We love hearing from former Bright Lights students. Especially if they have gone on to become one of our board members! Here’s what current board member Derek Kay shared with us recently:
“I was fortunate enough to be in Bright Lights early on and signed up for every camp I could. My Mom was a teacher at Southeast High School and very aware of the impact Bright Lights can have on a child’s development. She enrolled me so I could grow and have new experiences, which helped me become the person I am today.
Bright Lights STEM-focused camps really fueled my lifelong drive for learning: I went on to get my Bachelors in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry, and a Masters of Business Administration from Nebraska Wesleyan University.
As an adult, I sought for ways to give back and found a perfect fit– serving on the Bright Lights Board. Being a Commercial Lender at FNBO, I am able to utilize my career knowledge and serve on the Finance Committee, where I help ensure that we are good stewards of our funds and that they are used to the best of their potential. My main goal is to help add to an already outstanding program and aid in the continued success for Bright Lights for generations to come!”
Derek added that one of his first career interests was to be a chef—so he took a Bright Lights cooking camp! He loved it and later made dinner at home for his family… which, after forgetting to put the lid on the blender, became a VERY memorable experience for him and his Mom. Ask him about it next time you see him!
Thank you, Derek, for all you do for Bright Lights!