Fall 2025 Winner of the Conflict Conqueror Scholarship

Jeremiah Lloyd-Santos

Jeremiah has faced several hardships throughout his life, but he refuses to let those struggles define his future. With unwavering focus, he is pursuing his college education and is committed to earning his degree. Congratulations, Jeremiah – your determination and optimism are a true testament to the power of resilience!

Read his essay

Why me? What do you mean “why me”. Why do families break apart? Why did my aunt adopt me from a young age? Why? Fresh out of the womb I was a black, and a hispanic newborn, already getting judged because of the color of my skin. My mother had me and my twin brother at the age of 20 as a high school dropout, not prepared for what it takes to raise 2 children. My mom was a very abusive woman. Words can't describe the amount of pain and mental strain she put on me and my brother, all me and my brother had was each other. My dad was never in the picture to this day, I don't know what he looks like.

I've been through alot in my life, and my aunt saw that so she took me, and my brother in.

Then my mom had another child, my sister, so my aunt took her in, because again she couldn't take care of her. So now my brother and my sister are living with my aunt and have nothing to do with our mom. Now me and my sister are fully adopted by my auntie, and she is now my legal mom.

I grew up in poverty, and some nights I didn't know where my next meal was going to be. I'm not going let things like having to be in a foster home or having no dad or mother stop me from going to college. I will be the first Santos to go to college, and I will make it happen no matter what.