Karissa Cole

Initially, Karissa shares that she wanted to study Biology and pursue a medical degree. However, she also really had an interest in business and marketing from being a part of Future Business Leaders of America at Lavaca High School. She says, “I liked the creative and strategic aspects.” Karissa got a lot of guidance from her FBLA advisor Rita Perry when she decided that she wanted to pursue marketing instead.

“I chose UAFS because they could offer me better scholarships than any of the other schools, and I had taken WATC classes that transferred perfectly over to my degree. UAFS just made the most sense for me.”

The best resource Karissa had on campus was actually her boss at the time, Karin Hickenbotham. She says, “Ms. Higginbotham helped me network, helped me make sure I was involved. She helped me with my four-year plan, and she always made sure I was able to do what I wanted to.”

Early in the fall semester, Karissa attended the Campus Picnic and Block Party. She met students at the Black Student Association table and introduced herself. She was invited to a pizza party with them later that week, and she decided to go and explore the opportunity since there wasn’t a group like this in her high school. Once she arrived, they needed a Vice President for the group, s she filled the position after finding out she really liked being a part of it. It was working within the BSA that Karissa connected with lots of people that really made her feel at home at UAFS.

Karissa’s advice for other first-generation students would be his: “Do all the research about financial aid options, like scholarships and FAFSA, because not every high school counselor knows about all the resources out there for you. Check into all of the other free resources you pay for with your tuition and fees too, like a free health clinic, a dental clinic, the writing center and tutoring, as well as on-campus job opportunities. If you don’t know about the resources, look into it. And if you do know about them, utilize them.”

This is Karissa Cole, and she is #First2Go.