Emily B. Parkey Ferguson – Clemson University ClemsonLIFE (Mullen Family Scholarship Award)

Emily is a three-time Rockin’ Recipient and this year’s recipient of the Ruby’s Rainbow Mullen Family Scholarship Award. This fall she will begin her fourth year at Clemson University in the ClemsonLIFE program, and her second year in the Advanced Program. She is a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority.

This summer, Emily stayed in Clemson, living in her apartment alone and working four days a week at a local bank. She loves playing sports and attending sporting events, but because of local and campus restrictions due to the pandemic, she stayed home much more in the past year and enjoyed learning to cook more recipes.

Emily has this advice for other students with Down syndrome who are considering post-secondary education: “Dream big! You can do anything, if you want it bad enough. You don’t know if you don’t try.” We think that is great advice, Emily! We are so proud of you—you rock!