Karrin Felton’s interest in chemistry was sparked during a middle-school Career Day when a guest teacher who was also a professional chemist showed up wearing a white lab coat, sneakers and goggles. After she created smoke by combining different liquids in a beaker “I was hooked,” says Karrin. When she found out the scientist got paid to figure out how to help people, Karrin thought to herself “I want to do that.”

Karrin developed a life-long appreciation for teaching and learning that extends to her current leadership role with the DoD’s SMART Scholarship for Service Program. SMART provides financial and career support to undergraduate and graduate STEM students in exchange for joining a DoD laboratory upon graduation – a win-win situation for both.