Kevin Redmond, 19, grew up in Webster Groves, an ambitious student who always knew college was in his future plans. He applied to five universities and researched many engineering programs that fit his needs. The only thing he wasn’t sure about how he would meet the financial obligations that come with attending college.
When he found out that he had earned the 2012 Dr. Donald M. Suggs Scholarship to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia, he expressed it as being “the greatest achievement of my life.”
Mizzou’s Dr. Donald M. Suggs Scholarship is designed to enhance recruitment and retention of academically talented minority undergraduate students and has a total four-year value of $57,000 that includes $7,000 for study abroad opportunities.
Redmond’s mentor and college counselor at Webster Groves High School, Karen Verstraete, is the reason that he is in college today. He keeps in contact with her and says without her he wouldn’t have known about the scholarship.
“This scholarship was the deciding factor for me attending Mizzou,” Redmond said. He is now working on his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Mizzou with a minor in German. He is also showing interest in aerospace studies, which fits perfectly with his current degree program. Redmond is on track to complete his degree in 2017.
Redmond studied abroad in Germany for two weeks during spring break in March. He took on an additional three credit hours to study abroad for a grade during the semester. He attended his extra class once a week and earned three credit hours towards his degree. His assignments during the semester for this course were to put together presentations, maintain a journal and produce a final paper about his experience in Germany.
For the trip, two faculty members, including the Study Abroad coordinator, traveled with 25 students. Their first stop was in Paris, France, where they stayed for one night before traveling to Germany. After arriving in Germany, Redmond remembers sharing one large room that had a half-dozen bunk beds. Redmond did a lot of sight-seeing and traveled to many cities while in Germany. He visited the HolocaustMuseum, BMW-Mercedes engineering factory and T.I. Automotive, where car parts are produced.
Redmond learned more about engineering, culture and food while exploring the beautiful and historic sights. He recalls that “the food was different and depended on the taste of the individual.” During his visit, he noticed that Germans eat “different types of sausage” and smaller breakfasts consisting mostly of bread.
Each student’s travel and meal expenses were covered for the trip. Students were responsible for providing their own money for any additional food. Redmond recalls seeing McDonald’s and other, more familiar restaurants during his trip. Before returning, he collected many souvenirs and keepsakes from Germany. Redmond hopes that he has an opportunity to study abroad again soon, perhaps to Brazil or a country in Africa.
Back at Mizzou, Redmond spends most of his time studying and staying focused on gaining as much knowledge as possible. He is currently an executive board member of the National Society of Black Engineers student group. He plans to seek a higher position on the board like vice-president or president.
Redmond said he would have incurred “a lot of debt” and would not have been able to study abroad if he had not received a Dr. Donald M. Suggs Scholarship. He said he is very “appreciative of the scholarship and the impact it’s had on me.”
Ciera Simril is a student at the University of Missouri – St. Louis and a St. Louis American intern.
