2021 Graduate Spotlight: Emily Kessie

Can you imagine what it must feel like to graduate college in the middle of an ongoing worldwide pandemic? Well, some of our scholarship recipients can. Learn more about their experiences in this series of College Fund Graduate Spotlights!

Meet Emily! She graduated with a degree in Biology from Bob Jones University.

She says COVID-19 made her academic year more challenging than most.
"I had to be tested very often and had several 'scares,' thinking I or someone close to me might have gotten it," she said. "Luckily, I stayed healthy through the school year. The health protocols at my school paid off!"

Emily says: "The College Fund scholarship was a blessing that unexpectedly came in the middle of the pandemic. It was somewhat of a sign to keep going, and to keep pursuing my goals even when so much was going on in my life."

While in undergrad, Emily completed two independent research projects related to hydroponic gardening, which is a biotechnology that allows crops to be grown in environments where the soil is not conducive to gardening. She tested the compression strength and chemical components of conventionally and hydroponically grown broccoli. She also played the flute in the Wind Band even with protocols and weekly testing. She says it was a very fun experience!

Now Emily is pursuing her Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of South Florida. Way to go!Can you imagine what it must feel like to graduate college in the middle of an ongoing worldwide pandemic? Well, some of our scholarship recipients can. Learn more about their experiences in this series of College Fund Graduate Spotlights!

Meet Emily! She graduated with a degree in Biology from Bob Jones University.

She says COVID-19 made her academic year more challenging than most.
"I had to be tested very often and had several 'scares,' thinking I or someone close to me might have gotten it," she said. "Luckily, I stayed healthy through the school year. The health protocols at my school paid off!"

Emily says: "The College Fund scholarship was a blessing that unexpectedly came in the middle of the pandemic. It was somewhat of a sign to keep going, and to keep pursuing my goals even when so much was going on in my life."

While in undergrad, Emily completed two independent research projects related to hydroponic gardening, which is a biotechnology that allows crops to be grown in environments where the soil is not conducive to gardening. She tested the compression strength and chemical components of conventionally and hydroponically grown broccoli. She also played the flute in the Wind Band even with protocols and weekly testing. She says it was a very fun experience!

Now Emily is pursuing her Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of South Florida. Way to go!