Two values have always been at the center of my life: education and giving back. My parents instilled both of these in me early on, and even during the hardest times, they stayed non-negotiable priorities.
From an early age, I found ways to put philanthropy into action. When I was eight, I asked my parents if I could organize a fundraiser for Open Doors of Westfield, our local food pantry. I made flyers, loaded up my red Radio Flyer wagon, and went door to door collecting donations. People to this day still remember seeing me do that!
During the 2008–2009 recession, my dad lost his job, and not long after, my mom did too. Our family was struggling. There were times when neighbors or friends donated clothes or food, and we even turned to local food banks just to get by. If I wanted any “play money,” I had to earn it, so I worked five to seven days a week while juggling advanced high-school courses. I had to drop my varsity sport and any prospect of collegiate athletics to focus on academics and help support my family. Even then, I couldn’t help but notice people in even more difficult situations, standing on street corners, asking for money or food just to survive. It broke my heart. So, I started collecting small donations from friends and family to pass out to people experiencing homelessness around Indianapolis. Those moments shaped how I see generosity today: even when you don’t have much, you can still choose to give.
When I started college at IU Indianapolis, my parents were in the middle of a divorce, and the money that had been saved for my education went toward legal and family expenses. I was left with almost nothing. Federal aid was the only way I could pursue a degree. Still, in true overachiever fashion, I loaded up on more classes than recommended so I could move through college faster. That ambition came with a challenge -- some semesters I couldn’t afford to pay for all my classes.
That’s where the Cox Scholars Program changed everything. The scholarship covers the remainder of your tuition if you can contribute 25% yourself through work. The only problem was that it was designed to support an undergraduate degree only. When I realized I wanted to continue into a master’s program, I met with the program leaders and asked if they would consider extending their support. They agreed, and I promised I would find a way to pay it forward someday.
To meet the 25% work requirement, I stayed busy—really busy. I worked as a teaching assistant, a research assistant, and interned whenever I could, sometimes juggling all three at once. On top of that, I joined the STARS Computing Corps, a service-leadership program focused on expanding access and inclusion in computing. Through STARS, I had the chance to travel to conferences around the country, sharing how outreach and mentorship can change the path for students who might not see themselves represented in tech.
As school was wrapping up, I kept thinking about the promise I’d made to pay it forward. The support I received through financial aid, the Cox Scholars Program, and the mentors who believed in me made my education possible, and I wanted to create that same sense of hope for someone else. A close friend and I met with the development team to create what became the IU Indianapolis Informatics and Computing Make Your Mark Scholarship. Our goal was to support students who showed determination and potential, even if traditional test scores didn’t always capture it.
While my friend later moved on to other projects, I’ve continued supporting the scholarship every year since 2018. Meeting the recipients over coffee and hearing about their goals always takes me back to that promise and reminds me that small acts of generosity can change someone’s entire path.
Today, I’m proud to serve as a Senior Principal Human Factors Engineer at Eli Lilly and Company, a role that truly feels like the culmination of everything my parents taught me about perseverance, learning, and giving back. One of the things I value most about Lilly is its philanthropic gift-matching program, which allows me to extend my impact and support the causes that shaped who I am. In my spare time, I continue to stay connected to education as an Adjunct Instructor at the IU Luddy School.
Continuing to give back through the Luddy Step Up Fund is one of the most meaningful ways I can help others in the same position I once was. This fund helps bridge the gap for students facing unexpected financial challenges, the kind of uncertainty I remember so well. Supporting Step Up feels like closing the loop on my own story. Education and philanthropy were the constants that carried me through difficult times, and now they allow me to lift others who might be walking that same path.
Thank you for joining me in supporting the Luddy Step Up Fund. Together, we can empower students to reach their full potential!
