Clayton student realizes dream, wins full ride to Wright State

Karissa Kelly says it’s been her dream to get to go to Wright State for college.

A local high school student who lost her mother in 2010 but found comfort through visiting with her school guidance counselor and helping others through volunteering, will receive four years of free tuition to Wright State.

Under the guise of participating in a news conference for contest finalists, Karissa Kelly and her family were surprised by the news at a news conference June 12 in the Millett Hall atrium on campus.

Click here to see Karissa Kelly talk about her goals for her career at Wright State.

In 500 words or less, Kelly, of Clayton shared that her mother died while she was a sophomore in high school. In her essay she wrote that by turning to her high school guidance counselor for help she found her calling, and by dedicating herself to many volunteer projects at Northmont High School, she found much more.

“I really want to help people. I feel like everybody needs somebody who can just listen or help you in different ways if you need it, and I want to be that for other people,” said Kelly. “That’s just how I was raised. My mom was big on that.”

Karissa Kelly (second from the left) will get four years free tuition to Wright State University.

Kelly’s been thinking of Wright State since she was young.

“I’ve wanted to go to Wright State since I was five. I’ve always liked the Wright brothers. This is actually a dream come true for me,” said Kelly.

An aspiring guidance counselor, Kelly entered the essay contest addressing the theme, “Changing Lives, Changing Community.”

“Karissa is committed to getting a degree in education and deeply wants to learn how best to help others as a professional,” said Amy Barnhart director of the Wright State office of financial aid. “We are delighted to welcome her to the Raider family.”

“We are so happy to be giving back to the community through this amazing opportunity,” said Lisa Barhorst, Vice President and General Manager of WDTN-TV and Dayton’s CW, “Karissa is a bright, young girl who will impact lives and her community around her in the years to come.”

Kelly is the seventh winner of the annual Dayton’s CW Scholarship contest.