Kimberly Hadaway doesn’t just talk about what she wants to achieve—she makes it happen. Her next challenge: motivate girls to pursue STEM-related careers.

Through her church, Kimberly became more aware of the challenges students from low income and certain socioeconomic backgrounds face in school. She herself was raised by a single mother who worked diligently to ensure Kimberly had the same opportunities as every other student applying to college—and Kimberly wants to pass on those same opportunities to other students.

“The many years I have served as a tutor have given me insight into how to break down barriers and provide reassurance to even the lowest performing student that they have the capacity to learn when they’re guided by someone who is compassionate and patient,” Kimberly says.

During her high school career, Kimberly was a campus tutor for math and science, student leader, volunteer for several organizations and more at Paulding County High School. Her summers weren’t spent by the pool, but relaying what she’d learned each school year to middle and high school students who attended the Academic Excellence Math Program where Kimberly was an instructor’s assistant and math tutor. Kimberly was so motivated to ensure her students performed well on the ACT and SAT that she created an online ACT Prep Club to help students in her specialty, math, as well as English, reading and science.

“I collaborated with teachers, tutors, parents and students in developing lessons and planning strategies to get students excited about their least favorite subject and raise their ACT scores,” Kimberly says.

While Kimberly helped other students excel, she never neglected her own studies. Her college application process included several college admission and scholarship offers. In the end, she chose to attend Williams College to double major in mathematics and chemistry. Kimberly is excited to interact with students from different backgrounds. She hopes to figure out her calling in the math and science field along the way.

“I think I’ll discover my career along my journey while I stretch my own intellectual boundaries,” Kimberly says.

No matter where her studies take her, Kimberly looks forward to continuing her efforts to help students excel in her campus community. As a STEM major, she also looks forward to motivating more girls in her community at home to pursue math and science. She knows being an Elks scholar will help her do that.

She will also serve on the ENF Scholar Advisory Board for the next three years, providing her the opportunity to connect with other Elks scholars and Elks while piloting Elks scholar opportunities on her campus.

“More than a mere thank you, I believe the way I continue to carry myself, approach my studies and continue to serve my community will show the impact being an Elks Scholar has, and will continue to have on my life,” Kimberly says.

For 2017-18, the Elks National Foundation allocated $2.89 million to fund the Most Valuable Student scholarship program, which includes 500 four-year scholarships ranging from $4,000 to $50,000. For more information about the Most Valuable Student scholarship program, including eligibility and deadlines, visit enf.elks.org/MVS.