outages because the system is efficient. This is how my desire to study electrical and computer engineering was born. I hope to use my knowledge in electrical engineering in helping to fix the challenges and problems that Nigeria is facing through designing, installing, and equipping networks to increase the capacity of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution in Nigeria; thus fostering development in Nigeria. 3) Golf is the game of life. Golf has given me a lot and has provided me with many opportunities; representing Nigeria in international golf tournaments in Africa, US, UK; making new friends, and learning about different cultures in the world. Nigeria has failed her children. There are more than 20,000,000 out-of-school children in Nigeria and still counting. I have been fortunate to play golf and study STEM. In Abuja Nigeria where I lived before relocating to the US for my high school at Taft school, many kids look up to me as their idol, trailblazer and pacesetter. I have the passion and commitment to provide leadership in giving back to communities in rural Nigeria; to provide support to these children in STEM education through golf. To support this ambition, I created a foundation - with the aim of providing support to aspiring youths in rural Nigeria. The foundation will source for used golf clubs, balls, gloves and apparels from OEMs, golf clubs throughout the US. It will also source for funds, part of which will be used to ship these equipment to Nigeria. I have already identified an NGO in Nigeria that will help in distributing these equipment and apparels to golf clubs and schools in Nigeria. This opportunity will help create a diverse community of future leaders, doctors, engineers, educators, nurses and other professionals which Nigeria desperately needs. This action will help contribute in supporting and fostering the development of these communities through golf and STEM education. 4) I have been passionate about golf since I was introduced to the game from the age of 5. I have represented Nigeria in many international junior golfing events including the 2022 R&A Junior Open in Scotland; and the 2022 Champion of Champion World Golf championship invitational in Northern Ireland; finishing second. I am equally passionate about STEM education. I have the ambition & passion to be a role model to the many youths – especially the girl children in Nigeria - who, unlike me, have not had the opportunities I have had in golf and education. I have the ambition to study Electrical Engineering at the University while playing collegiate golf. After my studies, I aspire to play professional golf or work as an engineer. I also have the ambition of giving back to society through golf and STEM education. I will be working to represent Nigeria at the 2028 Summer Olympics in the USA. To help support these ambitions, the scholarship will be utilized to complete the payment of my college education estimated at 89,000 dollars. It will enable me to have access to the best golf coaches; and pay for my participation in high level golf tournaments all over the world. It will give me the exposure; afford me the opportunities to meet and network with professionals in the field of engineering, golf and business for my personal and professional growth. It will enable me to attract sponsors for the development of golf in Nigeria through my foundation.