News

By Jillian Ellis

Lee University senior Alexandra Kees was recently named the 2013-14 Tucker Scholar.

The Tucker Foundation Scholarship, introduced in 2009, is part of an institutional initiative to enhance mathematics and science at Lee. This scholarship is awarded each year to a rising senior majoring in the sciences or mathematics for use in the student’s senior year. The recipient is chosen based on outstanding academic achievement, with consideration given to financial need and priority to students who graduated from an east Tennessee high school.

The $5,000 scholarship is funded by an endowment grant from the Tucker Foundation in Chattanooga on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Summerfield K. Johnston, Jr.

Kees, a biology major, is from Kingsport, Tenn., and a graduate of Providence Academy High School. During her time at Lee, she has served as chaplain for Tri Beta National Honor Society, been a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society, and is the founder and president of Lee’s Adopt-A-Grandparent club. Kees also served internships at the Chattanooga Zoo and Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium Naturalist.

Kees has also been the recipient of the Earl Kent Hamilton Scholarship, Lee University Honor Scholarship, Tennessee Hope Scholarship, Lee’s Dean Scholarship and the Lee English Writing Award.

“I feel incredibly humbled and blessed to have received the Tucker Foundation Scholarship,” said Kees. “Knowing that the faculty of the Science and Math Department selected me out of many qualified students brings me more joy than I can possibly express.”

Upon graduation next May, Kees plans to seek internships and eventually work in a park or reserve in Africa. She hopes to later become a biology teacher.

For more information about the Tucker Scholar Award please contact the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at 423-614-8115.