Thank you to the OPCMIA for selecting me as a recipient of the Patrick D. Finley Scholarship, it is such a wonderful honor! The OPCMIA has played a vital role in my family life. My dad, Greg Pelle, has been a proud member of Cement Masons Local 500 for 30 years and my grandpa was also a Local 500 member.
I have chosen to attend San Diego State University to pursue a degree in criminal justice. I will be the first person on my dad’s side of the family to attend a four-year university. Once I achieve that goal I would like to work for the FBI as a profiler or attend law school and then become a prosecuting attorney. I have always wanted a career where I could make a positive difference in people’s lives.
In high school I challenged myself to maintain a high GPA each year. I was selected as a student leader for Keith Hawkins Kindness Week and was honored with the Espirit de Wolverine award for mathematics as a sophomore. I volunteer at several events in the community each year. In my junior year I was a co-founder of, and am now the co-president of, a campus club that works to help homeless pets. We package donated pet food for distribution to rescues and spend time walking, playing with and socializing dogs and cats at a local rescue. This year our club arranged to have therapy dogs on campus during finals/AP testing to help ease stress for students during a busy time of year. It was a big hit!
Another accomplishment that I am proud of is being a four-year varsity member on my high school dance team. I love to dance, and it is a great outlet for me to express my creativity. We had the opportunity to compete at Disney World in 2023, which was such a wonderful experience!
I have worked hard all through high school to fulfill my dream of attending a great university and grab hold of all the opportunities I know I will find there. Thank you again for this award. I know the life lessons and values my dad has passed on to me, such as the importance of family, hard work, determination, kindness, and teamwork will serve me well as I move forward to my next adventure.
