“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” The ocean and marine life are fascinating! Ever since I can remember, I have been passionate about the ocean and exploring marine life. I love science and my dream is to become a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! I will be studying marine sciences in the fall at the University of New England and would love the opportunity to research sea turtles or coral reef biology in Australia one day. I will also have the opportunity to study coral reefs abroad in Belize over one of my breaks. This excites me, as I love seeing all the different colors and ocean life when snorkeling. I cannot wait to become a certified scuba diver so I can explore the ocean more. This past March, over my spring break, I was able to visit Washington State and some of the beaches there. The last beach I visited was Kalaloch. I loved exploring the tide pools and saw tons of starfish for the first time. Growing up, I have seen my parents' struggle. They want to give my siblings and me a better life, but it has not been easy. My dad has been unemployed since 2005. My mom is the sole provider for our family. My younger brother attends a private Christian boarding school. My family has faced financial difficulties, but they have made enormous sacrifices to provide us with an excellent Christian education that has enabled my future success! This scholarship would greatly help my parents out financially in helping to fund my college degree and contribute to my success in college. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that if I do not obtain a bachelor’s degree, I will end up just like them, living paycheck to paycheck. I am motivated and determined to make a difference in the world so I can create a better life and am confident I can achieve this with your help. I am a first-generation college student. Both my parents only attended community college, and I did not think I would have the opportunity to fulfill my dreams. This scholarship will help open more opportunities for me to research something I am passionate about. As a marine sciences major, my ultimate goal is to become a marine biologist and help rescue endangered sea creatures. My career will help to make the world a better place by providing education about protecting oceans and marine life. Since childhood, I have had an intense fascination for sea creatures and a passion to help protect them. In five years, I hope to be able to research sea turtles or coral reefs in Australia! I would also love the opportunity to study abroad in Belize and learn more about coral reefs. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds necessary for my educational pursuits and to fulfill my dreams. By earning my bachelor's degree in marine biology from the University of New England, I will be able to serve my community by informing them about the importance of protecting our oceans and the marine life that lives there. Being a first-generation college student helped me realize how important getting an education is to help me succeed in my future. I have seen first-hand the financial struggles my parents have, and I vowed to never have to face that hardship. Through your generosity, I will be able to attend college debt-free. I have done many community service projects, and it brings joy to my life knowing I am helping someone alleviate their struggles. Brkanovic's investment in my education through the Maida Brkanovic Memorial Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent. I plan to give back to the community through my marine biology and ocean conservation research. With your generosity, this scholarship will open more doors for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams! Together, we can make a difference for future generations!

Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” My ultimate dream is to become a marine biologist. I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford, ME because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in their study abroad program in Belize to learn more about coral reefs. As an avid snorkeler, I am fascinated by the array of colors and marine life present in the ocean. Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I have always loved science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many sea creatures. I saw lots of colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I heard the seagulls and waves crashing. I could taste the salt when a wave crashed over me. It was very peaceful and serene. Growing up, I have seen my parents’ struggle. My dad is unemployed, and my mom is the sole provider for our family. My family has faced financial difficulties, but they have made enormous sacrifices to provide us with an excellent Christian education that has enabled my future success! This experience taught me the value of determination, motivation, and hard work. It made me realize that I can accomplish what I set my heart and mind to do. It taught me responsibility for my actions and that I am in control of my destiny. I built more confidence in myself knowing I could accomplish something through my hard work and determination. I learned how to solve problems and seek out help when I did not understand something. It also helped me learn self-control when I needed to study or do homework with no distractions. Seeing my parents struggle has motivated me to obtain a bachelor’s degree, so I will not have to live paycheck to paycheck. I am determined to create a better life while positively impacting the world. Since I am a first-generation college student, this scholarship will help provide more opportunities for researching something I am passionate about. I want to be financially stable once I graduate and obtaining a degree will allow me to do this. I have had to work so I can help pay for my education. It has not always been easy to balance work and school. I have had to study and do homework during my break and free time, which is not a lot. Learning to juggle different responsibilities has been challenging. I have learned to focus on studying and doing homework rather than spending time with friends or cleaning my room. I have learned to prioritize so my grades will not suffer. Fortunately, my supervisor has been willing to work around my class schedule. The Nielson family's investment in my education through the Bruce and Kathy Bevan Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well-spent. I plan to educate my community through programs on protecting our oceans and marine life and why this is important. With your generosity, I can achieve my dreams. Together we can make a difference one ocean at a time for future generations. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” My ultimate dream is to become a marine biologist. I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford, ME because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in their study abroad program in Belize to learn more about coral reefs. As an avid snorkeler, I am fascinated by the array of colors and marine life present in the ocean. Once I become a certified scuba diver, I am eager to explore the sea even more. Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I have always loved science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many sea creatures. I saw lots of colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I heard the seagulls and waves crashing. I could taste the salt when a wave crashed over me. It was very peaceful and serene. Reading books about marine mammal rescues piqued my interest and helped shape my vision of becoming a marine biologist. Growing up watching Free Willy also helped shape my career choice and motivated me to pursue my dream. My favorite subject in high school was biology. All through high school, I have shown my dedicated passion by participating in class science projects and exploring tide pools at the beach. In my senior year, I worked in the science department. This only inspired me more that marine biology is the direction I want my career to go. My crowning achievement would be to become a research scientist in the marine biology field. I desire to help rescue endangered sea creatures. As a future leader, I will strive to do more to protect marine life and coral reefs. Through my career, I will help make the world a better place by educating the community about protecting our oceans and marine life. I plan to give back through educational programs and events where the community will learn more about ocean conservation and protecting marine life. I would inform them about the importance of maintaining our ecosystems and tell them how they can protect and preserve coral reefs, including marine life living there. Winning this scholarship would allow me to focus on my studies without worrying about my financial burdens. Without this scholarship, I might not be able to continue working toward my degree. Seeing my parents struggle has motivated me to obtain a bachelor’s degree, so I will not have to live paycheck to paycheck. I am determined to create a better life while positively impacting the world. Since I am a first-generation college student, this scholarship will help provide more opportunities for researching something I am passionate about. I want to be financially stable once I graduate and obtaining a degree will allow me to do this. Your investment in my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well-spent. I plan to educate my community through programs on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. With your generosity, I can achieve my dreams and help change the world. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Walking down the toy aisle one day, I spotted this toy and that toy. I thought to myself wouldn’t it be nice to play with one of these toys and experience the joy it brings when solving a puzzle or figuring out how a toy works. This one toy really stuck out to me. The thing was, it was not for me at all. It was for underprivileged children through Operation Christmas Child. There were so many neat toys and some of them were very unique but I was not picking them out for me but for another child to enjoy. Through my community service projects, I have learned compassion and problem solving. It has also helped build my communication skills. One of the most enjoyable things I have done is putting together shoeboxes as part of Operation Christmas Child. I really enjoy choosing items that will benefit children who cannot afford them. It is very fulfilling knowing you are helping someone who does not have the things we take for granted. I wish I could see their faces when they open the shoeboxes filled with goodies and things they need. I have also helped make pumpkin rolls at Thanksgiving time, prepared and served food in a soup kitchen, cleaned a homeless shelter, and tended to the needs of homeless people. In addition, I have gone door to door in the community asking if anyone needs help with yard work or getting groceries, helped organize a storage shed at a summer camp, and helped set up the Sabbath School classroom at my church each quarter with the new theme. In my opinion, service means helping others and doing work for someone else voluntarily. It is important because by serving others I am improving my self-esteem because it makes me feel good about myself knowing I am bringing joy to a young child who might otherwise have not received anything on Christmas morning. I am engaging in a meaningful activity and distracting myself from my own problems. When I am feeling discouraged about not being able to live in a lovely, big house, helping others makes me forget about this and brings me joy when I am sad. It also makes me appreciate that I have a place to live because so many people are homeless. Serving others will enrich my life and theirs. It connects me to someone else and strengthens my relationships. I love serving and helping others. It makes me smile seeing the joy it brings to their face when I am helping someone else. Jesus lived a life of service to others and is our example. I want to do what I can to help someone in need. Helping others shows I am willing to do what I can even if I struggle. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds necessary for my educational pursuits. By earning my bachelor's degree in marine biology, I will be able to serve my community by informing them about the importance of protecting our oceans, maintaining aquatic ecosystems, and informing people about the effects of water pollution so they can make conscious decisions to conserve ocean life. Your investment in my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through educational programs explaining the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. With your generosity, this scholarship will open more doors for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams! Together we can make it better for future generations!

Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” This is why I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford, ME because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I have always loved science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one such family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many different sea creatures. I saw many colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I could taste the salt when a wave crashed over me. It was very peaceful. My first year of high school did not start well academically as I attended a small private Christian school with tough teachers who weren't as accommodating. I developed anxiety and had panic attacks, which made learning and making new friends tough. This learning disability made me an underdog. The other students were thriving, and I often felt left out. When Kanye West and his daughter died in a plane crash, it affected me. I have no idea why this affected me so much. Maybe it was because I was the same age at the time as his daughter. It was a tragic way to die. I could not concentrate in school and my grades started slipping. I knew I needed help but did not know where to turn. I switched schools my sophomore year and I still had anxiety issues. It prevented me from meeting new people. I felt like a prisoner in my own body. By my senior year, I thought I had the anxiety under control. I had a supportive network of friends who encouraged me to do my best. I also put my faith and trust in God to help me overcome the anxiety I was experiencing. I claimed the Bible's promise in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Until about a month before graduation, I was doing well. But I started having anxiety thinking about my future after high school. I was not eating or drinking. I felt very weak and looked pale. The dean could tell something was wrong and pulled me aside to talk about it. I was able to talk to her about my fears and it made me feel better. When you are dealing with mental health, you need to feel that you can talk openly about it with someone. We need to educate others and ourselves on the different types of mental health issues facing the world, including substance abuse disorders, so they are more aware and can seek the best type of help. We should show compassion to those dealing with mental health issues. We need to speak out against these issues and not be afraid to have our voices heard. We should seek help whenever we are experiencing any mental health issues before they get out of control and we do something we might regret. We should also join a support group if we are experiencing mental health. Being around others who are experiencing the same issues can help us navigate our issues and encourage us to keep going. All these strategies can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. We can also reach out through social media. There may be people who are better equipped to offer advice or therapies than we are currently using. Hearing inspirational recovery stories from those who have already gone through mental health issues and have overcome them could be very rewarding to people currently experiencing mental health issues. We must support others in their journey and be kind and thoughtful, especially with our chosen words. We need to advocate for mental health issues and treatment. We should talk with our legislators to see if policies can be written or revised to combat these issues. Calvin Rosser's investment in my education through the Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent. I plan to give back to the community through educational programs informing them about the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds necessary to continue my education and achieve my goals. Together, we can change the world for future generations! Thank you for your time and consideration.

Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” My ultimate dream is to become a marine biologist. I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford, ME because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I have always loved science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one such family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many different sea creatures. I saw lots of colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I heard the seagulls and waves crashing. I could taste the salt when a wave crashed over me. It was very peaceful and serene. Growing up, I have seen my parents’ struggle. My dad has been unemployed since 2005. My mom is the sole provider for our family. My family has faced financial difficulties, but they have made enormous sacrifices to provide us with an excellent Christian education that has enabled my future success! This experience taught me the value of determination, motivation, and hard work. It made me realize that I can accomplish what I set my heart and mind to do. It taught me responsibility for my actions and that I am in control of my destiny. I built more confidence in myself knowing I could accomplish something through my hard work and determination. I learned how to solve problems and seek out help when I did not understand something. It also helped me learn self-control when I needed to study or do homework with no distractions. Seeing my parents struggle has motivated me to obtain a bachelor’s degree, so I will not have to live paycheck to paycheck. I am determined to create a better life while making a positive impact on the world. Since I am a first-generation college student, this scholarship will help provide more opportunities for researching something I am passionate about. My crowning achievement would be to become a research scientist in the marine biology field. I desire to help rescue endangered sea creatures. As a future leader, I will strive to do more to protect marine life and coral reefs. Through my career, I will help make the world a better place by educating the community about protecting our oceans and marine life. I plan to give back through educational programs and events where the community will learn more about ocean conservation and protecting marine life. I would inform them about the importance of maintaining our ecosystems and tell them how they can protect and preserve coral reefs, including marine life living there. Winning this scholarship would allow me to focus on my studies without the stress of worrying about my financial burdens. Without this scholarship, I might not be able to continue working toward my degree. Hariom Biyani’s investment in my education through the Ratan Lal Mundada Memorial Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent. I plan to give back to the community through educational programs explaining the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams. Together, we can change the world by improving our oceans for future generations!

Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” My ultimate dream is to become a marine biologist. I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford, ME because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I have always loved science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one such family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many different sea creatures. I saw lots of colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I heard the seagulls and waves crashing. I could taste the salt when a wave crashed over me. It was very peaceful and serene. Growing up, I have seen my parents’ struggle. My dad has been unemployed since 2005. My mom is the sole provider for our family. My family has faced financial difficulties, but they have made enormous sacrifices to provide us with an excellent Christian education that has enabled my future success! This experience taught me the value of determination, motivation, and hard work. It made me realize that I can accomplish what I set my heart and mind to do. It taught me responsibility for my actions and that I am in control of my destiny. I built more confidence in myself knowing I could accomplish something through my hard work and determination. I learned how to solve problems and seek out help when I did not understand something. It also helped me learn self-control when I needed to study or do homework with no distractions. Seeing my parents struggle has motivated me to obtain a bachelor’s degree, so I will not have to live paycheck to paycheck. I am determined to create a better life while making a positive impact on the world. Since I am a first-generation college student, this scholarship will help provide more opportunities for researching something I am passionate about. My crowning achievement would be to become a research scientist in the marine biology field. I desire to help rescue endangered sea creatures. As a future leader, I will strive to do more to protect marine life and coral reefs. Through my career, I will help make the world a better place by educating the community about protecting our oceans and marine life. I plan to give back through educational programs and events where the community will learn more about ocean conservation and protecting marine life. I would inform them about the importance of maintaining our ecosystems and tell them how they can protect and preserve coral reefs, including marine life living there. Winning this scholarship would allow me to focus on my studies without the stress of worrying about my financial burdens. Without this scholarship, I might not be able to continue working toward my degree. Hariom Biyani’s investment in my education through the Friends of Ohm Labs Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent. I plan to give back to the community through educational programs explaining the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams. Together, we can change the world by improving our oceans for future generations!

Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” My ultimate dream is to become a marine biologist. This is why I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford, ME because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I have always loved science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer, where my passion for marine life grew stronger every year. My greatest achievement so far has been getting into the school of my dreams to study something I am passionate about and learning to live so far away from home without knowing anyone. I am a very shy person and do not make friends easily. I have anxiety issues that prevent me from approaching people I do not know. Going to school in Maine, which is seven hours from where I live, has taught me to get out of my comfort zone, get involved, and meet people with the same interests that I have. I joined five different clubs on campus - Ocean, Ski/Snowboard, Christian, Art, and Gymnastics. Being a part of these clubs has helped me to open up, learn more about myself, and grow as a person. I have made some new friends that I will keep in touch with long after graduating. This experience taught me the value of determination, motivation, and hard work. It made me realize that I can accomplish what I set my heart and mind to do. It taught me responsibility for my actions and that I am in control of my destiny. I built more confidence in myself knowing I could accomplish something through my hard work and determination. I learned how to solve problems and seek out help when I did not understand something. It also helped me learn self-control when I needed to study or do homework with no distractions. My crowning achievement would be to become a research scientist in the marine biology field. I desire to help rescue endangered sea creatures. As a future leader, I will strive to do more to protect marine life and coral reefs. Through my career, I will help make the world a better place by educating the community about protecting our oceans and marine life. I plan to give back through educational programs and events informing them about the importance of maintaining our ecosystems and telling them how they can protect and preserve coral reefs, including marine life living there. Winning this scholarship would allow me to focus on my studies without the stress of worrying about my financial burdens. Since I am a first-generation college student, this scholarship will help open more doors for me to research something I am passionate about and help provide the necessary funds to further my education allowing me to pursue my dreams while succeeding in college. Someone told me once that marine biology is a man’s field and that I should not pursue this field of study, even though it has been my dream since I was young. This scholarship will help me continue chasing my dream. I will not let anyone or anything get in the way of achieving my goal and accomplishing what I feel so strongly and passionately about in my career choice. Ensuring that all women in science can achieve their full potential aligns perfectly with my aspirations. I love the slogan on one of the flags outside my college dorm at UNE. According to College Raptor, it states that UNE is a "Hidden Gem for Women in STEM." Winning this scholarship will allow me the freedom to continue my studies and advance my career while not having to agonize over insufficient funds. WC and EJ Thornton Foundation's investment into my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through research in marine biology and ocean conservation. I will also teach them through educational programs explaining the importance of protecting our oceans and the sea creatures living there. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams. Together, we can change the world by improving our oceans for future generations!

Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” This is why I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford, ME because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I have always loved science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one such family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many different sea creatures. I saw lots of colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I heard the seagulls and waves crashing. I could taste the salt when a wave crashed over me. It was very peaceful and serene. Growing up, I have seen my parents’ struggle. My dad has been unemployed since 2005. My mom is the sole provider for our family. My family has faced financial difficulties, but they have made enormous sacrifices to provide us with an excellent Christian education that has enabled my future success! This experience taught me the value of determination, motivation, and hard work. It made me realize that I can accomplish what I set my heart and mind to do. It taught me responsibility for my actions and that I am in control of my destiny. I built more confidence in myself knowing I could accomplish something through my hard work and determination. I learned how to solve problems and seek out help when I did not understand something. It also helped me learn self-control when I needed to study or do homework with no distractions. Someone told me once that marine biology is a man’s field and that I should not pursue this field of study, even though it has been my dream since I was young. This scholarship will help me continue chasing my dream. I will not let anyone or anything get in the way of achieving my goal and accomplishing what I feel so strongly and passionately about in my career choice. I agree with the Association of Women in Science’s mission of ensuring that all women in science can achieve their full potential, which aligns perfectly with my aspirations. I love the slogan on one of the flags outside my college dorm at UNE. According to College Raptor, it states that UNE is a "Hidden Gem for Women in STEM." This is encouraging as I chose this school because they are ranked as one of the top 10 colleges nationally for marine sciences and have a 95% rate of employment after graduating. Winning this scholarship will allow me the freedom to continue my studies and advance my career while not having to agonize over insufficient funds. Learner’s investment in my education through the Bold.org Women in STEM Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent. I plan to give back to the community through research in marine biology and ocean conservation. I will also teach them through educational programs explaining the importance of protecting our oceans and the sea creatures living there. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams. It will allow me to achieve my goals and pursue my passion with a career in marine sciences. Together, we can change the world by improving our oceans for future generations!

Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” This is why I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford, ME because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I have always loved science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one such family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many different sea creatures. I saw lots of colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I heard the seagulls and waves crashing. I could taste the salt when a wave crashed over me. It was very peaceful and serene. Growing up, I have seen my parents’ struggle. My dad has been unemployed since 2005. My mom is the sole provider for our family. My family has faced financial difficulties, but they have made enormous sacrifices to provide us with an excellent Christian education that has enabled my future success! This experience taught me the value of determination, motivation, and hard work. It made me realize that I can accomplish what I set my heart and mind to do. It taught me responsibility for my actions and that I am in control of my destiny. I built more confidence in myself knowing I could accomplish something through my hard work and determination. I learned how to solve problems and seek out help when I did not understand something. It also helped me learn self-control when I needed to study or do homework with no distractions. Seeing my parents struggle has motivated me to obtain a bachelor’s degree, so I will not have to live paycheck to paycheck. I am determined to create a better life while making a positive impact on the world. Since I am a first-generation college student, this scholarship will help provide more opportunities for researching something I am passionate about. Success means achieving what you set out to do. It is accomplishing your goals and dreams. Success is not letting anything get in the way of what you want to do with your life. It is breaking down barriers so you can pursue your dreams and achieve your goals. My crowning achievement would be to become a research scientist in the marine biology field. I desire to help rescue endangered sea creatures. As a future leader, I will strive to do more to protect marine life and coral reefs. Through my career, I will help make the world a better place by educating the community about protecting our oceans and marine life. I plan to give back through educational programs and events where the community will learn more about ocean conservation and protecting marine life. I would inform them about the importance of maintaining our ecosystems and tell them how they can protect and preserve coral reefs, including marine life living there. Winning this scholarship would allow me to focus on my studies without the stress of worrying about my financial burdens. Without this scholarship, I might not be able to continue working toward my degree. Another ambition I have is to travel to Australia so I can research sea turtles and the Great Barrier Reef. The main focus would be to dedicate my time and resources to educating individuals on the significance of preserving our oceans to safeguard the marine species that inhabit them. Touching coral reefs or anchoring a boat on them can be detrimental to the animals that rely on them, which could result in death. Countless people rely on these reefs for sustenance, financial stability, and shelter. Another priority would be to educate the public on the significance of reducing pollution from land-based sources. Additionally, I will strive to enhance the sustainability of fishing practices and conduct research to increase resilience to climate change. This scholarship will help open more doors for me to research something I am passionate about and help provide the necessary funds to further my education allowing me to pursue my dreams while succeeding in college. Chris and Mary Carnduff’s investment into my education through the Bold.org Redefining Victory Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent. I plan to inform my community on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life through educational programs and activities. With your generosity, we can accomplish this and I will be able to continue studying towards a marine biology degree. Together, we can change the world for future generations. Thank you for your time and consideration.

As Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” Ever since I can remember, I have been passionate about exploring marine life. I knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one such family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many different sea creatures. I saw lots of colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I heard the seagulls and waves crashing. I could taste the salt when a wave crashed over me. It was very peaceful and serene. Currently, I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England in Biddeford, ME because I want to help rescue endangered species. Every day I make choices to reduce my carbon footprint and live more sustainably. I use a stainless-steel reusable water bottle. I utilize reusable shopping bags. I lower the setting on my heating and cooling, which uses less energy. I also use LED light bulbs and energy-efficient appliances. I use public transportation or walk, whenever I can. I try to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. I reduce water waste and my bills are all paperless. It is important to reduce our carbon footprint so the air we breathe is cleaner, we are healthier, and it protects the environment. This scholarship will pave the way to inform my community and help create less financial burden so I can further my education and achieve my dreams. Someone told me once that marine biology is a man’s field and that I should not pursue this field of study, even though it has been my dream since I was young. This scholarship will help me continue chasing my dream. I will not let anyone, or anything get in the way of achieving my goal and accomplishing what I feel so strongly and passionately about in my career choice. I love the slogan on one of the flags outside my college dorm at UNE. According to College Raptor, it states that UNE is a "Hidden Gem for Women in STEM." This is encouraging as I chose this school because they are ranked as one of the top 10 colleges nationally for marine sciences and have a 95% rate of employment after graduating. Winning this scholarship will allow me the freedom to continue my studies and advance my career while not having to agonize over insufficient funds. I did not expect to be a first-generation college student. Growing up, I have watched my family face financial difficulties. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that I need to obtain a four-year college degree. This scholarship will open more doors for me to research something I am passionate about and provide the funds necessary to further my education so I can pursue my dreams while succeeding in college. Hey Sunday's investment into my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through educational programs explaining the importance of protecting our oceans and the sea creatures living there. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams. It will allow me to achieve my goals and pursue my passion with a career in marine sciences. Together, we can change the world by improving our oceans for future generations!

My aunt is an avid rock climber. It was on one of my visits to see her that I became interested in rock climbing. I always thought it would be cool to climb rocks and explore the unknown. We visited Devil's Tower in Wyoming when I visited her one summer. I was intrigued with the rock climbers I saw since this area was incredibly treacherous in places. Because of the difficulty, if you want to climb Devil's Tower, you need to have a guide go with you. I made it a goal of mine to one day come back and climb this tower. We decided to start small and climb something a lot easier. We ventured out to some nearby waterfalls that had rocks nearby. I climbed to the top using the rocks instead of the trail. It was exhilarating. I knew then that this was something I wanted to continue pursuing. I love being out in nature and have found friends who share my passion for adventure. As Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I have always loved Science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one such family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many different sea creatures. I saw lots of colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I heard the seagulls and waves crashing. I could taste the salt when a wave crashed over me. It was very peaceful and serene. This is why I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford, ME because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in their study abroad program in Belize to learn more about coral reefs. As an avid snorkeler, I am fascinated by the array of colors and marine life present in the ocean. I did not expect to be a first-generation college student. Growing up, I have watched my family face financial difficulties. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that I need to obtain a four-year college degree. This scholarship will open more doors for me to research something I am passionate about and provide the funds necessary to further my education so I can pursue my dreams while succeeding in college. Peter Chang’s investment into my education through the Sean Allen Memorial Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through educational programs about ocean conservation. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams. Winning this scholarship would allow me to continue my education and achieve my goals. It will help me pursue my dream without the financial burden and anxiety over insufficient funds. Together, we can change the world for future generations!

I have always loved painting and drawing. During the pandemic, I had a lot more time to explore this passion of mine. I started drawing and painting more. I love painting with watercolors. Swirling the paint on a canvas is very fulfilling. When I paint, I feel free and can explore my creative side. I am able to paint something just by looking at a picture or whatever I am feeling in my heart. Painting lets me explore different aspects of myself. I paint when I need a break from studying or just a change of scenery. Painting allows me to be inspired and lets me release any tension I have experienced during the day. The two watercolor paintings I have uploaded reflect my passion and interests. I painted the horse in art class at school since I love horses. I have ridden on a horse many times and would love to own one someday. I painted the purple swirl design during Covid. I was inspired by the colors and just let my brush strokes go where my heart led. I am very happy with how it turned out. As Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I have always loved Science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one such family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many different sea creatures. I saw lots of colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I heard the seagulls and waves crashing. I could taste the salt when a wave crashed over me. The ocean is very peaceful and serene. Currently, I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England in Biddeford, ME because I want to help rescue endangered species. I did not expect to be a first-generation college student. Growing up, I have watched my family face financial difficulties. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that I need to obtain a four-year college degree. This scholarship will open more doors for me to research something I am passionate about and provide the funds necessary to further my education so I can pursue my dreams while succeeding in college. The Johnston Family's investment into my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through educational programs on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams. Winning this scholarship would allow me to continue my education and achieve my goals. Together, we can change the world for future generations!

I was raised a Seventh-day Adventist. My parents instilled in me from a young age the importance of reading my Bible, going to church, praying, and having a close relationship with God. So yes, I do believe that we have a Creator who designed heaven and earth. It is a concept many people cannot fathom. Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." This is as clear as it can get. The Bible does not lie. I cannot comprehend how some people do not believe in God when it states so clearly that he exists. My little brother was three years old when he was hit by a car. He wanted to go to the park and ran out of the house before my father could stop him. He tried to cross the street by himself, but a car hit him because an object was blocking him from their sight. My brother was thrown into the air and landed on the opposite side of the street. He could have been killed. I believe that God spared his life because he has something special in store for his future. His guardian angel was looking out for him. He only had a laceration on his leg. The doctors thought he had a small fracture on his skull, but he did not. He is lucky to be alive and will be ten next month. This incident solidifies my belief that there is a God in heaven watching over us. I often find myself contemplating the dreams that God gave Joseph about the future and also Nebuchanezzar’s dreams that Daniel interpreted. Those dreams contained symbols and meanings that were astonishing. It is amazing how God told Joseph through a dream that his brothers would bow down to him one day through his sheaf of grain rising up and the other sheaves of grain gathering around and bowing down to it. Then he was chosen by Pharaoh to save the world from a famine. We can learn from this to never give up and always persevere, even when it is tough. As Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” Ever since I can remember, I have been passionate about exploring marine life. I knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one such family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many different sea creatures. I saw lots of colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England in Biddeford, ME because I want to help rescue endangered species. I did not expect to be a first-generation college student. Growing up, I have watched my family face financial difficulties. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that I need to obtain a four-year college degree. This scholarship will open more doors for me to research something I am passionate about and provide the necessary funds to further my education. JJ Savaunt’s investment into my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through educational programs on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams. Together, we can make a difference for future generations!

High Tides is a Netflix series I came across when I was searching for something to watch. If you like drama and mystery, this is the show for you. I was intrigued by the storyline and my curiosity was piqued as I started watching this show. The show includes love, friendship, and deceit. It is about a woman and her son who move to a Belgium beach town in search of her sister who went missing a few years before. Melissa gets a job as a nanny for the Vandael family. This is the same family her sister worked for. Her son, Daan, finds work at a surf shack as a waiter. His boss, Jaques, is a recovering alcoholic with a past involving Patrick Vandael. His son, Alex, is dating Louise Besteyns. Her family is also wealthy. Louise suffers from bipolar disorder but stopped taking her pills so her feelings would not be suppressed. She starts sleeping with Daan who becomes friends with Alex after Alex stops paying attention to her and is more interested in his new business, a teen nightclub called LuLu. One day, Louise started taking drugs from Daan's neighbor, Anouk. It was something similar to cocaine. She threw a bachelorette party for her sister Emilie but sprinkled the drugs over some chocolates that she handed out to everyone. They all became high. Then Louise's best friend, Margaux, got upset with her for drugging her so Louise took the rest of the drugs and left the party. Alex found her passed out on the beach by the water from an apparent overdose. Alex rushes Louise to the hospital. She is in a coma for a few days but when she finally wakes up, she apologizes, and it seems that she will be OK. She will need to spend some time in the psychiatric ward. Alex apologizes for the way he was treating her and promises to always take care of her. Her sister, Emilie, comes to visit her one day and realizes that Louise is not happy. She takes her to an arcade and then takes her home. Her parents decide that someone will watch her around the clock, so she does not have to return to the psychiatric ward. Alex's dad, Patrick, warns him that he will have his nightclub shut down. His dad also threatened to buy Jaques' surf shack for his son. Shortly after that, Jaques died from a heart attack and Daan found him the next day. Eleonore Vandaal told Melissa that she liked her the same way she liked her sister, Claudia. During a 25th anniversary party that Eleonore threw for her husband, Patrick, their son, Alex, sent a disturbing video to everyone. It was of his dad having an affair with his mom's best friend, Christine. He told Louise that his dad killed her. She then went and told this to Daan and his mother, Melissa. Patrick starts fighting with Melissa and it looks like he is going to push her over the upstairs railing. She wants him to confess to killing her sister. But then Alex says that it was him who did it, accidentally. At that moment, Olivia opens the bedroom door and walks out holding a gun. She points it at her father and shoots it at his head, killing him. This is one show that grabs your attention from the beginning. You will not stop watching it until the end. Bold.org's investment into my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent. Winning this scholarship would greatly help financially with funding my higher education.

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I have always loved Science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one such family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many different sea creatures. I saw lots of colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I heard the seagulls and waves crashing. I could taste the salt when a wave crashed over me. It was very peaceful and serene. I want to help rescue endangered marine life, without keeping them in captivity! This is why I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in their study abroad program in Belize to learn more about coral reefs. As an avid snorkeler, I am fascinated by the array of colors and marine life present in the ocean. My ultimate goal is to become a marine biologist and help rescue endangered sea creatures. As a future leader, I will strive to do more to protect marine life and coral reefs. Through my career, I will help make the world a better place by educating the community about protecting oceans and marine life. I plan to give back through educational programs and events where the community will learn more about ocean conservation and protecting marine life. I would inform them about the importance of maintaining our ecosystems and tell them how they can protect and preserve coral reefs, including marine life living there. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds necessary for me to continue my education and pursue my dreams. My dream is to travel to Australia so I can study and conduct research on sea turtles and the Great Barrier Reef. My main focus would be to dedicate my time and resources to educating individuals on the significance of preserving our oceans to safeguard the marine species that inhabit them. It is crucial to comprehend that touching coral reefs or anchoring a boat on them can be detrimental to the animals that rely on them, and anchoring on coral can result in its death. Countless people rely on these reefs for sustenance, financial stability, and shelter. Another priority would be to educate the public on the significance of reducing pollution from land-based sources. Additionally, I will strive to enhance the sustainability of fishing practices and conduct research to increase resilience to climate change. I did not expect to be a first-generation college student. Growing up, I have watched my family face financial difficulties. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that I need to obtain a four-year college degree, so I do not end up just like them. This scholarship will help open more doors for me to research something I am passionate about and help provide the funds necessary to further my education so I can pursue my dreams while succeeding in college. Zamora Borose Goodwill's investment into my education through the STEM Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through research in marine biology and ocean conservation. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better. Together, we can change the world for future generations!

1. “Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. My parents would take us to the beach every summer. On one such family beach trip, I remember exploring tide pools and seeing many different sea creatures. I saw lots of colorful starfish, crabs, and sea urchins. The sand felt powdery like flour between my toes and warm. The air smelled like fish and seaweed. I heard the seagulls and waves crashing. I could taste the salt when a wave crashed over me. It was very peaceful and serene. Growing up, I have seen my parents’ struggle. My dad has been unemployed since 2005. My mom is the sole provider for our family. My family has faced financial difficulties, but they have made enormous sacrifices to provide us with an excellent Christian education that has enabled my future success! Seeing my parents struggle has motivated me to obtain a bachelor’s degree, so I will not have to live paycheck to paycheck. I am determined to create a better life while making a positive impact on the world. I am a first-generation college student. This scholarship will help provide more opportunities for researching something I am passionate about. As Henry David Thoreau once said, “All good things are wild and free.” This is why I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! I have always loved Science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. Reading books about marine mammal rescues piqued my interest and helped shape my goal of becoming a marine biologist. Growing up watching Free Willy also helped shape my career choice and motivated me to pursue my dream. If I could do anything with my life, I would imagine myself studying sea turtles or coral reefs in Australia as Chief Marine Biologist at a Marine Science Center. This is my lifelong dream. Winning this scholarship will allow me to continue pursuing it and would help tremendously in financing my college degree contributing to my success. 2. I love exploring the different aspects of STEM related endeavors. My favorite subject in high school was biology. I have shown my dedicated passion by participating in class science projects and exploring tide pools at the beach. My senior year I worked in the science department so I would be able to learn more, and my biology teacher was a mentor to me. She helped shape my future by encouraging me to follow my dreams no matter what obstacle I faced. STEM fields are always evolving and changing over time. It excites me to see the knowledge increase in these areas and how inquisitive minds are shaping our future. This is what motivates me in wanting to become a marine biologist so I can educate my community on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life living there. I would volunteer to help clean up our beaches, because helping others is gratifying and fulfilling. I want people to understand the importance of ocean conservation and its effect on sea creatures. I feel that I could make a positive impact on the world through countless hours of research and sharing my findings by publishing a paper that would help millions of people change their perspective on how climate change is affecting our oceans. I would use information technology to enhance my knowledge and skills so I can be better prepared when helping others. After obtaining my degree, I would love the opportunity to work with endangered species, help with their rescues, and then release them back into the wild. As a recipient of the Bold.org Young Women in STEM Scholarship, you can be confident that I will represent the community as a conscientious and honest student. The economic benefit of this scholarship from Bold.org will allow me to continue pursuing my academic goals. Stephanie Hagopian’s investment into my education would be deeply appreciated and well spent. I would be able to achieve my dream of becoming a marine biologist and save countless endangered species. Together, we can change the world for future generations! 3. My first year of high school did not start off well academically as I attended a small private Christian school with tough teachers who weren't as accommodating. I developed anxiety and had panic attacks, which made learning and making new friends tough. This learning disability made me an underdog. The other students were thriving, and I often felt left out. I switched schools my sophomore year and anxiety was still an issue. It prevented me from meeting new people. I felt like a prisoner in my own body. I looked for someone to give me advice on how to improve my well-being. I finally found someone I could trust, who was also a counselor. I started talking with her about my issues and what made me feel uncomfortable, especially around people. I started meditating and taking time for myself to unwind before hitting the books. I practiced mental exercises and the five senses grounding exercise whenever I felt a panic attack coming. The five senses grounding exercise teaches you to stop what you are doing and name out loud five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This method helped me to overcome my panic attacks and focus on my surroundings at that moment. By senior year, I had my anxiety under control. I had a supportive network of friends encouraging me to do my best. I also put my faith and trust in God to help me overcome the anxiety I was experiencing. I claimed the Bible promise in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I love science and dream of becoming a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! This is why I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England. My ultimate dream is to travel to Australia so I can study and conduct research on sea turtles and the Great Barrier Reef. As a STEM major, this scholarship would help fund my dream. It will allow me the opportunity to educate people on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. I will be able to research the adaptive capacity and resilience of sea turtles and educate the community on how they can help protect our coral reefs and oceans. I am keenly aware of the financial burden higher education can place on students. As a first-generation college student, I am motivated and determined to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. My goal is to educate others on how to protect our oceans, coral reefs, and marine life. Since I picked a challenging field of study, I will definitely need to utilize my faith to reach even greater heights. I would love to be able to pursue a master’s degree or even a graduate degree but will not be able to achieve this without putting my faith in God to see me through. I will need to rely heavily on prayer and Bible study, but I know that with God, all things are possible! Growing up, I have seen both my parents' struggle. Currently, my mother is the sole provider for our family, since my dad is unemployed. My family has faced financial difficulties, but they have made enormous sacrifices to provide us with an excellent Christian education. This scholarship would be a huge blessing in helping alleviate the financial burden of higher education. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that if I do not obtain a bachelor’s degree, I will end up just like them, living paycheck to paycheck. My faith has played a pivotal role in my success, so far. Struggling with anxiety and depression, I have had to rely on God to help me pass my high school classes. As hard as I study, sometimes it is not enough, and I panic when taking tests. By the grace of God, he has helped me during tests to remember what I have studied. This scholarship will help open more doors for me to research something I am passionate about. My career will help make the world a better place by giving back to the community through educational programs on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. Winning this scholarship will allow me the freedom to study without the stress of wondering how I am going to finance my degree, allowing me to pursue my dream. As a recipient of this scholarship, you can be confident that I will use these funds to further my knowledge. Maxwell/Grace’s investment into my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to contribute to the community by conducting research on ocean conservation, sea turtles, and coral reefs. Through your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to change the world while fulfilling my dreams! Thank you for your consideration. Together, we can make a difference by lighting the way for future generations!

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I love science and dream of becoming a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! This is why I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences at the University of New England. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in their study abroad program in Belize to learn more about coral reefs. My ultimate goal and dream is to travel to Australia so I can study and conduct research on sea turtles and the Great Barrier Reef. My main focus would be to dedicate my time and resources to educating individuals on the significance of preserving our oceans to safeguard the marine species that inhabit them. As a STEM major, this scholarship would help fund my dream of becoming a marine biologist. It will allow me the opportunity, once I graduate, to educate the community on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. It will also help me be able to complete my degree so I can research the adaptive capacity and resilience of sea turtles and educate the community on how they can help protect our coral reefs and oceans. I am aware of the financial burden higher education can place on students. As a first generation college student, I am motivated and determined to obtain my Bachelor’s of Science degree in marine biology. My goal is to educate others on how to protect our oceans, coral reefs, and marine life. This scholarship would be incredibly beneficial for my family's financial situation. Growing up, I have seen both my parents struggle. Currently, my mother is the sole provider for our family, since my dad is unemployed. My family has faced financial difficulties, but they have made enormous sacrifices to provide us with an excellent Christian education. This scholarship would be a blessing in helping to fund my college education and contribute to my success. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that if I do not obtain a bachelor’s degree, I will end up just like them, living paycheck to paycheck. This scholarship will help open more doors for me to research something I am passionate about. My career will help make the world a better place and I will be able to give back to my community through educational programs and events where they will learn more about ocean conservation and protecting marine life. This scholarship will allow me the freedom to study without the stress of wondering how I am going to finance my college education so I can pursue my goals and dreams. As a recipient of this scholarship, you can be confident that I will represent the community as a conscientious, honest student while using these funds to help pay for books and research to further my education. Bria Alexander’s investment into my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to contribute to the community by conducting research on ocean conservation, sea turtles, and coral reefs. This scholarship will enable me to pursue my passion for studying the ocean and its marine life while succeeding in college. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to change the world while fulfilling my dreams! Thank you for your support, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds. Together, we can make a difference by lighting the way for future generations!

Julius Erving once said that “If you don’t do what’s best for your body, you’re the one who comes up on the short end.” A healthy lifestyle is beneficial for many reasons and if you are not living a healthy lifestyle, it can affect your mental health. When you fuel your body with healthy foods, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and manage your stress levels, you will have more energy and be able to think clearer. This will help improve your mental health and feelings of depression. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle in college can be challenging. Between going to class, studying, doing homework, and working to help pay tuition, there is not a lot of time in between to exercise and stay healthy. This can also lead to stress and will affect your academics, personal life, and mental health. If you do not take care of your mental health, your grades will suffer, you will feel sad and alone. Some steps I take to prioritize my mental health are eating healthy, exercise, and getting enough sleep. Since I am a vegetarian, there are plenty of plant-based options to choose from that are healthy and nutritious. Most schools do not have a variety of healthy options, which makes it hard for those students to eat healthy. If we are consuming a lot of sugary drinks or high calorie desserts, we will feel sluggish and will not be able to focus and do well in school, which affects our mental health. I am fortunate that the University of New England, where I am currently a freshman studying marine sciences, has fresh, made-from-scratch food and menus that focus on seasonal items. They provide continuous selections that change throughout the day and help students eat healthy their way. This allows me to eat healthy and maintain my healthy lifestyle while attending college. Sleep is also an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and mental health. I have more energy and perform better academically when I get eight to ten hours of sleep each night. In addition, getting enough sleep helps me stay healthy and prevents illness. Exercise helps with mental health. I try to get up 20 to 30 minutes earlier every day. This allows time for exercise, whether it is a short run, walk, or light aerobics. I feel energized and ready to tackle the day’s activities ahead. Exercise helps me think clearer and the brain releases endorphins that help improve my mood. Mental health is a priority, so I seek out help in managing my stress levels. College classes are harder than high school and, depending on your major, they can be a lot more challenging. If I am feeling overwhelmed, I take a break and do something I love like running, riding my bike, or hiking. If I am struggling in a class, I talk to my professor or go to the Student Success Center, where I can find tutors. Making these healthy lifestyle changes has helped me to stay focused and improve my mental health. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds needed for me to obtain my degree. The economic benefit of this scholarship from ADHDAdvisor.org will allow me to continue pursuing my academic goals, so I can achieve my dream of becoming a marine biologist. ADHDAdvisor.org’s investment into my education through the Mental Health Scholarship for Women would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through my research in marine biology and ocean conservation. Together, we can make a difference in prioritizing mental health for women!

“Helping others, without expecting anything in return is what true self-worth is all about.” Gavin Bird. I was walking down the toy aisle one day spotting this toy and that toy. I thought to myself wouldn’t it be nice to play with one of these toys and experience the joy it brings when solving a puzzle or figuring out how a toy works. This one toy really stuck out to me, but it was not for me at all. It was for underprivileged children through Operation Christmas Child. There were so many neat toys and some of them were very unique, but I was not picking them out for me but for another child to enjoy. Through my community service projects, I have learned compassion and problem solving. It has also helped build my communication skills. One of the most enjoyable things I have done is putting together shoeboxes as part of Operation Christmas Child. I really enjoy choosing items that will benefit children who cannot afford them. It is very fulfilling knowing you are helping someone who does not have the things we take for granted. I wish I could see their faces when they open the shoeboxes filled with goodies. These experiences made me passionate about helping others. I especially loved volunteering at a homeless shelter. I learned so much about myself and it makes me sad to see people living on the streets, especially when it is raining or cold outside. I am glad I was able to offer them hope and companionship, even if it was only for a short period. In my opinion, service means helping others and doing work for someone else voluntarily. It is important because by serving others I am improving my self-esteem because it makes me feel good about myself knowing I am bringing joy to a young child who might otherwise have not received anything on Christmas morning. I am engaging in a meaningful activity and distracting myself from my own problems. Serving others enriches my life and theirs. It connects me to someone else and strengthens my relationships. It makes me smile seeing the joy it brings to their face when I am helping someone else. Jesus, our example, lived a life of service to others, so I want to do what I can to help someone in need. Helping others is important because it shows I am willing to do what I can even if I struggle. It shows compassion and puts someone else’s needs before my own. It is gratifying and helps me grow as a person knowing I am making a difference. Helping others is a way to continue striving for excellence and is very fulfilling. Since I am usually shy, this is a way to get me out of my comfort zone and encourages me to talk to others I may not know but would like to know more about. Through my education, I will be able to serve others, help them live better lives, and gain access to resources, which will educate them on ways to protect our oceans and marine life. We should all live a life of service to others. The world would be a better place if everyone helped someone in need. Serving others is fulfilling and can help heal our world. Stapleton’s investment into my education through the TEAM ROX Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to my community through educational programs on the importance of protecting our oceans, ecosystems, and marine life. Together, we can make a difference by helping others.

If you had met my nana, you would think she is an amazing woman! She has profoundly influenced my life, which has made a huge impact. She started climbing the highest point in each state when she was in her 40s. Some she cannot do because of the technical difficulty but she has summited around 30 high points, so far. She only has an associate's degree and has had to have two or more jobs at one time to pay the bills. She used to be a cashier in a grocery store and helped in customer service. She also babysat five kids under five at the same time as raising three of her own, one of which is my mother. Both my parents only attended community college, so I am a first-generation college student. My nana helped me realize my full potential by encouraging me to go for my dreams and pursue a four-year bachelor's degree. I was not sure if I would have this opportunity, as my mom is the sole source of income right now in supporting our family. I was thinking of going to community college because it is cheaper. Both my nana and mother convinced me to apply to four-year colleges so I would have a better education and not lose any scholarships I would be offered. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds needed for me to obtain my degree and fulfill my dreams. I am very passionate about the ocean and marine life. My dream is to become a marine biologist. My nana has inspired me to pursue my dreams and even apply for an internship after graduating. I had wanted to go to college in Washington State but did not want to be that far away from home. Through research for a high school project, I found a college in Maine that is only seven hours from home with a great marine biology program, private beach, and marine science center. Since I am a Seventh-day Adventist, I had wanted to go to one of our Adventist colleges. Unfortunately, none of them offers a marine biology degree. My nana encouraged me to apply to a non-Adventist university and said I could be a witness there. She also told me that I would get a better education and be able to find a good-paying job after graduating. My nana is always encouraging me to set goals and to persevere when it is tough. She always strives for excellence in everything she does and this has influenced my life. From a young age, I have always stayed at her house for the weekend and my grandpa babysat me when I was a baby. They both have helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses and encouraged me to focus on the big picture. In conclusion, the Kohute Family’s investment into my education through the Sharen and Mila Kohute Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well-spent, as I would give back to the community through educational programs about the importance of ocean conservation and protecting marine life. This scholarship will help me create a better life for those around me by providing the necessary funds needed to obtain my degree so I can achieve my dream of researching sea turtles and coral reefs in Australia. This will allow me to support the needs of and give back to my community. This scholarship will help me achieve my dreams by providing more opportunities to succeed in college and research something I am passionate about! Together, we can make a difference for future generations.

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” The ocean and marine life are fascinating! Ever since I can remember, I have been passionate about the ocean and exploring marine life. I love science and dream of becoming a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! I am currently studying marine sciences at the University of New England and would love the opportunity to research sea turtles or coral reef biology in Australia one day. I will also have the opportunity to study coral reefs abroad in Belize over one of my breaks. This excites me, as I love seeing all the different colors and ocean life when snorkeling. I cannot wait to become a certified scuba diver so I can explore the ocean more. This past March, over my spring break, I was able to visit Washington State and some of the beaches there. The last beach I visited was Kalaloch. I loved exploring the tide pools and saw tons of starfish for the first time. I have always loved Science and knew at a young age that I wanted to become a marine biologist. My parents would take us to the beach every year and I would love finding sea creatures in the many tide pools. Reading books about marine mammal rescues piqued my interest and helped shape my goal of becoming a marine biologist. Growing up watching Free Willy also helped shape my career choice. Through my education, I would love the opportunity to work with endangered species and help with their rescues by not keeping them in captivity. My favorite subject in high school was Biology. All through high school, I have shown my dedicated passion by participating in class Science projects and exploring tide pools at the beach. My Senior year I worked in the Science department. All marine biologists study whales and dolphins is simply a myth and science fiction. Through my degree in marine sciences, I will be able to show that marine biologists study all marine creatures and research ways to preserve our oceans. I have a huge interest in studying sea turtles and coral reefs. There are many things marine biologists can study and research. The possibilities are endless. For example, marine biologists can study starfish and how they regenerate their limbs. Ever since I discovered the University of New England while researching a school project, it has been my dream to attend this college. As a recipient of the Science Fiction Becomes Science Fact Scholarship, you can be confident that I will represent the community as a conscientious and honest student. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds needed for me to obtain my degree. The economic benefit of this scholarship from Sharp Objects LLC will allow me to continue pursuing my academic goals. Sharp Objects LLC’s investment into my education through the Science Fiction Becomes Science Fact Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through research in marine biology and ocean conservation. Through my servant leadership, I will educate my community on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams and showing that only studying whales and dolphins is science fiction but I plan to show that marine biologists can study a variety of marine life to turn this science fiction into science fact. Together, we can make a difference for future generations!

Matt Mullenweg once said that “technology is best when it brings people together.” In 2018, we were on a family vacation to see my cousins in North Dakota. We had to transfer trains in Chicago and had a long layover. My mom wanted to go do a little sightseeing and my dad and brother stayed with our luggage. I was following my mom and younger brother but needed to stop and rest. I did not let them know and then I could not find them. I got lost and made us miss our connecting train. If I had a cell phone, I would have been able to contact my mom to come find me. Luckily, my mom involved the local police and they were able to find me. My parents did not grow up using cell phones like today’s children are accustomed to using them. Cell phones provide better communication because you can talk to someone anywhere, not just when they are at home. They provide a link to the world especially if there is an emergency. They also provide better health tracking through the many different apps you can download onto your cell phone. Cell phones have a direct link to information and news as it is happening. They provide a way to access information right away rather than waiting until you get home to use a computer. Knowledge is at your fingertips constantly all day long. Cell phones inspire me because I am in awe of all the different types of apps and kinds of information you have access to by using them. Cell phones are essential in today’s world. They provide the necessary links to connect with others at any time. The world is better because of cell phones since they offer access to knowledge and important data to make informed decisions about financial or educational situations. Cell phones can offer a sense of security knowing you have access to immediate help in an emergency or the right information in a crisis. Calvin Rosser’s investment into my education through the Elevate Women in Technology Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well-spent, as I plan to educate my community on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. Winning this scholarship would provide the necessary funds to help me succeed in college and make the world a better place. Together, we can make a difference.

Walking down the toy aisle one day, I spotted this toy and that toy. I thought to myself wouldn’t it be nice to play with one of these toys and experience the joy it brings when solving a puzzle or figuring out how a toy works. This one toy stuck out to me. The thing was, it was not for me at all. It was for underprivileged children through Operation Christmas Child. There were so many neat toys and some of them were very unique but I was not picking them out for me but for another child to enjoy. Through my community service projects, I have learned compassion and problem-solving. It has also helped build my communication skills. One of the most enjoyable things I have done is putting together shoeboxes as part of Operation Christmas Child. I enjoy choosing items that will benefit children who cannot afford them. It is very fulfilling knowing you are helping someone who does not have the things we take for granted. I wish I could see their faces when they open the shoeboxes filled with goodies and things they need. I have also helped make pumpkin rolls at Thanksgiving time, prepared and served food in a soup kitchen, cleaned a homeless shelter, and tended to the needs of homeless people. In addition, I have gone door to door in the community asking if anyone needs help with yard work or getting groceries, helped organize a storage shed at a summer camp, and helped set up the Sabbath School classroom at my church each quarter with the new theme. In my opinion, service means helping others and doing work for someone else voluntarily. It is important because by serving others I am improving my self-esteem. After all, it makes me feel good about myself knowing I am bringing joy to a young child who might otherwise have not received anything on Christmas morning. I am engaging in a meaningful activity and distracting myself from my problems. When I am feeling discouraged about not being able to live in a lovely, big house, helping others makes me forget about this and brings me joy when I am sad. It also makes me appreciate that I have a place to live because so many people are homeless. Serving others will enrich my life and theirs. It connects me to someone else and strengthens my relationships. I love serving and helping others. It makes me smile seeing the joy it brings to their face when I am helping someone else. Jesus lived a life of service to others and is our example. I want to do what I can to help someone in need. Helping others shows I am willing to do what I can even if I struggle. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds necessary for my educational pursuits. By earning my bachelor's degree in marine biology from the University of New England, I will be able to serve my community by informing them about the importance of protecting our oceans, maintaining aquatic ecosystems, and informing people about the effects of water pollution so they can make conscious decisions to conserve ocean life. Mary Atluri’s investment into my education through the Priscilla Shireen Luke Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through research in marine biology and ocean conservation. With your generosity, this scholarship will open more doors for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams! Together we can make it better for future generations!

I believe that my generation will become the "Greatest Generation 2.0"! We are much more technology-minded and grew up using cell phones. Even though we like to text more than talk on the phone, we are still able to communicate effectively with others. Technology becomes more complex each year and knowledge increases. We need to keep changing and evolving to become better people. Our generation can improve the economy. As our labor force grows, productivity, spending, and income increase. This generation will create a more sustainable workforce. They will push back the date when Social Security and Medicare funds become insolvent or depleted. They have better ideas on how to increase revenue and generate positive goals to make our economy more resilient. Millennials and Generation Z use technology every day. They compare prices to get the best deal while still seeking out name brands. This generation still has its problems though. They have anxiety about buying a home, finding a job, and long-term financial stability. They also grew up with the Internet and the ability to buy and sell from the comfort of their own home. Generation Z will have more promising ideas on how to get our country out of bankruptcy. They are more innovative and creative. they are motivated to find ways to save money and not go deeper into debt, despite having to take out school loans. Most are determined to make it on their own and apply for many scholarship opportunities hoping they will be able to graduate debt-free. Windward Spirit's investment into my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well-spent. I will use the funds to succeed in college and pursue my dream of becoming a marine biologist. I will educate my community through programs designed to help them see the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. Together, we can make the world a better place for future generations.

“Helping others, without expecting anything in return is what true self-worth is all about.” ~ Gavin Bird. I was walking down the toy aisle one day spotting this toy and that toy. I thought to myself wouldn’t it be nice to play with one of these toys and experience the joy it brings when solving a puzzle or figuring out how a toy works. This one toy stuck out to me. The thing was, it was not for me at all. It was for underprivileged children through Operation Christmas Child. There were so many neat toys and some of them were very unique but I was not picking them out for me but for another child to enjoy. Through my community service projects, I have learned compassion and problem-solving. It has also helped build my communication skills. One of the most enjoyable things I have done is putting together shoeboxes as part of Operation Christmas Child. I enjoy choosing items that will benefit children who cannot afford them. It is very fulfilling knowing you are helping someone who does not have the things we take for granted. I wish I could see their faces when they open the shoeboxes filled with goodies and things they need. I have also helped make pumpkin rolls at Thanksgiving time, prepared and served food in a soup kitchen, cleaned a homeless shelter, and tended to the needs of homeless people. In addition, I have gone door to door in the community asking if anyone needs help with yard work or getting groceries, helped organize a storage shed at a summer camp, helped at a horse farm by cleaning stalls and organizing the tack room, and helped set up the Sabbath School classroom at my church each quarter with the new theme. In my opinion, selflessness means helping others and doing work for someone else voluntarily. It is important because by serving others I am improving my self-esteem. After all, it makes me feel good about myself knowing I am bringing joy to a young child who might otherwise have not received anything on Christmas morning. I am engaging in a meaningful activity and distracting myself from my problems. When I am feeling discouraged about not being able to live in a lovely, big house, selflessness through helping others makes me forget about this and brings me joy when I am sad. It also makes me appreciate that I have a place to live because so many people are homeless. Selflessness through serving others enriches my life and theirs. It connects me to someone else and strengthens my relationships. I love serving and helping others. It makes me smile seeing the joy it brings to their face when I am helping someone else. Jesus lived a life of service to others and is our example. I want to do what I can to help others. Helping others is important because it shows I am willing to do what I can even if I struggle. It shows compassion and puts someone else’s needs before my own. It is gratifying and helps me grow as a person knowing I am making a difference. We should all live a life of service to others. The world would be a better place if everyone helped someone in need. Serving others is fulfilling and can help heal our world. The Michael Rudometkin Memorial Scholarship Fund’s investment into my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to my community through educational programs. Together, we can make a difference.

“Helping others without expecting anything in return is what true self-worth is all about.” ~ Gavin Bird. One day, I was walking down the toy aisle, spotting this toy and that toy. I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to play with one of these toys and experience the joy it brings when solving a puzzle or figuring out how a toy works. This one toy stuck out to me. The thing was, it was not for me at all. It was for underprivileged children through Operation Christmas Child. There were so many neat toys; some were very unique, but I was not picking them out for me but for another child to enjoy. Through my community service projects, I have learned compassion and problem-solving. It has also helped build my communication skills. One of the most enjoyable things I have done in service to others is putting together shoeboxes as part of Operation Christmas Child. I enjoy choosing items that will benefit children who cannot afford them. It is very fulfilling knowing you are helping someone who does not have the things we take for granted. I wish I could see their faces when they open the shoeboxes filled with goodies and things they need. I have also helped make pumpkin rolls at Thanksgiving time, prepared and served food in a soup kitchen, cleaned a homeless shelter, and tended to the needs of homeless people. In addition, I have gone door to door in the community asking if anyone needs help with yard work or getting groceries, helped organize a storage shed at a summer camp, and helped set up the Sabbath School classroom at my church each quarter with the new theme. Service means helping others and doing work for someone else voluntarily. It is essential because by serving others, I am improving my self-esteem. After all, it makes me feel good about myself knowing that I am bringing joy to a young child who might otherwise have not received anything on Christmas morning. I am engaging in a meaningful activity and distracting myself from my problems. When I am feeling discouraged about not being able to live in a lovely, big house, helping others makes me forget about this and brings me joy when I am sad. It also makes me appreciate that I have a place to live because so many people are homeless. Serving others will enrich my life and theirs. It connects me to someone else and strengthens my relationships. I love serving and helping others. It makes me smile to see the joy helping someone else brings to their face. Jesus lived a life of service to others and is our example. I want to do what I can to help someone in need. Helping others is essential because it shows I am willing to do what I can, even if I struggle. It shows compassion and puts someone else’s needs before my own. It is gratifying and helps me grow, knowing I am making a difference. We should all live a life of service to others. The world would be a better place if everyone helped someone in need. Serving others is fulfilling and can help heal our world. I would sincerely appreciate Caroline Rufyikiri’s investment in my education through the Dr. Alexanderia K. Lane Memorial Scholarship. I would spend it wisely to further my education and succeed in college. I plan to give back to my community through educational programs. Together, we can make a difference by helping others.

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I love science and dream of becoming a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! This is why I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences this fall at the University of New England. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in their study abroad program in Belize to learn more about coral reefs. As an avid snorkeler, I am fascinated by the array of colors and marine life present in the ocean. Once I become a certified scuba diver, I am eager to explore the ocean even more. During my spring break this past March, I visited Washington State and its beautiful beaches. Among them was Kalaloch, where I enjoyed exploring the tide pools and encountered numerous starfish for the first time. The first step towards becoming a marine biologist was getting accepted into a top 10 school for marine biology in Biddeford, ME. I am currently enrolled in their marine sciences program. The second step I plan to take is applying to the study abroad program and traveling to Belize over spring break. I will be able to learn more about coral reefs. The third step would be applying for an internship at an aquarium, NOAA Office for Coastal Management, or the Pacific Whale Foundation. I will also apply for an internship at a sea turtle sanctuary. Finally, I would love to pursue a Masters degree in Marine Sciences. This scholarship will help me achieve my undergraduate degree so I can go on to further my education. This scholarship will help provide me the opportunity to educate the community on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. It will also help me be able to complete my degree so I can research the adaptive capacity and resilience of sea turtles and educate the community on how they can help protect our coral reefs. This scholarship would be incredibly beneficial for my family's financial situation. At the moment, my mother is the sole provider for our family, and both of my parents only have two-year college degrees. As the first person in my family to pursue a bachelor's degree, I am motivated and determined to obtain a four-year degree in marine biology. My goal is to educate others on how to protect our oceans, coral reefs, and marine life. Growing up, I have seen both my parents struggle. They want to give my siblings and me a better life, but it has not been easy. My dad is unemployed and my mom is the sole provider for our family. My family has faced financial difficulties, but they have made enormous sacrifices to provide us with an excellent Christian education, enabling my future success! Without this scholarship, funding my degree would be a hardship. Morgan, Levine, Dolan, PC’s investment into my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent. With my degree, I hope to contribute to the community by conducting research on ocean conservation, sea turtles, and coral reefs. This scholarship will enable me to pursue my passion for studying the ocean and its marine life while succeeding in college. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to change the world while fulfilling my dreams! Thank you for your support, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds. Together, we can make a difference for future generations!

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I love science and dream of becoming a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! This is why I am pursuing a STEM degree in marine sciences this fall at the University of New England. As an avid snorkeler, I am fascinated by the array of colors and marine life present in the ocean. Once I become a certified scuba diver, I am eager to explore the ocean even more. During my spring break this past March, I visited Washington State and its beautiful beaches. Among them was Kalaloch, where I enjoyed exploring the tide pools and encountered numerous starfish for the first time. I am very passionate about protecting our oceans. My parents have taken me and my family to the ocean every year since I was little. I grew up exploring tide pools and enjoying the ocean. It would be a shame if we were not able to visit the ocean because of pollutants or trash on the beach. This affects the sea life, coral, and environment for many fish, including dolphins, sharks, and other sea creatures. My goal is to become a Marine Biologist. I would love the opportunity to research sea turtles or coral reefs. Through my degree in marine sciences, I will be able to encourage my community to reduce ocean pollutants and reduce waste. I will also ask them to conserve water. By using less water, excess runoff and wastewater will not flow into the ocean. I will ask them to reduce vehicle pollution and shop wisely. By using less energy, they will also be helping to protect our oceans. I will encourage them to fish responsibly and practice safe boating out on the water. Entanglement is a major issue for whales and many other types of marine life, like sea turtles. When fishermen discard their fishing gear or nets, they can end up being deadly traps for marine life. Our beaches are degraded by marine debris and trash affecting protected areas and coral reefs beneath the ocean. I will seek to help people know and understand the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. Some ways include asking them to check labels on seafood to make sure they can be traced back to sustainably managed fisheries and farms. By cutting our carbon footprint at home, we can decrease the effects of climate change on the ocean. This includes turning off lights and unplugging electronics when they are not in use. It also means adjusting your thermostat, walking or riding your bike to work, and demanding renewable energy options in the community, which I will encourage everyone in my community to do. I will also ask them to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles, plastic bags, and straws. Ventana Surfboards and Supplies’ investment in my education through the Ventana Ocean Conservation Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent. My degree will allow me to contribute to the community by conducting research on ocean conservation, sea turtles, and coral reefs. This scholarship will enable me to pursue my passion for studying the ocean and its marine life while succeeding in college. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to change the world while fulfilling my dreams! Thank you for your support, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds. Together, we can make a difference for future generations!

jolene0_0

Knowing how to save money and sticking to a budget are important skills to have at any age. Parents need to teach their children by example how to save money and not to spend it foolishly on things they want but can live without. Growing up, I watched my parents struggle and live paycheck to paycheck. They had to sacrifice doing things they loved so they could give me and my siblings a wonderful education and be involved in sports. Learning how to save and budget money is the best money lesson I learned early on. Financial literacy matters because without it you will not be able to have the things you want or need. Knowing how to save and when to spend your money is an important life lesson. My mom learned the hard way in college. Credit card company recruiters convinced her to sign up for one. She did not realize the responsibility it took to have a credit card. She started charging things but did not have the funds to pay the bill off each month. My mom could only pay the minimum amount and interest started to accrue. By the time she completed her first year in college, her credit card debt was huge. My nana had to help her get out of debt and start paying it off. It was a hard lesson to learn. Now, she always instills in me the importance of waiting to get a credit card until I have a good-paying job so I will be able to pay the bill each month when it comes. This will help me build good credit so I will be able to buy a house or car one day. Young adults need to learn the importance of financial literacy early on in their lives so they can make informed decisions. This will also help them to be financially stable once they leave home and start living on their own. Financial literacy teaches young adults how to manage their money and stick to a budget. It will help them to know the importance of saving their money for when they need it and the difference between things they need and those they want but can live without. Then they will have money for more important things. My mom worked in a grocery store after her first year in college. She needed to pay off her college bill before she could have her transcript sent to another school. Her mother could not help pay her college bill because she did have the funds. My mother was able to work a year so she could pay off her college bill. Then she paid her way through community college and saved up to buy her first car. She lived at home with her parents during this time but they charged her rent. Once she graduated from community college, they gave her rent money back to her as her mom had put it into a CD. This was an important life lesson she learned of the value of saving money and using it to pay for the necessities. I learned from her mistakes and I do not want to make the same ones. Erin Confortini’s investment into my education through the Financial Literacy Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well-spent. It will help me be successful in college. I learned the importance of being financially stable and how to budget my money including putting some aside for emergencies. Together, we can make a difference and help others learn the importance of saving and budgeting your money.

If you had met my nana, you would think she is an amazing woman! She has profoundly influenced my life, which has made a huge impact and continues to inspire me every day. She started climbing the highest point in each state when she was in her 40s and has summited around 30 high points so far. She encouraged me and my brother to start hiking and we have each completed around 10 of the highest points in the United States. My nana only has an associate's degree and my pop-pop never went to college. She has had to have two or more jobs at one time to pay the bills. She loves riding her bicycle and rides it to work on nice days, which is six and a half miles one way. She used to jog three miles every morning before going to work but has not been able to since she broke her kneecap in April of 2021. She continues to walk every day when she can. Her drive and determination to continue exercising are inspiring. She makes me want to be a better person and motivates me to get outside every day and exercise. I am a first-generation college student and very passionate about the ocean and marine life. My dream is to become a marine biologist. My nana has inspired me to pursue my dreams, apply to four-year colleges so I would have a better education, and apply for an internship after graduating. Through research for a high school project, I found a college in Maine that is only six hours from home with a great marine biology program, private beach, and marine science center. Their marine biology program ranks as one of the top 10 in the country. My nana is always encouraging me to set goals and to persevere when it is tough. She always strives for excellence in everything she does and this has influenced my life. From a young age, I have always stayed at her house. She helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses and encouraged me to focus on the big picture. The impact my nana has had on my life is profound. She is a very spiritual person and her faith in God inspires me to study and read my Bible more. I admire her strength when things are tough. She has had to overcome many challenging situations but her faith never wavered. She puts all her trust in God to see her through and provide for her every need. Her strong work ethic is admirable and I hope that I will continue learning from her as long as I can. In conclusion, my nana inspires me with her kind and gentle heart, strong work ethic, drive and determination, and her faith in God. She is a living example of how I want to be and has changed me forever. She truly is an inspiration. Alexis Olivas’ investment into my education through the Bald Eagle Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well-spent. I would give back to the community through my research in marine biology and ocean conservation. Winning this scholarship will help me create a better life for those around me and myself by providing the necessary funds needed to study marine biology and succeed in college. This scholarship will help me achieve my dreams by providing more opportunities for me to obtain an internship after graduating with my degree, research something I am passionate about, and do what I love! Together, we can make a difference and change the world for future generations.

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I love science and dream of becoming a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! I will be studying marine sciences in the fall at the University of New England and would love the opportunity to research sea turtles or coral reefs in Australia. I will also have the opportunity to learn more about coral reefs in Belize through their study abroad program. I did not expect to be a first-generation college student. Growing up, I watched my family face financial difficulties. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that I need to obtain a four-year college degree, so I do not end up just like them. This scholarship will help open more doors for me to research something I am passionate about. This scholarship will help provide the funds necessary to further my education and pursue my dreams so I can succeed in college. My freshman year did not start well academically. My GPA fell as low as 2.31 during that year! Knowing I wouldn't qualify for scholarships if I did not improve my grades made me work harder. I achieved a 3.59 during the second semester of my sophomore year. After my sophomore year ended, my cumulative GPA improved to 2.99. I continued studying and working hard. In my senior year, I achieved a 3.95 first semester and a 4.0 during the second quarter. My greatest achievement to date has been graduating high school with a cumulative GPA of 3.16. I also struggle with anxiety and have learned to overcome it by doing mental exercises and seeking counseling. I have learned to overcome this obstacle so I can become a better person. This experience taught me the value of determination, motivation, and hard work. It made me realize that I can accomplish what I set my heart and mind to do. It taught me responsibility for my actions and that I am in control of my destiny. I built more confidence in myself knowing I could accomplish something through my hard work and determination. I learned how to solve problems and seek out help when I did not understand something so I could improve my grades. It also helped me learn self-control so I would not become distracted when I needed to study or do homework. My ultimate goal is to become a marine biologist and help rescue endangered sea creatures. Through my career, I will help make the world a better place by educating the community about protecting oceans and marine life. I plan to give back through educational programs and events where the community will learn more about ocean conservation and protecting marine life. I would inform them about the importance of maintaining our ecosystems and tell them how they can protect and preserve coral reefs and the marine life that lives there. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds necessary for me to continue my education and pursue my dreams. The Ardolf-Rutter Family’s investment into my education through the Envision Scholarship Award would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through research in marine biology and ocean conservation. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams! Together, we can change the world for future generations!

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I love science and dream of becoming a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! I will be studying marine sciences in the fall at the University of New England and would love the opportunity to research sea turtles or coral reefs in Australia. I will also have the opportunity to learn more about coral reefs in Belize through their study abroad program. I did not expect to be a first-generation college student. Growing up, I watched my family face financial difficulties. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that I need to obtain a four-year college degree, so I do not end up just like them. This scholarship will help open more doors for me to research something I am passionate about. This scholarship will help provide the funds necessary to further my education and pursue my dreams so I can succeed in college. My freshman year did not start well academically. My GPA fell as low as 2.31 during that year! Knowing I wouldn't qualify for scholarships if I did not improve my grades made me work harder. I achieved a 3.59 during the second semester of my sophomore year. After my sophomore year ended, my cumulative GPA improved to 2.99. I continued studying and working hard. In my senior year, I achieved a 3.95 first semester and a 4.0 during the second quarter. My greatest achievement to date has been graduating high school with a cumulative GPA of 3.16. I also struggle with anxiety and have learned to overcome it by doing mental exercises and seeking counseling. I have learned to overcome this obstacle so I can become a better person. This experience taught me the value of determination, motivation, and hard work. It made me realize that I can accomplish what I set my heart and mind to do. It taught me responsibility for my actions and that I am in control of my destiny. I built more confidence in myself knowing I could accomplish something through my hard work and determination. I learned how to solve problems and seek out help when I did not understand something so I could improve my grades. It also helped me learn self-control so I would not become distracted when I needed to study or do homework. My ultimate goal is to become a marine biologist and help rescue endangered sea creatures. Through my career, I will help make the world a better place by educating the community about protecting oceans and marine life. I plan to give back through educational programs and events where the community will learn more about ocean conservation and protecting marine life. I would inform them about the importance of maintaining our ecosystems and tell them how they can protect and preserve coral reefs and the marine life that lives there. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds necessary for me to continue my education and pursue my dreams. The Ardolf-Rutter Family’s investment into my education through the Envision Scholarship Award would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through research in marine biology and ocean conservation. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams! Together, we can change the world for future generations!

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. My Barbie dream house would be located near the ocean on a tropical island paradise. The outside would feature a Victorian-style turret with a stone exterior. It would have lots of balconies to enjoy sunrises and sunsets. There would be a large wrap-around porch. The heated garage would be separate from the house and feature a second-floor guest apartment. There would be a tropical lush garden with plenty of fruits and vegetables on the rooftop of the garage. There would be a large inground pool with a waterfall feature and a hot tub in the backyard lined with palm trees and plenty of tropical flowers in violet, coral, fuchsia, emerald, scarlet, gold, and turquoise. The pool house would feature changing rooms, a bathroom with an outdoor shower, and a sauna. There would be hanging lounge chairs from the palm trees and a few umbrella tables. The backyard would feature a stone walkway lined with colorful flowers and tropical plants. There would be many different unique birdhouses throughout the backyard. There would also be a few swings hanging from the trees and a gazebo lined with flowers. The interior of the house would feature a spiral staircase leading to the second floor. There would be a library with built-in bookshelves and a secret door leading to an underground tunnel, which would lead outside to a pergola with a large patio for entertaining guests and having cookouts. The master bedroom would have a sitting area with a built-in bench and a balcony. It would have a large walk-in closet filled with racks of shoes and luxurious outfits fit for a queen. The master bathroom would have a walk-in shower, double sinks, and a large jacuzzi tub with whirlpool jets. There would be four more bedrooms upstairs, all with their private bathrooms. Each bedroom would have a balcony. There would also be a large reading nook at the top of the spiral staircase. Each bedroom would have access from their balcony to zipline through the tropical paradise backyard down to the ocean. The laundry room would feature an extra large washer and dryer. There would be a large wash basin and large cupboards. Each bedroom would have a laundry shoot down to the laundry room. The gourmet kitchen would feature a large walk-in refrigerator and freezer. There would be a large island with a stovetop and sink. There would be two large ovens and a built-in microwave. The deck off the kitchen would have an outdoor grill, patio furniture and slide down to the backyard. There would be an indoor tropical garden you would enter from the large foyer. This would lead to the living room, which would feature a small heated indoor pool. The indoor pool would have access to the large exercise room, complete with treadmills, stair climbers, rowers, bikes, and weights. The exercise room would be next to the kitchen and feature an automated machine where you can select different healthy snacks that would be delivered via a chute from the kitchen into the exercise room. It would also feature a smoothie bar. Bold.org’s investment into my education through the Barbie Dream House Scholarship would be appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through marine biology research and ocean conservation. With your generosity, this scholarship will provide opportunities to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams! Together, we can make a difference!

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and passionate about exploring marine life. I love science and dream of becoming a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! I will be studying marine sciences in the fall at the University of New England and would love the opportunity to research sea turtles or coral reefs in Australia. I will also have the opportunity to learn more about coral reefs in Belize through their study abroad program. I exhibit a spirit of excellence in my everyday life by helping others. If I see someone who needs help with their groceries or yard work, I will offer my services. The greatest feeling is knowing I am bringing joy into someone else’s life. I keep a positive attitude and always do things the right way without cutting corners. I do my best at every task with honesty and integrity. I stay humble and treat others with compassion. Service means helping others and doing work for someone else voluntarily. Service is important because by serving others you are helping yourself, improving your self-esteem, engaging in meaningful activity and distracting yourself from your problems. Serving others enriches your life and theirs. It connects you to someone else and strengthens your relationships. I love serving others. It brings a smile to my face to see the joy helping someone else brings to his or her face. Jesus lived a life of service to others and he is our example. I want to strive to do what I can to help someone in need. I consistently give back to my community by volunteering my time and talents where needed. I helped make pumpkin rolls at Thanksgiving time. I have also helped serve food in a soup kitchen. Helping to serve food to the homeless or those in need gives me great pleasure. It makes me happy to see people being fed and enjoying their food. I helped at the Hope Rescue Mission by preparing and serving food to people. I also cleaned the shelter and tended to the needs of homeless people. I am happy knowing I am helping someone else. I also enjoy getting to know different people and making new friends. I have also gone door to door in the community asking if anyone needs help with yard work or getting groceries. People are surprised to see this but always happy to have someone lend a hand. This is especially important for those who cannot drive or are disabled and cannot do things for themselves. They are very grateful to have someone willingly help them. I have helped at a few horse farms, cleaning out cobwebs, mucking stalls, feeding and grooming the horses. I helped out at Camp Kulaqua Retreat and Conference Center in Florida during my senior class trip. I organized a storage shed and helped with yard work. One of the most enjoyable things I have done in service to others is putting together shoeboxes for underprivileged children as part of Operation Christmas Child. I enjoy picking out books, toys, art supplies, and bath supplies for children who cannot afford these things. It is very fulfilling knowing you are helping someone who does not have the things we take for granted. We should all live a life of service to others. The world would be a better place if everyone helped someone in need. Serving others is fulfilling and can help heal our world.

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ocean and exploring marine life. I love science and dream of becoming a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! I will be studying marine sciences, with a focus on marine biology, in the fall at the University of New England and would love the opportunity to research sea turtles or coral reefs in Australia. I will also have the privilege to learn more about coral reefs in Belize through their study abroad program. A career in marine biology requires discipline and focus. There is a lot of research involved. Marine biologists need to analyze lots of data, make predictions, develop theoretical models, and make changes to policies. Calculus is important because it will help them do these things, especially with analyzing data. Engineers also use calculus to analyze change. Calculus prepares students for more advanced courses in the STEM field. Calculus is used to help students become problem solvers and to think more critically. Software developers use calculus to understand time complexity in systems. Calculus is used to create graphs and visuals, design new algorithms, and for coding in applications. Calculus is finding out the rate of change of functions with respect to variables the function depends on. It is important and useful in many scientific discoveries, advancements, and inventions. We use calculus to find the rate of change in velocity of an object. We also use calculus to find the rate at which temperature the body changes. Calculus is used in every STEM field in some way or another. Without calculus, we would not be able to find the rate of change for anything. It is used to determine the rate of bacteria growth in a culture. Calculus is used to determine the amount of force acting on a bridge in terms of the anticipated weight of vehicles. In space flight, engineers use calculus to determine the gravitational pull of the sun and moon so they can put something in orbit. Credit card companies use calculus in business to determine the minimum amount due considering variables like interest rate. Graphic designers use calculus to create video games with a real world perspective. Meteorologists are able to predict the effects of varying weather conditions by using calculus. We can even make accurate predictions on population changes by using calculus. Calculus is used to improve acoustics in music. In conclusion, calculus is beneficial and important in every aspect of the STEM field. From engineering to biology, computer technology to space exploration, calculus is all around us. It is essential for our survival since we need calculus to understand climate change, calculate the rate diseases will spread, resolve conflicts, and deal with financial crises. Learner’s investment into my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through research in marine biology and ocean conservation. With your generosity, this scholarship will open more opportunities for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams! It will help me to be successful in college. Together, we can make a difference for future generations!

Julius Erving once said that “If you don’t do what’s best for your body, you’re the one who comes up on the short end.” A healthy lifestyle is beneficial for many reasons. When you fuel your body with healthy foods, you will have more energy and be able to think clearer. I was brought up a vegetarian. I have always chosen to eat plant-based foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. During my high school years, I noticed that when I ate too much sugar, my body was sluggish and I did not have that much energy. I also could not think clearly and was always tired. I started limiting my sugar intake while also choosing less sugary drinks. I also started going to bed earlier when I could to be sure I was getting eight to nine hours of sleep each night. I enjoy running so started doing this more often during the pandemic. I would get up early and run for about three to five miles. I would also do strength training and conditioning exercises. This helped me feel better about myself and I had more energy. I am a gymnast so I know that exercise, eating right, and getting your sleep are all important to perform well. Since I love the outdoors, I have also started hiking more and riding my bike. My parents introduced me to the highpointers club where members climb the high point in each state. I have completed over ten highpoints, so far. This keeps me active and give me a goal to reach. I love going on long bike rides with my parents. We have ridden on many wonderful trails and one time I even rode my bike 10 miles to church with my mom. Making these healthy lifestyle changes has helped me to stay focused. I have more energy and feel more physically fit than I did before I made these changes. I am trying to cut out all dairly products so I can continue with my healthy eating habits and not consume any animal by-products. This has been tough because I love ice cream. But lately, I have been trying to eat sorbet made with fresh fruit since it tastes delicious and I know it is better for me. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds necessary for my educational pursuits and to fulfill my dreams. By earning my bachelor's degree in marine biology from the University of New England, I will be able to serve my community by informing them about the importance of protecting our oceans and the marine life who lives there. This scholarship will help me to succeed in college and because of my healthy lifestyle, I will be more prepared to follow through with my plans to research sea turtles or coral reefs in Australia.. Thrive’s investment into my education through the Your Health Journey Scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through my research in marine biology and ocean conservation. With your generosity, this scholarship will open more doors for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams! Together, we can make a difference for future generations!

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” The ocean and marine life are fascinating! Ever since I can remember, I have been passionate about the ocean and exploring marine life. I love science and my dream is to become a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! I will be studying marine sciences in the fall at the University of New England and would love the opportunity to research sea turtles or coral reef biology in Australia one day. I will also have the opportunity to study coral reefs abroad in Belize over one of my breaks. This excites me, as I love seeing all the different colors and ocean life when snorkeling. I cannot wait to become a certified scuba diver so I can explore the ocean more. This past March, over my spring break, I was able to visit Washington State and some of the beaches there. The last beach I visited was Kalaloch. I loved exploring the tide pools and saw tons of starfish for the first time. Growing up, I have seen my parents struggle. They want to give my siblings and me a better life, but it has not been easy. My dad has been unemployed since 2005. My mom is the sole provider for our family. My younger brother attends a private Christian boarding school. My family has faced financial difficulties, but they have made enormous sacrifices to provide us with an excellent Christian education that has enabled my future success! This scholarship would greatly help my parents out financially in helping to fund my college degree and contribute to my success in college. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that if I do not obtain a Bachelor’s degree, I will end up just like them, living paycheck to paycheck. I am motivated and determined to make a difference in the world so I can create a better life and am confident I can achieve this with your help. I will be a first-generation college student. Both my parents only attended community college and I did not think I would have the opportunity to fulfill my dreams. This scholarship will help open more opportunities for me to research something I am passionate about. As a marine sciences major, my ultimate goal is to become a marine biologist and help rescue endangered sea creatures. My career will help to make the world a better place by providing education about protecting oceans and marine life. Since childhood, I have had an intense fascination for sea creatures and a passion to help protect them. In five years, I hope to be able to research sea turtles or coral reefs in Australia! I would also love the opportunity to study abroad in Belize and learn more about coral reefs. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds necessary for my educational pursuits and to fulfill my dreams. By earning my bachelor's degree in marine biology from the University of New England, I will be able to serve my community by informing them about the importance of protecting our oceans and the marine life who lives there. The Corrick Family’s investment into my education through this scholarship would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through my research in marine biology and ocean conservation. With your generosity, this scholarship will open more doors for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams! Together, we can make a difference for future generations!

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” The ocean and marine life are fascinating! Ever since I can remember, I have been passionate about the ocean and exploring marine life. I love science and my dream is to become a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! In the upcoming fall semester, I will be pursuing marine sciences at the University of New England. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in their study abroad program in Belize to learn more about coral reefs. As an avid snorkeler, I am fascinated by the array of colors and marine life present in the ocean. Once I become a certified scuba diver, I am eager to explore the ocean even more. During my spring break this past March, I visited Washington State and its beautiful beaches. Among them was Kalaloch, where I enjoyed exploring the tide pools and encountered numerous starfish for the first time. My ultimate goal and dream is to travel to Australia so I can study and conduct research on sea turtles and the Great Barrier Reef. My main focus would be to dedicate my time and resources to educating individuals on the significance of preserving our oceans to safeguard the marine species that inhabit them. It is crucial to comprehend that touching coral reefs or anchoring a boat on them can be detrimental to the animals that rely on them, and anchoring on coral can result in its death. Countless people rely on these reefs for sustenance, financial stability, and shelter. Another priority would be to educate the public on the significance of reducing pollution from land-based sources. Additionally, I will strive to enhance the sustainability of fishing practices and conduct research to increase resilience to climate change. As a STEM major, this scholarship would help fund my dream of becoming a marine biologist. It will allow me the opportunity once I graduate to educate the community on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. It will also help me be able to complete my degree so I can research the adaptive capacity and resilience of sea turtles and educate the community on how they can help protect our coral reefs. This scholarship would be incredibly beneficial for my family's financial situation. At the moment, my mother is the sole provider for our family, and both of my parents only have two-year college degrees. As the first person in my family to pursue a bachelor's degree, I am motivated and determined to obtain a four-year degree in marine biology. My goal is to educate others on how to protect our oceans, coral reefs, and marine life. The investment of Bria Alexander into my education through the Bright Lights Scholarship would be appreciated and well-used. With my degree in marine biology, I hope to contribute to the community by conducting research on ocean conservation, sea turtles, and coral reefs. This scholarship will enable me to pursue my passion for studying the ocean and its marine life while succeeding in college. It will provide me with opportunities that I may not have had otherwise. Educated individuals are essential in spreading awareness about preserving our coral reefs, and I am thrilled about the possibility of making an impact. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds. Together, we can make a difference!

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” The ocean and marine life are fascinating! Ever since I can remember, I have been passionate about the ocean and exploring marine life. I love science and my dream is to become a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! In the upcoming fall semester, I will be pursuing marine sciences at the University of New England. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in their study abroad program in Belize to learn more about coral reefs. As an avid snorkeler, I am fascinated by the array of colors and marine life present in the ocean. Once I become a certified scuba diver, I am eager to explore the ocean even more. During my spring break this past March, I visited Washington State and its beautiful beaches. Among them was Kalaloch, where I enjoyed exploring the tide pools and encountered numerous starfish for the first time. My ultimate goal and dream is to travel to Australia so I can study and conduct research on sea turtles and the Great Barrier Reef. My main focus would be to dedicate my time and resources to educating individuals on the significance of preserving our oceans to safeguard the marine species that inhabit them. It is crucial to comprehend that touching coral reefs or anchoring a boat on them can be detrimental to the animals that rely on them, and anchoring on coral can result in its death. Countless people rely on these reefs for sustenance, financial stability, and shelter. Another priority would be to educate the public on the significance of reducing pollution from land-based sources. Additionally, I will strive to enhance the sustainability of fishing practices and conduct research to increase resilience to climate change. As a STEM major, this scholarship would help fund my dream of becoming a marine biologist. It will allow me the opportunity once I graduate to educate the community on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. It will also help me be able to complete my degree so I can research the adaptive capacity and resilience of sea turtles and educate the community on how they can help protect our coral reefs. This scholarship would be incredibly beneficial for my family's financial situation. At the moment, my mother is the sole provider for our family, and both of my parents only have two-year college degrees. As the first person in my family to pursue a bachelor's degree, I am motivated and determined to obtain a four-year degree in marine biology. My goal is to educate others on how to protect our oceans, coral reefs, and marine life. The investment of Boston Reefers Society into my education through the Joseph A. Venuti Marine Science and Conservation Scholarship would be appreciated and well-used. With my degree in marine biology, I hope to contribute to the community by conducting research on ocean conservation, sea turtles, and coral reefs. This scholarship will enable me to pursue my passion for studying the ocean and its marine life while succeeding in college. It will provide me with opportunities that I may not have had otherwise. Educated individuals are essential in spreading awareness about preserving our coral reefs, and I am thrilled about the possibility of making an impact. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds. Together, we can make a difference!

“Take me to the sea, where I can be wild and free!” The ocean and marine life are fascinating! Ever since I can remember, I have been passionate about the ocean and exploring marine life. I love science and my dream is to become a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, without keeping them in captivity! I will be studying marine sciences in the fall at the University of New England and would love the opportunity to research sea turtles or coral reef biology in Australia one day. I will also have the opportunity to study coral reefs abroad in Belize over one of my breaks. This excites me, as I love seeing all the different colors and ocean life when snorkeling. I cannot wait to become a certified scuba diver so I can explore the ocean more. This past March, over my spring break, I was able to visit Washington State and some of the beaches there. The last beach I visited was Kalaloch. I loved exploring the tide pools and saw tons of starfish for the first time. Growing up, I have seen my parents struggle. They want to give my siblings and me a better life, but it has not been easy. My dad has been unemployed since 2005. My mom is the sole source of income for our family. My younger brother attends a private Christian boarding school. My family has faced financial difficulties, but my parents have made great sacrifices to provide my brother and me with an excellent Christian education. This scholarship would greatly help my parents out financially in helping to fund my college degree. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that if I do not obtain a Bachelor’s degree, I will end up just like them, living paycheck to paycheck. I am motivated and determined to make a difference in the world so I can create a better life and am confident I can achieve this with your help. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds needed for me to obtain my degree and fulfill my dreams. I will be a first-generation college student. I did not think I would have the opportunity to attend a four-year college to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Both my parents only attended community college. This scholarship will help provide more opportunities for researching something I am passionate about that I would not have been able to achieve otherwise. As a STEM major, this scholarship would help fund my dream of becoming a marine biologist. It will allow me the opportunity once I graduate to educate the community on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. It will also help me be able to complete my degree so I can research the adaptive capacity and resilience of sea turtles and educate the community on how they can help protect our coral reefs. The investment of the Estate of Barbara DeVaney into my education through this scholarship would be appreciated and well-used. Through my degree in marine biology, I would give back to the community by educating them on how to protect sea turtles and coral reefs. These funds will help me create a better life by allowing me to complete my degree so I can research sea turtles and how to rescue them without keeping them in captivity. This scholarship will help me achieve my dreams by providing more opportunities for me to do what I love and help me succeed in college! Together, we can change the world and make it a better place for future generations!

After my freshman year of high school, I switched schools and started struggling with anxiety. Since I am an introvert, being around people I do not know makes me very uncomfortable. Through reading self-help books, I have improved my coping skills and have used different techniques that have helped me handle tough situations. I also have a strong support system and my family has been praying for me constantly. Being a Seventh-day Adventist, my faith and trust in God helped me get through different circumstances. As long as I put in the work, I know that God will help me pass my tough classes while I am pursuing my education and this has helped me rely on Him more. For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for the ocean and exploring marine life. My parents would take us to the beach every year and I would love finding sea creatures in the many tide pools. Reading books about marine mammal rescues piqued my interest and helped shape my goal of becoming a marine biologist. Growing up watching Free Willy also helped shape my career choice. Through my education, I would love the opportunity to work with endangered species and help with their rescues by not keeping them in captivity. One day, I hope to research sea turtles or coral reefs in Australia. I am a first-generation college student but did not think I would have the opportunity to attend a four-year college. My parents only attended community college. My dad has been unemployed since 2005. He is a stay-at-home dad with my youngest brother. My other younger brother attends a private Christian boarding school, which I also attended. My mom is the sole source of income for our family. It has been tough financially and this scholarship would help allow me to pursue my dream. My career path as a STEM major will contribute to a better world because I will be able to inform the public about how to better conserve our oceans and protect marine life. I plan to make a positive impact on my community by educating them on the importance of protecting our oceans. I would explain the effects of water pollution, encourage the public to recycle by not littering, and that dumping their garbage or other pollutants into the ocean kills or endangers marine life. Ever since I discovered the University of New England while researching a school project, it has been my dream to attend this college. As a recipient of the Servant Ships Scholarship, you can be confident that I will represent the community as a conscientious and honest student. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds needed for me to obtain my degree. The economic benefit of this scholarship from Servant Ships will allow me to continue to pursue my academic goals at the University of New England. The investment of Servant Ships into my education through this scholarship would be appreciated and well-used. Through my degree in marine biology and research on ocean conservation, I will give back to the community by educating them on the importance of keeping our oceans clean. This scholarship will help provide more opportunities for me to make the world a better place and will help me to achieve my dreams! Together, we will be able to change the world for generations to come.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." ~ Nelson Mandela My freshman year did not start well academically as I attended a small private Christian school with tough teachers who weren't as accommodating. My GPA fell as low as 2.31 during that year! Knowing I wouldn't qualify for scholarships without improving my grades by graduation day made me work harder on improving them and I finally got there by the second half of my sophomore year. My greatest achievement to date has been graduating high school with a cumulative GPA of 3.16. This experience taught me the value of perseverance, determination, and hard work. After my sophomore year ended, my GPA increased from 2.99 to 3.59 with my cumulative GPA topping out at 2.99 by my junior year. I set the goal of improving my grades to at least surpass 3.0 by the time my senior year ended and even achieved that goal by scoring 4.0 during the first semester of my senior year! As a marine sciences major, my ultimate goal is to become a marine biologist and help rescue endangered sea creatures. Through STEM studies, my career will help to make the world a better place by providing education about protecting oceans and marine life. Since childhood, I have had an intense fascination for ocean life; one day hopefully I’ll be able to study sea turtles or coral reefs in Australia! Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds necessary for my educational pursuits. By earning my bachelor's degree in marine biology from the University of New England, I will be able to serve my community by informing them about the importance of protecting our oceans, maintaining aquatic ecosystems and hastening conservation efforts by informing people about the effects of water pollution on various aspects such as health and recycling methods - so they can make conscious decisions to conserve ocean life. I will also educate them on more viable fishing methods to protect the natural ocean environment and monitor pollution levels by collecting samples at different ocean depths, then analyzing these in the lab to measure physical and chemical properties that indicate their level. Environmentalists use this measure to predict the effects of pollution on animals and the environment while these measures allow me to determine how best to counteract pollution; I can collaborate with politicians who write policies regarding better environmental conservation efforts. I would also love the opportunity to study abroad in Belize and learn about coral reefs. Being a first-generation college student was not something I expected; both my parents only attended two-year community colleges. My dad has been unemployed since 2005 and stays at home with his youngest child. My other sibling attends a private Christian boarding school. My mother solely provides the income for our family; so we are fortunate as our parents have provided us with a great Christian education that has enabled my future success as an individual student! WCEJ Thornton Foundation Low-Income Scholarship Committee's investment into my education would be deeply appreciated and well spent, as I plan to give back to the community through research in marine biology and ocean conservation. With your generosity, this scholarship will open more doors for me to make the world better while fulfilling my dreams! Together we can make it better for future generations!

Since I was young, I have always been curious about what lies below the sea. Every summer my parents would take us to the beach where I loved exploring tide pools and discovering unique and fascinating sea life hiding there. Over my spring break in March 2023, my mom took me on an incredible trip through Washington State; we visited numerous beaches along its coast including my favorite, Kalaloch Beach where there were abundant tide pools featuring different colored starfish and sea anemones. I am pursuing a degree in marine biology so I can rescue endangered species. Because I do not agree with keeping animals captive as Sea World does, my focus will be on finding other means of rescue for endangered animals. Furthermore, my dream job would involve studying sea turtles or coral reefs one day; through my university experience and its travel abroad program in Belize, this opportunity might have never come up! My ultimate dream and goal is to become a marine biologist and travel to Australia to research the Great Barrier Reef, where billions of people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection. My time would be focused on educating people on how important it is to take care of our oceans to preserve the marine life that lives there; such as not touching coral reefs directly nor anchoring boats there - touching can damage animals who live there while anchoring on it can kill it off altogether! My time and energy will also be dedicated to increasing public understanding of the importance of reducing land-based sources of pollution, improving fishing sustainability practices and exploring ways to bolster resilience against climate change. My mom is currently the sole source of income in our family while my dad remains unemployed. This scholarship will assist in helping to pay for my education and making it possible for me to succeed in college - since I am a first-generation college student! Additionally, it will broaden my knowledge and introduce new experiences that may help protect oceans, coral reefs and marine life in general. This scholarship will give me opportunities that I might not be able to achieve otherwise. I believe the From Anna and Ava Scholarship Committee should select me for their award because my research in ocean conservation and coral reef biology will make an invaluable contribution to society. Attending college will give me ample opportunities to pursue what I love studying while learning more about oceanic life. Educated individuals must continue spreading the message about conserving coral reefs around the globe and I am looking forward to what the future will bring thanks to your assistance! With my degree in marine biology, I will take another step toward realizing my career goal of researching sea turtles or coral reefs. Any investment from the Taylor Family through their scholarship would be gratefully received and well-used as I would educate the community on ways they can better protect our oceans and all their inhabitants. Together we can change the world into something better for generations yet unborn!

If you had met my nana, you would think she is an amazing woman! She has profoundly influenced my life, which has made a huge impact. She started climbing the high point in each state when she was in her 40s. Some she cannot do because of the technical difficulty but she has summited around 30 so far. She only has an associate's degree but has had to have two or more jobs at one time to pay the bills. She used to be a cashier in a grocery store and helped in customer service. She also babysat five kids under five at the same time as raising three of her own, one of which is my mother. Both my parents only attended community college, so I am a first-generation college student. My nana helped me realize my full potential by encouraging me to go for my dreams and pursue a four-year bachelor's degree. I was not sure if I would have this opportunity, as my mom is the sole source of income right now in supporting our family. I was thinking of going to community college because it is cheaper. Both my nana and mother convinced me to apply to four-year colleges so I would have a better education and not lose any scholarships I would be offered. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds needed for me to obtain my degree and fulfill my dreams. I am very passionate about the ocean and marine life. My dream is to become a marine biologist. My nana has inspired me to pursue my dreams and even apply for an internship after graduating. I had wanted to go to college in Washington State but did not want to be that far away from home. Through research for a high school project, I found a college in Maine that is only six hours from home with a great marine biology program, private beach, and marine science center. Since I am a Seventh-day Adventist, I had wanted to go to one of our Adventist colleges. Unfortunately, none of them offers a marine biology degree. My nana encouraged me to apply to a non-Adventist university and said I could be a witness there. She also told me that I would get a better education and be able to find a good-paying job after graduating. My nana is always encouraging me to set goals and to persevere when it is tough. She always strives for excellence in everything she does and this has influenced my life. From a young age, I have always stayed at her house for the weekend and my grandpa babysat me when I was a baby. They both have helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses and encouraged me to focus on the big picture. In conclusion, the Sharen and Mila Kohute Scholarship Committee should select me for this scholarship because I would give back to the community through my research in marine biology and ocean conservation so I can succeed in college. I will be able to create a better life for those around me and myself by providing the necessary funds needed to study and research sea turtles and coral reefs in Australia and have enough left over to support the needs of and give back to my community thanks to my nana helping me realize my full potential. This scholarship will help me achieve my dreams by providing more opportunities for me to obtain my degree, research something I am passionate about, and do what I love! Together, we can make a difference for future generations.

The ocean and marine life are fascinating! For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for the ocean and exploring marine life. I am passionate about science and becoming a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, the right way! I will be studying marine sciences in the fall at the University of New England and would love the opportunity to research sea turtles or coral reef biology in Australia one day. I will also have the opportunity to study coral reefs abroad in Belize over one of my breaks. This excites me, as I love seeing all the different colors and ocean life when snorkeling. I cannot wait to become a certified scuba diver so I can explore the ocean more. This past March, over my spring break, I was able to visit Washington and some of the beaches there. The last beach I visited was Kalaloch Beach. I loved exploring the tide pools and saw tons of starfish for the first time. Growing up, I have seen my parents struggle. They want to give my siblings and me a better life, but it has not been easy. My dad has been unemployed since 2005. My mom is the sole source of income for our family. My younger brother attends a private Christian boarding school. It has been tough financially but my parents have been able to give my brother and me a wonderful Christian education. This scholarship would greatly help my parents out financially in helping to fund my college degree. Seeing my parents struggle has made me realize that if I do not obtain a Bachelor’s degree, I will probably struggle to make ends meet, just like them. I am motivated to make a difference in the world so I can create a better life and am confident I can achieve this with your help. Winning this scholarship would provide the additional funds needed for me to obtain my degree and fulfill my dreams. I will be a first-generation college student. I did not think I would have the opportunity to attend a four-year college to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Both my parents only attended community college. This scholarship will help provide more opportunities for researching something I am passionate about that I would not have been able to achieve otherwise. As a STEM major, this scholarship would help fund my dream of becoming a marine biologist. It will allow me the opportunity once I graduate to educate the community on how they can better protect our oceans and marine life and the importance of doing so. It will help fund my research and help me understand better the adaptive capacity and resilience of sea turtles and educate the community on how they can help protect our coral reefs. In conclusion, the Rivera-Gulley First-Gen Scholarship Committee should select me for this scholarship because I would give back to the community through my research in marine biology and ocean conservation so I can succeed in college. I will be able to create a better life for those around me and myself by providing the necessary funds needed to study and research sea turtles and coral reefs in Australia and have enough left over to support the needs of and give back to my community. This scholarship will help me achieve my dreams by providing more opportunities for me to obtain my degree and do what I love! Together, we can make our world a better place for generations to come.

Since my parents brought me up in a Seventh-day Adventist home, I have always had a personal relationship with God. Growing up, my parents always had family worship with us and we went to church every week. I went to Christian schools from Kindergarten through high school. My teachers also instilled their knowledge in me. As I grow older, my faith has grown deeper through personal Bible study and prayer. In high school, I struggled with getting good grades. I did not feel that my elementary school teachers prepared me for high school, especially in math. I found it difficult to comprehend the concepts and formulas. My teachers were patient with me and were able to explain things in a way I understood. I had to take Chemistry in 9th grade, which was very difficult. God has helped me in my life by showing me he is always there for me. He will listen to my struggles and I can talk to Him about anything. Through daily prayer and studying my Bible, I have come to realize that I can always rely on Him. He has helped me through difficult situations in my life including finishing high school and achieving passing grades. I would always pray before every test that God would help me to remember what I have learned throughout the year and what I have studied. I did not take my grades seriously when I started high school. I did not realize that they would affect my ability to receive scholarships in the future. I was motivated and determined to improve my grades. I started with a 2.31 GPA in my freshman year. By my senior year, I was able to graduate with a 3.16 cumulative GPA. I even achieved a 3.95 first semester and a 4.0 during the second quarter of my senior year. None of this would have been possible had it not been for my faith and trust in God. For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for the ocean and exploring marine life. I am passionate about science and becoming a marine biologist because I want to help rescue endangered species, the right way! I will be studying marine sciences in the fall at the University of New England and would love the opportunity to research sea turtles or coral reef biology in Australia one day. I will have the opportunity to study coral reefs abroad in Belize over one of my breaks. Becoming a marine biologist is not an easy feat. It is a very competitive field. I am confident that I can achieve this accomplishment through hard work and my motivation to succeed. My personal relationship with God and personal faith will assist me in my career by allowing me the opportunity to consult Him with every important decision I need to make. God will help me through college and my faith and trust in Him will provide me with the strength I need and insight on potential problems that may arise during my research. With God, all things are possible! I am confident that He will help me through so I can pursue my dreams. The Arthur and Elana Panos Scholarship Committee should select me for this scholarship because I would give back to the community through my research in marine biology and ocean conservation. This scholarship will help me achieve my dreams by providing more opportunities for me to educate the community on ocean conservation and succeed in college with God’s help. Together, we can make our world a better place for generations to come.

The night before final exams, I usually stay up too late studying. I get hungry so I snack on "empty calorie" food items, such as potato chips or candy bars. The next morning I am unable to think straight and my brain is fuzzy. I have no energy to walk to my classes and feel very sluggish. I think to myself I should have gone to bed earlier and eaten healthier snacks like carrots or an apple. Maybe then, I would have done better on my exams and had a clearer mind to recall what I had studied. There are many ways I manage my personal wellness while attending school. The first is by eating healthy. I was raised a vegetarian and try to make healthy choices when it comes to food. I also try to limit my sugar intake, because I feel sluggish all day if I eat too many sugary foods. Developing healthy eating habits from a young age, helps you to make healthier choices and choose foods that are high in protein, low in sugar, high in fiber, low in fat, and low in calories. Getting enough sleep is the second way I manage my personal wellness. I try to get between 8-9 hours of sleep each night, sometimes more. This helps me to have more energy to get through the day. I also have a more positive outlook on life. I do not feel run down or weak. Choosing healthy food and getting enough sleep helps me to be mentally and physically stronger. It helps me to feel more confident and reduces the risk of getting sick. The third way I manage my personal wellness is by exercising. I try to get outside and spend time in nature every day for at least 30 minutes. I go for a run or on a long walk and enjoy the sunshine when it is out. I also like to go on bike rides. Being out in nature helps me to have a clearer mind. When I need a break from studying or doing homework, I am motivated to clear my head by going outside and it helps immensely. Being out in nature and exercising help to reduce stress. My grandma lived to be 92. She has since passed away but she lived a long life due to her healthy eating habits. My parents both became vegetarians when they were teenagers. They love the outdoors and hiking. My mom even bikes 6.5 miles one way to work on nice days. My grandma and my parents set a wonderful example for me of eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise. Maintaining my personal wellness helps me succeed as a student because I can think clearer, recall things better, especially on a test, and have more energy. I feel rejuvenated and confident through eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and exercising. I am able to conquer the world! In conclusion, managing your personal wellness is important if you want to have a long and prosperous life. By engaging in these lifestyle changes, you will feel stronger, have more energy, think clearly, be happier, and overall you will be able to live longer by lowering your cholesterol levels, blood pressure, risk of stroke or heart attack, and risk of diabetes. The Wellness Warriors Scholarship Committee should select me for this award because I would continue eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and exercising, which includes spending time in nature and reducing stress to help me succeed in college and beyond. Together, we can be wellness warriors and teach future generations of the many benefits!

Pursuing my dream of studying marine biology excites me the most about college. The ocean and marine life are fascinating! I have always been passionate about what lies beneath the ocean. I want to study marine sciences in the fall at the University of New England and research sea turtles or coral reef biology one day. I will also have the opportunity to study coral reef biology in Belize. This fascinates me, as I love seeing all the different colors and ocean life when snorkeling. I cannot wait to become a certified scuba diver so I can explore the ocean more. This past March over my spring break, I was able to visit Washington and some of the beaches there. The last beach I visited was Beach No. 4 or Kalaloch Beach. I loved exploring the tide pools and saw tons of starfish for the first time. It was very cool observing them and taking pictures. Running has always been an outlet of mine to clear my head and rejuvenate my soul. In high school, I had the opportunity to join a track team. Unfortunately, I was only able to train for about two weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. I also love painting. This helps me unwind after a hard day of studying. I eat a plant-based vegetarian diet, which helps me maintain a healthy body. I also love reading self-help books. Through exercising, eating healthy, reading, and painting, I can maintain a healthy mind, body, and soul amidst the challenges of pursuing higher education. My ultimate goal and dream is to become a marine biologist and travel to Australia to study and do research on the Great Barrier Reef. I would focus my time and energy on educating people about the importance of taking care of our oceans to protect the marine life that lives there. I would explain the importance of not touching coral reefs or anchoring your boat there because contact with the reef could damage the animals who live there and anchoring on coral kills it. Billions of people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection. This scholarship would help my parents out financially. My mom is the only one working right now and supporting my family. Both my parents only have a two-year college degree. I will be a first-generation college student and the first one in my family to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Since college is expensive, I have been trying to apply to as many scholarships as I can in the hopes that I will win some money to help my parents pay for my college education. I want to pursue a four-year degree in marine biology so I can educate the world on how to protect our oceans, coral reefs, and marine life. The Mind, Body, and Soul Scholarship Committee should select me for this award, as I will give back to the community through my research in ocean conservation and coral reef biology. I will have many opportunities while in college to study what I love and learn more about the ocean and what lives there. I am excited to research coral reefs. This scholarship will give me opportunities that I might not have otherwise. The world needs educated people to spread the word about preserving our coral reefs. I am excited about this opportunity and cannot wait to see what the future holds with your help. Together, we can change the world!

Ohana means family! My favorite Disney character is Stitch. I have loved this character for as long as I can remember. Even though he is an experiment that went wrong, he comes to love Lilo and her family and develops a close bond with them causing him to rethink his destructive nature. Lilo helps Stitch through her unwavering belief in family and helps him to care for someone else. This means a lot to me. I have a very close-knit family. But sometimes I feel left out since I have two brothers. My grandparents and mom help me to feel that I belong. They are always doing things with me and taking me to experience new places. If it was not for them and their love and support, I would be very depressed and in a bad place. They have also taught me through their strong faith in God that nothing is impossible. Stitch has to overcome a lot in the story. He eventually changes and becomes kind, caring, and sympathetic towards Lilo and her family. Since Lilo is lonely, she adopts Stitch and they become friends. I do not have very many friends and am shy so I can relate to Lilo. Stitch has become her new best friend and they have a very close bond. The fact that Stitch changed by the end of the film means a lot to me. Without God in our lives, we would all be evil and destructive. By having faith in God and wanting to follow his ways, we can all be changed and become kind, helpful, and compassionate. Our destructive ways will end. This means so much to me knowing I have a great future and can help people instead of the alternative. Stich becomes so loveable in the end compared to his wanting to destroy everything in the beginning. We can all choose to change. Nobody wants to be around someone grumpy or angry all the time. If we choose to be kind and caring, people will see this and want to hang around us. Having a kind and loving family who supports you means everything. This is why I love Stitch and he means so much to me. I want my friends to know they can count on me to be there for them and through my kindness and compassion, they will want to change if they are not happy. We need to make people feel loved and accepted despite their weaknesses. If we all did this, the world would be a better place. This is why the Disney Super Fan Scholarship committee should choose me for this award. Together, we can change the world because we are all one big happy ohana!

Leadership means being an example to others and standing up for what you believe in. It also means striving for excellence in everything you do to make the world a better place. I am motivated to do my best in everything and help make decisions for my class. I show appreciation to others when they do a great job and also to my mentors for being examples of great leaders. I am a very trustworthy person. My friends can always count on me to keep their information confidential. I am also empathetic and share others' feelings. I admit when I do not have all the answers and I look to the expertise and knowledge of others. I am an excellent communicator and can get my point across. I listen to suggestions and incorporate ways to improve things. I can organize my friends to participate in an event. I encourage others to get involved in new school activities or community events. I also show initiative in community projects if it is something I am passionate about, such as saving marine endangered species. Exemplifying leadership means conquering your fears and learning from failure. It also means creating new opportunities for a better life or way of doing things. I tend to focus on others and how I can commit to helping them grow, while also growing myself in different ways. By serving in my community, I can show others by my example how to live better and give back. I am a great listener and try to incorporate others' ideas into the project we are working on or just in general by asking questions. I am open and honest with those involved. I set goals and work to achieve them, even if I do not succeed at first. Leadership is important and by exemplifying the values that are important to me, such as honesty, compassion, kindness, excellence, inclusion, equity, and trustworthiness, I will help shape others and make the world a better place to live in. True leaders lead by example and that is what I strive to do every day. I am also able to adapt to change and figure out what to do, even if it goes against what I think is best. I encourage others to get involved and inspire them with ideas to get started. I try to build upon my strengths and always strive to include others with diverse backgrounds. Everyone should feel included and that is what I do every day when I see someone being left out. By pursuing a degree in Marine Biology, I strive to reflect on what I need to develop my future as a leader in this field. I will seek ways to learn more about my personality, work habits, and communication to grow in my career. I will also find a mentor in my field who I can learn from. Together, we can change the world!

The night before final exams, I usually stay up too late studying. I get hungry so I snack on "empty calorie" food items, such as potato chips or candy bars. The next morning I am unable to think straight and my brain is fuzzy. I have no energy to walk to my classes and feel very sluggish. I think to myself I should have gone to bed earlier and eaten healthier snacks like carrots or an apple. Maybe then, I would have done better on my exams and had a clearer mind to recall what I had studied. Healthy eating habits are important because they shape your life in the future. By eating healthy when you are young, you will develop good habits, as you get older. You will continue to eat healthy when you move out of your parent's house and are on your own. You will make wise choices when it comes to healthy snacks if you are taught this from infancy. When I eat too many sugary foods and drink soda or sugary drinks, I cannot think well and feel sluggish all day. I do not have any energy to do the things I love, such as hiking, biking and gymnastics. Developing healthy eating habits from a young age, helps you to make healthier choices and choose foods that are high in protein, low in sugar, high in fiber, low in fat, and low in calories. When I eat healthy foods or snacks, I notice that I can think clearer. I have more energy and sleep better. I also have a more positive outlook on life. I do not feel run down or weak. Choosing healthy food and drinks helps me to be mentally and physically stronger. It helps me to feel more confident and reduces the risk of getting sick. It is important to live a healthy lifestyle to avoid sickness and disease. Eating healthy will help you to avoid a stroke and a heart attack. By eating healthy, you will live longer and be happier. My grandma lived to be 92. She has since passed away but she lived a long life due to her healthy eating habits. Whenever we would visit her, she would always make enough food to feed an army but they were healthy items. There was a large variety of vegetables, protein, and fruit for dessert. She limited the sweets. She was always cheerful and sang in her church choir. She and my parents set a wonderful example of healthy eating for me. In conclusion, healthy eating habits are important if you want to have a long and prosperous life. You should include lots of fruit and vegetables in your diet along with protein and fiber. By practicing healthy eating habits, you will feel stronger, have more energy, think clearly, be happier, and overall you will be able to live longer by lowering your cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and risk of type 2 diabetes.

I started gymnastics back in 2009. I was almost 4 years old when my mom signed me up for my first class. Once I was about 10 years old, my coaches focused more on the kids who already knew how to do things and I was not learning anything new. That is when my mom switched gyms for me. I stayed with this gym for about two years when the coach I had, who was good at teaching me new skills, left for another job. It was then that I joined a competitive gymnastics team in 2017. My coach was wonderful and I developed a strong connection with her. I was struggling to learn my back walkover. Coach Lynn encouraged me to keep trying. She also gave me stretches to do for my back. She taught me great form in every skill I did. When I got to high school, the acro-tumbling coach there was impressed and used me as an example to the other students of how the skills were supposed to look. Finally, I was able to do my back walkover without any trouble. Another time, I was struggling with climbing the rope. We had a new coach at the gym that was helping. She was tough on me and I felt that she singled me out among the other athletes. She would make me keep trying even though my strength was weakening and I was exhausted. She often brought me to tears because of her harsh words. I spoke to Coach Lynn about this and she gave me some negative strength training exercises to do that would improve my ability to climb the rope faster. Coach Lynn has positively impacted my life. She is a great role model. She always encouraged me and never criticized my efforts. She just said to keep trying and told me that she never saw anyone work harder at learning a new skill than I did. In my very first competition ever I won 2nd place all around. This is because of working hard and Coach Lynn's impact on my training. The following year I won 1st place in the floor exercise. Coach Lynn always knew what skills I needed to improve my start value and what I needed to master to get a better score. I exemplify the caring and supportive nature of David Sutton. I am compassionate when I see someone crying and go over to comfort them. I have a fighting spirit and never stop trying new things or giving up. I always try to include those who look lonely and if they are sitting by themselves, I go over and sit with him or her. I love helping others and through doing so, I have learned a different perspective on life and see the world through their eyes. Coach Lynn's guidance and example have helped me grow as a person and I strive to make the world a better place for future generations.

My community service volunteer work includes helping out at a soup kitchen, putting together shoe boxes filled with toys, books, and necessities for impoverished children, singing at a nursing home, putting together personal care kits for the homeless, planting trees for senior citizens, and served food, cleaned shelter and attended to the homeless at a rescue mission. I have also gone door-to-door in the community offering to help them. It brings so much joy to my heart knowing that I am helping someone else and bringing a smile to his or her face. Volunteering has changed my mindset and helped me to think of others before myself. It helped me to see the world through their eyes. These experiences have helped me grow as a person and strive to make the world a better place for future generations. I have learned that by helping others, I am also helping myself. It helped shape me into a more tolerant, curious, and caring individual. It also gave me a new perspective on life. This scholarship will help me financially to attain my goals by providing the additional funds needed for me to obtain a bachelor’s degree in marine biology. My dad is unemployed and stays at home with my younger brother, who is in 3rd grade. My other younger brother is in 9th grade and my dad stayed at home with him, too. My mom is the sole source of income for our family. I am currently at a private boarding school and so is my younger brother. It has been tough financially but my parents have been able to give us a wonderful Christian education. I will be a first-generation college student. I did not think I would have the opportunity to attend a four-year college. Both my parents only attended community college and have two-year degrees. I hope to become a research scientist specializing in sea turtles or coral biology, or perhaps both. I would also like to work in a marine science center educating people about the ocean, how to preserve it, and the marine life that lives in it. The cost of college, if you go to a four-year college or university, is very expensive. I am trying to avoid taking out a loan if I can. This scholarship would greatly help my parents financially by providing me with a college education. I have excelled academically over the past few years and have studied harder to achieve good grades to be eligible for scholarships. I want to broaden my knowledge and learn new things I can apply once I graduate. This scholarship will help provide more opportunities for me that I would not be able to achieve otherwise.

The ocean and exploring marine life have been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. My parents took us to the beach growing up and I would love digging in the sand and finding crabs or shells. I also love exploring tide pools and over my spring break this past March, I was able to visit Washington State and some beaches on the coast. The last one we visited was Beach No. 4 or Kalaloch Beach and there were tons of tide pools with starfish, sea urchins and anemones. It was amazing. My college goals include learning more about the ocean and studying about marine life. I plan to obtain a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from the University of New England in Biddeford, ME. I also want to obtain my scuba diving certification. I love the outdoors and will have many opportunities to hike and explore the surrounding areas. I also love gymnastics and am excited to get back into competing on a team. My career aspirations include researching sea turtles and coral biology. I would love to one day do research on sea turtles in Australia or some other tropical place, like the Galapagos Islands. I would also love to go snorkeling or scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. In addition, I want to study abroad in Belize and learn more about coral reefs. My community service includes helping out at a soup kitchen, putting together shoe boxes filled with toys, books, and necessities for impoverished children, singing at a nursing home, putting together personal care kits for the homeless, planting trees for senior citizens, and served food, cleaned shelter and attended to the homeless at a rescue mission. I have also gone door-to-door in the community offering to help them. It brings so much joy to my heart knowing that I am helping someone else and bringing a smile to his or her face. This scholarship will help me attain my goals by providing the additional funds needed for me to obtain a bachelor’s degree in marine biology. My dad is unemployed and stays at home with my younger brother, who is in 3rd grade. My other younger brother is in 9th grade and my dad stayed at home with him, too. My mom is the sole source of income for our family. I am currently at a private boarding school and so is my younger brother. It has been tough financially but my parents have been able to give us a wonderful Christian education. I will be a first-generation college student. I did not think I would have the opportunity to attend a four-year college. Both my parents only attended community college and have two-year degrees. I hope to become a research scientist specializing in sea turtles or coral biology, or perhaps both. I would also like to work in a marine science center educating people about the ocean, how to preserve it, and the marine life that lives in it. The cost of college, if you go to a four-year college or university, is very expensive. I am trying to avoid taking out a loan if I can. This scholarship would greatly help my parents financially by providing me with a college education. I have excelled academically over the past few years and have studied harder to achieve good grades to be eligible for scholarships. I want to broaden my knowledge and learn new things I can apply once I graduate. This scholarship will help provide more opportunities for me that I would not be able to achieve otherwise.

I am very passionate about protecting our oceans. There is so much pollution in them. This affects the sea life, coral, and environment for many fish, including dolphins, sharks and other sea creatures. My goal is to become a Marine Biologist. I would love to research sea turtles or coral biology. As a marine biologist, I will protect, observe, or manage marine organisms or animals, plants, and microbes. Marine biologists can hold many titles and specializations. For instance, some manage wildlife preserves to protect aquatic organisms. Some may also study fish populations or test for bioactive drugs. I will encourage my community to reduce ocean pollutants and reduce waste. I will also ask them to conserve water. By using less water, excess runoff and wastewater will not flow into the ocean. I will ask them to reduce vehicle pollution and shop wisely. By using less energy, they will also be helping to protect our oceans. I will encourage them to fish responsibly and practice safe boating out on the water. Entanglement is a major issue for whales and many other types of marine life, like sea turtles. When fishermen discard their fishing gear or nets, they can end up being deadly traps for marine life. Our beaches are degraded by marine debris and trash affecting protected areas and coral reefs beneath the ocean. I will seek to help people know and understand the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. Some ways include asking them to check labels on seafood to make sure they can be traced back to sustainably-managed fisheries and farms. By cutting our carbon footprint at home, we can decrease the effects of climate change on the ocean. This includes turning off lights and unplugging electronics when they are not in use. You can also adjust your thermostat, walk or ride your bike to work, and demand renewable energy options in your community. I will ask my community to eliminate using plastic water bottles, plastic bags, and straws. I will also encourage my family and friends to travel smarter and book trips through companies committed to protecting wildlife. By becoming a marine biologist, I will help collect samples, record fish distributions, and conserve aquatic life. I would love to work at sea or in an aquarium and encourage people to do their part in protecting our oceans and marine life. I am passionate about protecting our oceans and want to spread my knowledge to others. I would also love to explore coral reef biology and by going to the University of New England, I will have the opportunity to study abroad and go to Belize to study this field so I can encourage others to protect our oceans.

Pursuing a college degree is important to me because it will help me learn more. In order to get a good job, I will need to have a college degree, whether it be a bachelor's or associates. It is important to further my education and obtain at least a bachelor's degree. I may need to obtain my master's or PhD. If I wouldn't go on to college, I would probably only be able to get a minimum wage paying job. It wouldn't be in the field of study that I am interested in. I also wouldn't be able to own my own house one day and be able to pay all my bills. Pursuing a college degree is a way to keep learning after high school. It allows you to find out what interests you and want to learn more about that subject. My interest lies in marine biology. I want to do research one day on sea turtles or some other marine life creature. This is a very competitive field. I would need to further my education in order to land my dream job or even have a chance at finding a good job where I can further my skills and learn on the job. Pursuing a college degree also means broadening my knowledge. It means going out into the field and gathering data. It means researching a topic I want to learn more about and have a career in. It is important for me to graduate from college so I can find a great job and do something I'm passionate about for the rest of my life. Both my parents only have two-year college degrees. They couldn't afford to obtain a bachelor's degree. I am not going to let finances stop me from pursuing my dream. This is why I am applying for any and every scholarship that I am eligible for. I want to pursue a college degree because it will allow me time to learn about a subject I am interested in. It will teach me and provide important skills I will need when I land my dream job. One day I am hoping I get the opportunity to travel to Australia. I would love to study sea turtles there and visit the Great Barrier Reef. Even though this scholarship is only for $500, every little bit helps when you are pursuing your dream. I hope that I have inspired you with my determination and perseverance. Please consider my essay for this scholarship. Thank you.

Higher education is important to me because it will help me learn more. In order to get a good job, I will need to have a college degree, whether it be a bachelor's or associates. It is important to further my education and obtain at least a bachelor's degree. I may need to obtain my master's or PhD. If I wouldn't go on to college, I would probably only be able to get a minimum wage paying job. It wouldn't be in the field of study that I am interested in. I also wouldn't be able to own my own house one day and be able to pay all my bills. Higher education is a way to keep learning after high school. It allows you to find out what interests you and want to learn more about that subject. My interest lies in marine biology. I want to do research one day on sea turtles or some other marine life creature. This is a very competitive field. I would need to further my education in order to land my dream job or even have a chance at finding a good job where I can further my skills and learn on the job. Higher education means broadening my knowledge. It means going out into the field and gathering data. It means researching a topic I want to learn more about and have a career in. It is important for me to graduate from college so I can find a great job and do something I'm passionate about for the rest of my life. Both my parents only have two-year college degrees. They couldn't afford to obtain a bachelor's degree. I am not going to let finances stop me from pursuing my dream. This is why I am applying for any and every scholarship that I am eligible for. Higher education is important because it will allow me time to pursue an area I really want to learn more about. It will teach me and provide important skills I will need when I land my dream job. One day I am hoping I get the opportunity to travel to Australia. I would love to study sea turtles there and visit the Great Barrier Reef. Even though this scholarship is only for $500, every little bit helps when you are pursuing your dream. I hope that I have inspired you with my determination and perseverance. Please consider my essay for this scholarship. Thank you.

I was brought up a Vegetarian. My grandparents are Vegetarian, and my mom was raised that way. She wanted to raise my brothers and me Vegetarians because it is healthier. Our church also teaches that it is healthier to not eat any animal products. I believe it is important to have healthy eating habits because it affects your health in the long run. If you do not eat healthy, you can get sick, gain weight, and you will not function at 100%. When you eat healthy, your mental focus is crisp and not cloudy. You can think more clearly, and you feel better. Physically you will have more energy and be able to accomplish much more than if you ate junk food all the time. Eating healthy will help you live longer. It will help your skin, teeth and eyes to be healthy and strengthen your bones. It also boosts your immune system. It lowers your risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Your happiness increases and you will have less feelings of depression. You can also save money by eating healthier. The physical benefits of eating healthy include fat loss. Your metabolic rate will improve. It will also help to balance your hormone levels. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains can also help to lower your blood pressure. Eating healthy also affects your mental health. You will be able to remember things better. You will be able to focus your attention on what you need to. It will boost your self-esteem. It will also help with anxiety issues. You will have fewer mood swings. Unhealthy diets can be linked to an increased risk of dementia or stroke. A healthy diet promotes good bacteria in your gut. When you eat foods rich in probiotics like sauerkraut, yogurt, or kimchi, it helps improve your digestion. Dietary fiber found in fruits and vegetables also helps reduce constipation. Eating healthy can also help reduce the aging process. Eating foods loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids can help maintain your DNA structure and delay aging. Fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants also help to reduce stress. Eating healthy will help you to sleep better, too. If you eat three hours before going to bed it will help aid in digestion, lower stress, and help you get a sound sleep. Some superfoods can help you be more productive, improve your energy levels, and keep your brain active. Eating less processed food and more organic, whole, natural fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and plant proteins is also good for the environment and helps to contribute towards sustainability.