“You know, it make the day when you come here,” my grandmother managed through her thick Arabic accent. “I don’t see you much.” My throat tightened. I forced a smile, squeezing her frail hand and meeting her hazel eyes obscured by thick eyeglasses. “I was here yesterday, Nana.” I swallowed back tears and reminded her. “You were? I don’t remember…” That wasn’t the first time we’d have that same conversation, nor would it be the last. My grandmother's battle with Alzheimer's disease has had a profound impact on my life in countless ways. Watching her struggle with the symptoms of this debilitating condition has been both heart-wrenching and eye-opening. It has underscored the importance of cherishing every moment and demonstrated clearly the power of love, compassion, and patience in the face of adversity. Growing up, my grandmother was a central figure in my life. Born Nazhat Babbie in Baghdad, Iraq in the early 1930s, she pursued a degree in chemistry before moving to the United States and meeting my grandfather, Yusuf Antone, another Iraqi immigrant. She had four children, sons Rafid, Ayad, Hedir, and my mother, Maha, and pursued a master’s degree in chemistry in her third language of English at Wayne State University. Her story was always an inspiration to me, and I admired her throughout my childhood. She was smart and engaging, and knew so much about math and science—I would often spend the afternoon doing homework with her as she gently guided me through algebra and chemistry. I plan to pursue a degree in computer science and psychology in college, following in my grandmother’s footsteps as a woman in STEM. I spent multiple days a week at my grandparents’ house, and my grandmother was always there with a warm hug and endless amounts of love. She was an amazing cook, her specialty being the traditional Iraqi meal kubba hamouth. Every Sunday, we would gather there for a big family dinner, and she always made sure that everyone had full stomachs and hearts. A quietly compassionate and kind woman, my grandmother has a list of her large extended family’s birthdays—with over fifty people on the list—and calls them to wish them well on their special days each year. These days, she calls each of us several times on our birthdays, forgetting the previous conversation within minutes of hanging up the phone. However, as she began to show signs of Alzheimer's, her once-vibrant personality began to fade. It was a slow and emotionally painful process, watching as she gradually lost connection with names and faces. It has been especially difficult seeing her struggle to recognize her own grandchildren. When my grandfather, who also struggled with dementia, passed away in November 2021, it was painful to see the look on her face each day when she was reminded that he was no longer with us, enduring that loss again and again. Despite these challenges, my grandmother's battle with Alzheimer's has also brought out the best in those around her. My family has come together to provide her with the care she needs, and I have been inspired by the selflessness and patience of those closest to her, including her caregivers, who over the years have come to be members of our family as well. In a time of crisis, we have been reminded of the value of community and the strength that can be found in supporting one another. My ever-resilient mother has taken it upon herself to spend time each day with my grandmother, taking time out of her schedule to ensure that she is healthy and organizing all her medications, caretakers, and doctor’s appointments so that my grandmother can stay in their family home without being moved to a care facility. She, like her mother before her, is a great inspiration to me. Because of my grandmother’s illness, I have learned that the most important thing in life is the people you surround yourself with. My family has come together to support my grandmother and one another in a way that I never thought possible, and I have been humbled by their love and dedication. It has been a reminder that no matter what life throws our way, a loving community provides solace. My grandmother’s Alzheimer’s has opened my heart to truly appreciate the time we have with our loved ones. I cherish every moment with her and have never taken a day spent with her for granted. I have learned that it is the small moments like holding my grandmother's hand and listening to the stories she used to tell that are the most precious. I make a point to spend time with her each week, playing Go Fish and going over her seven grandchildren’s names and photos in an effort to exercise her mind. Even as I tell her the same news of college acceptances each day, her excitement for me never fails to bring a smile to my face, and her support and love still mean the world to me. I have filmed and documented countless days spent with her, detailing her stories to ensure that her memory and voice are never truly lost and that my children can revere her just as I do. I hope to help to spread awareness about Alzheimer’s by participating in local and national events that raise awareness about Alzheimer's and dementia, and donate to organizations that are working to find a cure. In addition, I plan to use the social media platform TikTok to raise awareness about Alzheimer's by sharing my grandmother’s story, documenting my visits and her joys and struggles, and garnering followers who are just as inspired by her as I am. On this account, I will promote donations to organizations supporting Alzheimer’s research and give comfort to those in similar situations. I believe that by sharing our stories and spreading awareness, we can create a community for those dealing with Alzheimer’s and provide support and comfort to those affected. I intend to continue to educate myself on the latest research and advancements in the field so that I can better understand the challenges faced by those affected by this condition. As I head to college to study computer science, I dream of one day using what I learn to help those affected by Alzheimer's. I would love to develop simulations and models of the brain to help better understand Alzheimer's disease in the hopes that it might lead to a breakthrough in treatments. I also envision creating apps that help exercise the mind of people with Alzheimer's to help them remember things and the people in their lives. In conclusion, my grandmother's battle with Alzheimer's disease has changed my life in countless ways. It has taught me the importance of cherishing every moment, the power of compassion, patience, and unconditional love in the face of adversity, and the strength that can be found in community. I am grateful for the time I have spent with my grandmother, and I am committed to raising awareness about Alzheimer's and dementia in order to make a difference in the lives of others.

Computer fan whirring at breakneck speed, I tapped softly on the keys of my laptop underneath my blanket, the light illuminating my face, careful not to wake my 11-year-old sister with whom I share a room. Typing the final semicolon, I clicked “Run and Compile” and crossed my fingers. Please work, I thought. I did a silent, 3 AM celebratory dance as the Pokémon game I had spent hours coding finally tested perfectly—and yet, I was hungry for more. The quality I value most in myself is my curiosity. Ever since I was a young girl, I have been very curious about the world around me. I was always asking questions and wanting to learn more. The power of education was everything to me, and I spent hours poring over literature and research, learning everything I could about everything I was passionate about. From music and learning guitar, piano, and bass, to teaching myself Spanish, and studying Java and Python, I furthered my education on my own time, satiating my ever-growing desire to learn more. Now, as a graduating senior, I am well-read, knowledgeable, and worldly, but my curiosity doesn't end here. I often think of my curiosity about the world around me as the driving force behind my desire to learn, explore, and innovate. This desire to seek out new information, experiences, and perspectives enriches our lives and broadens our understanding of the world. This quality is especially important for college students, who are in a unique position to explore new subjects, ideas, and opportunities that can shape their future careers and personal development. My curiosity fosters empathy and understanding in my life. I believe that when we are curious about others, we are more likely to listen to their stories and try to understand their perspectives. This can help us to build stronger relationships, develop greater empathy and compassion, and work more effectively with others. Curiosity can also help us to appreciate the diversity of the world around us and to be more accepting of different cultures and viewpoints. I dream of one day working in the technology field in order to find sustainable solutions to problems, while truly putting people first, before profits. With my endless curiosity, I can use the skills I learn in college to help others succeed and lead their own fulfilling lives. As I look ahead to the next step in my journey, attending a four-year degree program, I know that my curiosity and passion for learning will always serve me well. Like Sloane Stephen's grandparents, I know the power of higher education, and I will live out their legacy for the rest of my life journey.

Computer fan whirring at breakneck speed, I tapped softly on the keys of my laptop underneath my blanket, careful not to wake my 11-year-old sister with whom I share a room. Typing the final semicolon, I clicked “Run and Compile” and crossed my fingers. Please work. I did a silent, 3 AM celebratory dance as the Pokémon game I had spent hours coding finally tested perfectly—and yet, I was hungry for more. Now, a few years later, my laptop fan is ferociously loud, as anyone who has ever sat beside me in a class can attest. It’s probably because I’m constantly running a virtual machine on it—a computer within a computer. With my VM, I can download and disarm malware, reverse engineering it without risking damage to my real laptop, in order to understand how it functions and how it can be stopped. I often put my head in my hands; I’ve destroyed my VM yet again with some particularly vicious virus, and have to wait impatiently for it to re-download. But this trial and error, the riveting ups and downs of the practice of cybersecurity, always leave me wanting more. After a particularly nasty tussle with a virus leaving messages in Russian—and a couple of failed attempts to translate without copy/pasting and therefore destroying my computer’s real operating system—I began to wonder. If I can demolish my VM with a few misclicks, it begs the question: what could a much larger entity do? A well-funded organization? A foreign government? The thought captivates me. A passion for computer science and international relations emerged for me in high school, fueled by my desire to create and achieve the rewarding satisfaction of finally solving the puzzle. I want to use my skills and drive to help my country, specifically as a cybersecurity analyst for the federal government. This dream would never have been achieved without my paternal grandfather, Tom Sawyer. A graduate of the University of Michigan (where I plan to attend), my grandfather then enlisted in October 1960, working in the army reserves until 1966. He started training in Ft. Leonard Wood, before transferring to attend the Armed Forces Information School at Ft. Slocum, studying to help defend our country. After his years in the army, my grandfather became a lawyer. He worked hard to support his family and has helped to fund my private school education for the past ten years. I couldn't have made it this far without him, and I am so excited to live on his legacy at the University of Michigan as a fourth-generation student. Now 87 years old (and still practicing law!), he still inspires me every day to be brave, kind, and hard-working. I hope to defend my country as a cybersecurity analyst the way both my grandfather and Ben Brock did, and inspire others to do the same.

Computer fan whirring at breakneck speed, I tapped softly on the keys of my laptop underneath my blanket, careful not to wake my 11-year-old sister with whom I share a room. Typing the final semicolon, I clicked “Run and Compile” and crossed my fingers. Please work. I did a silent, 3 AM celebratory dance as the Pokémon game I had spent hours coding finally tested perfectly—and yet, I was hungry for more. A passion for computer science had emerged, fueled by my desire to create and achieve the rewarding satisfaction of finally solving the puzzle. The trial-and-error involved with the practice of computer science is riveting, and I enjoy every second of it, even the mistakes that are made. When an error arises, I am even more motivated to achieve the end result. I want to use my skills and drive to help others, specifically as a cybersecurity analyst for the federal government. At the same time, I have a great love for language learning. At fourteen, I began the arduous process of teaching myself to speak Spanish. Through watching Netflix shows and communicating daily with a pen pal in Spain—a girl who has since become one of my best friends—I have achieved fluency in Spanish over the past four years. I have now turned my attention toward Russian, a language that is incredibly relevant to current affairs and cyber security. My goal is to be accepted into UNC-Chapel Hill's Russian Language Flagship program and study abroad in a Russian-speaking region. Later, I plan to get an internship working for the federal government in cybersecurity. I hope to pursue a liberal arts degree where I have the freedom to study both my interest in language and computer science. With a degree in Computer Science and a focus on cybersecurity, I will develop the skills needed to thrive in this career. I will take advantage of research opportunities at the university I attend, working closely with professors and other like-minded students to make breakthroughs in our field while also learning the collaboration skills necessary to succeed. I will also seek out internships during my time off from school, working to make an impactful difference in the cybersecurity field and ensuring my voice is heard in group settings as a woman in STEM. My two passions may appear diametrically opposed, but to me, they're quite similar. Both forms of language, the two click together well in my brain. I want to learn as many human and computer languages as possible, combining these skills to best serve my country and defend our cyberspace. I will build software that detects phishing threats in multiple languages, identifying and defeating potential hacks and learning from each scam that is reported to its database. With a funded college education, my goal of combining these passions will be well within reach.

Computer fan whirring at breakneck speed, I tapped softly on the keys of my laptop underneath my blanket, careful not to wake my 11-year-old sister with whom I share a room. Typing the final semicolon, I clicked “Run and Compile” and crossed my fingers. Please work. I did a silent, 3 AM celebratory dance as the Pokémon game I had spent hours coding finally tested perfectly—and yet, I was hungry for more. A passion for computer science had emerged, fueled by my desire to create and achieve the rewarding satisfaction of finally solving the puzzle. The trial-and-error involved with the practice of computer science is riveting, and I enjoy every second of it, even the mistakes that are made. When an error arises, I am even more motivated to achieve the end result. I want to use my skills and drive to help others, specifically as a cybersecurity analyst for the federal government. With a degree in Computer Science and a focus on cybersecurity, I will develop the skills needed to thrive in this career. I will take advantage of research opportunities at the university I attend, working closely with professors and other like-minded students to make breakthroughs in our field while also learning the collaboration skills necessary to succeed. I will also seek out internships during my time off from school, working to make an impactful difference in the cybersecurity field and ensuring my voice is heard in group settings as a woman in STEM. I feel that I am the best candidate for receiving the Chris Jackson Computer Science Education Scholarship because I am devoted to my future in computer science. As the first woman in my family to be permitted to move away and live on-campus for higher education, I will immerse myself in academia and take full advantage of the opportunities presented to me, in honor of all the women before me who didn't have these opportunities. This way, I will be able to make long-lasting friendships with like-minded women while also pursuing my academic passions to the fullest degree. An award like this would be life-changing in helping me to afford an out-of-state college, nearly doubling the amount I’d be saving over the summer. In my time on campus, I will live out Mr. Jackson’s legacy, devoting myself to academics, helping others, and most importantly living in the moment. With the help of this scholarship, I will be able to enjoy myself and make rewarding connections with others without worrying about the cost of college. I hope to have the help of the Chris Jackson CS Education Scholarship in achieving my dreams.

A girl climbs into her cramped, white sedan and drives an hour and a half to attend college classes. Flipping through flashcards in standstill Detroit traffic, she’s devoted to earning her degree in psychology. At the same time, though, she is consigned to the fate of many other young Iraqi Chaldean women: she must pursue her education from home, forbidden from moving out of her family home until she marries. Her independence is defined in relation to a man. This woman is my mother. She is also my aunt, my cousins. She could have easily been me. Instead, a year from now I’ll pack up all I have known and embark on the next step in my educational journey. I will satiate my love for learning, immersing myself in the place and the academics, an opportunity the women in my family never received. But I don’t forget them. These women are my history. I carry them and their ambitions with me wherever I go. For them, I devote myself to my studies, staying up late and devouring literature till my eyes hurt. I will be the first woman in my family to move out and live on campus for college. My dream is to become a cybersecurity analyst for the federal government, and the Dr. William and Jo Sherwood Family Scholarship will help me achieve this. With a degree in Computer Science and a focus on cybersecurity, I will develop the skills needed to thrive in this career. I will take advantage of research opportunities at the university I attend, working closely with professors and other like-minded students to make breakthroughs in our field while also learning the collaboration skills necessary to succeed. I will also seek out internships during my time off from school, working to make an impactful difference in the cybersecurity field and ensuring my voice is heard in group settings as a woman in STEM. An award like this would be life-changing in helping me to afford an out-of-state college, nearly doubling the amount I’d be saving over the summer. In my time on campus, I will live out the values of the Sherwood Family, using the opportunity they have given me to expand my knowledge in the field I am passionate about. With the help of this scholarship, I will be able to live in the moment and make rewarding connections with others without worrying about the cost of college. This award will contribute to my future success in the cybersecurity field and allow me to educate myself with the ultimate goal of serving our country.