Personal Statement
My family operates a winery (Lincoln Way Vineyards) and later in my life I would like to take over the family business. I plan on finding a college that relates to agriculture, specifically a college with a Food Science degree, or even better, an Enology (science of winemaking) or Fermentation Science degree. Either field would help me be more knowledgeable about the winery when it comes time for me to take over.
Outside the winery I participate in other areas of agriculture. I am a 4-H member and show market hogs and dairy heifers along with various still projects that range from Food Science, Physics, Ag Mechanics to Home Economics (Cooking/Sewing/Baking, etc.). I also participate in the Northwestern FFA Chapter, where I am an active member and elected treasurer, and compete in the Food Science and Dairy Foods Career Development Events (CDE).
Volleyball is the other major interest in my life. I used to watch my parents play volleyball as a toddler and then became interested in playing. In the 5th grade I started going to volleyball camps which led to being on my first JO team (Ohio Storm) in 2015. From there I continued playing volleyball for my school in 7th and 8th grade and was voted to the role of team captain both years. I went to a new JO team (Tandem Volleyball Club), where I was also voted to the role of team captain. In high school I have been a starter and six spot rotation player as a Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior earning my varsity letters every year and was named team tri-captain as as Sophomore and served as the floor captain for the majority of our matches. As a Junior I was also named a team tri-captain as well as the floor captain.
Today I continue to play for Tandem VBC and have already signed a contract to play for the Evans - U17s team for the 2021 season. This season, our core team from 2019/2020, along with a few new members, are challenging ourselves with a psudo National team schedule. We are entered locally as an American team, but travelling to two national qualifier events in order to challenge ourselves at a higher level of play. Our team coach, Jodi Evans, was hired to develop our skills to mirror her daughter, Kacie Evans, who was named the SEC Freshman of the year in 2019 at the University of Georgia. I am excited about this challenge!
My goal is to play college volleyball and I continue to focus on improving my volleyball skills both in and off season(s). I try to balance my time with this between maintaining my “straight A” average in school, 4-H/FFA activities and working for my parents at the vineyard/winery operation.
