Mia Cassetta

I am honored and humbled to receive the VAW/VRC Merit Scholarship. I am grateful to all those that contributed to this scholarship fund as well as the many volunteers that support the selection process. I will be attending college out of state which will make everything more costly as a non-resident and this scholarship will help lessen the financial burden on my family. I worked very hard throughout my school years and summers to save money so that I can afford to follow my dreams of helping others. I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to study Mechanical Engineering and hopefully later on Environmental Engineering. I hope to help not only other people but also the environment and ecosystems by creating effective sustainable energy systems. I am also grateful for my father who has taught me to always work hard, to never settle for anything but the best, and that hard work requires sacrifices. My father has dedicated decades of his life to the Navy and demonstrated how making sacrifices can pay off with enough hard work and staying motivated. I am beyond grateful that I was selected to receive a scholarship that I will use to be able to better my education and give back to my community by helping others.