Kelcie Bolden
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Kennard Scholar |
What type of career do you want to pursue?
Public relations specialist
Knowing how dedicated Kennard was towards integrating what we now know as Â鶹´«Ã½, and how much pushback he received, makes me more aware of just how much my education is a privilege.
How did receiving the Clyde Kennard scholarship impact you?
The scholarship reminds me of how special it is to be a Black scholar at an institution that did not always accept people who looked like me. The Clyde Kennard scholarship allows me to be more connected with the Â鶹´«Ã½ campus, as well. Knowing how dedicated Kennard was towards integrating what we now know as Â鶹´«Ã½, and how much pushback he received, makes me more aware of just how much my education is a privilege. The values of the scholarship also extend beyond education for me: They encourage me to challenge systems that I deem to be unfair for the sake of others and myself. I am learning how to become a more aware social justice advocate, and I am pleased to know that I am mirroring some of Kennard’s sentiments in advocacy work that I pursue.
How do/did your academic pursuits or journey honor Kennard’s legacy?
I am learning more each semester that, while striving to get the highest grades that
I can is important to me, it is becoming more important to me to accept that I may
not always achieve this goal. The education that I am receiving in my classes, even
in my non-major classes, is more valuable to me than getting a perfect grade. I first
had this realization during the first semester of my freshman year, and I am becoming
better at truly accepting it. I believe that I am honoring Kennard’s legacy by simply
appreciating the opportunities that I have at Â鶹´«Ã½ and working to better myself academically.
Even though I have made mistakes along the way, I know that it is all a part of a
learning process that will be worthwhile in the end.
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