"Kristina Ellis is a consummate professional, sharing her experiences of hardship and overcoming the odds. Our audience of about 100 business, education, and community leaders, as well as parents were hanging on Kristina's every word as she explained how students can go the extra mile to get noticed in the scholarship application process. She provides great information in a casual, caring and sometimes comical way
Kristina Ellis
Author of "Confessions of a Scholarship Winner" and "How to Graduate Debt Free"
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Nashville, TN, US
Kristina Ellis
Biography
When Kristina was 7, her father tragically died after a 4-year battle with brain cancer. Her family then slipped below poverty level and struggled to figure out their new life. Battling depression, eating disorders, and self-harm, she made the decision to take her own life--only to be stopped by a midnight phone call that set her on a path toward hope.
Haunted by the decision she had almost made the night before, Kristina decided to abandon her patterns of self-abuse, embrace gratitude, and start fighting for the life she wanted. She got involved in volunteer work, sports, and competitions. And even though her family still struggled financially, Kristina found things she could excel at and ways to keep herself positive.
Her first day of her freshman year of high school, Kristina's mother sat her down and told her, "You have four years to figure out what you're going to do with your life because you're on your own financially after graduation. I'm telling you this because I love you, and I believe in you. You are not meant to live in poverty, and I know that if you work hard, you can go to a great college and start fresh. The choices you make now will impact you for the rest of your life."
Kristina took that challenge and ran with it, devising a plan to find college and scholarship success despite average grades and limited athletic ability. She immersed herself in research, working to figure out what made a person successful in the scholarship application process and how she could personally stand out.
Her strategy allowed her to win the title of Miss Indiana Teen USA, travel to Haiti on missions work, win two Gold Medals in the Junior Olympics for gymnastics, coach a 45-member gymnastics team at age 16, and start a fundraiser that sent shoes to Tanzania and Haiti.
Kristina's efforts really paid off when she was awarded over $500,000 in scholarships for college and was able to attend her dream school, Vanderbilt University, for free! Now Kristina is on a mission to help students find similar or even greater success!
This scholarship mentor encourages students to believe in themselves and their potential. Her message inspires students to understand that, even if the odds are stacked against them, they can overcome their circumstances and achieve their dreams!
Kristina Ellis
Featured Videos
Kristina Ellis
Featured Keynote Programs
Scholarship Snapshot
An Overview for a Winning Education
This presentation provides an overview of the scholarship application process, ranging from where to find scholarships to filling out the application to what judges are looking for. It helps students make a plan for the application process and learn what it takes to stand out.
The Power of Parents
Supporting Your Student for Scholarship Success
In this presentation, parents are given foundation guidance and insights into the scholarship process, helping them understand the best ways to guide and support their students. Topics covered include: overview of the scholarship process, how students can stand out from other applicants and specific ways parents can help them with their applications.
Standing Out
Creating Your Own Formula for Success
Students will learn that you don't have to be perfect to win scholarships and succeed in life. They just need to know how to highlight their unique qualities so that they can stand out. Kristina shares the methods that helped her make a winning impression on scholarship judges despite personal hardships and average grades, and equips students with the tools and the mindset to develop their own path to success.
Vision Casting
Thinking about the Future
Kristina inspires students to begin preparing today for their best tomorrow—and tells why it's so important. Key topics include the priority of decision making, how to plan for the future, and what to do to make a positive impact.
Kristina Ellis
Featured Review
Kristina Ellis
Featured Articles & Resources
The Right Way to Think About College Scholarship Applications
They're a dream part-time job.
Kristina Ellis, author of Confessions of a Scholarship Winner, wants high school students (and college students as well) to think about...
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