Eugene T. Moore Scholarships and Fellowships

Ruby Foster-Kyle | Secondary Education: Math
First-Time Student Awardee

"My name is Ruby Foster-Kyle, and I am from Seneca SC. I am majoring in Secondary Math Education.

It wasn't until my senior year of high school that I considered becoming a teacher. As I was reflecting on the previous years, I realized the main reason I loved coming to school was my teachers. In high school, I was specifically motivated by one of my science teachers whom I'd had for three years. I thought, "If He has made this big of an impact on who I have become by leading and guiding me, then I want to do the same for future students."

My mom inspires me to be successful. Growing up, she did everything she could to give me and my sisters all she could. I wanted to repay her by being the first in our family to attend university to make her proud.

I love everything about Clemson. The campus and community drove me to think I belong here."

Chloe Ison | Early Childhood Education
First-Time Student Awardee

“Chloe Ison, Greenwood, SC, and Early Childhood Education.

Working at a gymnastics center, I get to see children working hard at goals and achieving them. The joy this brought me made me realize that I wanted to work with children and see them grow as a career!

My mother inspires me to be successful. She works hard to provide for her family and is such an example of a strong woman!

This scholarship will allow me to get an education and become a teacher with less of a financial burden.

I have always wanted to go to Clemson. Clemson has such a great Education programand atmosphere!”

Olivia Jordan | Special Education
First-Time Student Awardee

“My name is Olivia Jordan, I am a Special Education major from New Zion, SC. I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember; however, it wasn't until 2 years ago that I realized I wanted to go into Special Education. I was doubting even going into teaching until I helped with the Special Ed class at my high school and fell in love with it. My inspiration to be successful comes from my teacher mentors Adrianna Lee and Stacey Fitts. They have taught me so much about not only special education but about myself. I am fully convinced they are the two best Special Education teachers there are. They are the sunshine in not only every students lives but the students families lives as well! This scholarship is helping me to better afford my college tuition in the hopes of being half the teacher either one of my mentors are. I can't imagine doing anything else with my life and the scholarship money to help me achieve this goal means the world to me. I chose Clemson university for several reasons, the Clemson Life program, their incredible academics, and its overall atmosphere. Clemson has already become my home away from home and I couldn't imagine spending the next 4 years anywhere else! Go Tigers!”

Reese Palmer | Elementary Education
First-Time Student Awardee

“My name is Reese Palmer and I am from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I lived there for 13 years and am now living in Clemson, SC! I am majoring in Elementary Education while attending Clemson University.

When I was entering the summer months between Freshman and Sophomore year and Sophomore and Junior year of high school, I worked at my Grandmother's daycare center where I encountered new experiences and interactions I never would have gotten otherwise. I loved not only the teaching and development aspect of the job but also the connections I made with my coworkers and the kids. I developed new communication skills, and that chapter of my life helped me explore other career opportunities relating to helping the development of children's education. That led me to the prospect of being a teacher, so throughout my final year of high school I explored the idea of being an education major which led me to where I am today.

Since I have been in a family business before, my family are the people who inspire me the most. More specifically, my Dad. My Dad is someone I can look up to and each day I learn something new from him. Since I was 11, he has moved around the country, and I live with him on the breaks from school. These experiences have brought us closer together and with each new move, I get to see a side of my Dad who would break barriers to make myself and his family happy. I aspire to be as strong as he is and as adaptable as his skillset has proven him to be.

Through the funding from this scholarship, I can put my mind more at ease in college. Since the money from the scholarship will alleviate some of the stress from my overall tuition cost, it will allow me to focus on getting my degree and succeeding in a career I know I can excel at. The funding from the scholarship also symbolizes a sense of hope and assurance that what I am doing is right and that I have support from a wide community of people.

Choosing the correct major is difficult, but choosing the proper college and atmosphere is even more challenging. I chose Clemson University because living in South Carolina for essentially my entire life has given me a new meaning of pride. I take pride in knowing that Clemson University is the best school that not only satisfied my needs of costs but has also allowed me to have socialization before getting on the campus, offered several meetings about financial aid and any questions about the campus itself, and has given me the chance to go farther in my education. I chose Clemson because I know it is the best school for me and it has allowed me to open my eyes up to new possibilities I never knew existed.”

Kaitlyn Aldrich | Early Childhood Education
Transfer Student Awardee

“My name is Kaitlyn Aldrich, and I am from Seneca, South Carolina. I am an early childhood education major. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl. The educators I have had in my life inspired me also to be one. Teaching is something I am genuinely passionate about. I can talk about it for hours. I am constantly excited about the future of teaching and being in a classroom. What inspires me to be a teacher is the impact I want to make in student's lives. I want to make a difference in the school and help students. Also, my family has always encouraged me to become a teacher. I have a helper personality and love children. My family supports all my goals and dreams, which helps me achieve them. I grew up in Seneca, which is about ten minutes from Clemson. I grew up in the Death Valley stadium and always wanted to be a Clemson tiger. I also have alumni in my family who heavily influenced my decision to pursue education at Clemson University. The Eugene T. Moore Education Scholarship would help me pursue my dreams of becoming a teacher. I want to be heavily involved in the education program and feel this scholarship would help me in my college career to pursue teaching.”

Anna Gray | Early Childhood Education
Transfer Student Awardee

“Anna Gray, I am from Anderson, SC and my major is Early Childhood Education.

When I was younger, I would always make my older siblings play 'school' with me. I would be the teacher and give them spelling tests, etc. Throughout the years, I would start to explore other possibilities, but I would always be brought back to education.

My family inspires me the most to be successful. They have always been supportive of me no matter the career choice I made.

This scholarship would help me achieve my goals so that I can focus more of my time on my education rather than my part time job and easing some of my financial needs.

I chose Clemson University because it is close enough to still be around my family, but I also have rooted for the school since I was a kid. Go Tigers!”

Christina Hicks | Elementary Education
Transfer Student Awardee

“Christina Hicks, Anderson SC, Elementary Education

I knew I wanted to be a teacher during my freshman year of High school when I worked with special ed children. I also knew I wanted to be a teacher when I started working with children and enjoyed the joy, they brought to me as well as being a safe space and making a difference in their lives.

Someone who inspires me to be successful is my friends and family as well as the children I look after.

This scholarship will help me with my goals because it is a huge help financially with classes I need to take to receive my degree.

I chose Clemson University because it’s a beautiful school with an amazing education program."

Jordan Little | Human Capital Education and Development
Transfer Student Awardee

“My name is Jordan Little, and I am a new Human Capital Education and Development major from Piedmont, South Carolina.

After taking a break from higher education, I decided to major in Human Capital Education and Development after getting to experience the business side of the career fire district where I work. I want to be equipped with an education to support a fire district and help it succeed.

My father inspires me to be successful. I grew up watching my dad become a successful finance manager, and seeing how his interpersonal skills advanced his career was truly inspiring. No matter where my career takes me, I want to connect with the people I meet just like my father and one day become as successful as he is.

This scholarship will help me achieve my goals by providing me with a monetary gift that will allow me to graduate debt-free from Clemson University. I am already so thankful to be a student at the best University, and receiving a scholarship through the University is a huge honor I don’t take lightly.

I chose Clemson University because Clemson has some of the most diverse and relevant programs higher education can offer. This major fits in perfectly with the vision of what I wanted my education to look like, and I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to complete this program as a full-time firefighter."

Isabel Silva | Middle Level Education: ELA/Social Studies
Transfer Student Awardee

“My name is Isabel Silva, and I'm from Spartanburg, SC, majoring in Middle Level Education. It took some time for me to realize my passion for teaching, but working in schools and being surrounded by students sparked something in me, and I knew this was the right path. My parents and high school teachers have been my biggest inspirations, instilling in me the drive to aim higher and the wisdom to succeed. Receiving the Eugene T. Moore Undergraduate Education Scholarship will allow me to fully focus on my studies without the burden of financial stress, allowing me to engage deeply in both my education and extracurricular activities. I chose Clemson University for its strong academic reputation, knowing that it would challenge me to grow in ways I never imagined, both academically and personally."

Haylie Messina | Modern Langauges Education: ASL
Transfer Student Awardee

“My name is Haylie Messina, I am originally from Long Island New York, then relocated to South Carolina. My major is Modern Languages for American Sign Language.

I knew I wanted to be a teacher at a very young age when I would always make my dolls be my students and I would teach them in my made up classroom. As I got older, I knew that I wanted to teach children. I love helping children out and realized I enjoy seeing them learn and absorb new things, I was still unsure what subject I wanted to teach though. I had a choice of a language to take in Middle School and I chose ASL. As I entered my ASL class and saw how my teacher interacted with the students and taught ASL is when I knew at that point in my 7th grade year I wanted to teach ASL. I later focused more on wanting to teach ASL to High School kids.

The person who inspires me to be successful would definitely be my Mom. She has always been my biggest supporter with anything thing I do. Since she does a lot for me, and others. I feel that I want to strive to be like her in the way to do for others. I feel by teaching children in school I am helping them and doing for others as she would do.

This scholarship will help me achieve my goals in becoming a ASL teacher, It will also help my parents out financially as we are a family of 6 and with the cost of tuition and supplies it would help relieve some pressure from my parents financially.

While attending Clemson University I can pursue my goal of being a Modern language teacher for American Sign Language and bring it to South Carolina High School. The main reason I chose Clemson University is because of my major that I can focus on and the beauty of the school. Clemson has everything all in one package for me. I feel like there is nothing more wholesome than going to a college in the state you love and returning to your hometown school in the same state and be able to teach the children what you have gained and learned at Clemson."

Laila-Vice Johnson | Elementary Education
First-Time Student Awardee
“I chose Clemson University because it is one of the best universities in South Carolina, and this scholarship will help pay for school to become a teacher.”

Raquel Almeida | Elementary Education
Transfer Student Awardee
“My family is my biggest inspiration. I am a first generation American and the first college student in my family, so I really want to make them proud and show them that their hard work and sacrifices for me weren't for nothing.”

Suzanne Barakat | Elementary Education
Transfer Student Awardee
“This scholarship will help me cover the costs of textbooks, commuting to class and this scholarship will make the next few years much less stressful!”

Ty Teanna Glenn | Elementary Education
Transfer Student Awardee
“This scholarship has helped alleviate some financial worries, but more importantly it appreciates the late Eugene T. Moore for his dedication to education, all while helping the future teachers of our generation.”