Elise McDaniel – University of Tennessee–Knoxville FUTURE (Charlotte Keilty Scholarship Award)

Elise is a three-time Rockin’ Recipient and this year’s recipient of the Ruby’s Rainbow Charlotte Keilty Scholarship Award. This fall she will begin her fourth year at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville, where she was the first student with Down syndrome to live in a dorm on campus as part of the then-pilot FUTURE program. Her success and independence on campus helped move FUTURE past the pilot stage to an established program. She is studying American Sign Language in school, and hopes to work in a career someday that utilizes her ASL skills. One of her goals is to create a Young Life group for individuals who are deaf or hearing-impaired.

Outside of her studies, Elise is creative and has many interests: She loves Broadway shows and musicals, and loves singing and hip-hop dancing. She has played piano for over a decade and has recently been teaching herself to play the ukulele as well. She was on the swim team in high school, and she still enjoys swimming and working out daily in the gym. She is a member of the student-led dance team at UT, and is also active in Best Buddies and serves on the board.

Her professors and mentors at UT describe Elise as diligent, persistent and capable. Elise recommends that parents of other students with Down syndrome support their children in pursuing the college experience. Her advice to those students is, “You can do it too!”

You’re a true inspiration, Elise! We can’t wait to see you rock it all the way to graduation at UT!