Caroline McKissick, the 2019 recipient of the Harold Snyder Fellowship, is completing her senior year at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
Congratulations to Caroline McKissick, the 2019 recipient of the Harold Snyder Fellowship, a special award dedicated to honoring the life and legacy of Au Sable’s Founder, Dr. Harold Snyder. The Harold Snyder Fellowship provides a US $3,000 award to a student who shares the values of Dr. Harold Snyder in the care of God’s creation, combined with exceptional academic ability and a passion for science teaching as part of their career goals.
Caroline McKissick, the 2019 recipient of the Fellowship, is completing her senior year at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, where she is a Biology Major in the Environmental Concentration, and minoring in Education. This summer Caroline will be studying Field Biology in Spring during the May Term at Au Sable’s beautiful Great Lakes Campus, and continue in residence there to take Field Botany and Aquatic Biology in Great Lakes Summer Session I. All three courses are in subjects Harold Snyder taught at Au Sable, and remain among his favorite interests to this day.
“There is so much sin and brokenness in the world and biology can often speak to that and point us to God as Creator and Redeemer. We are called to play a role in the redemption of all creation.”
In her application for the Snyder Fellowship, Caroline wrote, “Since taking more environmental classes, I don’t see creation in the same way that I used to view it. There is so much sin and brokenness in the world and biology can often speak to that and point us to God as Creator and Redeemer. We are called to play a role in the redemption of all creation.” Caroline also shares Dr. Snyder’s passion for teaching biology and creation care to others. “Since high school,” wrote Caroline, “I have always wanted to teach biology. I hope that I can convey these important truths to my students and that through their studies in biology they will learn how to better manage and care for the Creation that God has blessed us with and given us dominion over. I want my students to be able to experience the joy, awe, and reverence of creation through their studies in biology. I hope that their studies will also then lead them to a wholehearted worship to God.”
Caroline’s references also attest to her passion for and dedication to teaching. One wrote, “While not required for her biology degree program, she has sought out and completed several high school level practica where she has gained experience working with the level of students she hopes to teach someday. Reviews from her supervising teachers were consistently positive and mention her passion for communicating her love for biology to students.”
Caroline’s commitment to teaching is supported by her demonstrated ability to teach, and by her recognition that teaching is a precious and valuable gift of the Holy Spirit. Caroline’s pastor recommended her for the Snyder Fellowship by describing her as, “Industrious, compassionate, eager, reliable, warm, gracious, and merciful, and just downright likably winsome, the work of our Savior is ample and evidenced in her life, and I trust her teaching vocation one day will be a formative gift and benefit to many as she carries out a life of love in obedience to the One apart from whom she knows she cannot and would not live!”
Caroline, congratulations on being named the 2019 Harold Snyder Fellow! We look forward to having you study with the Au Sable Institute. We’re honored to have you with us this year!