Dylan Pierce: Pursuing His Purpose Through Conservation Education
Dylan Pierce is a Junior at Alice Lloyd College from Ashland, KY. He is a first-generation college student pursuing a degree in secondary biology education with an additional certification in middle school education. He first learned of ALC as a high school student college searching. Dylan was hoping to earn a degree without going too deep into debt. His search ended when he and his father discovered ALC. After reading about the College’s rich history and tuition guarantee, Dylan knew he wanted to call Pippa Passes home while furthering his education. He was fascinated by the College’s commitment to Appalachia and our quality education steeped in Christian values. He could hardly wait be part of the ALC community where he is surrounded by individuals who share his beliefs.
After graduating from ALC, Dylan plans to continue his education by pursuing a degree in biology at Eastern Kentucky University. Dylan says his ultimate goal is, “to become a conservation educator, and he is dedicated to enhancing the local understanding of biological conservation in Appalachia.” He believes that teaching conservation is his purpose in life and that he will be able to give back to his community by preserving it for future generations.
Dylan discovered his passion for conservation through his lifelong love of the outdoors. For as long as he can remember, Dylan has enjoyed nature. He loves to hike, hunt, camp, and fish. During his senior year of high school, he dove into researching various types of biologists and the roles they play in protecting our natural world. Then, he connected with a Regional Wildlife Biologist from Kentucky’s Department of Fish and Wildlife who has since served as a mentor to Dylan. Shortly after, Dylan discovered his love for sharing knowledge of conservation, and confidently chose ALC as the first big step of his journey to become an educator.
At ALC, Dylan is making the most of his educational opportunity both in and out of the classroom. While earning his degree, Dylan fills roles in our Student Work Program that provides him with the opportunity to develop his leadership and to learn skills essential to his career choice; he serves as a Resident Advisor in the men’s dormitories, and as a Teacher’s Assistant for Assistant Professor of Biology, Mr. Michael Dexter.
Additionally, Dylan is a member of the College’s Archery program, for which he competes in the compound archery division, and he is the group organizer for the College’s Hiking Club. He credits the archery program for helping him hone his skills with a bow and arrow while away from the woods. The hiking club offers him a monthly excursion to scenic locations across the state, helping him get his fix for exploration while in school. During the hikes, he enjoys teaching other members of the club about the local flora and fauna when the opportunities arise.
Dylan is working hard to turn his dream into a reality. Besides making great grades and fulfilling the responsibilities of his student work positions, Dylan is planning for the future and participating in programs to provide him with practical experience. During the past two summers, he has served as a seasonal technician at the Minor Clark Fish Hatchery in Morehead, KY. Interning at the hatchery has helped him network and has granted him, “an abundance of knowledge regarding aquaculture, conservation, and agriculture.”
Dylan hopes to continue making his mark at ALC and wishes to become a Gatton-Winston Scholar, which he says will help him tremendously with his educational endeavors. He is thankful for the opportunities ALC has given him, and says he wholeheartedly recommends ALC to others. “It has profoundly and positively transformed my life. ALC isn’t just a college, it’s a family.”
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