Kevin Moore: A wealth of opportunities

Kevin Moore is a human biology junior from Detroit, Mich., who plans to graduate in spring 2021. He is a first-generation college student.

Kevin Moore became ill during spring 2019 and was unable to earn the money he would need to continue taking classes the following semester.

"I was in the Financial Aid Office and they recommended I talk to my college about scholarships—but scholarship applications would not open until January and I needed money for fall semester,” Moore said. That’s when he found out about the College of Natural Science (NatSci) Undergraduate Emergency Assistance Fund.

These emergency funds are available to assist students who are faced with minor financial needs and challenges, including unforeseen expenses that may put students in jeopardy of completing their MSU education. To date, seven students have been helped by this fund since its inception in April 2019.

Because of donors who generously gave to establish and support the fund, Moore is now on track to complete his undergraduate degree at MSU.

“During the previous semester, I had been really sick; it was difficult for me to pay for school,” Moore said. “Receiving these funds meant a lot to me. I didn’t know what other avenues I could possibly take to get the finances I needed to continue on with my classes.”

Receiving these funds allows students to focus not only on their coursework and research, but on extracurricular experiences that will advance their careers in the sciences and help them develop personally and professionally.

During his time at MSU, Moore joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and helped build its minority  community. He also served as a resident assistant in the residence halls and was involved in a mentorship program called Men of Elite.

After graduating, Moore plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as an emergency physician in hospitals in underprivileged communities.

“One of the more important things to me is to give back to my community,” Moore said. “I’d like to build a high school outreach program to help black students and other minority students learn more about careers in the medical field. I feel that many of them don’t tend to go into the field because they don’t have mentors, or the right opportunities.” 

Moore said he is grateful for the wealth of opportunities that MSU has offered him—including the emergency funds.

“It was very much a blessing for me to receive this donation,” he said.