Baylor Graduate Student Accepted into Prestigious Federal Program

by Jaime Bates, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

Follow us on Twitter: @BaylorUMediaCom

Being "the first" has become a pattern for Krystal Pree, a Baylor University graduate student. Not only is Pree the first member of her family to graduate with a college degree, she is the first Baylor student to be awarded acceptance into the United States Geological Survey's Student Career Employment Program.

The SCEP is a prestigious progressive program that provides for the integration of a student's academic studies into federal work experience with the potential for non-competitive conversion into the federal career service.

"I am very honored and excited to receive the opportunity," said Pree.

Pree is currently in her first year of graduate school at Baylor, working towards a master's of science in environmental studies and human health risk assessment. She graduated No. 1 in the school of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in 2008 with a bachelor's of science in fisheries biology. Pree received a full ride to UAPB after graduating No. 2 in her high school class.

During her sophomore year of college, the Minorities in National Resources organization sent Pree to the South East Association of Fish and Wildlife Conference to explore career opportunities and network in her field. It was there, while listening to a presentation by Jerome Ringo, former chairman for the National Wildlife Federation, that she found her interest in environmental law and human risk assessment. Ringo helped Pree connect academics to her life experiences.

Pree, who was raised in Stamps, Ark., plans to attend law school in order to pursue a career as an environmental lawyer or obtain a Ph.D. in environmental studies. She is interested in protecting human health by performing risk assessments for communities exposed to hazardous waste.