An unexpected email brought a surprise, hope and support for one of many Virginia college students. Kennedi Scales is among 52 state students awarded a $1,000 book scholarship for the upcoming school year. Ms. Scales and her award cohorts will receive their scholarships at the 9th Annual KLM Scholarship Foundation Awards, featuring guest speaker UPS Human Resources Director Duane A. Williams, 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 at the Richmond Police Training Academy, 1202 W. Graham Road. The scholarship awards total of $53,000 brings the organization’s 16-year total to more than $321,000. The Virginia Tech rising senior, majoring in systems biology, is an intern at the Vir- ginia Information Technologies Agency in management and relationship governance. She was not aware of KLM’s program until some of her colleagues, who are sponsors of the scholarship, recommended she apply before the June 2019 deadline. She did. In mid-July Ms. Scales just happened to open an email. To her surprise and amazement the unexpected happened. “The award was a welcome surprise because I don’t expect things from my community,” she said in a Free Press interview. “Every good thing that happens to me is a welcome surprise.” Ms. Scales never anticipated winning the scholarship but said, “...my parents were elated and my co-workers were happy too.” “When applying for scholarships, you hope and have faith things will come back and be fruitful,” she said. “This is very exciting.” The KLM Scholarship Foundation’s book scholarship is intended to assist students in purchasing books for high school seniors or four-year college students planning to attend or currently attending a Virginia college or university. They must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be considered for the scholarship. The 2016 St. Catherine’s graduate also is an accom- plished volleyball and softball player. She won two softball “Player of the Game” awards her senior year. As a member of one of Tech’s intramural teams, she says, “The game helps me with time management and relieves stress.” That stress comes from a demanding major plus a minor in science, technology and law. “Because of my academic workload, fitting in the game helps me use my time wisely,” she says. “Softball takes my mind off my studies and gives me mental relief and focus. It’s a stress reliever.” Her future is bright as she prepares for another chapter in her life after graduating in 2020. With an anticipated degree in systems biology, a biology-based interdisciplinary field of study focusing on complex interactions and models biological systems, Ms. Scales plans to go to graduate school. “I’m looking at Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University and Georgetown, in Washington D.C., to earn my master’s in biotechnology,” Ms. Scales says. “Each school has a different environment, from rural to fast-paced big city; although my mom wants me to be very close.” Ms. Scales has a very candid message to high school students and her college peers with respect to earning scholarships. “Your work ethic is always important. Stay focused. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. What you are doing at this moment in time may be challenging and stressful, but it will pay off in the future.” Meet this week’s Personality and a scholar among KLM scholars, Kennedi Scales:

Birth date and place: Feb. 2 in Richmond.

Current residence: Highland Springs.

Education: I graduated from St. Catherine’s and I am currently enrolled at Virginia Tech, where I am a rising senior studying systems biology with a minor in science, technology and law.

Family: Parents, Clifton and Karen Scales, and older brother, James.

When and how did you find out about the KLM Scholarship Foundation: Through a sponsor at my internship at the Virginia Information Technologies Agency.

What was your award and how will you use it: A $1,000 scholarship that will go toward my tuition and textbooks.

Why do you think it is important for students to know about foundations like KLM?: I believe it is very important for students to know that there is a commu- nity that will support them in their educational endeavors. Upon graduation, I would like to work with KLM and organizations like them to help other students.

Organization’s mission: To promote the value of higher education and provide book scholarships.

How are you going to pay it forward: I love community service. This is the reason I am where I am right now. I am going to be the best role model I can be and sow the seeds back into my community.

Your top challenge the next academic year: Balancing classwork and working on a laboratory research project while studying for my upcoming Graduate Record Exam.

How I plan to meet it: By focusing on academics, study- ing and taking some time to do things that I enjoy. Academics are the priority.

Dream for the future: To have a wonderful career in the medical research field where the work I do will help others. I also plan to reach back and help my community since I have benefited from a wonderful support system of family and friends.

Outlook at start of day: Let’s make this day a good one!

A quote that I am inspired by: “Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and pry- ing with a purpose.” – Zora Neale Hurston

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: Spending evenings doing puzzles with my mom.

Favorite artist: Luther Van- dross and all of the artists in the ’80s.

Reason: I’m an old soul at heart. My parents played a lot of this music and I enjoy the lyrics and the sounds.

Best late-night snack: Anything with chocolate.

Quality I most admire in another person: Candor and honesty.

Greatest source of inspiration: My parents. They have sacrificed a lot and I see how hard they work, and they are so giving to others.

Favorite recreational activity: Going to the gym.

Biggest chance I ever took: Traveling to Ecuador to a remote village.

The best thing my parents ever taught me: You can do it! They are always encourag- ing and supportive of anything that I want to do.

At the top of my “to-do” list: Graduate with honors from Virginia Tech.

The person who influenced me the most: My family because they have been like a village and supported me my whole life.

What I’m reading now: “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” by Greg McKeown.

Next goal: Pass the Graduate Record Exam and select a graduate school.