Why ONR?
I grew up in Portsmouth, and in my ninth grade year, I relocated to Chesapeake, Va., where I would attend Western Branch High School. Western Branch in my opinion, is one of the best schools in Chesapeake. It is the second school in the city to be SOL (Standards of Learning) accredited, the school sends more of its graduates to colleges or vocational/technical schools than any other school in the area. Western Branch's faculty and staff are dedicated to teaching their subject for the well-being of its students, and as a high school student, there was a wide range of subjects that I was exposed to, mathematics, being one of them, became my favorite subject. Mathematics became my favorite subject because I had an aptitude for solving problems and helped others become well-rounded in mathematics. Mathematics has led me to become involved in several school activities: CHROME, an organization geared toward promoting minorities in the fields of math, science, and technology; and the Science and Math Club. I am also a member of the Sankofa Cultural Learning Center, a nonprofit organization promoting youth to other cultural backgrounds; Lambda Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; an organization to expose youth African-American to African-American professionals; and St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church's Mime Ministry, a ministry that praises the Lord through gestures.
Having many majors to choose from, I chose to major in Computer Science because it would enable me to use mathematics but also work with technology. After receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, I plan to start out as a computer systems analyst while attending graduate school to receive a Master's Degree in Mathematics. Participation in the ONR Research Scholarship Program would benefit me in the job market and help me to become successfully prepared for graduate studies.
Being an assiduous student, I have receive a number of awards for academic achievement: Certificate of Recognition for Honor Roll (straight A's) and a Math and Science Award.