In this student spotlight, Corinne Kemp shares her reasoning for her chosen major, her experiences as an employee for LSSC’s Foundation, and her passion for the performing arts.
Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Leadership
Kemp has already received her associate’s degree at LSSC. As a junior, she is currently completing LSSC’s Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Leadership program.
“I’m in the Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Leadership [program]–basically the business major–with a concentration in project management.”
Kemp revealed that when she graduated from her high school, she did not know what career she wanted to pursue. Her reasoning for choosing LSSC’s BAS-L program is because she finds it to be applicable for different career fields.
“I wanted a broad major that I thought would be applicable to a lot of places if I didn’t find out what I truly wanted to do.”
Working for the Foundation
Kemp works as a student employee for the Foundation in the Student Services Building at LSSC’s Leesburg campus. She shared details about the Foundation’s scholarship.
“The Foundation Scholarship is an application you [students can] do once every single semester. It takes about thirty minutes max [to complete]. It [contains] one writing prompt you have to do. It puts you up for over 200 different types of scholarships that are privately funded through donors that partner with Lake-Sumter, and through employees that donate parts of their paycheck–which is amazing. It’s really a community-funded scholarship.”
As an employee of the Foundation, Kemp informs students about its scholarship, helps students with the scholarship’s application, and is involved with the Foundation’s fundraising events.
“When scholarship time rolls around, I’m the one making the calls to the students–letting them know how to finish applying for scholarships. I attend certain events just to inform students that the scholarship exists. When we [her and her co-workers] have events that are meant to fundraise for our scholarships, I work [at] those.”
In order to balance her job’s and academic duties respectively, Kemp writes her plans weekly. Having an agenda helps her to compartmentalize her different responsibilities.
“I’m very much into having a planner and agenda. I like to write everything out for the week. Luckily–because I’m a student assistant–I only have to work twenty-five hours a week. So, it’s a great part-time position…I just go home at 4:30 [p.m.], and I’m able to do as much [school]work as I can.”
When asked about how she displays a welcoming attitude to students as an employee, Kemp stated that she has become more comfortable interacting with them, ever since she began working for the Foundation in Jun. 2024.
“I love that [question] because…I have grown so much in that aspect [displaying a welcoming attitude]. I was so shy [at] the first event that I worked [at], but I found that eye contact is [a] huge [contributor to displaying a welcoming attitude]. Making eye contact with somebody and smiling–just asking how their day is–’opens the gate,’ and that usually is the ‘go-ahead’ to [say], ‘Hey, let me tell you [students] about this free money that we [at the Foundation] have that you can earn every single semester.’ Also, just knowing I’ve been lucky enough [to work] with the Foundation, I know innately that…what I’m doing is going to be nothing but beneficial to them [students], and that [knowledge] helps me in portraying that [welcoming attitude] to the students.”
Kemp’s Passion for the Performing Arts
Kemp has a huge passion for the performing arts–specifically music and theater. She has been cast to perform as Ariel in LSSC’s Digital and Performing Arts program’s production of “The Little Mermaid.” Several members of the Lakehawk Dramatic Society (LSSC’s performing arts club) will be participating in this production. The play will be held in the Clermont Arts & Recreation Center’s Black Box Theatre on Apr. 23-25 at 6:00 p.m.
“I actually am lucky enough to be cast as Ariel, so I’m the mermaid thankfully. That’s gonna be a lot of fun…So far, it’s been a lot of fun [rehearsing for the play]. I’m still getting to know everybody [in the play], but they all seem awesome, so I’m really excited.”
Kemp explained that there are multiple elements contributing to theater’s appeal for her, such as theater’s incorporation of music, comedy, and entertainment.
“I did choir through high school, [so] I’m a big sucker for a fun composition, getting to harmonize with other people, and the way that sounds. [I] also [enjoy] just the comedy of it [theatre]. If I go and see a show, I can’t stop smiling. I just love it so much: the entertainment. It’s like watching a movie, being on the other side, and knowing how much work it takes for the people performing. You’re able to appreciate it that much more.”
Kemp believes that theatre can appeal to anyone, regardless if one is a performer or not. She also believes that everyone involved in a play’s production contributes to theater’s overall appeal and emotional resonance.
“Theater is such a good encompassment of everything. Even if you don’t feel confident in your singing, or you don’t want to be up on stage–there’s tech. There’s the costumes, the makeup, and the lights that take so much work to perfect–and they [the play’s crew] all do it so well. I definitely think it [theater] is for everybody, and everybody’s a part of that community–which I think is also great. I’m close with my stage manager, [and] I’m close with the person that’s working with my costumes. Even though I’m on stage, it’s still all of their hard work that makes it happen. Even though you don’t see them on stage, every costume that I may wear–that’s them. My makeup–that’s them. Any lights that’s going on, the set design–that’s all them.”
Advice for Students
Kemp’s advice for students is to ask questions and communicate with LSSC’s faculty and staff.
“Ask questions…Talk to your professors, talk to your staff members, [and] talk to your advisor. Dr. Bourne is my personal advisor, and she has been such a wonderful source of information and a tool to be able to explore the college’s outlets and everything like that.”
Kemp plans on graduating from LSSC with her bachelor’s degree this Spring semester. After she graduates, she’ll continue her education in Orlando at the University of Central Florida.
___
For more information or news tips, or if you see an error in this story or have any compliments or concerns, contact [email protected]
