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Parfait Siala Pezo

4,635

Bold Points

30x

Nominee

4x

Finalist

3x

Winner

Bio

I grew up in Kinshasa, so my experiences were different from most students of my age. Congo is one of the poorest countries on earth. The average Congolese citizen lives with one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since the parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. I know what it means to struggle through life, just like I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your dreams, and convictions are the foundation of a reliable posterity. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients. I undoubtedly believe that everything and everyone can reach their full potential with some help and guidance. The egg can evolve to a chick if fertilized. The same way that my ambition to program medical devices will come to life with the experience gained while programming complex systems throughout my college years. I sincerely believe that one may only reach true greatness with education.

Education

Georgia State University

Bachelor's degree program
2017 - 2022
  • Majors:
    • Computer Science
  • Minors:
    • Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language

Duluth High School

High School
2013 - 2017

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Computer Software

    • Dream career goals:

      Company Founder

    • I was a Supplemental Instruction leader

      Georgia State University' Supplemental Instruction Leadership program
      2019 – 2019
    • A tutor

      Georgia State University's TRIO Student Support Services.
      2020 – 20211 year

    Sports

    Soccer

    Club
    2016 – Present8 years

    Research

    • Computer Science

      Georgia State University — Participating Team Member
      2020 – Present

    Arts

    • Les Bambins/ Kinshasa

      Acting
      2006 – 2009

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      National Society of High School Scholars — Serving the people at the concession stand.
      2015 – 2017
    • Volunteering

      Duluth High School Key Club — Helping kindergarten students with their home works- reading, and math
      2016 – 2017
    • Volunteering

      Duluth High School Beta Club — We were making pancakes at a local restaurant, and the money collected was used to help sick kids/ the less fortunate.
      2016 – 2017

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Politics

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Jack “Fluxare” Hytner Memorial Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most people of my generation. Born in D.R.Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. In my mind, influence means posing actions that impact others and inspire them to either do the same thing or better. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. Soon before I knew it, I was elected as my class's president for two consecutive years, where I advocated for reforms on behalf of my peers to the school's governing body. I was eleven years old at the time. I moved to the United States from Africa at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am in my senior year, aspiring to become the first person in my family ever to graduate college, leading the way for others to follow my steps. In college, I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S History at the university through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction Program. I volunteered to mentor students in my local elementary school in mathematics, reading, and writing through Duluth high school's "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life, and I believe in the talent of those around me and guide them to reach their full potential. These leadership experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. Today, I aspire to become a Software Developer to invent, develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients at low cost and without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. Receiving this scholarship will help cover my college's tuition and fees in this last year of my undergraduate degree program, which in turn will enable me to graduate and realize my previously listed goals.
    Snap Finance “Funding the Future” Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. Soon before I knew it, I was elected as my class's president for two consecutive years, where I advocated for reforms on behalf of my peers to the school's governing body. I moved to the United States from Africa at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university senior aspiring to become the first person in my family ever to graduate college, leading the way for others to follow my steps. In college, I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction Program. I volunteered to mentor students in my local elementary school in mathematics, reading, and writing through Duluth high school's "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life, and I believe in the talent of those around me and guide them to reach their full potential. These leadership experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. Today, I aspire to become a Software Developer to invent, develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients at low cost and without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. In five years, I see myself as a successful programmer, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in the cybersecurity domain. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them. To me, leadership means exemplarity and acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses while allocating the necessary resources for the success and wellbeing of the less fortunate. Minorities and underserved groups are amongst those for whom I vouch. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. The future looks brighter from my perspective through the lenses of determination.
    Mary P. Perlea Scholarship Fund
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. Soon before I knew it, I was elected as my class's president for two consecutive years, where I advocated for reforms on behalf of my peers to the school's governing body. I moved to the United States from Africa at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become the first person in my family ever to graduate college, leading the way for others to follow my steps. In college, I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction Program. I volunteered to mentor students in my local elementary school in mathematics, reading, and writing through Duluth high school's "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life, and I believe in the talent of those around me and guide them to reach their full potential. These leadership experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. Today, I aspire to become a Software Developer to invent, develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients at low cost and without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in the cybersecurity domain. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them. To me, leadership means exemplarity and acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses while allocating the necessary resources for the success and wellbeing of the less fortunate. Minorities and underserved groups are amongst those I vouch for. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. The future looks brighter from my perspective through the lenses of determination.
    JoLynn Blanton Memorial Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. The infant mortality rate is outrageously high. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. Soon before I knew it, I was elected as my class's president for two consecutive years, where I advocated for reforms on behalf of my peers to the school's governing body. I was only twelve years old at the time. I moved to Atlanta, in the United States, at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become the first person in my family ever to graduate college, leading the way for others to follow in my footsteps. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction Program. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteer to mentor students in my local elementary school in mathematics, reading, and writing through Duluth high school's "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that education is the root of success in life, and I believe in the talent of those around me as I guide them to reach their full potential. Life experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. Today, I aspire to become a Software Developer to invent, develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in the cybersecurity domain. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them. Leadership means exemplarity and acknowledging strengths and weaknesses while allocating the necessary resources for a successful outcome. I will succeed. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. The future looks brighter from my perspective through the lenses of knowledge and education.
    Bold Passion Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know, different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become a Software developer to invent and program medical devices that save human lives using the knowledge I acquired throughout my college years. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services.
    Bold Driven Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know, different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become a Software developer to invent and program medical devices that save human lives using the knowledge I acquired throughout my college years. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services.
    McCutcheon | Nikitin First-Generation Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. The infant mortality rate is outrageously high. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. Soon before I knew it, I was elected as my class's president for two consecutive years, where I advocated for reforms on behalf of my peers to the school's governing body. I was only twelve years old at the time. I moved to Atlanta, in the United States, at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become the first person in my family ever to graduate college, leading the way for others to follow in my footsteps. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction Program. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteer to mentor students in my local elementary school in mathematics, reading, and writing through Duluth high school's "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that education is the root of success in life, and I believe in the talent of those around me as I guide them to reach their full potential. Life experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. Today, I aspire to become a Software Developer to invent, develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in the cybersecurity domain. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them. Leadership means exemplarity and acknowledging strengths and weaknesses while allocating the necessary resources for a successful outcome. I will succeed. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. The future looks brighter from my perspective through the lenses of knowledge and education.
    Grandmaster Nam K Hyong Scholarship
    Winner
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country is one of the world's poorest countries. The infant mortality rate is outrageously high. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. Soon before I knew it, I was elected as my class's president for two consecutive years, where I advocated for reforms on behalf of my peers to the school's governing body. I was only twelve years old at the time. I moved to Atlanta, in the United States, at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. Upon my arrival, I attended Freedom Middle School, Clarkston High School, and Duluth High School, where I graduated with honors in May 2017. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become the first person in my family ever to graduate college, leading the way for others to follow in my footsteps. I make the President and Dean's list regularly, and I have the grade point average to show for it. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction Program. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteer to mentor students in my local elementary school in mathematics, reading, and writing through Duluth high school's "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life, and I believe in the talent of those around me as I guide them to reach their full potential. Community services have interestingly shaped my mind, but life has taught me a priceless lesson- Greatness is a state of mind, an aspiration that all humans have in common. Ironically, nobody is perfect individually. But it is from others that we take our inspiration- We build upon other people's ideas to achieve true greatness, just like a healthy tree has many roots, branches, and leaves before there could be any flower or fruit. As members of the Duluth high school national Honor Society, we performed countless volunteer works. I participated at the Infinite Energy Center's Concession Stands to support the International Youth Organization by helping out in the concession stands (at the Gwinnett Arena). At the Plantation South, We volunteered by helping out at the Ice Cream Social and serving ice cream to the elderly. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. Today, I aspire to become a Software Developer to invent, develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives like right now. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in the cybersecurity domain. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them. Leadership means exemplarity and acknowledging strengths and weaknesses while allocating the necessary resources for a successful outcome. I will succeed. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. The future looks brighter from my perspective through the lenses of determination. I find strength in my aspirations, and determination is my fuel. So much is at stake here; I incarnate hope from many individuals, I can not afford to lose this fight. Hence, I must remain disciplined and focused on turning my aspirations into realities, especially now that I am going through the last two semesters of my undergraduate degree. We have all faced issues in our lives, but what makes the difference is the state of mind we choose to adopt while facing these problems. One may only achieve excellence after surpassing himself. There is no distinction without hard work and perseverance. I know this because I am experiencing greatness, and my existence exemplifies excellence. My experiences demonstrate that excellence prevails over mediocrity and procrastination.
    Bold Community Activist Scholarship
    In grade seven, I moved to the United States from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A country where poverty, mortality, and analphabetism coexist and prevail overall. As hard as it was for me to adapt to life in America, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's instructors. Today, I am on my way to becoming the first person ever to graduate college in my family. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to impact the domain of technology directly influencing the sector of health and medicines. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. It occurred to me that it would be beneficial for everyone to mentor the younger generations of students in mathematics and science. So, I began tutoring kids at my local elementary school in mathematics, reading and writing through the "Book Buddies Program" to fight against illiteracy, in contrast to the situation in the Congo. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences helping others through teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S. History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. I cherished the time I spent tutoring others because I instinctively believe that education is the root of success in life. Effective in combating poverty. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives worldwide, particularly in underdeveloped countries.
    Bold Mentor Scholarship
    I grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, my parent sent me to school despite all their financial hardships. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for school fees on time. But I worked very hard. Luckily, I moved to the United States in grade seven. As hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's instructors. Today, I am on my way to becoming the first person to graduate college in my family. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S. History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. I volunteered to mentor elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the Duluth high school "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent tutoring others because I instinctively believe that education is the root of success in life, and it is the lesson I desire to pass on to the people I mentor. I hope my life story motivates others to follow in my footsteps and believe in their potential regardless of their backgrounds. If I can make it this far, so can you. Persevere in your education.
    Matthews Overcoming Adversity Scholarship
    I grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven. As hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's instructors. Today, I am on my way to becoming the first person ever to graduate college in my family. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S. History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to impact the domain of technology directly influencing the sector of health and medicines. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent tutoring others because I instinctively believe that education is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity concerning the health and medical domains. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. I desire to support future generations through my previously mentioned actions. I find strength in my aspirations, and determination is my fuel. I must succeed.
    Trees for Tuition Scholarship Fund
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. The infant mortality rate is outrageously high. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. Soon before I knew it, I was elected as my class's president for two consecutive years, where I advocated for reforms on behalf of my peers to the school's governing body. I was only twelve years old at the time. I moved to Atlanta, in the United States, at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become the first person in my family ever to graduate college, leading the way for others to follow in my footsteps. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction Program. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteer to mentor students in my local elementary school in mathematics, reading, and writing through Duluth high school's "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life, and I believe in the talent of those around me as I guide them to reach their full potential. These leadership experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. Today, I aspire to become a Software Developer to invent, develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in the cybersecurity domain. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them. Leadership means exemplarity and acknowledging strengths and weaknesses while allocating the necessary resources for a successful outcome. I will succeed. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. The future looks brighter from my perspective through the lenses of determination.
    Bold Acts of Service Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences differed from most people's. Born in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard. I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. Soon before I knew it, I was elected as my class's president for two consecutive years, where I advocated for reforms on behalf of my peers to the school's governing body. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. I volunteered to mentor students in my local elementary school in mathematics, reading, and writing through Duluth high school's "Book Buddies Program." After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become the first person in my family ever to graduate college, leading the way for others to follow in my footsteps. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction Program.
    Bold Simple Pleasures Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences differed from most people's. Born in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. The infant mortality rate is outrageously high. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house early to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become a Software developer to invent and program medical devices that save children's lives. Most importantly, I volunteered to tutor students in my local elementary school in mathematics, reading, and writing through Duluth high school's "Book Buddies Program." My current actions please me as I combat infant mortality while providing access to primary education.
    Bold Giving Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most people of my generation. Born in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. The infant mortality rate is outrageously high. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house early to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become a Software developer to invent and program medical devices that save children's lives. Most importantly, I volunteered to tutor students in my local elementary school in mathematics, reading, and writing through Duluth high school's "Book Buddies Program." These are my ways to combat infant mortality and give access to primary education.
    Gladys Ruth Legacy “Service“ Memorial Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. Soon before I knew it, I was elected as my class's president for two consecutive years, where I advocated for reforms on behalf of my peers to the school's governing body. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become the first person in my family ever to graduate college, leading the way for others to follow my steps. In college, I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction Program. I volunteered to mentor students in my local elementary school in mathematics, reading, and writing through Duluth high school's "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life, and the leader believes in the talent of those around and guides them to reach their full potential. These leadership experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. Today, I aspire to become a Software Developer to invent, develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in the cybersecurity domain. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them. Leadership means exemplarity and acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses while allocating the necessary resources and paving the path for the success of those looking up to you. These people you do not even know exist and future generations. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. The future looks brighter from my perspective through the lenses of determination.
    Bold Turnaround Story Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know, different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become a Software developer to invent and program medical devices that save human lives using the knowledge I acquired throughout my college years. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services.
    Scholarship Institute Future Leaders Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. Soon before I knew it, I was elected as my class's president for two consecutive years, where I advocated for reforms on behalf of my peers to the school's governing body. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become the first person in my family ever to graduate college, leading the way for others to follow my steps. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction Program. I volunteered to mentor students in my local elementary school in mathematics, reading, and writing through Duluth high school's "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life, and the leader believes in the talent of those around and guides them to reach their full potential. These leadership experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. Today, I aspire to become a Software Developer to invent, develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. In five years, I see myself as a successful programmer, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in the cybersecurity domain. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them. Leadership means exemplarity and acknowledging strengths and weaknesses while allocating the necessary resources for a successful outcome. I will succeed.
    Stephan L. Daniels Lift As We Climb Scholarship
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S. History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to impact the domain of technology directly influencing the sector of health and medicines. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity concerning the health and medical domains. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. Life events have shaped my view of the world, fueled my aspirations, and inspired me to be where I am today. The future looks brighter from my perspective.
    Robert F. Lawson Fund for Careers that Care
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to impact the domain of technology with a direct influence on the sector of health and medicines. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. In five years, I see myself as a successful programmer, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity about the health and medical domains. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that online hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. Eight years ago, a computer with internet access fueled my ambitions and inspired me to be where I am today.
    The Final Push Scholarship
    I grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven. As hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's instructors. Today, I am on my way to becoming the first person ever to graduate college in my family. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S. History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to impact the domain of technology directly influencing the sector of health and medicines. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent tutoring others because I instinctively believe that education is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity concerning the health and medical domains. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity, and that is what I have learned through all sufferings that I faced. I find strength in my aspirations, and determination is my fuel.
    Theresa Lord Future Leader Scholarship
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S. History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to impact the domain of technology with a direct influence on the sector of health and medicines. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. In five years, I see myself as a successful programmer, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity concerning the health and medical domains. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity, and that is what I have learned through all sufferings that I faced. I find strength in my aspirations, and determination is my fuel.
    Eleven Scholarship
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day, and the infant mortality rate is very high. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S. History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to impact the domain of technology directly influencing the sector of health and medicines. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. I was an active member of several Honor Societies and Clubs throughout high school. There, I volunteered to mentor and tutor elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I would hate to see them being denied access to primary school education as I once was in the Congo. I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity concerning the health and medical domains. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life because I have experienced it first hand, but these hardships and obstacles have not stopped me from being ambitious. I have realized that destiny is not predetermined. I find strength in my aspirations, and determination is my fuel.
    Clairo "For Atlanta" Scholarship
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the city of Atlanta in the United States from the Congo in grade seven. As hard as it was for me to adapt, today- ten years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President's list at the university. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S. History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to impact the domain of technology directly influencing the sector of health and medicines. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University in Atlanta. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. In five years, I see myself as a successful programmer, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in the cybersecurity domain. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life. I find strength in my aspirations, and determination is my fuel. Success affects many people negatively. That is why Clairo's song, Amoeba, inspires me the most in life to remain humble and close to my friends and family even after succeeding in my career. After all, I would not be where I am today if my parents did not sacrifice everything to pay for my primary school in the Congo.
    Papi & Mamita Memorial Scholarship
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and U.S. History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to impact the domain of technology with a direct influence on the sector of health and medicines. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. In five years, I see myself as a successful programmer, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity concerning the health and medical domains. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. Years ago, a computer with internet access fueled my ambitions and inspired me to be where I am today. The future is bright.
    Bold Hobbies Scholarship
    Born and raised in the Congo, I have always been an enthusiastic and curious student, still passionate about my studies. Congo is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite their financial struggles, and I enjoyed every second I spent in the classroom. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a proud university's senior aspiring to become a Software developer to invent and program medical devices to save human lives using the knowledge I acquired in college as I spend most of the time coding. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services.
    Bold Meaning of Life Scholarship
    Aspiration and perseverance are the true meanings of life to me. I grew up in the Congo, so my experiences were different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become a Software developer to invent and program medical devices that save human lives using the knowledge I acquired throughout my college years. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services.
    Bold Fuel Your Life Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know, different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become a Software developer to invent and program medical devices that save human lives using the knowledge I acquired throughout my college years. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services.
    Bold Success Scholarship
    I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know, different from most people of my generation. Born and raised in the Congo, the country is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become a Software developer to invent and program medical devices that save human lives using the knowledge I acquired throughout my college years. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences tutoring my peers in Computer Science at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services.
    Bold Career Goals Scholarship
    My current personality derives from my past. Born in the Congo, I have always been an enthusiastic and curious student, still passionate about studies. Above all, however, my inherent desire to succeed has encouraged me the most. I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know, different from most people of my generation. Congo is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become a Software developer to invent and program medical devices that save countless human lives.
    Bold Reflection Scholarship
    My current personality derives from my past. Born in the Congo, I have always been an enthusiastic and curious student, still passionate about studies. Above all, however, my inherent desire to succeed has encouraged me the most. I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know, different from most people of my generation. Congo is one of the poorest countries on earth. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite the financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. After my arrival, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Today, I am a university's senior aspiring to become a Software developer to invent and program medical devices that save countless human lives.
    Bold Persistence Scholarship
    My current personality and reputation derive from my past. Born in Kinshasa in the Congo, I have always been an enthusiastic and curious student, still passionate about my studies. Above all, however, my inherent desire to succeed has encouraged me the most. I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know. I grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my generation. Life was challenging, so it was tough even to imagine going through. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The infant mortality rate is through the roof. The average Congolese citizen lives with one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. Luckily, my parents sent me to school despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. Despite all my efforts, I was denied access to school at times simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in 2012. Today, I am a senior in Computer Science at Georgia State University. I prevailed.
    Melaninwhitecoats Podcast Annual Scholarship
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. The Infant mortality rate is through the roof. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to impact the domain of technology with a direct influence on the sector of health and medicines. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. In ten years, I see myself as a successful programmer with a graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity concerning the health and medical domains. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that online hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. This scholarship will fund my college tuition, allowing me to graduate this year from the university and realize my ambitions.
    Anthony Jordan Clark Memorial Scholarship
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to make an impact in the domain of technology with a direct influence on the sector of health and medicines. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity with regard to the health and medical domains. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that online hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. Eight years ago, a computer with internet access fueled my ambitions and inspired me to be where I am today.
    Bold Future of Education Scholarship
    My current personality and reputation derive from my past. Born in Kinshasa in the Congo, I have always been an enthusiastic and curious student, still passionate about my studies. Above all, however, my inherent desire to succeed has encouraged me the most. I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries, with one of the highest illiteracy rates. Many children do not go to school since the parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, I was lucky to be schooled by my parents despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen, and It was after moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. After my high school graduation, I decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Even after moving from a French-speaking country to the United States, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services. As an immigrant trying to learn English in the United States, the challenges I faced have helped me see the world around me differently. I have come to understand that no human progress is possible without proper education and other people's help and guidance, such as the help that I received from my Middle and High school teachers and mentors. In five years, I also envision myself educating the younger generations who aspire to polish their skills in programming, as that is also my passion. One may only achieve excellence after surpassing himself. I sincerely believe that one may only reach true greatness through education, hard work, and determination. That is the mindset that I hope to pass on to my students as my life revolves around these principles.
    First-Generation Educators Scholarship
    My current personality and reputation derive from my past. Born in Kinshasa in the Congo, I have always been an enthusiastic and curious student, still passionate about my studies. Above all, however, my inherent desire to succeed has encouraged me the most. I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know. I grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my generation. Life was challenging, so it was tough even to imagine going through. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries, with one of the highest illiteracy rates. The infant mortality rate is through the roof. The average Congolese citizen lives with one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since the parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, I was lucky to be schooled by my parents despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen, and It was after moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Even after moving from a French-speaking country to the United States, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services. As an immigrant trying to learn English in the United States, the challenges I faced have helped me see the world around me differently. I have come to understand that no human progress is possible without proper education and other people's help and guidance, such as the help that I received from my Middle and High school teachers and mentors. In five years, I see myself as a software developer, having completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees. But I also envision myself educating the younger generations who aspire to polish their skills in programming, as that is also my passion. One may only achieve excellence after surpassing himself. There is no distinction without hard work and perseverance. I sincerely believe that one may only reach true greatness through education, hard work, and determination. That is the mindset that I hope to pass on to my students as my life revolves around these principles; I will succeed.
    Robert Lee, Sr. and Bernice Williams Memorial Scholarship
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to make an impact in the domain of technology. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that online hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. Eight years ago, a computer with internet access fueled my ambitions and inspired me to be where I am today.
    Ruth and Johnnie McCoy Memorial Scholarship
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to make an impact in the domain of technology. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that online hackers cannot easily access them. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. Eight years ago, a computer with internet access fueled my ambitions and inspired me to be where I am today.
    Cyrilla Olapeju Sanni Scholarship Fund
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to make an impact in the domain of technology. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that online hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. Eight years ago, a computer with internet access fueled my ambitions and inspired me to be where I am today.
    Tanya C. Harper Memorial SAR Scholarship
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to make an impact in the domain of technology with a direct influence on the sector of health and medicines. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity with regard to the health and medical domains. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that online hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. Eight years ago, a computer with internet access fueled my ambitions and inspired me to be where I am today.
    Giving Back to the Future Scholarship
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States from Africa in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to make an impact in the domain of technology. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that online hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. Eight years ago, a computer with internet access fueled my ambitions and inspired me to be where I am today.
    Black Students in STEM Scholarship
    I grew up in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age whom I know. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the world's poorest countries. The average Congolese citizen lives with less than one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, despite all the financial hardships, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States in grade seven, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services and the Supplemental Instruction program. After moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. At age fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. I was then determined to make an impact in the domain of technology. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a Computer Science major at Georgia State University. In addition, I am a member of several Honor Societies and Clubs where I volunteered in mentoring elementary school students in mathematics, reading, and writing through the "Book Buddies Program." I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life. These experiences helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, completing my graduate degree. I also aspire to mentor future generations in cybersecurity. Eventually, I intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that online hackers cannot easily access them, and I will prevail in achieving that. I know what it means to struggle through life, and I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your ambitions is the foundation of a reliable posterity. Eight years ago, a computer with internet access fueled my ambitions and inspired me to be where I am today.
    Deborah's Grace Scholarship
    My current personality and reputation derive from my past. Born in Kinshasa in the Congo, I have always been an enthusiastic and curious student, still passionate about my studies. Above all, however, it is my inherent desire to succeed that has encouraged me the most. I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know. I grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my generation. Life was challenging, much so that it was tough even to imagine going through. Congo is one of the poorest countries on earth, with one of the highest illiteracy rates. The infant mortality rate is through the roof. The average Congolese citizen lives with one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since the parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, I was lucky to be schooled by my parents despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen, and It was after moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Even after moving from a French-speaking country to the United States, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services. As an immigrant trying to learn English in the United States, the challenges I faced have helped me see the world around me differently. I have come to understand that no human progress is possible without proper education and other people's help and guidance, such as the help that I received from my Middle and High school teachers and mentors. In five years, I see myself as a software developer, having completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees. But I also envision myself educating the younger generations who aspire to polish their skills in programming, as that is also my passion. One may only achieve excellence after surpassing himself. There is no distinction without hard work and perseverance. I sincerely believe that one may only reach true greatness with hard work and determination through education. That is the mindset that I hope to pass on to those I teach and or tutor at the university. As my life revolves around these principles, I will prevail.
    Jimmy Cardenas Community Leader Scholarship
    My current personality and reputation derive from my past. Born in Kinshasa in the Congo, I have always been an enthusiastic and curious student, still passionate about my studies. Above all, however, it is my inherent desire to succeed that has encouraged me the most. I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know. I grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my generation. Life was challenging, much so that it was tough even to imagine going through. Congo is one of the poorest countries on earth, with one of the highest illiteracy rates. The infant mortality rate is through the roof. The average Congolese citizen lives with one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since the parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, I was lucky to be schooled by my parents despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen, and It was after moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Even after moving from a French-speaking country to the United States, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services. As an immigrant trying to learn English in the United States, the challenges I faced have helped me see the world around me differently. I have come to understand that no human progress is possible without proper education and other people's help and guidance, such as the help that I received from my Middle and High school teachers and mentors. In five years, I see myself as a software developer, having completed my undergraduate degree and my graduate degree. But I also envision myself educating the younger generations who aspire to polish their skills in programming, as that is also my passion. One may only achieve excellence after surpassing himself. There is no distinction without hard work and perseverance. I sincerely believe that one may only reach true greatness with hard work and determination through education, and that is the mindset that I to pass on to the students that I teach or tutor, as my life revolves around these principles; I will not fail.
    SkipSchool Scholarship
    I grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the poorest states on earth with one of the highest illiteracy rates. Most parents could not afford to pay for their children's education as primary and secondary schools are not free. I was denied access to school many times despite all my efforts because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. However, I kept hoping. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. Today, I am a senior at the university pursuing a Computer Science degree with the intent to "create unbreakable bonds between sciences and the humanities," as my idol, Eleanor Roosevelt once dreamt.
    AMPLIFY Immigrant Students Scholarship
    My current personality and reputation derive from my past. Born in Kinshasa in the Congo, I have always been an enthusiastic and curious student, still approaching my studies with passion. Above all, however, it is my inherent desire to succeed that has encouraged me the most. I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know. I grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my generation. Life was challenging, much so that it was tough even to imagine going through. Congo is one of the poorest countries on earth, with one of the highest illiteracy rates. The infant mortality rate is through the roof. The average Congolese citizen lives with one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since the parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, I was lucky to be schooled by my parents despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen, and It was after moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Even after moving from a French-speaking country to the United States, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History courses at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services. As an immigrant trying to learn English in the United States, the challenges I faced have helped me see the world around me differently. I have come to understand that no human progress is possible without education and other people's help and guidance, such as the help that I received from my High school teachers and mentors. In five years, I see myself as a software developer, having completed my undergraduate degree and my graduate degree. But I also envision myself educating the younger generations who aspire to polish their skills in programming, as that is also my passion. One may only achieve excellence after surpassing himself. There is no distinction without hard work and perseverance. I sincerely believe that one only reaches greatness with hard work and determination, and that is the mindset that I hope to pass on the my students as my life revolves around these principles. I will utilize this scholarship award to pay for my last year's undergraduate tuition.
    Markforged Distinguished Black Engineers Grant
    Winner
    I am in the last year of my Bachelor's of Science program in Computer Science at Georgia State University. I envision myself as a Software developer in five years, completing my graduate degrees. But I also see myself mentoring future computer science majors in programming, as that is also my passion. However, I might fail to achieve these ambitions without adequate financial support. My family does not have the required financial means to support my college education. Therefore, receiving this scholarship will help pay for my college tuition and fees for the academic year, which will undoubtedly lead to my completion of the program in May 2022. My current personality and reputation derive from my past. Born in Kinshasa in the Congo, I have always been an enthusiastic and curious student, still passionate about my studies. Above all, however, it is my inherent desire to succeed that has encouraged me the most. I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know. I grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my generation. Life was challenging, much so that it was tough even to imagine going through. Congo is one of the poorest countries in Africa, and on earth, with one of the highest illiteracy rates. The infant mortality rate is through the roof. The average Congolese citizen lives with one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, as even primary and secondary schools are not free. However, I was lucky enough to be schooled by my parents despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen, and It was after moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Even after moving from a French-speaking country to the United States, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my High School's mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services, where I worked part-time this year. Georgia State University's tuition and fees cost around nine thousand three hundred American dollars. With this scholarship award, I would focus more on my studies rather than working extra hours and worrying about how to pay for my college. Since I would not need to be working additional hours trying to make more money to cover my college expenses, I would have more spare time on my hand to complete my homework and to turn them in on time. I would have more time to review my notes during the day instead of waking up late at night to study because I was too occupied working two jobs during the day. As a result, my grade point average will improve, and so will my understanding of the subjects I am studying. Any money I make regular working from my part-time job would then go toward the payment for my transportation from home to campus and back home because I do not own a car, so I have to ride the bus and the train every day to make it in class. For that, I disburse over sixty dollars per month on my Marta Breeze card's monthly fee, granting me access to the train station. But to get to the train station, I must first walk to the bus stop from my house. Overall, I spend five dollars per day on my bus trips, besides the train fare. However, with the money from this scholarship, I would not have issues paying the monthly fee on time. Neither would I be walking back home from the train station after school because I lack the money to pay for the bus, as I sometimes do. On average, I spend five hundred dollars each year on academic books and memberships of digital products designed to engage students before, during, and after class, such as WebAssign, Top Hat, and iClicker Reef. If I am chosen as the scholarship recipient, I will be capable of buying and accessing these digital products without acquiring more debt. Finally, I sincerely believe that one way of reaching true greatness is through education. I work very hard to materialize my project and aspiration to become a Software developer to invent and program medical devices that save human lives. But I also see myself mentoring future computer science majors in programming, as that is also my passion. However, I a not sure to get that far without funding. In a sense, this financial award will lay the foundations for my future.
    Cliff T. Wofford STEM Scholarship
    My current personality and reputation derive from my past. Born in Kinshasa in the Congo, I have always been an enthusiastic and curious student, still approaching my studies with passion. Above all, however, it is my inherent desire to succeed that has encouraged me the most. I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know. I grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my generation. Life was challenging, much so that it was tough even to imagine going through. Congo is one of the poorest countries on earth, with one of the highest illiteracy rates. The infant mortality rate is through the roof. The average Congolese citizen lives with one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since the parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, I was lucky to be schooled by my parents despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen, and It was after moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Even after moving from a French-speaking country to the United States, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services. As an immigrant trying to learn English in the United States, the challenges I faced have helped me see the world around me differently. I have come to understand that no human progress is possible without proper education and other people's help and guidance, such as the help that I received from my Middle and High school teachers and mentors. In five years, I see myself as a software developer, having completed my undergraduate degree and my graduate degree. But I also envision myself educating the younger generations who aspire to polish their skills in programming, as that is also my passion. One may only achieve excellence after surpassing himself. There is no distinction without hard work and perseverance. I sincerely believe that one may only reach true greatness with hard work and determination through education, and that is the mindset that I hope to pass on the my students as my life revolves around these principles; I will not fail.
    Mark A. Jefferson Teaching Scholarship
    My current personality and reputation derive from my past. Born in Kinshasa in the Congo, I have always been an enthusiastic and curious student, still approaching my studies with passion. Above all, however, it is my inherent desire to succeed that has encouraged me the most. I did not grow up in the United States, so my experiences were different from most students of my age who I know. I grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my generation. Life was challenging, much so that it was tough even to imagine going through. Congo is one of the poorest countries on earth, with one of the highest illiteracy rates. The infant mortality rate is through the roof. The average Congolese citizen lives with one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since the parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. However, I was lucky to be schooled by my parents despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the money to pay for my school fees. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I worked hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen, and It was after moving to the United States, I realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Even after moving from a French-speaking country to the United States, as hard as it was for me to adapt, today- nine years later, I stand proudly as a Senior at the university, having conquered the language barrier with the help of my mentors and instructors. I regularly make the President and Dean's list. Most importantly, I have gained priceless experiences teaching and tutoring my peers in Computer Science and History at Georgia State University through Trio Student Support Services. As an immigrant trying to learn English in the United States, the challenges I faced have helped me see the world around me differently. I have come to understand that no human progress is possible without proper education and other people's help and guidance, such as the help that I received from my Middle and High school teachers and mentors. In five years, I see myself as a software developer, having completed my undergraduate degree and my graduate degree. But I also envision myself educating the younger generations who aspire to polish their skills in programming, as that is also my passion. One may only achieve excellence after surpassing himself. There is no distinction without hard work and perseverance. I sincerely believe that one may only reach true greatness with hard work and determination through education, and that is the mindset that I hope to pass on the my students as my life revolves around these principles; I will not fail.
    Black Students in Tech Grant
    I grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so my experiences differed from many students I know. Congo is one of the poorest countries on earth. The average Congolese citizen lives with one U.S. dollar per day. Many children do not go to school since the parents cannot afford to pay for their education as primary and secondary schools are not free. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. I know what it means to struggle through life, just like I know what seizing an opportunity means. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. They do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your dreams, and convictions are the foundation of a reliable posterity. I moved to the United States on February 4, 2012. I was thirteen years old. In the Summer of 2017, I became the first person in my family ever to graduate high school. Without any doubts on my mind, I began college the following semester. I see myself as a successful programmer in five years, having finished my bachelor's and graduate degrees. I also see myself mentoring future computer science majors in the area of programming, which is also my passion. But I might not even get that far without higher education. My family does not have the means to support my college education, so I rely on my side jobs and scholarship awards to help pay the college tuition. Last semester, for instance, I attended Georgia State University. The institution's tuition and fees were around nine thousand three hundred American dollars. On average, I spent five hundred dollars throughout the year on academic books and memberships of digital products designed to engage students before, during, and after class, such as WebAssign, Top Hat, and iClicker Reef. Part of the money I make working regular hours from my part-time jobs usually goes toward the payment for my transportation from home to campus and back home because I do not own a car, so I have to ride the bus and the train from Monday through Friday to make it in class. I disburse an average over sixty dollars every month on my Marta Breeze card, granting me access to the train station. But to get to the train station, I must first walk to the bus stop from my house. Overall, I spend five dollars per day on my bus trips, besides the train fare. I often have trouble paying the monthly bus and train fare on time because I had insufficient funds. On most days, I had to walk back home from the train station after school because I lacked the money to pay for the bus—a three-hour walk over an estimated nine-mile distance. There were times when it was difficult to focus on my studies. Instead, I had to work extra hours while worrying about how to pay for my college. Since I needed to be working additional hours trying to make more money to cover my college expenses, I had almost no spare time on my hand to complete my homework, and to turn them in on time. Neither did I have the time to review my notes; instead, I came up with the strategy of waking up late at night to study and turn in my school work because I knew I would be too busy at work during the day, working overtime to pay for the bus fare. As a result, my grade point average never suffered. As a senior at Georgia State University, I regularly make the President and Dean's list, and I have the grade point average to show for it. In the Summer of 2019 at Georgia State University campus, I worked as a Supplemental Instructor (S.I.) Leader, tutoring my peers. Now, I am working with the TRIO Student Support Services to help my Computer Science colleagues with courses such as Database Systems, System-Level Programming, and Principles of Computer Science. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. My ambition to program medical devices will come to life with the experience gained while programming complex systems throughout my college years. We have all faced issues in our lives, but what makes the difference is the state of mind we choose to adopt while facing these problems. One may only achieve excellence after surpassing himself. There is no distinction without hard-work and perseverance. I know this because I am experiencing greatness, and my existence exemplifies excellency. My experiences demonstrate that excellence prevails over mediocrity.
    Impact Scholarship for Black Students
    In five years, I see myself as a successful programmer, having finished my bachelor's and graduate degrees. I also see myself mentoring future computer science majors in the area of programming, which is also my passion. But I might not even get that far without higher education. My family does not have the means to support my college education, so I rely on my side jobs and scholarship awards to help pay the college tuition. Last semester, for instance, I attended Georgia State University. The institution's tuition and fees were around nine thousand three hundred American dollars. On average, I spent five hundred dollars throughout the year on academic books and memberships of digital products designed to engage students before, during, and after class, such as WebAssign, Top Hat, and iClicker Reef. Part of the money I make from my part-time jobs usually goes toward the payment for my transportation from home to campus and back home because I do not own a car, so I have to ride the bus and the train from Monday through Friday to make it in class. I disburse an average over sixty dollars every month on my Marta Breeze card, granting me access to the train station. But to get to the train station, I must first walk to the bus stop from my house. Overall, I spend five dollars per day on my bus trips, besides the train fare. I often had trouble paying the monthly bus and train fare on time because I had insufficient funds. On most days, I had to walk back home from the train station after school because I lacked the money to pay for the bus—a three-hour walk over an estimated nine-mile distance. There were times when it was difficult to focus on my studies. Instead, I had to work extra hours while worrying about how to pay for my college. Since I needed to be working additional hours trying to make more money to cover my college expenses, I had almost no spare time on my hand to complete my homework, and to turn them in on time. Neither did I have the time to review my notes; instead, I came up with the strategy of waking up late at night to study and turn in my school work because I knew I would be too busy at work during the day, working overtime to cover the bus fare. As a result, my grade point average never suffered. As a senior at Georgia State University, I regularly make the President and Dean's list, and I have the grade point average to show for it. In the Summer of 2019 at Georgia State University campus, I worked as a Supplemental Instructor (S.I.) Leader, tutoring my peers. Now, I am working with the TRIO Student Support Services to help my Computer Science colleagues with courses such as Database Systems, System-Level Programming, and Principles of Computer Science. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. My ambition to program medical devices will come to life with the experience gained while programming complex systems throughout my college years. We have all faced issues in our lives, but what makes the difference is the state of mind we choose to adopt while facing these problems. One may only achieve excellence after surpassing himself. There is no distinction without hard-work and perseverance. I know this because I am experiencing greatness, and my existence exemplifies excellency. My experiences demonstrate that excellence prevails over mediocrity.
    African-American Entrepreneurs Grant — Male Award
    I grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age. Life was challenging, much so that it was tough even to imagine going through. The average Congolese citizen lives with one American dollar per day. Access to the internet is minimal. However, I was lucky to be schooled by my parents despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I work hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who said that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I was in grade eight when my parents suddenly announced the news of the travel to the United States of America. I had no choice but to face reality. I knew that my existence would go through a complete change and that it would not be uncomplicated. My family and I arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, in February of 2012, and months later, things went just as I had imagined. My life in the United States was not as easy as I had difficulties adapting. Going from the Congo to an English-speaking country was complicated. My conscious was not quiet at all, continually reminding me of my previous academic achievements. I just was not used to being mediocre. These feelings of frustration motivated me a lot. Even though English represented a barrier against my future dreams, I kept working hard, and to my joy, the hard work paid off. One year later, my comprehension of the English language improved significantly! I took tests such as Georgia's Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests, Benchmark tests, and End-of-Course Tests. I passed them all brilliantly. I graduated from high school with honors, and eight years after arriving in the United States; I am a senior at Georgia State University. I make the President and Dean's list regularly, and I have the grade point average to show for it. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. At the age of fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. It was after moving to the United States that I had realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. However, after my high school graduation, I had decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Last Summer at Georgia State University campus, I worked as a Supplemental Instructor (S.I.) Leader, tutoring my peers. Now, I am working with the TRIO Student Support Services to help my Computer Science peers. Community services have interestingly shaped my mind, but life has taught me priceless a lesson- Greatness is a state of mind, an aspiration that all humans have in common. Ironically, nobody is perfect individually. But it is from others that we take our inspiration- We build upon other people's ideas to achieve true greatness, just like a healthy tree has many roots, branches, and leaves before there could be any flower or fruit. As members of the Duluth high school national Honor Society, we performed countless volunteer works. I participated at the Infinite Energy Center's Concession Stands to support the International Youth Organization by helping out in the concession stands (at the Gwinnett Arena). At the Plantation South, We volunteered by helping out at the Ice Cream Social and serving ice cream to the elderly. With the Duluth High School Beta club, I have volunteered in many kid's programs, such as the Chesney Elementary school's Book Buddies initiative. For this program, my friends and I would help kindergarten and first-grade students at Chesney Elementary School with their homework after school. We would also teach them to read, write, and count. I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life and that the only one capable of surpassing the master is the student. All these experiences that I have mentioned above helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I know what it means to struggle through life, just like I know what seizing an opportunity means. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. My ambition to program medical devices will come to life with the experience gained while programming complex systems throughout my college years. In five years, I see myself as a successful programmer, having completed my graduate degree. I also see myself mentoring future computer science majors in cybersecurity, which is also my passion. Indeed, I believe that the patient's privacy is essential. I also intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file. Online hackers would not easily access them even if the documents were to fall in their hands during the transfer to the assurance companies or even laboratories after the medical device's test and treatment of the patient. A simple computer with internet access when I was fifteen years of age inspired me to be where I am today, as I nurtured my ambitions on every step of the way. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. Those individuals do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your dreams, and convictions are the foundation of a reliable posterity.
    Undiscovered Brilliance Scholarship for African-Americans
    Winner
    I grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age. Life was challenging, much so that it was tough even to imagine going through. The average Congolese citizen lives with one American dollar per day. Access to the internet is minimal. However, I was lucky to be schooled by my parents despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied school access despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I work hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who said that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I was in grade eight when my parents suddenly announced the news of the travel to the United States of America. I had no choice but to face reality. I knew that my existence would go through a complete change and that it would not be uncomplicated. My family and I arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, in February of 2012, and months later, things went just as I had imagined. My life in the United States was not as easy as I had difficulties adapting. Going from the Congo to an English-speaking country was complicated. My conscious was not quiet at all, continually reminding me of my previous academic achievements. I just was not used to being mediocre. These feelings of frustration motivated me a lot. Even though English represented a barrier against my dreams of the future, I kept working hard, and to my joy, the hard work paid off. One year later, my comprehension of the English language improved significantly! I took tests such as Georgia's Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests, Benchmark tests, and End-of-Course Tests. I passed them all brilliantly. I graduated from high school with honors, and eight years after arriving in the United States; here I am, a senior at Georgia State University. I make the President and Dean's list regularly, and I have the grade point average to show for it. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. At the age of fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. It was after moving to the United States that I had realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Last Summer at Georgia State University campus, I worked as a Supplemental Instructor (S.I.) Leader, tutoring my peers. Now, I am working with the TRIO Student Support Services to help my Computer Science peers. Community services have interestingly shaped my mind, but life has taught me priceless a lesson- Greatness is a state of mind, an aspiration that all humans have in common. Ironically, nobody is perfect individually. But it is from others that we take our inspiration- We build upon other people's ideas to achieve true greatness, just like a healthy tree has many roots, branches, and leaves before there could be any flower or fruit. As members of the Duluth high school national Honor Society, we performed countless volunteer works. I participated at the Infinite Energy Center's Concession Stands to support the International Youth Organization by helping out in the concession stands (at the Gwinnett Arena). At the Plantation South, We volunteered by helping out at the Ice Cream Social and serving ice cream to the elderly. With the Duluth High School Beta club, I have volunteered in many kid's programs, such as the Chesney Elementary school's Book Buddies initiative. For this program, my friends and I would help kindergarten and first-grade students at Chesney Elementary School with their homework after school. We would also teach them to read, write, and count. I cherished the time I spent mentoring others because I instinctively believe that mentorship is the root of success in life and that the only one capable of surpassing the master is the student. All these experiences that I have mentioned above helped forge my decision to choose a career that I would love and add value to humanity. I know what it means to struggle through life, just like I know what seizing an opportunity means. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. My ambition to program medical devices will come to life with the experience gained while programming complex systems throughout my college years. In five years, I see myself as a successful programmer, having completed my graduate degree. I also see myself mentoring future computer science majors in cybersecurity, which is also my passion. Indeed, I believe that the patient's privacy is essential. I also intend to create programs that encrypt each patient's file so that online hackers can not easily access them even if they fall in their hands during the transfer to the assurance companies, after the test or treatment with the medical device. A simple computer with internet access when I was fifteen years of age inspired me to be where I am today. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. Those individuals do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your dreams, and convictions are the foundation of a reliable posterity.
    Annual Black Entrepreneurship Grant
    I undoubtedly believe that communities, and everyone within them, can reach their full potential with the help and guidance of others, notably businesses, whether they are small businesses or startups. Together, a company and its community can achieve remarkable progress on any project undertaken, provided that they possess clear goals and the will to succeed. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to put in place an enterprise developing and programming medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. But that's not all, with the money I make, I aspire to donate a portion to non-profit organizations fighting hunger and diseases in underprivileged areas or communities. In the long term, I plan to use my future well-established reputation to advocate for the much-needed change in the way of perceiving and addressing the issue of hunger notably at the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, and others organizations fighting impunity, inequality, and crises globally. However, I do not wait to do everything in the future. You see, the issue of education, health, and nutrition is of great interest to me, as it will be at the center of many projects that my future company will initiate. That's why I decided to take a Nutrition and Health course last Fall semester. There, I learned that many college students are among those who lack the right nutritional balance in their diets, and countless are malnourished. Forty-one percent of university students are food insecure. Malnutrition and diet imbalance, then cause many health issues among these students. Studies show that most of these college students that are affected are from minority groups; many are immigrants. Females students are also most impacted by food insecurity. I also found out that many universities across the nation establish food banks where anyone eligible can go stock up. These food items are donations made to support those who lack them. That is why I donated. Not because I am rich, but because I can identify myself with these unfortunate college students. I also volunteered to work five hours at the Georgia State University's food bank serving students with items they were looking for as they came to stock up. My donation was an act of compassion, but it also foreshadows my intentions for the future. Although I was born and raised in Kinshasa, the political capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, social disparities were visible to everyone. The country is one of the poorest on earth, with one of the highest illiteracy rates. The infant mortality rate is very high. The average Congolese citizen lives with one American dollar per day. The politicians own all the big businesses and control all the sectors of the economy- they are incredibly wealthy, while the populations are impoverished. They embezzle billions of American dollars each year, while soldiers, teachers, and nurses are unpaid. The country has no infrastructures while politicians own castles worth millions of dollars in Europe where their families carelessly live. In Congo, I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who said that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. My family and I arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, in February of 2012. My life in the United States was not as easy as I had difficulties adapting. Going from the Congo to an English-speaking country was complicated. My conscious was not quiet at all, continually reminding me of my previous academic achievements. I just was not used to being mediocre. These feelings of frustration motivated me a lot. Even though English represented a barrier against my dreams of the future, I kept working hard, and to my joy, the hard work paid off. One year later, my comprehension of the English language improved significantly! I took tests such as Georgia's Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests, Benchmark tests, and End-of-Course Tests. I passed them all brilliantly. I graduated from high school with honors, and eight years after arriving in the United States; here I am, a senior at Georgia State University. I regularly make the President and Dean's list, and I have the grade point average to show for it. On May 27th, 2017, I successfully became the first person ever in my family to graduate from High school. The following semester, I continued my education through college with the help of local businesses' scholarships awarded to me. Knowledge is crucial for advancing in life, but I was only able to progress because local companies offered me the opportunity. My story is unique, but there are others like me. I believe that such cases highlight the positive impacts that local enterprises may have on the lives of many youths in their communities. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. At the age of fifteen, I possessed my first computer with access to the internet. It was after moving to the United States that I had realized how technologically advanced the world is. I was then determined to make an impact technically. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Last Summer at Georgia State University campus, I worked as a Supplemental Instructor (S.I.) Leader, tutoring my peers. Now, I am working with the TRIO Student Support Services at Georgia State University to help my peers in the subjects of Database, Systems-Level programming, Data Structures, and Principles of Computer Science. The egg can evolve to a chick if fertilized. The same way that my ambition to innovate by effectively establishing a company that conceives, manufactures, and programs medical devices, which would save many lives while improving the quality of care, will come to life with the experience gained while programming complex systems throughout my college years.
    codePost Computer Science Education Scholarship
    I grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so my experiences were different from most students of my age. Life was challenging, much so that it was tough even to imagine going through. The average Congolese citizen lives with one U.S. dollar per day. However, I was lucky to be schooled by my parents despite their financial struggles. I woke up every day at 4:00 AM to attend classes. Roads were almost inexistent, and we did not have school buses, so I made sure I left the house three hours earlier to walk to school. There were times when I was denied access to school despite all my efforts simply because my parents did not have the means to pay for my tuition on time. But I kept in mind that the future would be bright if I work hard enough. Taking inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt, who said that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," I worked harder than any student in my class, and I academically outperformed them all. I moved to the United States at age thirteen. However, it was only after my high school graduation that I had decided to be a computer science major at Georgia State University. Last Summer at Georgia State University campus, I worked as a Supplemental Instructor (S.I.) Leader, tutoring my peers. Now, I am working with the TRIO Student Support Services to increase the academic potential of my peers in the area of Computer Science. I know what it means to struggle through life, just like I know what seizing an opportunity means. Today, whenever I see an egg, I envision the chick to come, not just the eggshell itself. I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science because I aspire to develop and program medical devices capable of diagnosing and treating patients without requiring highly invasive medical procedures to save lives. The egg can evolve to a chick if fertilized, the same way that my ambition to program medical devices will come to life with the experience gained while programming complex systems throughout my college years. In five years, I see myself as a successful programmer, having completed my graduate degree. But I also see myself mentoring future computer science majors in the area of programming, as that is also my passion. I sincerely believe that one may only reach true greatness with education. I have realized that many are still wondering about the future, thinking that destiny is predetermined. Those individuals do not understand, as I have, that what you make of your dreams, and convictions are the foundation of a reliable posterity.