I am honored and humbled to once again be awarded with a Joseph James Morelli Legacy Foundation scholarship. This award is helping me successfully pursue a STEM degree at Keuka College. Joseph’s story and his interests remind me of my own; I feel deeply connected to someone that I regrettably never had the opportunity to meet. I imagine being in the outdoors gave Joseph as much peace as it has given me. I will continue to honor Joseph and his family by overcoming my own learning challenges, and being a strong advocate for myself. I know that I can help Joseph’s memory live on by going above and beyond to make lasting contributions in the field of environmental science.