Led by Faith, Lifted by Community

Tucker Scholar Kylee Morris Reflects on Finding Her Purpose at Gardner-Webb

By Jackie Bridges

When senior Kylee Morris shares her journey to Gardner-Webb University, her faith in God is evident. With her confident demeanor, engaging smile and intuitive responses, Morris won the favor of judges and became the third recipient of Gardner-Webb’s highest honor for incoming undergraduate students, the Tucker Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength Scholarship.

Like the verses from Mark’s gospel, which are the basis of the scholarship, Morris “loves the Lord her God with all her heart, soul, mind and strength; and loves her neighbor as herself.”

She believes God led her to find Gardner-Webb through an internet search, and He blessed her with the Tucker Scholarship. “Your life can change in such a good way in a split second,” Morris stated. “I was so overwhelmed with the fact that I was able to pursue my dreams and further my education without having this worry of financial burden. God opened the door.”

Arriving on campus, Morris was excited to explore the academic and extracurricular opportunities. An athlete and a musician in high school, she decided to participate in music ensembles and joined the percussion section of the revived Gardner-Webb Marching Bulldogs, led by Dr. Sarah Fabian. “The band really has given me a family that I know I’m going to carry with me for such a long time, even after I leave,” Morris affirmed.

Morris’ schedule is full as a biology major, biomedical sciences concentration, with minors in chemistry and psychology. In addition, she is a teacher assistant in the chemistry lab. “It doesn’t really feel like work to me; it feels like play,” Morris related. “I love doing what I do.”

Morris chose biology to prepare for the medical field and possibly become a surgeon. Then, during her sophomore year, she started wondering about other options in the medical field. Feeling like God planted the seed; she researched and found cytology.

The field immediately appealed to Morris, because her classes in microbiology and organic chemistry had sparked her interest in the laboratory setting. Shortly after reading about cytology, Morris was introduced to alumna Celsea Reeder, who visited the science department to share about her studies in cytotechnology, the microscopic study of cells. “It felt like a confirmation,” said Morris.

Besides juggling band and academic commitments, Morris also has a small business, “Kylee Creates.” She makes crafts out of rubber bands. A hobby she started in elementary school, she picked it up again after she joined the Art Club at GWU. The craft has been a creative outlet for her.

Morris branched out in other ways this past year, experiencing a hundred-foot bungee free fall, whitewater rafting, and entering and winning the Miss GWU pageant. When she won, Morris vaguely remembers being crowned and walking across the stage. “The only voice I heard was my mom,” she reflected. “I look out and see my mom and my grandparents, and they’re all crying.”

The people who lead the pageant are some of her biggest supporters on campus, especially Jessika Raduly, associate director in the Office of Student Engagement. “Jess is a mom at heart, and the students here are her kids,” Morris described. “She does anything she can to make sure they are well looked after, and they are loved. She’s someone who can always bring light even if you’re in the middle of something dark, and she always lets you know, ‘I’m praying for you.’”

Raduly fits Morris’ definition of a leader—someone who uses their resources and their influence to help people reach a common goal. “Leadership isn’t about stepping on anyone’s toes or stepping over someone else; it’s pulling people up with you,” she noted.

Morris is thankful for all the people who contribute to the campus atmosphere of belonging. “Everyone here who is on a walk with Christ, no matter where they’re at, they’re given a space to be on that walk,” she said. “I’m just so thankful for all of the things I’ve been able to experience. God has really shown me over this last year that He is working … He is moving and He is making His presence known. This campus is truly so wonderful, because they follow that mission: for God and for humanity, and it truly is something so special.”

About the Tucker Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength Scholarship

The award includes full-tuition, room and board for eight semesters. Carolyn and Robert Tucker created the scholarship in 2019 to annually recognize a high school senior who exemplifies the principles and values representative of the Gardner-Webb community. Longtime benefactors of Gardner-Webb, the Tuckers gave $5.5 million to help build the Tucker Student Center. The qualifications are based on the Tucker family’s life verse, Mark 12:30-31. In this passage, Jesus gives the two most important commandments: “Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.”