Celeste Kahn ’13: Guiding Students to New Careers and Life Paths
English major Celeste Kahn ’13 didn’t let her introverted nature stop her from making a difference in the lives of students at Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC).
She began her position as the Director of Development for the Florence-Darlington Technical College Educational Foundation in June 2016. Since then Celeste has helped provide scholarships, state-of-the-art learning resources, and other support to the hardworking students at FDTC, giving them the tools they need to graduate and step into meaningful careers.
Read more about Celeste:
Not Just a Number
“As Director of Development, I raise funds for scholarships and other special projects that benefit the students at FDTC. I connect local business and industry leaders in the
Pee Dee region to the college, encouraging them to engage with our programs, hire our students, and ultimately support scholarship funds. I also manage the Foundation’s social media and advertising campaigns, working closely with the school’s marketing department to promote giving and raise awareness of the Foundation’s mission. Whenever I can, I try to meet with students and scholarship recipients in order to learn and share their stories. After all, they are the reason for what I do. It’s important to tell the community just how much impact even a small scholarship can make on a student’s journey toward success.”
The Converse College Advantage
“My time at Converse College shaped and prepared me for my career in so many ways. My job requires me to possess “soft skills” like networking, public speaking, writing, and relationship building. I majored in English, which helped me cultivate strong writing skills. I also participated in theatre and student government, which honed my confidence and communication style.”
Everything about Converse, from the incredible faculty to the admissions staff, creates a nurturing environment geared toward academic and personal development.
“I am naturally quiet and introverted, and when I arrived at Converse as a freshman, I was a little on the timid side. Everything about Converse–from the incredible faculty, to the admissions staff, to the general feel of the campus–creates a nurturing environment geared toward academic and personal development. This environment encouraged me to come out of my shell–to gradually pursue bigger challenges and think creatively to solve them.”
Finding Her Way
“I thank Converse for many lifelong, affirming friendships that continue to enrich my life and encourage me every day. My college roommate and soon-to-be Matron of Honor, Erica McDonald, is still my best friend. We support each other in everything, and her incredible drive inspires me to be better at what I do. I also keep in touch with several of my professors who pushed me and cared for me as both a student and an individual. I have to credit them –especially Dr. Jeffrey Poelvoorde and Dr. Erin Templeton–for pouring so much of themselves into what they do and for helping me find my way as a thinker and a citizen of the earth.”