Kathryn Carr
The Woodlands, Texas
Mechanical Engineering
Freshman
Zack Faircloth
Pineville, La.
Electrical Engineering
Freshman
LSU students are a diverse group. They come from all over the globe with different dreams, goals, and aspirations for their respective futures. Here is a chance to get to know them one at a time. No matter his or her academic discipline, everyone has a story to tell…including you!
Kathryn and Zack are enrolled in the LSU Honors College. Both were awarded the Stamps Leadership Scholarship, which has been awarded to only a handful of universities nationwide. It covers the full cost of attendance for four years, plus a potential $14,000 for enrichment experiences, making it the top scholarship opportunity available at LSU.
For more information on the Stamps Leadership Scholarship, or any of LSU’s other scholarship opportunities, visit lsu.edu/scholarships.
Q: Kathryn, what was the deciding factor for you attending LSU?
Kathryn: It came down to LSU and Texas A&M for me. So, when LSU called me and offered me the Stamps Scholarship, having been here before and knowing how nice the campus is and how friendly the people are, I was sold.
Q: Tell me a little about the Stamps Scholarship.
Kathryn: It’s a scholarship for all aspects of a high school career–grades, leadership, just basically being a well-rounded student. This year it was offered to one in-state and out-of-state student, which I guess is me [laughs].
Q: So, Zack, that would make you the in-state student. What did you do to earn the Stamps Scholarship?
Zack: I’m from Pineville and my high school was about 1,200 students. It’s a really competitive school and along with my grades, I was a baseball player and captain of the swim team. The swim team began when I was a freshman and by my senior year, we were state runners up.
Q: So, Pineville isn’t quite as far a drive as where Kathryn is from; do you get the opportunity to go home a bit?
Zack: Yes, it’s about a two-hour drive and I’ve had the chance to go home a number of times since starting this semester. It’s a perfect distance away where I have my space, but can still get home when I need to.
Q: Did any of your high school friends also choose LSU?
Zack: For the most part, all of the best students from my high school usually go to LSU. It’s kind of an unwritten rule; if you’re from Central Louisiana, you want to go to LSU.
Q: Kathryn, tell me a little about what you did to earn the Stamps Scholarship?
Kathryn: I was really involved in my student council and we had committees called “Pride & Patriotism,” and one of the main goals of the group was to emphasize community pride. So, during my sophomore and junior years, I hosted a dinner for about 60 senior citizens in my community. We did that twice a year for two years.
Q: Since you guys are both engineering students who had never met before the Stamps Scholarship brought you together, is there anything you’d like to ask each other about your LSU experience, thus far?
Kathryn: Hmmm…what’s your favorite food?
Zack: I’m a sushi and ice cream fanatic.
Kathryn: So, I guess you like the dining halls?
Zack: I love the dining halls! They may be the best things here…and that’s saying a lot.
Would you like to be featured on the LSU website? Contact us at pubaffairs@lsu.edu with the subject line “Star Student” and tell us a little about yourself. Include your hometown, major, and why you think you should be our next “Star Student.”
