Kyndal Harp has been running to her school desk every day since the first day of kindergarten. But it wasn’t because she was late, nor was she trying to beat the bell; she just couldn’t wait to start learning. 

That same enthusiasm was with her as she crossed the graduation stage during 91Âț»­app’s Spring 2025 Commencement ceremony to accept her Master of Arts in Teaching for Elementary Education. 

“I’ve always been excited to go to school!” she laughed. “And I feel like it was because I was obsessed with learning as much as I possibly could.”  

She credits this to growing up in Macon, Georgia.

“Macon isn’t a small town, but the lack of diversity made it feel small to me,” she explained. “My mother was a writer, so my childhood was always fueled by an exploration of stories in books, or plays, or another form of storytelling.” 

The worlds she read about looked quite different from the streets that stretched far beyond the Bibb County lines. So for her, there was no question that she would leave her hometown when it came to college. That’s what brought her to Georgia Southern. 

“My undergraduate degree was in interdisciplinary studies,” she said. “My emphasis was three years of computer science. But in my last year, my concentration was in international studies. The long-term goal was to work in a tech company overseas.” 

But the career landscape was rocky when she graduated in 2020, so she had to adjust her plans.  

“I chose to work for a few years,” said Harp. “I thought I was going to law school. I was a paralegal for a while. I thought I wanted to pursue this and that. But the more I got into those fields, I realized that they weren’t going to get me where I wanted to be in my career.”

It was the solitude of the pandemic that delivered her epiphany. 

“I figured out that I wanted to be closer to people, and law wasn’t as close as I wanted it to be,” she said. “It was then that I realized I really do have a passion for celebrating other cultures and making people feel like they belong.”

She returned to Georgia Southern, diving back into classes with the same enthusiasm she had as an elementary school student. That timeless excitement for learning is what led her to pursue a master’s in teaching in elementary education.

“I thought about teaching middle school, or even high school, just because with the older, upper grades, you can focus on something,” she explained. “But honestly, the younger kids have more fun. And I like having a good time. I’ve really gotten to enjoy seeing their curiosity and their wonder when they learn new things. Younger kids can do so much more than I think we give them credit for. So it felt like a nice mix. “

Harp’s degree journey also brought her love of international studies back to the forefront of her mind, directing her attention to educating bilingual students. 

“I realized I could highlight students of different cultures,” she explained. “Help them understand what a gift they have, and live among people just like them and people different from them. I make sure my students have what they need to be the type of adults that I want to see in the future.” 

Harp was placed at a Dual Language Immersion (DLI) school in DeKalb County, where she worked with another teacher, instructing children in both Spanish and English. 

“My students ask amazing questions,” she said, smiling. “They ask questions that adults would ask. It’s a really fun experience to see my students engage in conversation about the things that affect different cultures than their own and place value on this language and the people who speak it. Kids are amazing, and it’s so exciting to think about the potential that all of them have.” 

And she’s thrilled to keep answering those questions, moving forward as a second grade teacher in a DLI program teaching English and social studies. 

“I’m excited to be giving my students what they need for the next phase of life,” she said. “I want them to walk away knowing they aren’t defined by their limitations or their mistakes and shortfalls.”

Elise Aleman, a 91Âț»­app Master of Fine Arts (MFA) graduate, spent much of her adult life in South Florida working as a graphic artist. She moved to Savannah, Georgia, in 2017 to pursue a new calling in painting. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Aleman decided she wasn’t done yet.

Aleman dreamed of becoming an art teacher, and she wanted to have a graduate degree to boost her applications. While looking for a master’s program, she was recruited by a friend to look at Georgia Southern. Shortly thereafter, she became a member of Eagle Nation.

As she developed her portfolio in the graduate program, she found herself going to a familiar source.

In the 1960s, there was a wave of immigration from Cuba into the U.S. This pattern of immigration was called the “Freedom Flights.”

When she was just seven years old, Aleman and most of her family were on one of those planes in July of 1967. 

The Communist regime believed all who left the island were deserting their nation, and they took many of the families’ belongings in retaliation. 

“When people would get on the flights, the military was at the airport,” she said. “They would go through all your bags, they take anything  that either they wanted to keep for themselves or just to be spiteful. A lot of the time, they would take photographs and just throw them out.”

To avoid losing their family pictures, Aleman’s mother left their photos with relatives in Cuba.

After landing in the U.S., they settled in a small community in New Jersey where they learned a new language and way of life.

Over time, deliveries began arriving in their new home in the Garden State. They held the family photos they had left behind, sent by relatives who had been protecting them.

“I use the photographs from Cuba that were sent to us when we came in,” she said. “There’s a series in my scope that I did that is about those photographs and immigrating here. I wanted to make people see them and really connect with it in their own way.”

Those paintings were featured in a recent art exhibition, “Theopoetics Prothesis,” on the University’s Armstrong Campus in Savannah, which explored the intersections of her faith, exile and transformation through two parallel yet interwoven bodies of work. One aspect reflected on her family’s immigration from Cuba, and considered how cultural displacement shapes identity, memory and faith. The other engaged directly with biblical themes, using scripture as a foundation for conceptual exploration.

“My goal was to make both scripture and personal history compelling and relevant,” she said. “The Bible is more than just a religious text—it’s a multidimensional tapestry of history, poetry, prophecy and metaphor. Likewise, the story of exile and displacement is not just my own but a universal narrative of survival, adaptation and faith. I wanted viewers to engage with these layered meanings, finding connections between the sacred, the personal and the collective.”

As Aleman prepares to graduate this week, she’s reflecting on the journey her family took to make it possible. She’s also grateful to the Georgia Southern community for welcoming her, despite the age gap between her and other MFA students.

“Those students, especially in the grad program, they just embrace you,” she said. “I never felt like an outsider. ‘Oh, there’s the old lady,’ you know? We have a very tight group in the fine arts program.”

After working a 12-hour night shift, Jazmine Jenkins headed to Memorial Health in Savannah, Georgia, to complete her round of clinical rotation for the day. From 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., she would prepare patients for various imaging procedures and attend to their needs. 

All the while, the phrase, “Give me 18 months, and I’ll give you a lifetime,” from her faculty mentor, Rochelle Lee, Ed.D., in the radiologic sciences program at 91Âț»­app, helped her push through the exhaustion.Ìę

Her endurance paid off this spring as she crossed the commencement stage to earn her bachelor’s in radiologic sciences with a concentration in nuclear medicine. 

“Dr. Rochelle Lee helped me a lot,” Jenkins said. “I would definitely say that my love for nuclear medicine stemmed from her.” 

Jenkins also credits Lee with investing in her and her classmates.

“Nuclear medicine is a very small program, so my class was only seven people,” Jenkins said. “Dr. Lee really took time out to get to know each and every one of us. She’s a really concerned, loving professor. She helped me a lot.”

Jenkins’ degree path wasn’t always clear. Instead, trial, error and determination guided her steps along the way. 

She began her journey studying early childhood education at Albany Technical College in her hometown of Albany, Georgia, before transferring to Georgia Southern in 2020. 

“A lot of the classes I took didn’t transfer to Georgia Southern when I started here in 2020,” she said. “It felt like starting over.” 

Navigating a new university far from home was at times a struggle for Jenkins as a first-generation college student who had to learn how to balance studying, working long shifts and staying connected with her family several hours away. 

“It was a bit difficult because your family may call while you’re studying and you just don’t know how to tell them you’re very busy because they never experienced that,” she said. “I had to tell them I needed to study and I cut out part of my social life. After a while, it became very exhausting.”

But Jenkins was intent on following her dreams of working in health care. Inspired by her mother’s pregnancies with her younger sisters, Jenkins enjoyed the atmosphere of doctors’ offices and wanted to become an ultrasound technologist. 

Once at Georgia Southern, she began studying nursing, but it didn’t feel like the right fit. She then pivoted to exercise science, hoping that would better align with her interests. 

She soon found something was still missing. 

“I wanted to change from exercise science, but I was just so lost, so I stuck with it,” she said. “I knew I wanted to pursue ultrasound technology. That ultimately led me to radiologic sciences.”

When she didn’t get into the sonography program, her professors and advisors encouraged her to pursue other options. 

“They gave me the option between nuclear medicine and radiation therapy, and that’s when I ended up choosing nuclear medicine,” she said. “I didn’t know anything about it at all, I just decided to give it a try.” 

Jenkins admits she wasn’t excited about nuclear medicine at first. 

“I was really stuck on becoming an ultrasound technologist,” she said. “But I had come far enough and just wanted to do something at that point, and that’s when I reached out to Dr. Lee.”

Navigating changes in coursework didn’t come without its share of challenges for Jenkins, who also commuted and worked a nearly full-time job while studying and participating in clinicals. 

“‘How did I balance it?’ That’s a great question,” she said with a laugh. “For the most part, I just never thought about it. People did ask me, ‘How do you do it?’ And I could never tell them about it, you just have to do it.”

For Jenkins, the ultimate goal of having financial freedom and being a mentor for her younger sisters contributed to her resolve to finish her degree. 

“I really wanted to move out of the state,” she said. “My mom encouraged me all through college to get through it and said, ‘You’ll be able to live the lifestyle that you want. That mindset helped me keep going.”

Even though the path wasn’t always clear, Jenkins can look back and appreciate the experiences. 

“The core classes I took while planning to join the nursing and exercise science programs tied very closely,” she said. “Psychology taught me about how the mind works, and my pre-nursing, like human anatomy, helped a lot. Once I joined the radiologic sciences program, it felt like I hit the ground running, and all that knowledge helped me. I even took more classes than I should’ve because of the change of majors; however, each class I took, I don’t regret because it has made me a better radiologic student.”

Spiritually grounded, Jenkins also found peace and strength through her faith.

“When I came to Savannah, I found a church home,” she said. “That helped me be more positive, knowing that God had my back in every room I stepped into.”

As she prepares to enter the workforce for a career in nuclear medicine in Richmond, Virginia, this June, Jenkins isn’t done dreaming. She still feels pulled toward maternal and infant health and knows her journey will continue. 

“In the medical field, you can’t know everything at one time,” she said. “It’s an ongoing journey of learning. You never stop learning.” 

Ava Geyer has held many roles while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in exercise science at 91Âț»­app, but the most important one is mom. Learning that she would become a mother while finishing her degree caused her to adjust her workload, but the vibrant student from Warner Robins, Georgia has always handled responsibility with finesse. She says the caring environment on campus helped her excel as she journeyed through motherhood and academics.

“The staff here is nothing but supportive,” said Geyer. “That’s one thing I will remember about Georgia Southern, and it will stick with me for the rest of my life.”

Geyer found her passion for health while navigating her own challenges. She was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in high school. The disorder affected her heart rate and energy level, cutting her budding dancing career short. Geyer spent time scrolling social media when she could not dance, eventually stumbling across exercise and nutrition programs. She says taking up a new meal and exercise routine gave her back her spark.

“Walking on the treadmill turned into ‘well, let me just try leg extensions,’” said Geyer. “Then that turned into looking up cool exercises on how to build your quads, then how to properly do an exercise turned into weightlifting. Now I’m training for a competition.”

Geyer started looking for a place to turn her passion for fitness into a career and began touring college campuses. As soon as she stepped foot on Georgia Southern’s Statesboro Campus, she knew she had found her new home. Geyer poured herself into her studies and took on the role of vice president of affairs for the campus Pre-Med Association in addition to working multiple jobs. She says the busy schedule helped drive her forward.

“There were times I would really feel the burnout, but I just thought ‘keep your eye on the prize,’” said Geyer. “I was just so grateful to be doing this and I took it one day at a time.”

Becoming a mother provided even deeper insight into the needs of others as she navigated her own healthcare journey. She connected with various support centers in Statesboro and began volunteering with Georgia Southern Miracle, a student organization that supports the Children’s Miracle Network. She plans to continue her education with a doctorate degree to make sure other women are able to get the compassionate care she received.

“I love women’s health so much,” said Geyer. “I would love to open up my own practice and specialize in high-risk pregnancies. I really think I would be fulfilled at that point.”

Shaheim Johnson is reaching a significant milestone this May by becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. He describes his journey as a first-generation student at 91Âț»­app with two unforgettable words: “No regrets,” adding, “If I could, I would do it all over again.”

Growing up in Brunswick, Georgia, the University was always on his radar. It was a popular choice among the teachers who influenced him. However, it wasn’t until a visit to the Statesboro Campus that the then-high school senior decided to enroll.

Recalling that visit, he said, “I fell in love with the campus, the staff and faculty. I didn’t want to leave. I asked my mom then and there if I could stay.”

As a first-year student, Johnson set his sights on a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in history, inspired by the teachers who had guided him.

“This major allows me to make an impact on the future of our country,” he explained. “I want to give back, just like the many educators who motivated me throughout my PreK-12 years.”

A self-described go-getter, Johnson quickly found his footing on campus, readily embracing new challenges and opportunities. Yet, his initial year was also marked by the difficult loss of his grandfather.

“It was very tough being away from home and experiencing such a huge loss,” Johnson shared. “I was considering leaving Georgia Southern, but the supportive community is what led me to stay.”

Ultimately, his choice to remain at Georgia Southern enabled him to fully engage in college life,  especially through his extensive involvement in campus activities. He served in various roles in the Student Government Association (SGA) and was the founding president of the Aspiring Educators of Georgia Southern. His proudest accomplishment was ending his final year as the SGA president. That role gave him the honor of speaking to his fellow students at both the December 2024 and May 2025 commencement ceremonies.

“This was a dream that I had for many years, and I can say that I achieved it,” Johnson said.

With graduation now a reality, Johnson reflected on his personal growth, noting that his years at Georgia Southern totally changed his outlook on life. As he put it, “Life is going to come with endless challenges and obstacles that make you want to quit or settle for the bare minimum. But you can’t let that stop you from seeing what bigger things you can accomplish or will be granted when you run through the fire of obstacles and worries.”

For those considering Georgia Southern, the education major advised, “Georgia Southern is a place of huge opportunities. No matter what your interests are, you will find your opportunities here. Come here, have fun, make new lifelong friends and enjoy all the things Southern has to offer.”

The May graduate is set to begin teaching U.S. history at Effingham County High in the upcoming academic year and eagerly anticipates organizing and decorating his classroom. For now, foremost in his mind is the gratitude he feels for the support he received from Georgia Southern’s College of Education.

“It’s difficult to name just one professor because so many have left an indelible mark on my academic journey,” Johnson explained. “They challenged me to think critically, inspired me to strive for excellence and equipped me with the knowledge and confidence I need to step into my future classroom as a capable and passionate educator.”

The budding teacher knows his parents are proud of his achievements, particularly as a first-generation college student. He acknowledged, “Moving away from home to come to Statesboro was a challenge for them, but I have definitely shown them that it was the best decision ever.”

Looking ahead, Johnson intends to return to Georgia Southern to earn a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. Eventually, he plans to transition into education administration, demonstrating his continued commitment to the institution that changed his life.

Shaped by the resilient spirit of her Gullah Geechee heritage in Harris Neck, Georgia, Kay’La Brennon’s path at 91Âț»­app has been one of self-discovery. Although she initially applied as a nursing major, her first semester as an undeclared major revealed her true calling: public health.

Reflecting on this shift, Brennon shared, “What pivoted me was realizing that I wanted to become a physician. After becoming involved in research, I realized I wanted to become a physician-scientist, leading me to find the major that would allow me to fulfill these passions and interests. Public health is an interdisciplinary field that allows me to fuse all my identities and interests in uplifting communities.”

Taking dual enrollment courses in high school enabled Brennon to start her college career early and quickly dive into research, the invaluable hands-on learning experience Georgia Southern provides undergraduates and graduate students.

“Joining research projects my freshman year and attending and presenting at conferences ignited my passion for it,” she recalled. “I wanted a career where I could impact patients directly through patient care and breakthroughs, and developments in research.”

In her years at Georgia Southern, Brennon was an Honors College student, Goel Scholar and chaired the Dean’s Student Advisory Committee, which provides a forum for students to address their concerns in the .

Now that she is graduating this May with a bachelor’s degree Brennon admits her years of study have been filled with challenges, victories and failures. But the confidence she gained is what surprised her most.

“I’m from a very rural county and have been pretty shy and reserved my whole life,” the public health scholar explained. “Being in college, I’ve broken out of my shell and gotten to know so many amazing people and shown my leadership skills in many positions. From starting an organization on campus, Resourceful Ambassadors of Medicine (RAM), to joining my illustrious and impactful sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA), I’ve spread my wings and seen my own capabilities.”

During her time on the Statesboro Campus, Brennon actively engaged in opportunities that fostered her commitment to service, including leading volunteer trips with Serve912, and participating in the Southern Leaders program. Those experiences resonated deeply with her involvement in AKA, a sorority with service at its foundation.

“Part of its purpose is service to all mankind,” Brennon stated. “One big principle in my life is community, and that is where my heart is
 and so being a part of this sisterhood, I could impact the community.”

Brennon’s journey at Georgia Southern was deeply influenced by her upbringing. Born in Angleton, Texas, and raised with both an older sister and an older brother, she experienced both joy and sorrow. Her brother passed away at age 19. Her family returned to Harris Neck near Savannah, Georgia, to help care for her grandmother who had Alzheimer’s disease. Still, the new graduate remembers her early life warmly. 

“My childhood was always filled with family, love and joy no matter the circumstances, she said. “My family has always supported each other, with prayer being in the midst of it all.”

These strong family bonds instilled in her a remarkable resilience, a quality she identifies as a significant achievement during her college years.

“Even when things get tough, and they surely do, I find a way to get things done,” she affirmed, adding that she credits her mother’s strength and caring for her drive and motivation. “She’s the kindest, strongest and most loving person I know, so I am honored to be her daughter and make her proud. I thank her and my Oma for their support and desire to see me succeed.”

As she looks back, Brennon recognizes her time at Georgia Southern has been transformative, extending far beyond academics. She acknowledged, “My perception of myself has changed. I’ve learned more about my capabilities and what I used to perceive as possible. I have no doctors in my family, which played into the reason I applied to Georgia Southern as a nursing major. I did not see being a physician, let alone a physician-scientist, as a possibility.”

Brennon is ready to embark on a future she once didn’t imagine. She will work as a Doctoral Diversity Program Scholar at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and is eager to impact a new community through her research and volunteer efforts.

Hard work and a willingness to embrace new experiences at 91Âț»­app have paved the way to Harvard University for graduate Eric Njoroge. This fall, he will begin his studies at Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston, an achievement he credits to his transformative undergraduate experience.

“Coming to Georgia Southern, I definitely had the goal to venture beyond my comfort zone, but the extent of my involvement surpassed all my expectations,” Njoroge acknowledged. “I was not that involved in high school, but Georgia Southern provided me with countless opportunities to learn and push myself.”

Growing up near Atlanta, the son of Kenyan immigrants decided to earn his college degree at an institution in Georgia. 

“What first made Georgia Southern stand out was its location,” Njoroge explained. “It was the furthest from home, which pushed me to do some deeper research. That’s when I discovered a community-oriented campus focused on providing many opportunities for students to grow.”

Though initially considering engineering, Njoroge’s childhood interest in that field eventually evolved into a genuine appreciation for the healing arts.

“When I arrived at Georgia Southern, I knew I liked health care, but my passion for dentistry began after volunteering in a free dental clinic during my first year,” he recounted. “While volunteering, I saw patients come in with pain from toothaches or insecurities about visible cavities. But many times, all it took was an extraction or filling to uplift the spirits of these patients and restore their smiles.”

As a biology major, Njoroge credits the faculty within the for equipping him with a robust foundation in STEM, which was crucial for his competitive score on the Dental Admission Test.

“Many of my professors were so helpful and supportive, and even with the rigorous nature of STEM classes, they made the subjects enjoyable,” he noted. “In addition, during my Harvard interview, I received a lot of praise for my extracurricular activities at Georgia Southern.”

Driven to challenge himself, Njoroge engaged in numerous facets of university life. He was a student in the Honors College, found camaraderie in a fraternity and led two student organizations as president: the Georgia Southern Pre-Dental Society and Resourceful Ambassadors of Medicine, an initiative he co-founded with his peers.

“I’ve been fortunate to dedicate my time outside of class doing things that are both meaningful and fulfilling,” he revealed. “It’s been rewarding to watch Resourceful Ambassadors of Medicine grow into a space that engages many pre-health students in different opportunities throughout the Statesboro community. 
 I never participated in a leadership position in high school, so obtaining two presidential positions in college has been shocking.”

Njoroge is leaving Georgia Southern with deep gratitude and experiences to last a lifetime.

“I have learned many life lessons from different people here at Georgia Southern that I would not have gotten had I not attended,” he shared. “Because of the countless people I interacted with here, this school will forever hold a special place in my heart.”

As he prepares for his move to Boston, Njoroge expresses appreciation for the unwavering support of his parents. 

“My parents could not be happier,” he commented. “As my greatest supporters, they have always encouraged me to value education to make a better life for myself. Graduating from college just shows them that I continue to believe in that idea.”

If you’d asked Kristin Bailey what she expected her college experience to include, wolves, zombies and cancer wouldn’t have made the list. 

But Bailey, a spring 2025 graduate from the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies, was surprised to find her academic journey included those three things, and more. 

Despite beginning her academic journey as a non-traditional student on 91Âț»­app’s Armstrong Campus in Savannah, the first few years of her undergraduate program were relatively traditional until 2018, when she took a trip to the Swiss Alps with the to study Alpine biology. It was this trip that changed her life in more ways than one.

“We got to spend three weeks in Switzerland studying Alpine biology and that just changed my world,” Bailey said. “That’s when I decided I wanted to get into research. It was a pivotal moment for me.”

Along with finding her love of research, Bailey also found something more ominous.

“I found a lump in my breast,” Bailey said. “When I got back from the Alps, I went to the doctor to get it checked out. They basically told me to just watch it and wait.”

Uncomfortable with that recommendation, Bailey continued searching for help on her own.

“I looked into all of the breast health events with free mammograms,” Bailey said. “All of them have requirements based on age or family history, and I didn’t have any of the factors that would make me high risk.”

She credits her life-saving mammogram to a nurse she met at Georgia Southern.

“When I realized that I could go to the clinic on campus, I went in for an annual wellness check,” Bailey said. “The nurse who took care of me felt the lump and immediately put in the mammogram order.”

Getting the order was not the end of her struggle to get diagnosed.

“I guess the imaging place also decided I was low risk, because three months later, the nurse who put in the order called me to check in and see how the mammogram went,” Bailey said. “When I told her they hadn’t seen me yet, she was the one who called them and advocated for me. After she raised hell, I was finally able to get the test and that’s when I found out.”

After a year of fighting for doctors to take her seriously, Bailey finally received a diagnosis: she had stage three breast cancer.

“It was a journey,” Bailey said. “I have to really thank and admire the nurse who decided to put in the mammogram and not look at the other factors, and the fact that she raised hell to get me that mammogram. I feel like she is one of the people who saved my life, because if I had waited any longer, it likely would have turned into stage four, which is incurable.”

Her diagnosis came just one month before finals in November of 2019. Her immediate concern was that she might not be able to finish her degree on time.

“Right after getting diagnosed, you’re not in the right mental space to be able to do finals,” Bailey said. “I thought I might have to postpone my bachelor’s, but the support I received from Georgia Southern made it possible for me. I know a lot of students have situations pop up that make them feel overwhelmed and like they can’t continue, but I want them to know now what I learned. Talk to your professors and to the different departments at the university because there are so many resources available to help you through your challenges.”

Bailey didn’t delay her education. She worked with Student Affairs to determine what resources were available to her and, with their assistance and the support of her program leaders, she continued. While the shift to online instruction in 2020 was a rough adjustment for many people, it came as a welcome change for Bailey.

“It just so happened that I started treatment the same year of COVID,” Bailey said. “I started chemo in January 2020 and I was so lucky when everything moved online. It made it a little easier. Even still, my professors and everyone were always willing to work with me no matter what was going on. The only reason I was able to finish my bachelor’s on time was because of how great Georgia Southern and the biology department were with everything I had going on.”

One way the biology program supported Bailey was by putting together a collection of comfort items for her to have during her treatments.

“Getting the care package, I never would’ve dreamed of something like that,” Bailey said. “When I came in and saw it, I started crying. It had individually wrapped gifts and a beautiful card. It was amazing. From comfort socks to tissues, each of the items was something small to soothe or comfort me during chemo, so I split them up as a little reward after each chemo session. It gave me a mood boost and helped me feel like I could get through it.”

In 2020, Bailey worked through her senior year and continued her research while enduring chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy and a double mastectomy. She was awarded the 2019-2020 Undergraduate Research Scholar Award for her dedication to research while facing extreme adversity.

In December of 2020, she graduated with her bachelor’s degree. That same year, she went into remission.

“I would go to my treatments and then head right back to campus on my way home to work on my research,” Bailey said. “Even though it was COVID, my professors regularly saw me on campus. I was doing so much while trying to heal that I wasn’t able to recover fully. So after I graduated, I took a year and a half off to rest and work on my recovery.”

When she felt ready to start her master’s degree, there was only one school she was willing to consider.

“Georgia Southern was the only place I wanted to come back to to do my master’s because of the support system at the school and in the biology department,” Bailey said. “The support is never ending.”

The fact that returning to the biology program in the would allow Bailey to reconnect with one of her biggest supporters, Professor , only made her decision easier.

“I never imagined how amazing and willing to work with you the professors would be, but they were absolutely wonderful,” Bailey said. “Dr. Zettler was right there next to me through everything.”

As part of her master’s program, Bailey spent time researching the entomopathogenic fungus arthrophaga myriapodina, more commonly known as a zombie fungus, on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah.

“We did a bunch of investigations and proved this fungus’s existence here,” Bailey said. “It’s only ever been documented in the Northeastern United States, so this is the first case of it being in the Southeastern United States. We also found that it’s infecting a new genus of millipedes. It’s a lot of new information and it’s very exciting.”

The potential impact of her research reaches beyond fungi studies.

“Certain types of these fungi have been shown in lab tests to inhibit cancer cell migration,” Bailey said. “I’ve been obsessed with these kinds of fungi since I was diagnosed.”

The motivation to participate in research that other specialties could build on, with the hope of eventually curing cancer, was a driving force for Bailey following her own health battle, and what led her to specialize in this zombie fungus during her graduate studies.

“These fungi have a variety of unique compounds, and there’s no telling what can be done to help humans,” Bailey said. “I wanted to contribute to that body of knowledge. I’m very open about my journey and vocal about breast cancer awareness because it took me so long to get diagnosed, and things need to change.”

Her research led her to present at the annual meeting, where she was introduced to the . The program piqued her interest because she had always loved animals and even spent time volunteering as a foster home for a local animal rescue, .

“My whole life, I was so dead set on wanting to be a veterinarian,” Bailey said. “But there are so many experiences I’ve had that made me realize I could help animals in so many different ways that aren’t being a vet. So that’s the plan now. I want to go into wildlife conservation.”

Following graduation, Bailey plans to work toward finding a position at one of the animal refuges participating in red wolf recovery.

“Red wolves are critically endangered, and they’re the only native wolves to the United States,” Bailey said. “There are so few left in the wild, conservation is important work. I’m hopeful I’ll be able to join this effort.”

From animal conservation to contributing to future cancer research, Bailey has one singular goal: to make an impact.

“I mainly just want to contribute,” Bailey said. “I’m excited about the potential of the future for all of my work.”

Heather Yuill’s completion of her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is not only a milestone in her academic career, it’s a 40th birthday gift to herself. 

Yuill’s spring 2025 graduation from 91Âț»­app is an investment in her future and the completion of a journey that began nearly two decades ago. 

“I think it was a combination of too much freedom and not enough responsibility — those things just did not mesh,” Yuill said of her first attempt at college. “I prioritized socializing, staying out late, not studying and things like that instead of academic aspects.” 

After taking a few years off, Yuill hadn’t given up on her dream of becoming a nurse. Drawing on inspiration from family members who worked in the health care industry, she decided to go to Savannah Technical College and pursue a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) degree, which she’s held for nearly 13 years. 

“An LPN was at least something — it was starting,” she said.

But it was around age 35, she recalled, when her dream of getting her BSN really began to take shape. 

“I was reflecting on how life had been and how I thought it was going to be, and I’m unmarried, so I thought about who would take care of me later in life. I thought ‘You know what, I need to take care of me,’” she said. 

“Going back to get my BSN was something I always wanted to do,” she continued. “I knew that I was the reason I didn’t get the first go around, so I wanted to rectify that. I felt like 40 is a pretty big birthday, so what can I give myself for turning 40? I’ll give myself that degree I always wanted.” 

Yuill began her time at Georgia Southern by completing her core classes online and then shifted to in-person classes on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah for major-specific, in-class lectures and labs. As the oldest member of her nursing cohort, she embraced a mentor role. 

“I have liked it because it kind of let me step into that caring, motherly role,” she said. “It’s about helping people out and showing encouragement because when we’re in our early 20s, big, big life events happen. I would say, ‘You know what? You will get through it.’”

Being a mentor in her cohort aligns perfectly with what Yuill enjoys most about the nursing field — helping others. 

“I love the aspect of being able to help people especially at difficult times,” she said. “Knowing that I can be that comfort person they can come to with problems. I like that nurses treat the person along with whatever else is going on.” 

Working full time as an LPN at a primary care medical office in Savannah presented challenges and benefits for Yuill. Balancing work with class was often difficult, but she had the support of her employer and a motto that got her through on tough days.

“I knew going into it that it was going to be hard, but I also knew there would be a timeline,” she said. “In retrospect, two years is a short timeline. It’s something that was going to be uncomfortable and it was going to be hard, but it wasn’t going to be forever. The benefit I am going to get from completing this is going to be a whole lot more important than the discomfort it took to get here.” 

Reflecting on her career and educational journey, Yuill feels confident about her future in health care.

“It’s a big accomplishment because it’s a hard program, but it needs to be a hard program because it is a challenging profession,” Yuill said. “We have to have the best of the best, you have to be able to know what you’re doing. And, personally, it validates that I could do it. I knew I could always do it.”

Rico Forney doesn’t have a traditional teaching background. But he sure has a lot of experience. 

The 33-year-old Navy veteran completed three deployments throughout his 10 years in the service. And now, this May, he’ll graduate with a bachelor’s in elementary education from 91Âț»­app’s College of Education.Ìę

He’s certainly got the background to lead in the classroom. But his journey to academic success wasn’t easy.Ìę

“I struggled in school, which is what led me to the military,” Forney explained. “I didn’t have a lot of options. But I had people reach out to me in ways that were really meaningful at a difficult time in my life.

“So I’ve dedicated myself to paying it back and trying to uplift other people. That’s what drove me to teach. It was the mentorship aspect of trying to impact a young child’s life positively. To inspire them to reach for the heights.”

He’s already working on that part. Forney’s fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma, started a mentorship program at Julia P. Bryant Elementary School in Statesboro. 

“We’re going on our second year with this mentorship club,” he said. “We’ve been mentoring their third through fifth-grade boys, teaching them the art of the handshake, how to tie a tie, communication skills, and how to navigate conflict. Things like that.” 

Experiences like these made him quickly realize where he was needed. 

“It showed me where my love and passion was,” he explained. “I didn’t think those kids needed the same level of mentorship and guidance as middle and high school students. But I came to realize that they needed so much more at that early age.” 

“Just seeing the difference I made and the love they have for me and the love I have for them completely changed my whole outlook,” he said. “I’m meant to do elementary. I didn’t second-guess it at all.”

Forney did his senior placement at Julia P. Bryant, where he taught third-grade science. He’s extremely proud of the kids he’s gotten to work with, and they’ve all gotten to know Mr. Forney. Or, as they call him, Mr. Fortnite. 

“I absolutely love it,” he said, laughing. “Third grade is that age where they’re kind of thinking a little bit more mature, but they still have that kind of youthful optimism and they’re excited about everything.”

He loves being in the classroom with his kids. But it’s his military experience as a former Navy engineer that shaped his teaching. 

“I think discipline is something every child needs,” he explained. “It’s something I found I needed. Half the job is managing behavior and setting clear expectations. I run my class similar to how I’d run a unit in the Navy. They respect me for holding them to my word.”

That strong will and determination will be with him as he crosses the stage this spring to accept his diploma. He’ll begin a new role in the fall.  

“I’ve accepted a job at Julia P. and will continue to teach my third grade students,” Forney said.”I’m ready to make this community my home.”