l’m thankful for this amazing opportunity. I struggled with dyslexia my entire education, but it was only tested for and identified after I graduated from high school. I have felt really alone dealing with this my whole life, especially in college as I have been trying to navigate my STEM classes and the time burden of dyslexia, while spending time on therapies and more effective adaptive strategies. The chance to have mentorship and to not be alone in this anymore, and to have this financial support from the Joseph James Morelli Legacy Foundation Scholarship, is deeply meaningful and a real lifeline for me and my education. I’m looking forward to becoming a part of this community.

2024: Becoming a Morelli scholar represents being part of a larger community of people who understand the struggles I’ve faced in my education, and have gone through similar experiences. As a previous Morelli scholar, the advice provided by mentors and the community has been extremely valuable in shaping my approach to my studies. The scholarship award also means I will be more able to fund my education, especially since I’ve had to take extra time due in large part to my dyslexia. I would like to thank the foundation for this amazing opportunity.