As a child growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, I remember many stories being shared by older generation family members, who had experienced up-close and personal very real racial discrimination moments. Many told of riding in the “colored” section at the back of the bus, drinking from “colored” water fountains, not being able to sit at lunch counters at the stores downtown, and sitting in the balcony at segregated movie theaters. Having direct knowledge of close family relatives, who have faced and overcome powerful obstacles, refusing to take “no” for an answer, is empowering in the extreme. I am confident in my ability to accomplish all my goals. My forefathers fought long and hard to pave the way for me to have more opportunities; I do not take my education for granted. Because of my cultural heritage, I am determined to achieve all I can in life. The beginning of the third grade was when I realized my love and fascination for the STEM field, recognizing my natural talent in this area. To support my passion, my parents enrolled me in the Community Outreach Development (CORD) program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, because they believed I could make a difference. Having been immersed and engaged with different groups of people, it was at this point that I began to recognize and value the power of diversity. My hunger for knowledge, not only in math and science but in every aspect of life, has grown over the years. I applied to the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA), one of the most diverse schools in the state, for the Department of Math & Science. After participating and succeeding in several math competitions in middle school, I was prepared for the challenge at ASFA’s department of math and science. Not only was I enriched academically but also culturally. Studying with various ethnicities has made me aware of the differences, yet we are still able to live and thrive together. Upon accomplishing my goal, the work will not be finished. It is not enough for me to succeed. I have a responsibility to my community and its youth- to reach out and bring others along. I see the necessity of giving back by sponsoring and building summer camps for other teenagers with an interest in math and science. Therefore, I plan on assisting youth in finding places for summer internships and hands-on opportunities in hospitals and clinics. I see myself working alongside fellow physicians to develop ongoing mentoring programs to spark interest in saving and improving the lives of people around us. ​ In the state of Alabama, there are still counties without hospitals or clinics due to a shortage of practitioners. These areas would be ideal locations to open free clinics to volunteer my services along with other medical professionals. Working with fellow scientists, experimenting with new ideas, and having the chance to improve the lives of countless people would be a great privilege. I look forward to working hard to achieve that goal.

My name is Yancey Williams II, and I am currently a rising sophomore at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), majoring in biomedical engineering. I have enrolled in the Science & Technology Honors Program, where students interested in scientific research are provided with interdisciplinary classrooms and innovation experiences. With hands-on experience in high-level research projects, I hope to gain additional information and knowledge to assist me as I continue building a stronger foundation of important contributions and theories in math and science while pursuing a career in medicine. I come from a large family of educators and therefore education is highly valued in my home. My parents are dedicated to ensuring my exposure to the skills necessary to live and work in a global society. I have a long academic journey ahead, which is why I decided to attend a college that would help me reach my long-term goal of getting into medical school. My ultimate career goal is to become a successful physician-scientist in the field of regenerative medicine by receiving an M.D. and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. Receiving additional financial aid will provide me the opportunity to increase my knowledge in math and science and help me reach my goal. I won’t say I deserve this opportunity more than anyone else, but I will say I won't waste the extraordinary benefits offered through this opportunity. The training I receive not only at UAB through my undergraduate studies but also through participation in the Summer Science Institute (SSI) programs since sixth grade at UAB, enables me to be a more productive member of the medical community. I learned through UAB’s Teen Volunteer program that the skills I learn should be used to contribute to making Birmingham a better community and city. This school year has been a challenge for me, at the UAB Science & Technology Honors Program, we are required to take the most rigorous courses in math and science. I am working harder this semester than I have ever worked in school, but I am enjoying the challenge. Communicating more with my teachers and devoting even more time to studying has helped improve my grades. I hope to have an opportunity to explore all that UAB has to offer and increase my knowledge of medicine.

My name is Yancey Williams II, and I am currently a rising sophomore at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), majoring in biomedical engineering. I have enrolled in the Science & Technology Honors Program, where students interested in scientific research are provided with interdisciplinary classrooms and innovation experiences. With hands-on experience in high-level research projects, I hope to gain additional information and knowledge to assist me as I continue building a stronger foundation of important contributions and theories in math and science while pursuing a career in medicine. I come from a large family of educators and therefore education is highly valued in my home. My parents are dedicated to ensuring my exposure to the skills necessary to live and work in a global society. I have a long academic journey ahead, which is why I decided to attend a college that would help me reach my long-term goal of getting into medical school. My ultimate career goal is to become a successful physician-scientist in the field of regenerative medicine by receiving an M.D. and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. Receiving additional financial aid will provide me the opportunity to increase my knowledge in math and science and help me reach my goal. I won’t say I deserve this opportunity more than anyone else, but I will say I won't waste the extraordinary benefits offered through this opportunity. The training I receive not only at UAB through my undergraduate studies but also participation in the Summer Science Institute (SSI) programs since sixth grade at UAB, enables me to be a more productive member of the medical community. I learned through UAB’s Teen Volunteer program that the skills I learn should be used to contribute to making Birmingham a better community and city. This school year has been a challenge for me, at the UAB Science & Technology Honors Program, we are required to take the most rigorous courses in math and science. I am working harder this semester than I have ever worked in school, but I am enjoying the challenge. Communicating more with my teachers and devoting even more time to studying has helped improve my grades. I hope to have an opportunity to explore all that UAB has to offer and increase my knowledge of medicine.