Foundation For Your Future Scholarship

Congratulations to our Scholarship Winners!

Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, is proud to support college-bound students intent on bettering themselves and making a difference in their communities – and perhaps the world. We hope that the scholarship money we offer is a building block towards each deserving student’s future, and we wish them all success in life!

Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP would like to thank all who applied. Please check our blog and Facebook page for announcements and other scholarship opportunities.

 

2022 Winning Entry

"Being a doctor often consists of listening and communicating, not just medicating."

- Ella D., 2022 Scholarship Winner

"I’ve seen loss beyond words, but I am more committed to this community than ever and I can’t wait to help more."
- Ella D.

It was enjoyable and educational right up until the first child patient died. I’ve spent much of my free time helping my pediatrician communicate with her palliative care patients. I am honored to be a small part of the community that she built to care for terminally ill patients needing end-of-life care. I volunteered my efforts as phone triage and patient liaison with Dr. Natalie Kontos, a specialized Pediatrician caring for children near the end of life. This palliative care community represents strength and compassion and focuses on lending support to families facing the worst brunt of serious illness imaginable.

I am an integral part of a community, where I do my part to connect families with needed home care services and to a multitude of pediatric specialists. However, most often it is my role simply to listen to the frustrations and raw emotions of these families suffering unimaginable pain.

Following a special patient’s care plan, enduring her long battle with cancer, and interacting with her family was a sobering reminder of the experience of providing medical care, and a reminder that being a doctor often consists of listening and communicating, not just medicating. Through my position in this community, I am able to experience a possible version of my future self, a healthcare provider with a focus on compassionate listening skills.

This experience has forever changed me. I’ve seen loss beyond words, but I am more committed to this community than ever and I can’t wait to help more.

As a child, my favorite toy was a simple manila folder that held a medical chart labeled Dr. Ella DeGraw. I spent countless days forcing my papa into medical visits, performing imaginary surgeries on my pets, and neatly organizing my charting in the folder. That folder represents my curiosity, my dreams, my future.

"As a child, my favorite toy was a simple manila folder that held a medical chart labeled Dr. Ella DeGraw."
- Ella D.

However, it was my struggles as a patient that solidified my decision to create a career out of my childhood games. I struggled with anxiety and ADHD, and I became fascinated with alternative methods of processing information. Because of these experiences, I aim to major in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN), and to achieve my goals of becoming among the leaders and best in the medical field.

Now, I am focused on helping other patients in Adolescent Medicine and the evaluation and treatment of ADD, anxiety, and depression. I hope to follow my dreams to major in BCN, attend medical school, and become a pediatrician who specializes in treating children who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and ADHD.

My college experience will undoubtedly offer challenging opportunities to become a leader in medicine. One day, I hope to create thousands of patient charts, but I will never forget the first torn up manila folder chart of my childhood, labeled Dr. Ella DeGraw. Just one person, dedicated to helping others in a very personal way.

I am motivated to make a lasting impact on my community. I owe a large part of that motivation to Dr. Natalie Kontos, who has served as such an inspiring role model for me, both as a women practicing in the medical field and as a wife and mother balancing that work with her personal life and family goals.

- Ella D.


2021 Winning Entry

"Through listening to these stories, as a young girl, I learned not just about our culture but also about my own family’s journeys."

- Jesse D., 2021 Scholarship Winner

"Solving each problem was like unraveling an abstract and complex puzzle and gaining new understandings of the beautiful world around me."
- Jesse D.

As a tradition, my family makes dumplings to celebrate the Chinese New Year. During the preparation, we all sit around a table and listen to my father’s storytelling. As we pinch the edges of each half-moon-shaped dumpling, my father’s booming voice and hearty chuckle fill the room. His sparkling eyes shine like the stars as he recounts his personal experiences.

Through listening to these stories, as a young girl, I learned not just about our culture but also about my own family’s journeys.

My father grew up in a small rural Chinese village. He was an adventurous and mischievous boy who would always venture out to play in the mountains. My father enjoyed standing at the top to observe the beautiful scenery of the village, the river, and the land way beyond his hometown.

He was curious and wanted to explore the bigger world outside of his village. In my father’s descriptions of the humble village houses and rumbling river, I feel like I was also standing there with him, experiencing the wind rustling through my hair at the top of the mountain.

As he grew older, my father’s desire for exploration became greater. He gradually realized that education was his only ticket to go out into the bigger world. He worked extremely hard on his studies and graduated top of his high school class. My father was really interested in math and science; he loved the practicality of these subjects, and it provided him with the knowledge of how the world worked. Influenced by his passion, I also really enjoyed math and science from a young age. Solving each problem was like unraveling an abstract and complex puzzle and gaining new understandings of the beautiful world around me.

My father became the first person in his family and village to get into college. Although that was a great accomplishment, his aspirations didn’t stop there. He finished his bachelor’s degree in three years and became the head professor and researcher at Zhejiang University. However, his ambition to see more and do more made him restless and unsatisfied with his planned out future. My father decided to come to the United States and pursue the American dream.

Even after all these experiences, my father still hasn’t lost the spark in his eyes. I can still see the shadow of the ambitious young boy hungry for exploration. Every time I hear these stories, I feel proud of my family’s heritage and strive to endorse these important values. I feel grateful and proud of my father for everything he has done for our family and for providing my brother and me with the best education. Inspired by my father’s motivation, perseverance, and value in education, I work hard and challenge myself in pursuing high ambitions.

"I realized that even though I felt greatly inspired by my father’s experiences, I cannot follow in his footsteps; I have to create a new path for myself."
- Jesse D.

My father’s hard work and determination in his studies motivate me to work hard in school. Since freshman year, I’ve taken the most rigorous course schedule that my school offers. I took a total of twelve AP courses which is the highest amount of AP courses that anyone in my school has taken. During my junior year, I took AP Physics and AP Calculus. These classes were typically reserved for senior students. After communicating with my counselor, the Head of the Math Department, and the Head of the Science Department, I became the only junior student taking AP Physics 1 and AP Calculus after they saw my passion and work in STEM. While taking very challenging courses, I also took classes that were interesting to me. I’ve always been very enthusiastic about computer science.

During my sophomore and junior year, I took AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A. Since my school didn’t offer these courses, I talked to my counselor and was able to take them through VHSLearning, an online learning platform. Learning about Computer Science online was very challenging as there was no physical guidance present which was very different from my previous classes. I learned to become more self-directed in this independent learning process. In maxing out my course schedule, I have become the valedictorian after consistently being in the Top 5 of my class.

Additionally, my father’s experience immigrating to the United States influenced me to step outside my boundaries and be fearless in pursuing my passions. Throughout high school, I often found myself to be the only girl in STEM, whether it’s in courses like AP Physics or extracurricular activities like FTC Robotics. However, the fear of being the only girl didn’t stop me from reaching my aspirations, but rather these experiences prompted me to grow and become more independent.

In order to share my passion and promote these subjects, I started the first Math Club and Computer Science Club at my high school. The innate courage and confidence I developed over time have helped me become a leader in these activities and encourage more girls in my high school to pursue STEM.

As I got older, I began to realize that my world differed significantly from my parents. My parents worked hard to provide me with the best education in the United States. Growing up in a predominantly white town, I am immersed both in Chinese and American culture. Contrary to the misty mountains and rumbling rivers, my world is filled with busy car-filled streets and innovative technologies. While my father had to work hard in order to see the bigger world, I could access vast information and opportunities at my fingertips. I realized that even though I felt greatly inspired by my father’s experiences, I cannot follow in his footsteps; I have to create a new path for myself.

As I begin my own journey, I hold my family’s traditional values close to my heart while keeping an open mind to new ideas and opportunities. Through new challenges and experiences, I want to carry on the tradition of storytelling and bring my new stories to the family table.

- Jesse D.


2020 Winning Entry

"Receiving an education is key to reaching my goal – ensuring that families impacted by incarceration receive the support needed to thrive."

- Alyssa T., 2020 Scholarship Winner

"This life has been a whirlwind of academic, professional, emotional, and spiritual growth. However, I couldn’t be more fulfilled."
- Alyssa T.

The first college graduation I ever attended was inside of San Quentin Prison. It was for incarcerated men, and my dad was the valedictorian. In his speech, he said, “What makes students like us stand different from others is our strength to endure in the face of adversity.” It’s a line that has stuck with me – it connects to my own education and commitment to my community. Receiving an education is key to reaching my goal – ensuring that families impacted by incarceration receive the support needed to thrive. I would be honored to receive the support of the Foundation For Your Future Scholarship.

My dad left when I was 9-years-old. During his absence, I suffered emotional, physical, and sexual abuse because of my mother’s alcoholism. This was exacerbated when I turned 15 and my mother kicked me out of our home, resulting in my homelessness. At 16, I became pregnant from a sexual assault. When my life drastically changed with my pregnancy, I dropped out of high school. However, I never gave up on my dreams; I obtained a GED and developed a plan to attend college.

"Listening to his speech and watching him hold his diploma while he was incarcerated showed me that anything is possible."
- Alyssa T.

Before UCSC, I attended community college while working full time and raising my son as a single mom. I also independently managed a household. Truthfully, it was challenging, yet I developed critical skills and have pushed myself to keep pursuing my education. Lately, I have been reflecting on this journey and the impact that my father’s incarceration and education has had on me.

My experiences have helped me develop a passion for improving the lives of system-impacted families. My plan is to earn a law degree and use my firsthand knowledge of the effects of the criminal justice system to promote change. I am part of the community impacted by incarceration and my community matters to me. They are what drives me to be successful in my career and my personal life, simply because I desire to make a difference.

Now, I’m volunteering in prisons and jails and working with others impacted by incarceration, raising awareness of how incarceration shatters families. I’ve listened to heart-wrenching stories of forceful separation by the police and long bus rides only to learn visits were canceled. I’ve heard from those who were absent when children were born or, even more tragically, when children died. I’ve listened to hopes for reunification. People impacted by incarceration yearn for an opportunity to discuss this impact as well as find solutions for healing. I’ve started to tackle this issue with Walls to Bridges.

The project is focused on fostering family communication during and after incarceration through confidential dialogues using restorative justice principles and practices. The project seeks to mitigate the isolation and stigma created by familial incarceration. Though this project is difficult, I am committed to it. It matters to me. I have been working on it since February 2019. In this time, I have secured some funding, hired volunteers, developed the curriculum and policies for the program, and started recruitment for participants. I’m breaking boundaries and am motivated now more than ever.

At UCSC, I’m pursuing a double major in Legal Studies and Philosophy. I’m hungry to learn and expand my capacity to think critically and serve others. I’m seeking opportunities to develop the intellectual and policy framework I need to truly make a difference. Support from the Foundation For Your Future Scholarship will assist me in completing my undergraduate education and applying to law school.

This life has been a whirlwind of academic, professional, emotional, and spiritual growth. However, I couldn’t be more fulfilled. I’m the first in my family to attend a traditional four-year institution. My dad spent seven years obtaining an associate degree from the Prison University Project. He modeled for me the true meaning of perseverance. Numerous times, he was unexpectedly transferred to another prison, losing all of a semester’s credits and having to start over. Yet he remained dedicated to accomplishing his goals, just as I have been. When I attended his graduation, I had yet to start community college. Listening to his speech and watching him hold his diploma while he was incarcerated showed me that anything is possible.

Not only is my dad my biggest role model, but his statement from his valedictorian speech continues to motivate me. By demonstrating that I can excel in college and remain active in my community despite numerous obstacles present in my life, I’ve proven that I too have the strength to endure in the face of adversity. I’ve proven that I care about others who face incredible challenges and that I am determined to effectively serve them. I’m excited to pursue a legal education and I would be honored to receive support from the Foundation For Your Future Scholarship. The second college graduation I will attend will be my own. Now that my dad is home, it will be his turn to watch me walk across the stage.

The second college graduation I will attend will be my own. Now that my dad is home, it will be his turn to watch me walk across the stage. Thank you for your consideration.

- Alyssa T.


2019 Winning Entry

"I look up to Kathrine Johnson because of her unceasing determination to create her own future and to not be intimidated by prejudices, racial, and gender barriers."

- Jordan T., 2019 Scholarship Winner

"Whenever I tell someone that I want to be an engineer, they look at me with surprise. No one expects a teenage girl to be interested in STEM."
- Jordan T.

Not many people have heard of Kathrine Johnson. In fact, I didn’t even know who she was until I watched Hidden Figures, the story of three women who worked for NASA and helped propel Americans into space. As I watched the movie, I was amazed by Kathrine’s determination, perseverance, and intelligence. As I did more research, I became more and more inspired by this woman. I look up to Kathrine Johnson because of her unceasing determination to create her own future and to not be intimidated by prejudices, racial, and gender barriers.

I am a young woman interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), especially engineering, and because of this I am faced with negative stereotypes of girls. Many people see girls as unable to be engineers, and culturally, engineering and math are seen as a “boy thing.” Whenever I tell someone that I want to be an engineer, they look at me with surprise. No one expects a teenage girl to be interested in STEM. I am consistently one of the only three girls in my engineering classes. This bias is reflected in everyday situations, and I am reminded of it every time I pass by the toy aisle at the store. The “girl” aisle is filled with dolls, stuffed animals, and anything pink and frilly. The “boy” aisle is filled with building blocks, toy cars, and pretend tool sets. From a young age, girls are being told, directly and indirectly, that they should play with dolls and their brothers can play with building sets. This bias towards boys being builders is directly seen in the workforce today. There are consistently fewer women than men in STEM fields. In engineering, only 20 percent of the workforce are women, the lowest percentage in STEM fields. Minority women have even lower statistics. The obvious cultural bias towards boys being engineers is causing many girls to turn from engineering fields.

"Katherine Johnson serves as my inspiration to continue doing what I love, even when the world says I can’t."
- Jordan T.

Kathrine Johnson was no stranger to being different. She started attending high school classes at the age of 10. She graduated from college with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and French at age 18. Then Katherine enrolled in graduate school, becoming the first African American woman to do so, and one of the first three African American students selected to attend the previously all-white school. Her desire to learn inspired her to take risks and go against the norm, breaking racial boundaries. She had the courage to step outside the box and demand for herself the future she desired. This courage to be different and passion to learn are some of the reasons why I look up to Kathrine Johnson.

Kathrine Johnson encountered prejudices because of her race and because she was a woman in STEM. She wasn’t the typical physicist and mathematician of the day and age. She broke gender and racial stereotypes by demanding that she be treated as any other employee. Kathrine asked to be included in editorial meetings, which are what NASA called the planning meetings. No other woman had been included in these meetings, but Katherine demanded her place, saying that she did the work to belong there. The racial and gender barriers were always there, but she did her best to break them and to continue on doing the work that she loved. Her contributions to the space agency are numerous, including trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard’s May 1961 mission Freedom 7, checking the calculations of computers for John Glenn’s orbital mission, and helping sync Project Apollo’s Lunar Lander with the moon-orbiting Command and Service Module. She was an essential part of the space program, and in her success, has paved the way for other girls aspiring to work in STEM.

When asked to name important people in the space program, names like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin come to most people’s minds. However, we can’t forget the people that worked in the background. Stories like Kathrine Johnson’s may not be the most well-known, but they can serve as an inspiration just as well. Her determination to succeed in her job and her courage to stand up against prejudice makes her an inspiration to all minorities in STEM. I look up to Katherine Johnson because she was determined to do what she loved, no matter what the world told her. She was relentless in pursuing her education, even when faced with challenges. She broke gender and racial prejudices that she faced in pursuing the work that she loved. Katherine Johnson serves as my inspiration to continue doing what I love, even when the world says I can’t.

- Jordan T.


2018 Winning Entry

"I always wanted to be able to reach out to different people in the community and have the opportunity to help others."

- Grace D., 2018 Scholarship Winner

Introduction

"I hope to go into pediatric nursing. Knowing that these kids are hurting and sick will break me every day, but having the ability to reach out to them the way the nurses did to me can make a difference in the world."
- Grace D.

This scholarship sparked my interest because I love being able to help my community out and I know this scholarship would give me the opportunity to do that. If I get this scholarship, I plan to put it towards my education. My dream is to be able to attend Robert Morris University. Robert Morris University offers the best opportunities for me. Growing up, I have always dreamed of being able to attend Robert Morris because my dad attended that school and I feel like it would make him extremely proud of me. When they opened their nursing program, I knew instantly that it was calling my name. I hope to be able to attend Robert Morris in order to get the most out of my nursing degree and education, and to help others throughout the community while making my parents proud and keeping Robert Morris University in the family even longer. This scholarship would help me accomplish these things.

Short Essay

Robert Morris University has been my dream ever since I was a little girl. Growing up, I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life other than going to Robert Morris University. Multiple people in my family have attended Robert Morris University, including my father. I feel it would be a great honor to be able to attend the same school he did, and I hope it would make him very proud to keep the Robert Morris tradition in the family. Robert Morris University is mainly known for being a business college, yet I never really envisioned myself as a business major. I always wanted to be able to reach out to different people in the community and have the opportunity to help others, even something as small as making them laugh or smile for a few minutes.

"Growing up, I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life other than going to Robert Morris University."
- Grace D.

When I suffered a minor health problem and was forced to go to the hospital, I was able to get an inside look at what goes on, and from that moment on, I had my sights set on becoming a nurse. The nurses at Children's Hospital made my stay more enjoyable by checking on me, making sure I was okay, and that I understood everything that was going on. By attending Robert Morris University, I will be able to achieve not only one but two of my goals: going to college, and becoming a nurse. Robert Morris University provides me with the opportunity of having a great nursing experience. I would have the opportunity to do clinicals and intern at some of the top hospitals in the United States, making my nursing career more beneficial in the long run. Having the opportunity to work at some of these amazing hospitals will give me the opportunity to leave a mark on the world.

I hope to go into pediatric nursing. Knowing that these kids are hurting and sick will break me every day, but having the ability to reach out to them the way the nurses did to me can make a difference in the world. Being able to get a slight smile out of one kid who is going to be hurting for the rest of the day will make the world a happier place and make me feel like I am making a difference. A college education will help educate me to the best of my ability and get me ready for the day I can be an actual nurse and help people, and hopefully be able to bring a little bit of joy back into being a child. I hope to be able to attend Robert Morris University next year to major in nursing. Being able to become a pediatric nurse would help me make a difference in each child's life as the nurses did for me. I hope to be able to reach these goals one day and make a difference in my community. This scholarship would help to start me on the right path of going to college. I hope to make a difference in the community no matter how little or big - it all starts somewhere, and I hope Robert Morris University can be that place for me.

- Grace D.