Isa Adney

Adney__isa-web

“My father always encouraged me to pursue education and find a career path about which I was passionate. Though I never thought I would pursue a graduate degree, I was always passionately pursuing happiness. That led me to join clubs, start clubs, engage with others, and discover that I could achieve great things when I focused on my strengths, and on doing what I love. And as it turned out, I loved school.”

  • Program: 2010 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
  • Resides: Lake Mary, FL
  • Hometown: Lake Mary, FL
  • Age: 24

Biography


PROFILE: In 2005, when high school honor student Isa Adney enrolled at the local two-year college in her native Florida, she was a self-described smart, first-generation student who felt as if she “had been unfairly dropped into the community college scene due to financial difficulties.” But by making the most of the situation and by earning an Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship from the Foundation, the community college route turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Isa thrived in and out of the classroom at Seminole Community College and then at Stetson University, where she was selected to deliver the commencement address. Isa has a passion for the opportunities that community colleges offer, and is currently pursuing that passion at Seminole State College (her former community college). She will pursue an advanced degree in human resources development from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.


INSPIRATION: At 18, Isa met the most influential person in her life during her first class on her first day at community college. History professor Christopher Robbins had an immediate impact on Isa, who described herself then as “nice, sensitive, and thin-skinned.” Dr. Robbins, whom Isa said was a no-nonsense instructor, took her under his wing by encouraging and challenging her in the classroom as well as telling her about the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s scholarship programs.

ASPIRATION: Isa hopes to create and implement new educational systems for community college career development centers that will “improve students’ abilities to plan and manage their careers.” She also plans, within the next five years, to write and publish a book about college and career success. It is also her goal to be a motivational speaker; anyone who heard Isa’s commencement address at Stetson knows she’d be a natural. 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: In 2008, Isa received a major grant from Stetson University and spent a year researching defining media characteristics and pop culture iconography used to judge women as they transition from girlhood to womanhood, such as singer Britney Spears. “I will never forget the feeling when I walked out of the print shop with a 75-page manuscript in my hands,” Isa recalled. She discussed her research at the National Popular Culture Association conference in New Orleans. “I will always hold this achievement as one of my highest,” Isa said.

ACCOLADES: Isa was presented the “Turner Award” at Stetson and was the recipient of the Top Communications Studies Senior Award.

INTERESTING FACT: Isa believes in love at first sight. “The first time I met my [now] husband, I came home and thought matter-of-factly, I am going to marry him.”

 

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