Could you tell us a bit more about yourself? Your hobbies or extracurricular activities?
I live surrounded by beautiful Colorado mountains and spend my time exploring the vast landscape around me. When the weather is nice I go on hikes on the surrounding mountains, paddle along the nearby rivers, and volunteer with local organizations. Once winter rolls around my creative side unleashes and I start creating art online and in my sketch book.
How did you feel when you found out you won the $500 scholarship?
I was honestly very excited and surprised that I had been presented this scholarship because I knew 200 people applied and only 3 were rewarded this scholarship. When I received the email at, at first, I was in disbelief, but after each time I read it I became more excited.
What do you think about the questions asked on our application form?
The application questions were questions anyone could answer because they revolved around personal interests and ambitions. It was nice to see that ChameleonJohn was interested in me as a person and wanted me to display my passions.
Where will you use the money?
I will use the money from this scholarship to aid me in purchasing a laptop with a high processing power for school and to explore a passion of mine. I love creating things on Photoshop and other adobe programs, but I've always lacked the finances to bring this love outside of the school computers.
Is it relatively easy to get a scholarship to study in the United States or it requires a ton of work and persistence?
To get a scholarship within the United States isn't a large sum of work, but it does require patience and determination. There are always questions that have to be answered and sometimes that answer isn't clear, so you have to dig deep for hours to discover that answer, but in the end it is worth it.
What would your advice be to our next year's applicants? What should they pay attention to?
It's all about being yourself, ChameonJohn seems to want to hear about the applicant as a person and it's not about being the perfect person. I recommend being authentic. While answering questions make sure you are portraying yourself in a way everyone can understand clearly and be able to follow your unique vision.