Kelly Reno was nominated by Pamela Evers, Jeff Price, and Elaine Hogan, who all speak very highly of this excellent non-traditional student. Kelly is a full-time student who is the president of the Student Veterans’ Organization. Fellow SVO member Jeff Price states, “She has been involved with the Student Veterans Organization from the beginning and continues to take the extra step every chance she gets to better the organization.”

Kelly is a 28-year-old senior, who is currently a biology major considering a double major in psychology. Her future career aspirations include high school counselor or biology teacher.

Kelly has overcome the obstacles that many non-traditional students face. She enrolled in college after serving five years of active duty in the Marine Corps. As a mother, veteran, and military spouse, Kelly juggles family and school and still maintains a 3.7 GPA. “Most of my peers are at least 8 years younger than me, and sometimes values clash,” she says.  Her pre-collegiate experiences helped give her the confidence to handle situations like these. “I completed boot camp when my family didn’t believe I could,” Kelly states proudly.

Kelly would like to thanks several members of the UNCW faculty and staff: her professor and advisor Elaine Hogan, financial aid advisor Shannon Miles, and fellow students Ernie Kniffen and Jeff Price. Kelly credits these individuals as being “helpful, motivating, and supportive.”

Kelly’s advice to other non-traditional students stems from an experience while waiting to have a video-conference with her husband overseas. She stated:  “As I waited, a woman who was seven or eight months pregnant walked by with four children. I realized that no matter how hard my circumstances are, there’s always someone who was worse off than myself. No matter how overwhelmed you are, embrace your difficulties and face them with your head held high.”

The Seahawk Perch congratulates Kelly Reno as our October 2006 Non-Trad of the Month. If you would like to learn how to nominate yourself or someone you know for this award, CLICK HERE.