Innovative? Check. Productive? Check. Meaningful and affordable? Check. Only a small percentage of groundbreaking technology can meet and surpass these expectations, most of which have been courtesy of great minds like Nicola Tesla, Albert Einstein, and Isaac Newton. Although these founders of science made way for the modern age through their technological innovations and scientific breakthroughs, the world is ever-changing and adapting to the new challenges faced as a society. Challenges such as global warming, energy sustainability, and environmental damage are only a few of the impending issues innovators, scientists, leaders, and every-day people alike must come together to solve. While it is important to recognize the inventions and innovations of the past, it is detrimental to acknowledge the technology of the future and its impact on modern problems. With this in mind, I will nod towards the future rather than the past, delving into the advantages of pursuing modern computer technology in the form of Artificial Intelligence, better known as AI. AI is hands down the greatest, most operable form of innovation in modern engineering, and, therefore, my favorite. AI is both practical and at the forefront of applications such as cybersecurity and healthcare diagnostics, assisting in the early detection of cybercriminals and otherwise fatal diseases in seconds. Although AI has proved an effective form of technology, I am excited about how I can contribute to AI during my career and help my community. As a future research intern at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, this summer, I am encouraged to use AI, as authorized, to inspire solutions for easier designing and replacing of radiation-afflicted machine components. By curating data-driven productivity, providing feedback loops, and speeding up the engineering design process through various data testing, AI has the potential to assist me in safety and data testing without prohibiting the creativity aspects of my projects. In the future, I plan to amplify the impact of AI on applications that could benefit most from it, such as transportation, problem-solving, climate-modeling, and recycling. By working with the leaders of technology at places like ORNL, I can help solve modern challenges and pave the way for AI to become a catalyst for engineering advancement, promoting research and helping people globally. Without a doubt, AI has revolutionized modern technology and reshaped how people and leaders across the globe envision the future. Embracing the rise of AI is essential, as it is not just a possibility but an inevitable part of both our present and future. AI is transforming the way people do business, whether in the form of assistance, innovation, or solving complex global challenges. As an undergraduate student with a future in Mechanical Engineering, I am fascinated by AI and its potential for engineering applications. While I acknowledge concerns about its potential misuse, I understand the fear of AI as stemming from uncertainty and a lack of understanding. Rather than fearing AI, society and leaders alike should view it as an opportunity for growth, learning, and positive change. As an advocate for knowledge, I believe it is crucial for everyone, regardless of their perspective on AI, to engage with and learn about the technology of our time. By doing so, society can mobilize AI’s potential to enhance our lives, protect against misinformation, and pave a future where technology works alongside us to solve the world’s pressing problems.

This past summer, I was admitted to the University of Tennessee’s Governor's School for Science and Engineering (GSSE). During this time, I had the privilege of learning from the state’s top educators and was introduced to the world of Material Science Engineering (MSE). Under the wing of Professors Dustin Gilbert and Claudia J. Rawn from UTK’s TICKLE College of Engineering MSE department, I studied the properties of matter and various remarkable crystalline structures typically concealed from the human eye. With every lesson, I gained confidence and delved into the problem-solving capabilities of MSE. With research, I came to understand the contributions of MSE to breakthroughs in cancer-fighting nanotechnology and wanted to learn more about its capabilities. Day in and day out, I immersed myself in studies related to the usage of nanotechnology, my goal to grasp the concept and potential of virtually atomic-scaled devices. In light of this experience, I wish to pursue an engineering degree, one that I will use to break problem-solving barriers and garner new technology to improve the lives of those around me. When I lived on the University of Tennessee campus with other aspiring scientists, engineers, and physicists, I had the opportunity to prepare for life beyond high school. Not only did my experience prepare me for the real world, but it helped me bond and work with young students who shared my goals and showed me the importance of teamwork and leadership. For 4 weeks, I took trips to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, conducted numerous MSE-related experiments, and attended seminars hosting prominent research groups such as NASA. By the finish, I was motivated and ready to lead my research. Although I am excited by the thought of this, I am even more excited to become the first in my family to pursue a college degree. Paving the way for others in my life to see the value of hard work and discipline is important to me. Opportunities like GSSE have opened my eyes to my potential and have given me the courage to become a role model and leader. With the help of this scholarship, I will have the opportunity to continue my education, become a role model to those around me, and become the first person in my family to earn a college degree. Beyond GSSE, I currently take community college classes through the Tennessee Promise and plan to have an associate's degree in Mechatronics Science before I graduate high school. Although I am grateful for my opportunities, Mechatronics Science pursues automation training rather than promoting a problem-solving environment that prompts creativity and innovation. With this considered, I plan to pursue higher education in hopes of learning new ways of thinking and developing problem-solving skills. Though I always knew I would pursue a field in STEM, the captivating world of engineering and research has captured my heart. As a high school student, I work hard to secure my grades and even harder to find research groups willing to work with me. Although I put in a lot of effort to secure research opportunities, I cannot ignore those who have helped me along the way. With the help of mentors, teachers, family, and friends, I have been able to take advantage of opportunities, equipment, and experiences that most high school students could only dream of having. With others in mind, my goal is to choose a career that gives back to the community in the same way others have given to me. Ultimately, this scholarship will help me achieve these goals and more, enriching my life and connecting me with my community.

For thousands of years, people practicing religious beliefs have veered away from scientific discoveries and mathematical theories. Although many spiritual individuals believe in connecting with nature and seeking the beauty in God's natural world, they often fail to acknowledge the beauty and truth in the fundamental physics concepts and principles that define the movement and creation of the natural world. While scientific notions and mathematical equations may seem to contradict the biblical descriptions of nature, we can utilize them to prove the existence, rather than the lack, of a divine truth and being. Faith and science, while different in some ways, are not incompatible but rather intimately related. According to Nobel Prize winner Max Planck, known for founding Quantum Physics: All matter originates and exists only by a virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter (Borowski). Ultimately, Planck claims that the force holding our worldly system together is inherently due to a spiritual presence in our universe. Through these words, he suggests that science and faith are complementary rather than contradictory. Although some claim universal creation is coincidental rather than divine, in science coincidence is exceedingly rare. Supporting this, in the early 13th century, Italian mathematician Leonardo Bonacci discovered the existence of a mathematical sequence, the Fibonacci Sequence, describing a series of numbers in which each number adds to the last. Although Bonacci’s finding may seem irrelevant, the pattern frequently replicates in nature. The sequence is present in the spiral of pinecone scales, fanning out in the sun and closing in the cold to safeguard seeds and support reproduction (Doepp). Ultimately, to assume the natural world is coincidence is to ignore the abundant patterns and blatant arrangements fundamental in supporting life and faith. Oftentimes, people are scared to pursue further education, believing it may contradict or weaken their faith. While their concerns are understood, fear of discovery and science prohibits them from appreciating the universe's complexity. In support, neuroscientist Nicole Calma writes, “When we study science, this awe is magnified. The ants become more than bugs: they’re complex organisms made up of organ systems, made up of organs, made up of tissues, made up of cells” (Calma). Perceiving life in this way, Calma prompts those with religion to appreciate the complexity of the creatures and systems on Earth and trusts their faith will strengthen with understanding. Overall, the concepts of science and faith, though different, are undeniably woven to each other in pursuit of defining the natural world. Suggesting the existence of a greater force at play in the arrangement of natural world physics, Planck upholds the notion of spiritual governance in the world of science. By grasping the patterns presented by science, faithful individuals can overcome their doubts and pursue science to admire God’s hand in universal fabrication. Fundamentally, science and faith are bound to one another, constantly working to unravel the most profound questions presented in society and instilling within us a greater understanding of the intricacy and intrinsic allure of the natural world. Works Cited: Borowski, Susan. “Quantum Mechanics and the Consciousness Connection.” American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 16 July 2012, www.aaas.org/quantum-mechanics-and- consciousness-connection. Calma, Nicole. “5 Reasons the Church Should Embrace Science.” RELEVANT, 27 Dec. 2017, relevantmagazine.com/faith/5-reasons-church-should-embrace-science/. Doepp, Manfred. “The Activation of the Pineal Gland Is Important for Our Consciousness.” Journal of Clinical and Medical Images, Case Reports, 19 June 2023, jcmimagescasereports.org/jcm- v2-1331/.