On a brisk fall evening, I remember walking along the cracked stone paths near my elementary school. The beautiful autumn leaves gracefully floated down from the towering trees that ran beside the campus. Suddenly, the sound of shouting pierced the cool autumn air. I instinctively grabbed my little sisters and sprinted towards the houses at the end of campus, seeking refuge behind them. Although I was fast for my age the school's Principal swiftly caught up to us and his face did not seem very pleased with us. “Third time this week! Don’t you have anyone to take you home?” My principal scolded, I knew hiding from the administration was wrong, but how could I let them punish my mom by being late? It wasn't her fault that she couldn't pick us up on time, she had to juggle her three jobs, overtime, and responsibilities as a mom. Eventually, as I got older, I began to notice the hurdles my mom faced in keeping our family afloat, especially with my decision to go to college which led me to start helping out by getting a job at my grandparent's Fruteria. At first, the job seemed extremely difficult, I had to learn so many skills I did not previously have like memorizing the variety of different recipes each sweet treat has, remembering where every little thing went, swiftly moving through the crowds of people, being quick to clean and upkeep the register, and the fact that I was not fluent in speak Spanish didn't help. Although I didn't immediately get the hang of the job, I did begin to master the art of good service and most importantly I began to regain my knowledge of Spanish. The hours of confused conversations and awkward charades finally paid off because I could finally conversate fluently with clients. The experience of working in a Fruteria helped me connect with my Hispanic heritage and made me prideful to be a person who is of Latin American origin. After many long nights serving, cleaning, and restocking I was able to save up a good amount of money to help my mom with the high costs of college life. I remember the face of the pride my mother had when I came home from my long shift and told her that I saved enough money to cover the cost for a portion of my tuition. To this day I remember the phrase she said “Le doy gracias al Señor por darme una hija tan trabajadora”. She is my reason to go to college and work towards a better life because she worked in my childhood to give me a good life.

Over the years the energy production industry has gained public viewership due to the rising threat of global warming. All over the news, headlines regarding climate change and the drastic effects of global warming have plagued our lives subsequently, these daunting headlines have left us with no hope for the future. However, as an aspiring electrical engineer, I aim to shift our nation's electrical industries towards more renewable energy. Of course, there are many forms of renewable energy, but its downfall is its high cost and low electricity yield. However, I want to work towards a new form of renewable electricity, wave energy. Although not well researched, I see great potential in the wave production industry thanks to the ocean's never-ending kinetic energy output. However, the main drawback of this form of energy production would be the difficulty of creating a design that can withstand the harsh marine environment and be cost-effective. Despite the drawbacks of wave energy, I plan to continue my pursuit in this field to bring the possibility of being able to replace fossil fuels. My spark of interest in electricity started in the back of my uncle's truck on the way to his numerous electrician jobs. I was fascinated by the delicate balance of wires and switches which inspired me to work towards the electrical industry. Additionally, I participated in clubs and organizations that value the environment and the negative effects of global climate change. Along with that, I have made it a personal goal to help decrease carbon emissions by dedicating my weekends to picking up trash in my neighborhood and keeping up with my personal garden. I plan to continue my passion for environmental sustainability and electricity by pursuing a future in the renewable energy sector. This coming fall semester I will be attending the University of Texas at Dallas where I will be majoring in Electrical engineering and pursuing a minor in Environmental Studies. Additionally, I plan to be part of clubs and organizations that share my beliefs in sustainability. Specifically, my goal is to join the Eco-Reps club whose objective is to implement sustainability projects in the UT Dallas campus. I noticed that the organization does not yet have an energy sustainability sector. Even so, this has inspired me to join the group and propose the idea of creating ways to make sustainable energy more accessible and to spread more awareness about renewable electricity. My career goal is to work for a company that supports wave energy, the company Ocean Power Technologies which is an American-owned company that works towards creating cost and energy-efficient electricity through the ocean. Coming from a household with only one breadwinner, money has always been tight, but I was always encouraged by my loved ones to not just study for myself but to study to be able to serve the people around me. With the financial help from the John Young Scholarship, I would be able to take the next step towards creating an eco friendly world.

Over the years the energy production industry has gained public viewership due to the rising threat of global warming. All over the news, headlines regarding climate change and the drastic effects of global warming have plagued our lives subsequently, these daunting headlines have left us with no hope for the future. However, as an aspiring electrical engineer, I aim to shift our nation's electrical industries towards more renewable energy. Of course, there are many forms of renewable energy, but its downfall is its high cost and low electricity yield. However, I want to work towards a new form of renewable electricity, wave energy. Although not well researched, I see great potential in the wave production industry thanks to the ocean's never-ending kinetic energy output. However, the main drawback of this form of energy production would be the difficulty of creating a design that can withstand the harsh marine environment and be cost-effective. Despite the drawbacks of wave energy, I plan to continue my pursuit in this field to bring the possibility of being able to replace fossil fuels. This coming fall semester I will be attending the University of Texas at Dallas where I will be majoring in Electrical engineering and pursuing a minor in Environmental Studies. Additionally, I plan to be part of clubs and organizations that share my beliefs in sustainability. Specifically, my goal is to join the Eco-Reps club whose objective is to implement sustainability projects in the UT Dallas campus. I noticed that the organization does not yet have an energy sustainability sector. Even so, this has inspired me to join the group and propose a sustainable energy project. My career goal is to work for a company that supports wave energy, Ocean Power Technologies, an American-owned company that works towards creating cost and energy-efficient electricity through the ocean. Coming from a household with only one breadwinner, money has always been tight, but I was always encouraged by my loved ones to not just study for myself but to study to be able to serve the people around me. With financial help from the Elevate Women in Technology Scholarship, I would be able to take the next step towards creating an eco-friendly world.

Over the years the energy production industry has gained public viewership due to the rising threat of global warming. All over the news, headlines regarding climate change and the drastic effects of global warming have plagued our lives subsequently, these daunting headlines have left us with no hope for the future. However, as an aspiring electrical engineer, I aim to shift our nation's electrical industries towards more renewable energy. Of course, there are many forms of renewable energy, but its downfall is its high cost and low electricity yield. However, I want to work towards a new form of renewable electricity, wave energy. Although not well researched, I see great potential in the wave production industry thanks to the ocean's never-ending kinetic energy output. However, the main drawback of this form of energy production would be the difficulty of creating a design that can withstand the harsh marine environment and be cost-effective. Despite the drawbacks of wave energy, I plan to continue my pursuit in this field to bring the possibility of being able to replace fossil fuels. My spark of interest in electricity started in the back of my uncle's truck on the way to his numerous electrician jobs. I was fascinated by the delicate balance of wires and switches which inspired me to work towards the electrical industry. Additionally, I participated in clubs and organizations that value the environment and the negative effects of global climate change. Along with that, I have made it a personal goal to help decrease carbon emissions by dedicating my weekends to picking up trash in my neighborhood and keeping up with my personal garden. I plan to continue my passion for environmental sustainability and electricity by pursuing a future in the renewable energy sector. This coming fall semester I will be attending the University of Texas at Dallas where I will be majoring in Electrical engineering and pursuing a minor in Environmental Studies. Additionally, I plan to be part of clubs and organizations that share my beliefs in sustainability. Specifically, my goal is to join the Eco-Reps club whose objective is to implement sustainability projects in the UT Dallas campus. I noticed that the organization does not yet have an energy sustainability sector. Even so, this has inspired me to join the group and propose the idea of creating ways to make sustainable energy more accessible and to spread more awareness about renewable electricity. My career goal is to work for a company that supports wave energy, the company Ocean Power Technologies which is an American-owned company that works towards creating cost and energy-efficient electricity through the ocean. Coming from a household with only one breadwinner, money has always been tight, but I was always encouraged by my loved ones to not just study for myself but to study to be able to serve the people around me. With the financial help from the Priscilla Shireen Luke Scholarship, I would be able to take the next step towards creating an eco-friendlier world.

“I want you to join clubs, study, and have fun, just like I wanted to when I was your age” My mom repeated to me, on the car ride to school. Ever since I was a young girl, I knew my mom had sacrificed so much for me. She worked three jobs, did housework, and dealt with my siblings and me. Even if her plate was full, she would still take time to talk to my sibling and me about how important education is. She always reminded me about how in El Salvador education was a luxury and sadly she was not able to enjoy that commodity. Although when she came to the United States, she was granted enrollment into a high school but afterwards she had no means of going to college. To this day she always says that was her biggest mistake. Her insistence on education instilled in me an intense drive for education. Although I was not the brightest student, I pushed myself to join advanced classes. Failure after failure, I gradually became extremely discouraged but my mom was always behind me encouraging me to keep pushing. Eventually, my hard work paid off and I was moved to advanced classes which continued in high school. I took every AP, advanced, and dual credit class available. It was all to help with the weight of college tuition in the future. The stress of paying for college plagued me like the flu. By my sophomore year, I was working, studying, and participating in any extracurricular activity I could find. Despite being tired I looked to my mother for help and guidance. By my Senior year, I had a variety of work, volunteer, and academic experience under my belt. That brings me to today where I am currently an incoming freshman in the University of Texas at Dallas where I will be majoring in Electrical engineering and pursuing a minor in Environmental Studies. Where I plan on continuing my dedication to academia and extracurricular activities. In the future, I hope to work in the wave energy production industry to change the energy industry. Coming from a single-parent household, money has always been tight, but I am always encouraged by my loved ones, especially my mom, to not just study for myself but to study to be able to serve the people around me. With the financial help from the Curtis Holloway Memorial Scholarship, I would be able to take the next step towards creating an eco-friendlier world.

Over the years the energy production industry has gained public viewership due to the rising threat of global warming. All over the news, headlines regarding climate change and the drastic effects of global warming have plagued our lives subsequently, these daunting headlines have left us with no hope for the future. However, as an aspiring electrical engineer, I aim to shift our nation's electrical industries towards more renewable energy. Of course, there are many forms of renewable energy, but its downfall is its high cost and low electricity yield. However, I want to work towards a new form of renewable electricity, wave energy. Although not well researched, I see great potential in the wave production industry thanks to the ocean's never-ending kinetic energy output. However, the main drawback of this form of energy production would be the difficulty of creating a design that can withstand the harsh marine environment and be cost-effective. Despite the drawbacks of wave energy, I plan to continue my pursuit in this field to bring the possibility of being able to replace fossil fuels. My spark of interest in electricity started in the back of my uncle's truck on the way to his numerous electrician jobs. I was fascinated by the delicate balance of wires and switches which inspired me to work towards the electrical industry. Additionally, I participated in clubs and organizations that value the environment and the negative effects of global climate change. Along with that, I have made it a personal goal to help decrease carbon emissions by dedicating my weekends to picking up trash in my neighborhood and keeping up with my personal garden. I plan to continue my passion for environmental sustainability and electricity by pursuing a future in the renewable energy sector. This coming fall semester I will be attending the University of Texas at Dallas where I will be majoring in Electrical engineering and pursuing a minor in Environmental Studies. Additionally, I plan to be part of clubs and organizations that share my beliefs in sustainability. Specifically, my goal is to join the Eco-Reps club whose objective is to implement sustainability projects in the UT Dallas campus. I noticed that the organization does not yet have an energy sustainability sector. Even so, this has inspired me to join the group and propose the idea of creating ways to make sustainable energy more accessible and to spread more awareness about renewable electricity. My career goal is to work for a company that supports wave energy, Ocean Power Technologies, an American-owned company that works towards creating cost and energy-efficient electricity through the ocean. Coming from a household with only one breadwinner, money has always been tight, but I was always encouraged by my loved ones to not just study for myself but to study to be able to serve the people around me. With the financial help from the Women in STEM Scholarship, I would be able to take the next step towards creating an eco-friendly world.

“I want you to join clubs, study, and have fun, just like I wanted to when I was your age” My mom repeated to me, on the car ride to school. Ever since I was a young girl I knew my mom had sacrificed so much for me. She worked three jobs, did housework, and dealt with my siblings and me. Even if her plate was full she would still take time to talk to my sibling and I about how important education is. She always reminded me about how in El Salvador education was a luxury and sadly she was not able to enjoy that commodity. Although when she came to the United States, she was granted enrollment into a high school but afterwards she had no means of going to college. To this day she always says that was her biggest mistake. Her insistence on education instilled in me an intense drive for education. Although I was not the brightest student, I pushed myself to join advanced classes. Failure after failure, I gradually became extremely discouraged but my mom was always behind me encouraging me to keep pushing. Eventually, my hard work paid off and I was moved to advanced classes which continued in high school. I took every AP, advanced, and dual credit class available. It was all to help with the weight of college tuition in the future. The stress of paying for college plagued me like the flu. By my sophomore year, I was working, studying, and participating in any extracurricular activity I could find. Despite being tired I looked to my mother for help and guidance. By my Senior year, I had a variety of work, volunteer, and academic experience under my belt. That brings me to today where I am currently an incoming freshman in the University of Texas at Dallas where I will be majoring in Electrical engineering and pursuing a minor in Environmental Studies. Where I plan on continuing my dedication to academia and extracurricular activities. In the future, I hope to work in the wave energy production industry to bring a change to the energy industry. Coming from a single-parent household, money has always been tight, but I am always encouraged by my loved ones, especially my mom, to not just study for myself but to study to be able to serve the people around me. With the financial help from the Dimon A. Williams Memorial Scholarship, I would be able to take the next step towards creating an eco-friendlier world.

I watched as its delicate and sleek wings swooped down, searching for an ounce of usable scraps for its nest. I have always loved crows, they are intelligent, curious, and resilient. Like crows, I love scavenging for materials I could use for my latest creation. When I was a young girl, I would scour the garage, backyard, and neighborhood for trinkets. I would usually come back sweaty and dirty with armfuls of scraps my mom called trash, but I saw their potential As I grew older, my passion for tinkering with scraps grew into my love for engineering. In my high school years, I knew I wanted to become an engineer but I was not sure what to specialize in. This all changed after I joined my uncle on one of his many electrician jobs. At first, I was not interested in the trade because of how difficult it is to understand but after understanding the topics I was awestruck. The way my uncle took apart electrical boxes to reveal mazes of wires made me realize how beautiful electricity is. I was mesmerized by the intricate wires and switches that reordered could miraculously change the lighting of the room. I had no idea electricity could be so fascinating. After that day, I became a sort of assistant to my uncle. During the summers, I interned with him where I learned a variety of skills. At first, he used me as manual labor, crawling through attics, shifting wires, and other manual tasks. Although physically demanding these tasks taught me the importance of work ethic and eventually my uncle did teach me the basics of electricity and how electricians apply this knowledge. Working on a construction site exposed me not only to the electrical trade but to the hardworking and intelligent workers. Despite not being educated in the field of engineering these workers showed a deep understanding of engineering principles. This experience gave me a deep respect for these people who demonstrate extreme skill and knowledge in their trade. This coming year, I will be attending the University of Texas at Dallas, where I will be majoring in Electrical Engineering. I know the path will be long and difficult, but with the help of my family and friends, I know I will be able to persevere. In pursuing my future career, I hope to be like a crow; intelligent, curious, and resilient.

Over the years the energy production industry has gained public viewership due to the rising threat of global warming. All over the news, headlines regarding climate change and the drastic effects of global warming have plagued our lives subsequently, these daunting headlines have left us with no hope for the future. However, as an aspiring electrical engineer, I aim to shift our nation's electrical industries towards more renewable energy. Of course, there are many forms of renewable energy but its downfall is their high cost and low electricity yield. However, I want to work towards a new form of renewable electricity; wave energy. Although not well researched, I see great potential in the wave production industry thanks to the ocean's never-ending output of kinetic energy. However, the main drawback of this form of energy production would be the difficult task of creating a design that can withstand the harsh marine environment and be cost-effective. Despite the drawbacks of wave energy, I plan to continue my pursuit in this field to bring the possibility of being able to replace fossil fuels. My spark of interest in electricity started in the back of my uncle's truck on the way to his numerous electrician jobs. I was fascinated by the delicate balance of wires and switches which inspired me to work towards the electrical industry. Additionally, I participated in clubs and organizations that value the environment and the negative effects of global climate change. Along with that, I have made it a personal goal to help decrease carbon emissions by dedicating my weekends to picking up trash in my neighborhood and keeping up with my personal garden. I plan to continue my passion for environmental sustainability and electricity by pursuing a future in the renewable energy sector. This coming fall semester I will be attending the University of Texas at Dallas where I will be majoring in Electrical engineering and pursuing a minor in Environmental Studies. Additionally, I plan to be part of clubs and organizations that share my beliefs in sustainability. Specifically, my goal is to join the Eco-Reps club, which aims to implement sustainability projects on the UT Dallas campus. I noticed that the organization does not yet have an energy sustainability sector. Even so, this has inspired me to join the group and propose the idea of creating ways to make sustainable energy more accessible and to spread more awareness about renewable electricity. My career goal is to work for a company that supports wave energy, the company Ocean Power Technologies which is an American-owned company that works towards creating cost and energy-efficient electricity through the ocean. Coming from a household with only one breadwinner, money has always been tight, but I was always encouraged by my loved ones to not just study for myself but to study to be able to serve the people around me. With the financial help from the Minority Women in STEM Financial Need scholarship, I would be able to take the next step towards creating an eco-friendlier world.