My entire life has revolved around my disability. I have hemiplegia cerebral palsy and Goldenhar Syndrome. From the week I came home from the hospital and for the entirety of the last seventeen years of my life, I have been in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, horseback riding therapy, aqua therapy, and participated in many clinical trials and unique medical treatments so that I can be at the point I am at now. I had 17 surgeries by the time I was seven years old. What did all of this teach me? Persistence accomplishes goals, resiliency is essential to progress, and always looking forward to what’s next is what keeps me focused. I graduated from high school with excellent grades and began my studies at the University of Oregon. My plans for my future include incorporating all that I have learned from these experiences and combining them with my love for business. I want to eventually obtain my doctorate in business and work to build or support a company that transforms the lives of people with disabilities, as those that came before me did to improve the quality of my life. All parts of our lives should be accessible to those who experience disabilities, and I want to work with existing businesses to ensure their products and services are accessible by all. I have persevered through countless obstacles in my journey, overcoming physical limitations and societal barriers. Despite facing numerous surgeries and therapies, I have maintained a steadfast commitment to my education and personal development. Through hard work and determination, I have achieved academic success and earned acceptance into prestigious universities. My experiences have taught me the importance of resilience and perseverance in overcoming challenges, and I am prepared to apply these lessons to my future endeavors in the business world. Furthermore, I have actively engaged in volunteer work and community service, seeking opportunities to give back and make a positive impact. I have volunteered with various Army organizations, including Know Your Army Day and the JBLM travel basketball team, where I have contributed my time and skills to support the military community. Additionally, I have participated in clinical trials with Columbia University to improve the lives of individuals with cerebral palsy and volunteered at my local physical therapy clinic. These experiences have instilled in me a deep sense of service and a desire to contribute to the betterment of society. In conclusion, the Jorian Kuran Harris (Shugg) Helping Heart Foundation Scholarship would provide invaluable support and assistance in furthering my education and realizing my goals. By alleviating some of the financial strain associated with pursuing higher education, the scholarship would enable me to focus on my studies and pursue opportunities for personal and professional growth. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be considered for this scholarship, and I am committed to making the most of this support to achieve my aspirations and make a positive impact in the world.

As a young child, I would walk out of birthday parties and attempt to walk home. My mom used to sit at the back of my classroom in elementary schools to observe me and work with the teacher to try to find ways to help me participate with my peers. I never attended a single sleepover with friends my entire time in school. When my parents would tell me that I had to go to somebody else's house with them, I would have a meltdown. I needed time to process and prepare myself. I didn't attend many of my high school functions. All of this is a result of my social anxiety. As a young child my doctor told my parents that I have selective mutism and wanted to put me on Prozac at three years old, which I am thankful my parents opted out of. My social anxiety is exasperated by the fact that I have cerebral palsy. This impairs my physical abilities but also drastically increases my self-awareness and self-consciousness when in social situations. I never fit in the same as my peers. I have a strong friend group but I was never able to make myself go out to social gatherings with them, which impaired the strength of my friendships as that is when many of them bonded and created memories to share. I don't have those memories. I spent my time home with my dog. I am going away to college. I will attend the University of Oregon and I am required to live in the dorms. The fear of this is almost enough to make me not want to go away to college. One of the few blessings my disability has given me is that I qualify for a single dorm and I will not have to share with a stranger or group of strangers. I look at this as a blessing now, in order to convince myself to go away to school but deep down I know that I need the experiences of living with my peers and becoming more active socially. Pursuing a college degree is important to me because despite my social anxiety and disability, I am still very passionate about many things. I want to work with businesses to support their integration of people who experience disabilities into the workplace into meaningful jobs and creation of products, services, and offices that support people with disabilities being active, involved members of their communities. I have big goals of being active and working to integrate into the social setting at college. I hope I can do it. I know I can do it. I'm looking forward to easier days ahead. Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship as I will use the funds to continue to pursue my education to support those who experience disability and anxiety to ensure they have fulfilling, meaningful lives.

As a young child, I would walk out of birthday parties and attempt to walk home. My mom used to sit at the back of my classroom in elementary schools to observe me and work with the teacher to try to find ways to help me participate with my peers. I never attended a single sleepover with friends my entire time in school. When my parents would tell me that I had to go to somebody else's house with them, I would have a meltdown. I needed time to process and prepare myself. I didn't attend many of my high school functions. All of this is a result of my social anxiety. As a young child my doctor told my parents that I have selective mutism and wanted to put me on Prozac at three years old, which I am thankful my parents opted out of. My social anxiety is exasperated by the fact that I have cerebral palsy. This impairs my physical abilities but also drastically increases my self-awareness and self-consciousness when in social situations. I never fit in the same as my peers. I have a strong friend group but I was never able to make myself go out to social gatherings with them, which impaired the strength of my friendships as that is when many of them bonded and created memories to share. I don't have those memories. I spent my time home with my dog. I am going away to college. I will attend the University of Oregon and I am required to live in the dorms. The fear of this is almost enough to make me not want to go away to college. One of the few blessings my disability has given me is that I qualify for a single dorm and I will not have to share with a stranger or group of strangers. I look at this as a blessing now, in order to convince myself to go away to school but deep down I know that I need the experiences of living with my peers and becoming more active socially. Pursuing a college degree is important to me because despite my social anxiety and disability, I am still very passionate about many things. I want to work with businesses to support their integration of people who experience disabilities into the workplace into meaningful jobs and creation of products, services, and offices that support people with disabilities being active, involved members of their communities. I have big goals of being active and working to integrate into the social setting at college. I hope I can do it. I know I can do it. I'm looking forward to easier days ahead. Mental health matters because of the amount of life those of us who experience mental health disorders miss out on and the damage we often due to relationships because of those disorders. We need to continue to change the narrative to ensure we are all talking about the topic so those that experience a disorder can comfortably get the help and support they deserve without being stigmatized. Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship.

My entire life has revolved around my disability. I have cerebral palsy and Goldenhar Syndrome. From the week I came home from the hospital and for the entirety of the last eighteen years of my life, I have been in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, horseback riding therapy, aqua therapy, participated in many clinical trials and unique medical treatments, and experienced nearly two dozen surgeries so that I can be at the point I am at now. This is what I am most passionate about. I know the lives of people living and growing up with a disability and want to spend my career ensuring they have access to live a fulfilling meaningful life, while easing the pressures placed on parents of children with disabilities. I want people with disabilities to live a life where their disability feels secondary to the life they want to live. My plans for my future include incorporating all that I have learned from these experiences and combining them with my love for business. I want to eventually obtain my doctorate in business and work to build companies that transform the lives of people with disabilities, as those that came before me did to improve the quality of my life. I want to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries to include amateur athletics, professional athletics, athletic clothing , traditional clothing, footwear, and sports related industries. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry that I enjoy. Despite my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated because I experience a disability. I want to combine this important aspect with my love of sports and business. I am hoping to partner with companies such as Nike, Adidas, dress shoe companies, mainstream clothing companies, athletic training equipment companies, and even traditional corporate offices to ensure their facilities, products, and presentations are all inclusive for people who experience a range of disabilities. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities. I want to ensure all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives and activities. I want everybody to feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences. I aspire to expand corporate and public world-views on people with disabilities.

My entire life has revolved around my disability. I have hemiplegia cerebral palsy and Goldenhar Syndrome. From the week I came home from the hospital and for the entirety of the last eighteen years of my life, I have been in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, horseback riding therapy, aqua therapy, and participated in many clinical trials and unique medical treatments so that I can be at the point I am at now. I had 17 surgeries by the time I was seven years old. What did all of this teach me? Persistence accomplishes goals, resiliency is essential to progress, and always looking forward to what’s next is what keeps me focused. I graduated from high school with excellent grades and was accepted into my choice of universities. My plans for my future include incorporating all I have learned from these experiences with my love for business and innovation. I want to obtain my doctorate in business and work to build or support companies that transform the lives of people with disabilities, as those that came before me did to improve the quality of my life. All parts of our lives should be accessible to those who experience disabilities and I want to work with existing businesses to ensure their products and services are accessible by all through science and innovation. I have persevered through countless obstacles in my journey, overcoming physical limitations and societal barriers. Despite facing numerous surgeries and therapies, I have maintained a steadfast commitment to my education and personal development. Through hard work and determination, I have achieved academic success and earned acceptance into prestigious universities. My experiences have taught me the importance of resilience and perseverance in overcoming challenges, and I am prepared to apply these lessons to my future endeavors in the business world. Furthermore, I have actively engaged in volunteer work and community service, seeking opportunities to give back and make a positive impact. I have volunteered with various Army organizations including the JBLM travel basketball team, where I have contributed my time and skills to support the military community. Additionally, I have participated in clinical trials with Columbia University to improve the lives of individuals with cerebral palsy and volunteered at my local physical therapy clinic. These experiences have instilled in me a deep sense of service and a desire to contribute to the betterment of society. Despite my achievements and aspirations, I face financial challenges in pursuing my educational goals. As a student with disabilities, I require additional support and resources to access the accommodations and services necessary for my success. Unfortunately, I have not been awarded sufficient grants or scholarships to cover the costs of my education, and I am limited in my ability to secure additional funding through traditional means. Consequently, I am faced with the prospect of shouldering a significant financial burden to pursue my dreams. I was only awarded $5,000 worth of student loans and $0 in grants and require an additional $40,000 for my freshman year as I am required to live on campus. In conclusion, the Powering the Future - Whiddon Memorial Scholarship would provide invaluable support and assistance in furthering my education and realizing my goals. By alleviating some of the financial strain associated with pursuing higher education, the scholarship would enable me to focus on my studies and pursue opportunities for personal and professional growth. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be considered for this scholarship, and I am committed to making the most of this support to achieve my aspirations and make a positive impact in the world.

I have a disability. I was born with cerebral palsy and Goldenhar syndrome. I’ve spent my entire life dealing with ableism. This pervasive thought throughout society that people with disabilities need to be “fixed” and that those with typical abilities are superior to those is an ideal that many do not even realize they are perpetuating. I was raised being taught that I am not less than anyone. I was never in special classes or segregated from my peers throughout my schooling because of my disability. I know this is not the norm. I know that most children growing up with a disability spend some of their time segregated from their peers. I know that having a disability is the only reason that people can be legally segregated sans criminal activity. I know that people with disabilities are still treated in this manner because many cannot speak for themselves and instead rely on advocates to get what they need. This is why I have chosen to speak up, even when it is hard. I have a friend, a friend that experiences Down Syndrome. We started kindergarten at the same time. By sixth grade, she was moved to a “special classroom” and I rarely ever saw her again. Prior to that, she was part of my life every day. She is also graduating high school this year, although not with her neighborhood friends and non-disabled peers. She gets a “special” diploma. Recently, I saw my childhood friend while I was with a group of current friends. They recognized her and we went up to greet her. I couldn’t help but notice how my friends spoke to her like she was a little child, not a peer to them also getting ready to graduate high school. It made me feel as if they felt she was less. These friends have always been my support system and have never made me feel like less because of my disability but this was a perfect display of ableism and I have learned that if it is not brought to the person’s attention that is doing it, they do not recognize what they are doing. I made the decision to speak with my friends about how they approached our childhood friend and greeted her. I explained to them what ableism is and how it persists in maintaining different standards for people who experience disabilities. I gave them examples of how this often occurs in everyday life. They were able to recognize this behavior in themselves and I have even heard them mention the term in conversations since. I know that they did not intend to insult anyway, they followed what they learned through other adult modeling as they grew up. They were attempting to be polite. I see this behavior throughout our society. I’ve heard people telling my own parents and parents of children with disabilities that they were only given those children because they can handle it. I have heard people telling special education teachers that they are “gifts from God” to be able to teach “those kids”. It is all ableism and it is all inappropriate. It falls on the shoulders of those of us who understand this term to speak up, even when it is uncomfortable to bring awareness to the discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities that devalues them. Words do matter. Treating people who experience disabilities with respect matters. I will continue to speak up in similar situations to work to close the gap on the level of respect offered to people who experience disabilities in our society.

I have a disability. I was born with cerebral palsy and Goldenhar syndrome. I’ve spent my entire life dealing with ableism. This pervasive thought throughout society that people with disabilities need to be “fixed” and that those with typical abilities are superior to those is an ideal that many do not even realize they are perpetuating. I was raised being taught that I am not less than anyone. I was never in special classes or segregated from my peers throughout my schooling because of my disability. I know this is not the norm. I know that most children growing up with a disability spend some of their time segregated from their peers. I know that having a disability is the only reason that people can be legally segregated sans criminal activity. I know that people with disabilities are still treated in this manner because many cannot speak for themselves and instead rely on advocates to get what they need. This is why I have chosen to speak up, even when it is hard. I have a friend, a friend that experiences Down Syndrome. We started kindergarten at the same time. By sixth grade, she was moved to a “special classroom” and I rarely ever saw her again. Prior to that, she was part of my life every day. She is also graduating high school this year, although not with her neighborhood friends and non-disabled peers. She gets a “special” diploma. Recently, I saw my childhood friend while I was with a group of current friends. They recognized her and we went up to greet her. I couldn’t help but notice how my friends spoke to her like she was a little child, not a peer to them also getting ready to graduate high school. It made me feel as if they felt she was less. These friends have always been my support system and have never made me feel like less because of my disability but this was a perfect display of ableism and I have learned that if it is not brought to the person’s attention that is doing it, they do not recognize what they are doing. I made the decision to speak with my friends about how they approached our childhood friend and greeted her. I explained to them what ableism is and how it persists in maintaining different standards for people who experience disabilities. I gave them examples of how this often occurs in everyday life. They were able to recognize this behavior in themselves and I have even heard them mention the term in conversations since. I know that they did not intend to insult anyway, they followed what they learned through other adult modeling as they grew up. They were attempting to be polite. I see this behavior throughout our society. I’ve heard people telling my own parents and parents of children with disabilities that they were only given those children because they can handle it. I have heard people telling special education teachers that they are “gifts from God” to be able to teach “those kids”. It is all ableism and it is all inappropriate. It falls on the shoulders of those of us who understand this term to speak up, even when it is uncomfortable to bring awareness to the discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities that devalues them. Words do matter. Treating people who experience disabilities with respect matters. I will continue to speak up in similar situations to work to close the gap on the level of respect offered to people who experience disabilities in our society.

My entire life has revolved around my disability. I have cerebral palsy and Goldenhar Syndrome. I also experience significant anxiety. From the week I came home from the hospital and for the entirety of the last eighteen years of my life, I have been in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, horseback riding therapy, aqua therapy, participated in many clinical trials and unique medical treatments, and experienced nearly two dozen surgeries so that I can be at the point I am at now. My plans for my future include incorporating all that I have learned from these experiences and combining them with my love for business. I want to eventually obtain my doctorate in business and work to build or support a company that transforms the lives of people with disabilities, as those that came before me did to improve the quality of my life. I want to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries to include amateur athletics, professional athletics, athletic clothing and footwear, and sports related industries. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry that I enjoy. Despite my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated because I experience a disability. I want to combine this important aspect with my love of sports and business. I am hoping to partner with companies such as Nike, Adidas, dress shoe companies, mainstream clothing companies, athletic training equipment companies, and even traditional corporate offices to ensure their facilities, products, and presentations are all inclusive for people who experience a range of disabilities. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities. I want to ensure all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives and activities. I want everybody to feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences. In addition to the many life experiences I earned from being born experiencing disability, I am also part of an active-duty military family. This has caused my family to often be split up into different states. My parents are divorced and my stepfather is in the Army. In order to ensure the continuity of my care and the stability of my education, the decision was made that I would not move with them each time that they moved as it was often every year or 18 months. This caused me to often live without my primary parent, instilling both independence and discipline in myself. I was not able to work a regular job because I could not leave every school break. This impacted my ability to earn money and save for college. I instead focused on my education and ensuring that I kept my grades up to earn scholarships to assist me in paying for school. Additional funds will help me be able to attend college and be the person I aspire to be to expand corporate world-views on people with disabilities as this is what success looks like to me, changing the world to be more accessible for all.

My entire life has revolved around my disability. I have cerebral palsy and Goldenhar Syndrome. I also experience significant anxiety. From the week I came home from the hospital and for the entirety of the last eighteen years of my life, I have been in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, horseback riding therapy, aqua therapy, participated in many clinical trials and unique medical treatments, and experienced nearly two dozen surgeries so that I can be at the point I am at now. My plans for my future include incorporating all that I have learned from these experiences and combining them with my love for business. I want to eventually obtain my doctorate in business and work to build or support a company that transforms the lives of people with disabilities, as those that came before me did to improve the quality of my life. I want to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries to include amateur athletics, professional athletics, athletic clothing and footwear, and sports related industries. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry that I enjoy. Despite my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated because I experience a disability. I want to combine this important aspect with my love of sports and business. I am hoping to partner with companies such as beauty and clothing industries, Nike, Adidas, dress shoe companies, mainstream clothing companies, athletic training equipment companies, and even traditional corporate offices to ensure their facilities, products, and presentations are all inclusive for people who experience a range of disabilities. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities. I want to ensure all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives and activities. I want everybody to feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences and even people with disabilities are considered beautiful. In addition to the many life experiences I earned from being born experiencing disability, I am also part of an active-duty military family. This has caused my family to often be split up into different states. My parents are divorced and my stepfather is in the Army. In order to ensure the continuity of my care and the stability of my education, the decision was made that I would not move with them each time that they moved as it was often every year or 18 months. This caused me to often live without my primary parent, instilling both independence and discipline in myself. I was not able to work a regular job because I could not leave every school break. This impacted my ability to earn money and save for college. I instead focused on my education and ensuring that I kept my grades up to earn scholarships to assist me in paying for school.

As a young child, I would walk out of birthday parties and attempt to walk home. My mom used to sit at the back of my classroom in elementary schools to observe me and work with the teacher to try to find ways to help me participate with my peers. I never attended a single sleepover with friends my entire time in school. When my parents would tell me that I had to go to somebody else's house with them, I would have a meltdown. I needed time to process and prepare myself. I didn't attend many of my high school functions. All of this is a result of my social anxiety. As a young child my doctor told my parents that I have selective mutism and wanted to put me on Prozac at three years old, which I am thankful my parents opted out of. My social anxiety is exasperated by the fact that I have cerebral palsy. This impairs my physical abilities but also drastically increases my self-awareness and self-consciousness when in social situations. I never fit in the same as my peers. I have a strong friend group but I was never able to make myself go out to social gatherings with them, which impaired the strength of my friendships as that is when many of them bonded and created memories to share. I don't have those memories. I spent my time home with my dog. I am going away to college. I will attend the University of Oregon and I am required to live in the dorms. The fear of this is almost enough to make me not want to go away to college. One of the few blessings my disability has given me is that I qualify for a single dorm and I will not have to share with a stranger or group of strangers. I look at this as a blessing now, in order to convince myself to go away to school but deep down I know that I need the experiences of living with my peers and becoming more active socially. Pursuing a college degree is important to me because despite my social anxiety and disability, I am still very passionate about many things. I want to work with businesses to support their integration of people who experience disabilities into the workplace into meaningful jobs and creation of products, services, and offices that support people with disabilities being active, involved members of their communities. I have big goals of being active and working to integrate into the social setting at college. I hope i can do it. I know I can do it. I'm looking forward to easier days ahead. Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship.

My entire life has revolved around my disability. I have cerebral palsy and Goldenhar Syndrome. I also experience significant anxiety. From the week I came home from the hospital and for the entirety of the last eighteen years of my life, I have been in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, horseback riding therapy, aqua therapy, participated in many clinical trials and unique medical treatments, and experienced nearly two dozen surgeries so that I can be at the point I am at now. My plans for my future include incorporating all that I have learned from these experiences and combining them with my love for business. I want to eventually obtain my doctorate in business and work to build or support a company that transforms the lives of people with disabilities, as those that came before me did to improve the quality of my life. I want to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries to include amateur athletics, professional athletics, athletic clothing and footwear, and sports related industries. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry that I enjoy. Despite my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated because I experience a disability. I want to combine this important aspect with my love of sports and business. I am hoping to partner with companies such as Nike, Adidas, dress shoe companies, mainstream clothing companies, athletic training equipment companies, and even traditional corporate offices to ensure their facilities, products, and presentations are all inclusive for people who experience a range of disabilities. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities. I want to ensure all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives and activities. I want everybody to feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences. In addition to the many life experiences I earned from being born experiencing disability, I am also part of an active-duty military family. This has caused my family to often be split up into different states. My parents are divorced and my stepfather is in the Army. In order to ensure the continuity of my care and the stability of my education, the decision was made that I would not move with them each time that they moved as it was often every year or 18 months. This caused me to often live without my primary parent, instilling both independence and discipline in myself. I was not able to work a regular job because I could not leave every school break. This impacted my ability to earn money and save for college. I instead focused on my education and ensuring that I kept my grades up to earn scholarships to assist me in paying for school.

My entire life has revolved around my disability. I have cerebral palsy and Goldenhar Syndrome. I also experience significant anxiety. From the week I came home from the hospital and for the entirety of the last eighteen years of my life, I have been in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, horseback riding therapy, aqua therapy, participated in many clinical trials and unique medical treatments, and experienced nearly two dozen surgeries so that I can be at the point I am at now. My plans for my future include incorporating all that I have learned from these experiences and combining them with my love for business. I want to eventually obtain my doctorate in business and work to build or support a company that transforms the lives of people with disabilities, as those that came before me did to improve the quality of my life. I want to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries to include amateur athletics, professional athletics, athletic clothing and footwear, and sports related industries. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry that I enjoy. Despite my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated because I experience a disability. I want to combine this important aspect with my love of sports and business. I am hoping to partner with companies such as Nike, Adidas, dress shoe companies, mainstream clothing companies, athletic training equipment companies, and even traditional corporate offices to ensure their facilities, products, and presentations are all inclusive for people who experience a range of disabilities. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities. I want to ensure all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives and activities. I want everybody to feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences. In addition to the many life experiences I earned from being born experiencing disability, I am also part of an active-duty military family. This has caused my family to often be split up into different states. My parents are divorced and my stepfather is in the Army. In order to ensure the continuity of my care and the stability of my education, the decision was made that I would not move with them each time that they moved as it was often every year or 18 months. This caused me to often live without my primary parent, instilling both independence and discipline in myself. I was not able to work a regular job because I could not leave every school break. This impacted my ability to earn money and save for college. I instead focused on my education and ensuring that I kept my grades up to earn scholarships to assist me in paying for school.

Being born a person with a physical disability, I have been surrounded by “givers” my entire life. From the day I came home from the hospital, people wanting to help were teaching my parents how to help me have the best life possible. I have had seventeen surgeries all by doctors wanting to change the lives of children with disabilities. I have had many teachers who have put in extra effort to ensure I was able to participate in activities. However, it wasn’t until I started spending time with my stepfather at his work that I learned what true dedication to a community was. My stepfather enlisted in the United States Army active duty when he was 19 years old. He has dedicated the last 24 years of his life to our country and continues to serve to this day as a command sergeant major. He involves me in Army activities, such as the “Know Your Army” day at Joint Base Lewis-McChord where I was able to meet Soldiers and talk about what their jobs are and what their lives are like. I volunteer with him to support the Joint Base Lewis-McChord high school travel basketball team as an assistant. I know that I will never be able to serve in the military because of circumstances beyond my control, but I can take a lot from what I have learned being around the military to help my community, and in particular the disability community and the military child and dependent community. I am inspired to be the one support person that may change a person’s life. I spend my summers heavily involved in military events at whichever military base my step-dad and mom are stationed. This summer I participated in my step-dad's Get to Know Your Military community event on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which was an event that invited existing military members and their families as well as the community to come out for a day of fun and informative sessions to learn about parts of the military they may not be as well-informed on. Events such as these would be excellent opportunities for family members such as myself to be advocates for peers who have gone through similar experiences as a military family member to open up the opportunity for peer-to-peer supporting encourage others to be the one for other peers they come across throughout their travels with the military. Military child peer support groups in schools with the aim of being the one, may be an additional way to be the one for military communities. I plan to use my passion for advocacy to work with businesses to create more inclusive products, services, and facilities for people who experience disabilities. I hope to eventually obtain my doctorate in business and work with corporations to implement by vision for a more inclusive society so all people who experience a disability can live active, meaningful lives and be proud of who they are regardless of their physical abilities.

Steph Curry is my favorite Team USA athlete because, in my opinion, he is the greatest shooter of all time. His ability to consistently hit deep three-pointers and his precision on the court have redefined the game of basketball. Beyond his remarkable skill, what sets Curry apart is his humility. Despite his numerous accolades and widespread recognition, he remains grounded, always giving credit to his teammates and coaches. This humility is rare among athletes of his caliber and makes him a role model both on and off the court. Additionally, this is Curry’s first Olympics, marking a new chapter in his illustrious career. Watching him represent Team USA is exciting, as he brings his trademark work ethic and sportsmanship to the international stage. His respect for others, whether they are teammates, opponents, or fans, further cements my admiration for him. What truly resonates with me is Curry’s support for athletes with disabilities, like myself. He has shown time and again that he values inclusivity and recognizes the strength and determination of all athletes, regardless of their abilities. This commitment to supporting others and treating everyone with dignity only enhances my respect for him. Steph Curry exemplifies the qualities I value most in an athlete—unparalleled talent, humility, respect, and a genuine concern for all athletes.

My entire life has revolved around my disability. I have cerebral palsy and Goldenhar Syndrome. From the week I came home from the hospital and for the entirety of the last eighteen years of my life, I have been in a variety of therapies, participated in many clinical trials and unique medical treatments, and experienced nearly two dozen surgeries so that I can be at the point I am at now. This has built me to be extremely resilient as I do not let any of these experience set me back, only make me stronger. My plans for my future include incorporating all that I have learned from these experiences and combining them with my love for business. I want to eventually obtain my doctorate in business and work to build or support a company that transforms the lives of people with disabilities, as those that came before me did to improve the quality of my life. I want to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities, ensuring all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives and activities. Everybody should feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry I enjoy. Despite my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated because I experience a disability. In addition to the many life experiences I earned from being born experiencing disability, I am also part of an active-duty military family. This has caused my family to often be split up into different states. My parents are divorced and my stepfather is in the Army. In order to ensure the continuity of my care and the stability of my education, the decision was made that I would not move with them each time that they moved as it was often every year or 18 months. This required me to often live without my primary parent, instilling both independence and discipline in myself. I was not able to work a regular job because I could not leave every school break. This impacted my ability to earn money and save for college. I instead focused on my education and ensuring that I kept my grades up to earn scholarships to assist me in paying for school. I believe that I have lead my life instilling many of the components of leadership. I want to give back to the communities that have given so much to me and my family to include the military and the disability support community. Good leaders give credit to those that support them and make them a better person. Good leaders support and provide guidance to make others better. I want to always embody those components of leadership to model leadership for others who want to lead while living with a physical disability.

My entire life has revolved around my disability. I have cerebral palsy and Goldenhar Syndrome. I also experience significant social anxiety. Only about ten percent of college students experience a disability, and far less experience a significant physical disability, making it one of the most underrepresented groups on college campuses. From the week I came home from the hospital and for the entirety of the last eighteen years of my life, I have been in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, horseback riding therapy, aqua therapy, participated in many clinical trials and unique medical treatments, and experienced nearly two dozen surgeries so that I can be at the point I am at now. I had my most recent two surgeries just days after my high school graduation in June, as I have to strategically schedule them around important life moments while giving me time to recover before the next important life moment. My plans for my future include incorporating all that I have learned from these experiences and combining them with my love for business and finance. I want to eventually obtain my doctorate in business and work to build or support a company that transforms the lives of people with disabilities, as those that came before me did to improve the quality of my life. Working to support people with disabilities is often a difficult job as many people with disabilities do not have a voice to speak for themselves and we have to make some assumptions as to what is best for them. I want to find a way to incorporate their voices into the conversations that are happening in businesses around the world to ensure their needs are met, their wants are being designed, and they are able to live fulfilling lives driven by their desires. I want to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries to include amateur athletics, professional athletics, athletic clothing and footwear, and sports related industries. This desire also includes ensuring businesses are considering the needs of people with disabilities in their designs of their office space, financial reporting, and human resources on-boarding. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry that I enjoy. Despite my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated because I experience a disability. I want to combine this important aspect with my love of sports and business. I am hoping to partner with companies such as Nike, Adidas, dress shoe companies, mainstream clothing companies, athletic training equipment companies, and even traditional corporate offices to ensure their facilities, products, shareholder information, and presentations are all inclusive for people who experience a range of disabilities. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management and finance. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities. I want to ensure all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives, activities they want to participate in, and the information they need to make meaningful decisions in their own lives. I want everybody to feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences. In addition to the many life experiences I earned from being born experiencing disability, I am also part of an active-duty military family. This has caused my family to often be split up into different states. My parents are divorced and my stepfather is in the Army. In order to ensure the continuity of my care and the stability of my education, the decision was made that I would not move with them each time that they moved as it was often every year or 18 months. This caused me to often live without my primary parent, instilling both independence and discipline in myself. However, this also had a negative impact on my ability to work and save for college. I was not able to work a regular job because I could not leave my employment every school break to spend time with my mom and stepfather. This impacted my ability to earn money and save for college. I instead focused on my education and ensuring that I kept my grades up to earn scholarships to assist me in paying for school. Additional funds awarded through college scholarships will help me be able to attend college and be the person I aspire to be to expand corporate world-views on people with disabilities.

Being born a person with a physical disability, I have been surrounded by “givers” my entire life. From the day I came home from the hospital, people wanting to help were teaching my parents how to help me have the best life possible. I have had seventeen surgeries all by doctors wanting to change the lives of children with disabilities. I have had many teachers who have put in extra effort to ensure I was able to participate in activities. However, it wasn’t until I started spending time with my stepfather at his work that I learned what true dedication to a community was. My stepfather enlisted in the United States Army active duty when he was 19 years old. He has dedicated the last 24 years of his life to our country and continues to serve to this day as a command sergeant major. One area that I was particularly interested in was the struggles with mental health disorders within the military. As a person who has experienced various forms of trauma throughout my life primarily related to my disability, I am keenly aware of the relationship between past trauma and mental health disorders. Being a service-member brings its own unique stressors and potential exposure to traumatic events but equally as importantly, research has shown that enlisted personnel in the military are at a higher risk of developing disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder before they even enlist due to a high number of adverse childhood experiences a large majority of enlisted personnel are exposed to. Often, trauma can be passed on generationally, which is often seen in service members, putting them at an even higher risk for the need for mental health support. In addition to these risk factors, enlisted personnel are often at a disadvantage educationally as many obtain a high-school diploma and do not continue their education to further develop their resiliency and critical thinking skills, both of which are essential in managing and maintaining healthy mental health levels. In my own personal friend group, I have experienced supporting peers going through adverse mental health situations. I have chosen to be the one for them by sharing my own experiences and talking openly about mental health struggles and shared what I have done to help cope and persevere and come out a stronger person. I, along with my close friends have rallied around the person struggling creating a weight training group in my garage help support each of those struggling as exercise is a positive way to work through mental health conditions as have positive support present regularly lets the person know that they are not alone. I have become an advocate for sharing mental health needs openly with trusted people to help de-stigmatize the experiences. I will also choose to be the one for anyone in need of mental health support. In addition to non-military related traumatic experiences in my life, I also deal with often times not being able to PCS with my mom and step-dad in order to ensure the continuity of care for my medical needs as well as maintaining some normality in my education. This brings about often not discussed stressors of military families, often having to live primarily without a primary parent always being physically present. I think I can be a strong support for younger military families who have similar experiences to help ease the mental load on military children and families by sharing my experiences of how I have coped in a healthy manner with these situations and be a sounding board for other family members.

My relationship with my disability is complex. Has it negatively impacted my physical abilities? Yes. Has it negatively impacted my social relationships? Yes. Has it negatively impacted my self-image and confidence? Yes. Has it negatively impacted my academics? Yes. Has it negatively impacted my ability to participate in extracurricular activities with my peers? Yes. However, it has also taught me to be resilient, creative in my solutions to problems, identify strengths in myself I may have never realized, become a fierce advocate for the disability community, and become a leader amongst my peers. I am an athlete. I am an athlete who experiences cerebral palsy and Goldenhar Syndrome, who has come back from eighteen different surgeries only to have to take the disappointment of being cut from high school athletic teams due to my disability and turned the negative experience into what has been a life changing experience by focusing on my own personal development, both physically and mentally through weight training. I have and want to continue to share this passion with others who are interested in changing the lives of people with disabilities. I am passionate about business and sports management, and I want to combine both business and sports management with disability advocacy work to support businesses in becoming more inclusive for people who experience disabilities. I want to show them that similar to my weight training endeavors where I took my passion for athleticism and turned it into a “me versus myself” sport, every person who has a disability has a strength that can be developed and become a passion that can make them feel good about themselves. Ultimately, I would like to pursue my doctorate in business administration and work in the sports management industry. I want to combine my previously discussed passion of sports and exercise to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries to include amateur athletics, professional athletics, athletic clothing and footwear, and sports related industries. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry that I enjoy. Despite having my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated simply because I experience a disability. I want to combine this important aspect of my life that has helped develop me into the leader that I am, with my love of sports and business. I am hoping to partner with companies such as Nike, Adidas, dress shoe companies, mainstream clothing companies, athletic training equipment companies, and even traditional corporate offices to ensure their facilities, products, and presentations are all inclusive for people who experience a range of disabilities. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities. I want to ensure all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives and activities. I want everybody to feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences.

As a young child, I would walk out of birthday parties and attempt to walk home. My mom used to sit at the back of my classroom in elementary schools to observe me and work with the teacher to try to find ways to help me participate with my peers. I never attended a single sleepover with friends my entire time in school. When my parents would tell me that I had to go to somebody else's house with them, I would have a meltdown. I needed time to process and prepare myself. I didn't attend many of my high school functions. All of this is a result of my social anxiety. As a young child my doctor told my parents that I have selective mutism and wanted to put me on Prozac at three years old, which I am thankful my parents opted out of. My social anxiety is exasperated by the fact that I have cerebral palsy. This impairs my physical abilities but also drastically increases my self-awareness and self-consciousness when in social situations. I never fit in the same as my peers. I have a strong friend group but I was never able to make myself go out to social gatherings with them, which impaired the strength of my friendships as that is when many of them bonded and created memories to share. I don't have those memories. I spent my time home with my dog. In September, I am going away to college. I will attend the University of Oregon and I am required to live in the dorms. The fear of this is almost enough to make me not want to go away to college. One of the few blessings my disability has given me is that I qualify for a single dorm and I will not have to share with a stranger or group of strangers. I look at this as a blessing now, in order to convince myself to go away to school but deep down I know that I need the experiences of living with my peers and becoming more active socially. Pursuing a college degree is important to me because despite my social anxiety and disability, I am still very passionate about many things. I want to work with businesses to support their integration of people who experience disabilities into the workplace into meaningful jobs and creation of products, services, and offices that support people with disabilities being active, involved members of their communities. Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship.

Born in 2006, I came into this world fighting. Born nearly three months prematurely, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant. This was the start of both my educational and personal journey. Hi, my name is Jace, and I am a rising freshman at the University of Oregon. I am majoring in Business with a minor in disability studies. My educational journey has been shaped by my family's active duty military lifestyle and my personal experiences with cerebral palsy. These aspects of my life have taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of community. In high school, I maintained a GPA of 3.76 while balancing my studies with various volunteer activities. I volunteered with the Joint Base Lewis McChord high school travel basketball team and participated in Know Your Army Days. These experiences allowed me to connect with people from different backgrounds and understand the value of teamwork and leadership. Living with cerebral palsy has been both a challenge and a source of motivation. I played high school basketball until I was cut from the team in my sophomore year due to my disability. This setback led me to discover weight training, which has become a significant part of my life. Weight training not only helps me stay physically fit but also strengthens my mental health. It has taught me the importance of perseverance and setting personal goals. In addition to athletics, I volunteer at Elevate Physical Therapy and participate in clinical trials at the Columbia University Center for cerebral palsy research. I hope that my involvement can contribute to improving the lives of future children with cerebral palsy. Volunteering at these places has shown me the impact that dedicated individuals can have on their communities. My strengths include my determination, adaptability, and ability to connect with others. Growing up in a military family has taught me to adapt quickly to new environments and make the best out of any situation. My experiences with cerebral palsy have made me determined to overcome obstacles and achieve my goals. I also value the importance of building strong relationships, whether it is with my peers, mentors, or the community. I am passionate about business and sports management, and I want to combine both business and sports management with disability advocacy work to support businesses in becoming more inclusive for people who experience disabilities. Ultimately, I would like to pursue my doctorate in business administration and work in the sports management industry. I want to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries to include amateur athletics, professional athletics, athletic clothing and footwear, and sports related industries. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry that I enjoy. Despite my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated because I experience a disability. I want to combine this important aspect with my love of sports and business. I am hoping to partner with companies such as Nike, Adidas, dress shoe companies, mainstream clothing companies, athletic training equipment companies, and even traditional corporate offices to ensure their facilities, products, and presentations are all inclusive for people who experience a range of disabilities. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities. I want to ensure all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives and activities. I want everybody to feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences.

I was born with both a physical disability (cerebral palsy) and a craniofacial disorder called Goldenhar Syndrome. I have had dozens of surgeries and thousands of hours of physical, occupational, speech, and other therapies over the years. What does this have to do with being the child of a veteran? It has greatly added to the complexities of both my life and the life of my active-duty parent and our family. Constant change and a complex life are all I have ever known. My parents have always prioritized my education and healthcare over the years. This has often required me to be separated from one of my parents for extended periods of time so that I could remain in the same schools with my friends and peers that have been lifelong supports to me as well as to maintain some continuity in my medical care. My active-duty parent would take unaccompanied tours to ensure that my life was as undisrupted as possible, and my mom would be able to remain close to support me. Despite the challenges, being a military child has also afforded me with invaluable opportunities for personal growth and development. Growing up in a diverse community of military families has exposed me to different cultures, perspectives, and experiences, fostering a sense of openness and acceptance towards others, which I have also desired for myself growing up with a disability myself. As I have grown up with the military, though I will never be able to serve officially, my parent has always worked to keep me involved. Throughout my high school years, I’ve been able to give back to the organization that my parent has given the last 24 years to by volunteering with some of the initiatives in the Army such as volunteering to assist at the Know Your Army Day at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM). I also give back to the military community by volunteering with the JBLM high school travel basketball team. Growing up as the child of an active-duty military member comes with a unique set of challenges and experiences. As a senior in high school with a disability, I have navigated through various aspects of military life while also facing the additional obstacles presented by my condition. Being part of a military family means constant change, adaptation, and resilience, traits that have become ingrained in my identity and shaped my perspective on life. As I transition into adulthood and prepare to embark on the next chapter of my life, I carry with me the lessons and values instilled in me by my experiences as a child of an active-duty military member. I will be attending the University of Oregon and feel prepared to adjust to the changes of living on my own and advocating for my needs, in part because of the skills of resiliency, adaptability, and sense of community that define military life that I was fortunate enough to have gained over these years

My step-father is a command sergeants major in the United States Army. He has served as an active-duty service member for the past 24 years and is currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. He has been a part of my life for the majority of my life and I am so proud to be a part of the military family. His service has opened my eyes to another demographic of American's that I did not know anything about. My favorite part of his service is being able to be a part of all of the events the Army puts on. I have been able to volunteer to help at "Know Your Army" days where the base showcases all they have to offer to the public. I also volunteer to help as an assistant with the Joint Base Lewis McChord high school travel basketball team. These opportunities always make me feel proud to be a part of a military family. My educational goals are bold. I am passionate about business and sports management, and I want to combine both business and sports management with disability advocacy work to support businesses in becoming more inclusive for people who experience disabilities. Ultimately, I would like to pursue my doctorate in business administration and work in the sports management industry. I want to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries to include amateur athletics, professional athletics, athletic clothing and footwear, and sports related industries. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability, especially military children and families. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry that I enjoy. Despite my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated because I experience a disability. I want to combine this important aspect with my love of sports and business. I am hoping to partner with companies such as Nike, Adidas, dress shoe companies, mainstream clothing companies, athletic training equipment companies, and even traditional corporate offices to ensure their facilities, products, and presentations are all inclusive for people who experience a range of disabilities. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities. I want to ensure all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives and activities. I want everybody to feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences.

My entire life has revolved around my disability. I have cerebral palsy and Goldenhar Syndrome. From the week I came home from the hospital and for the entirety of the last seventeen years of my life, I have been in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, horseback riding therapy, aqua therapy, participated in many clinical trials and unique medical treatments, and experienced nearly two dozen surgeries so that I can be at the point I am at now. My plans for my future include incorporating all that I have learned from these experiences and combining them with my love for business. I want to eventually obtain my doctorate in business and work to build or support a company that transforms the lives of people with disabilities, as those that came before me did to improve the quality of my life. I want to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries to include amateur athletics, professional athletics, athletic clothing and footwear, and sports related industries. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry that I enjoy. Despite my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated because I experience a disability. I want to combine this important aspect with my love of sports and business. I am hoping to partner with companies such as Nike, Adidas, dress shoe companies, mainstream clothing companies, athletic training equipment companies, and even traditional corporate offices to ensure their facilities, products, and presentations are all inclusive for people who experience a range of disabilities. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities. I want to ensure all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives and activities. I want everybody to feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences. In addition to the many life experiences I earned from being born experiencing disability, I am also part of an active-duty military family. This has caused my family to often be split up into different states. My parents are divorced and my stepfather is in the Army. In order to ensure the continuity of my care and the stability of my education, the decision was made that I would not move with them each time that they moved as it was often every year or 18 months. This caused me to often live without my primary parent, instilling both independence and discipline in myself. I was not able to work a regular job because I could not leave every school break. This impacted my ability to earn money and save for college. I instead focused on my education and ensuring that I kept my grades up to earn scholarships to assist me in paying for school. Additional funds will help me be able to attend college and be the person I aspire to be to expand corporate world-views on people with disabilities.

I am an advocate and an athlete. I am an athlete who experiences cerebral palsy and Goldenhar Syndrome who has taken the disappointment of being cut from high school athletic teams due to my disability and turned the negative experience into what has been a life changing experience by focusing on my own personal development, both physically and mentally through weight training. I want to share this passion with others who are interested in changing the lives of people with disabilities and advocating for their own personal physical and mental health needs. My disability has shaped my career goals by plans to combine professions I am passionate about, business and sports management, with disability advocacy work to support businesses in becoming more inclusive for people who experience disabilities. Ultimately, I would like to pursue my doctorate in business administration and work in the sports management industry. I want to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries to include amateur athletics, professional athletics, athletic clothing and footwear, and sports related industries. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry that I enjoy. Despite my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated because I experience a disability. I want to combine this important aspect with my love of sports and business. I am hoping to partner with companies such as Nike, Adidas, dress shoe companies, mainstream clothing companies, athletic training equipment companies, and even traditional corporate offices to ensure their facilities, products, and presentations are all inclusive for people who experience a range of disabilities. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities. I want to ensure all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives and activities. I want everybody to feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences.

How many people today can say they were a part of the first man to walk on the moon? Can you believe that my great-grandfather was a part of that historic event? I have a long history of family members serving in the military from my step-father who has been in active-duty for over 24 years, to my uncles and grandparents who all served. They all share incredible stories about their experiences both heart-wrenching and heart-warming but the significance of my great grandfather's experience is one of my favorite memories that I hold dear. My great grandfather is 93 years old and when I visit with him he is not able to relate much to my life, but he has the fondest memories of serving in the military. His memory is fading but not of the time he served his country. He served in both the United States Army and the United States Air Force, ultimately retiring from the Air Force. During his time in the military he was fortunate enough to have all the experiences of being stationed overseas in both Europe and Asia for much of his time in. He is a Korean War veteran and shares of his experiences on the battlefields in Korea. In 1969, my great-grandfather, was serving in the United States Air Force. One of his jobs was to develop film from various missions throughout the world. When the first man walked on the moon there were photographs taken of the experience. My grandfather was the person who developed the film and made the first ever prints of this historic event. He remembers everything about that day to include seeing the prints come out of the developer for the first time. This was an experience he was so proud to say he was a part of. He had many experiences while serving, many of them traumatic while serving on the front lines. But this, this was different. It was a fond memory that meant so much to him throughout his lifetime. This was an experience that he was proud to be a part of. I am so thankful for all of my family members, that have served. It is an option that I wish I could opt to take advantage of; however, I experience a physical disability that does not allow me to serve. In the meantime, I enjoy being a part of the military life through my family members. I will always treasure their experiences and share incredible pride for each of them.

From birth trauma to disability trauma, divorce trauma, and active-duty military trauma, these experiences have shaped who I am and how I navigate the complexities of life. My journey with mental health has been shaped by a series of traumatic events, each leaving a profound impact on my goals, relationships, and understanding of the world. My journey began with a traumatic birth, where I was born prematurely by emergency caesarean section, leading to cerebral palsy—a brain injury that has defined much of my life. The aftermath of this traumatic birth has been a lifetime of thousands of hours of therapy and seventeen surgeries thus far. Despite the physical challenges, the emotional toll has been equally significant. The fear and anxiety associated with medical settings, a common occurrence with brain injuries, have deeply affected me, making it difficult to seek the care I need. Additionally, being part of an active-duty military family has added another layer of trauma, with long deployments and frequent moves disrupting stability and exacerbating feelings of isolation and uncertainty. However, amidst these challenges, I have emerged as a stronger advocate for myself and my peers. I have recognized the importance of mental health support, especially among friends who may be experiencing similar struggles. In response to these challenges, I have opened up the home gym that I have created to my friends and peers, encouraging them to join me in physical activity as a means of improving mental health. Physical exercise has become my primary resource for coping with anxiety and stress, providing a sense of control and empowerment in times of turmoil. I share my story with others. I try to make the subject one that does not have a stigma attached as I want everyone to feel comfortable opening up about their struggles. Furthermore, my experiences have fueled my passion for advocating for mental health awareness and support. I am committed to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and ensuring that everyone has access to the resources and support they need to thrive. By sharing my story and providing a safe space for others to open up about their struggles, I hope to foster a community of empathy, understanding, and support. Ultimately, my journey with mental health has taught me the importance of resilience, self-advocacy, and compassion. Despite the challenges I have faced, I am determined to continue moving forward, using my experiences to drive positive change and make a difference in the lives of others. As I prepare to embark on the next chapter of my life—college—I am both apprehensive and hopeful, knowing that I have the strength and resilience to overcome whatever challenges may come my way.

As a senior in high school with a deep passion for various causes, I have dedicated myself to making a positive impact on others in my community through love and acts of kindness. Born with cerebral palsy and Goldenhar syndrome, I have faced my own challenges and experiences with ableism, which has fueled my advocacy for disability rights and awareness. Throughout my journey, I have sought to educate others about ableism and promote inclusion and acceptance for individuals with disabilities. One of my primary passions is disability rights and advocacy. I am deeply committed to raising awareness about ableism and challenging societal perceptions of disability. Through my advocacy work, I strive to empower individuals with disabilities to embrace their identities and advocate for their rights. Whether it's speaking out against discriminatory practices or educating others about the importance of accessibility and inclusion, I am dedicated to creating a more equitable and inclusive society for all. In addition to my advocacy efforts, I have found ways to incorporate my love of sports and weight training into my community involvement. Recognizing the positive impact physical activity can have on mental health, I started a weight training club at my house to provide a supportive environment for my peers to improve their physical and mental well-being. Through this club, I have been able to support and uplift others, helping them overcome their struggles and achieve their fitness goals. As a member of an active-duty military family, I am deeply connected to the military community and passionate about supporting its members. I volunteer as part of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord High School Travel Basketball Program and participate in events like Know Your Army days to show my appreciation for the sacrifices made by military families. By giving back to the military community, I hope to express my gratitude and support for those who serve our country. Overall, my journey has been defined by a commitment to making a positive impact on others through love and acts of kindness. Whether it's advocating for disability rights, promoting mental health through sports and fitness, or supporting the military community, I am driven by a desire to create positive change and make a difference in the lives of those around me. As I prepare to attend the University of Oregon, I am excited to continue my efforts to uplift and empower others, spreading love and kindness wherever I go.

I am a sports enthusiast but being born with a physical disability has impaired my ability to continue to play sports at the level that I need to to remain competitive with my peers. I want people who experience disabilities to be educated, live, and work in our communities fully integrated with natural supports in place where needed. I want students with disabilities to grow up in schools that are designed for all students and work for all students. Personally, I have a passion for sports, disability rights, and business. I plan to eventually achieve my doctorate degree in business and work with companies that are committed to being inclusive for people with disabilities to create materials, clothing, footwear, and other products that allow people with disabilities to be able to wear the same shoes and clothes as their peers and be able to put them on with relative ease. I want them to be able to play sports with their non-disabled peers and have them accessible. I want people with disabilities to feel like they belong in all realms of their life and to no longer have to fight for everything they need.

The only free people in the United States that it is still legal to segregate are people with disabilities. Segregation often starts at a very young age when children who experience disabilities are put into "special" preschool classrooms, setting them up for a life of segregation. In turn, setting them up for a life of subpar education with no research showing this model is a successful model, isolation from typically developing peers, and ultimately the highest unemployment rate of any subgroup of people. Being born into this community could have been very much a detriment to my life but I was fortunate to have a mom who has been an advocate for me my entire life and taught me to be a strong advocate fro myself and others who experience a disability. No one wants to live a life of isolation, where the only people that care for you are those that are paid to do so such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, doctors, and caregivers. However, many people with disabilities live in this lonely situation because they were brought up in a segregated setting without natural peers supports. Part of the reason this has continued is often, people in the disability community are unable to advocate for themselves. They do not have a voice in our communities like other marginalized groups so this treatment continues with no consequences. This has changed my world view. I have seen first hand how people, humanity, do not support the disability community like they do other marginalized groups. They do not speak up for those impacted by it, unless they are directly impacted by it such as close family members. I don't want this to continue for generations to come. I want people who experience disabilities to be educated, live, and work in our communities fully integrated with natural supports in place where needed. I want students with disabilities to grow up in schools that are designed for all students and work for all students. Personally, I have a passion for sports, disability rights, and business. I plan to eventually achieve my doctorate degree in business and work with companies that are committed to being inclusive for people with disabilities to create materials, clothing, footwear, and other products that allow people with disabilities to be able to wear the same shoes and clothes as their peers and be able to put them on with relative ease. I want them to be able to play sports with their non-disabled peers and have them accessible. I want people with disabilities to feel like they belong in all realms of their life and to no longer have to fight for everything they need.

I am an athlete. I am an athlete who experiences cerebral palsy who has taken the disappointment of being cut from high school athletic teams due to my disability and turned the negative experience into what has been a life changing experience by focusing on my own personal development, both physically and mentally through weight training. I want to share this passion with others who are interested in changing the lives of people with disabilities. I am passionate about business and sports management, and I want to combine both business and sports management with disability advocacy work to support businesses in becoming more inclusive for people who experience disabilities. Ultimately, I would like to pursue my doctorate in business administration and work in the sports management industry. I want to work to create more inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities in sports industries to include amateur athletics, professional athletics, athletic clothing and footwear, and sports related industries. Part of my goal includes ensuring parents of young children with disabilities are educated on both civil rights and creating and fulfilling their child's dreams and their dreams for their child despite their disability. I want to be an advocate while pursuing my passions in an industry that I enjoy. Despite my own physical disability, I was raised in fully inclusive settings, played sports with my non-disabled peers, and attended all of my classes in a general education classroom without ever being segregated because I experience a disability. I want to combine this important aspect with my love of sports and business. I am hoping to partner with companies such as Nike, Addidas, dress shoe companies, mainstream clothing companies, athletic training equipment companies, and even traditional corporate offices to ensure their facilities, products, and presentations are all inclusive for people who experience a range of disabilities. I want to be considered an expert in the fields of disability studies and sports/business management. I would like to be a person who is consulted with in these fields by people who are in charge of making policies that impact the lives of people who experience disabilities. I want to ensure all people with disabilities have fulfilling lives without being held back by inaccessibility in areas that they shouldn't have to worry about being accessible, their everyday lives and activities. I want everybody to feel like their body belongs and they belong regardless of their differences.