The junior special education major often volunteers her time working alongside her family to make life better for others.

Since the age of 8, Hanna has worked at summer camps for people with disabilities.

She plans to devote her life to teaching students with special needs and eventually working as a specialist advising teachers on how to better address issues in their own classrooms.

Her unique interests and qualities helped her earn the first Knight Community Service Scholarship through Georgia College & State University.

The award requires community service with the Digital Bridges program, a John S. and James L. Knight Foundation funded initiative focused on the use of digital technologies to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Milledgeville.

“I want to take my present passions for working with people who have special needs and teaching to make Milledgeville a better place,” Hanna said. “I plan to use my research, knowledge, and personal experiences with the community to increase the success of the Digital Bridges program.”

Hanna’s focus to build bridges between schools, communities, and families is a true asset to the Digital Bridges program, said project director Heather Holder.

“It is exciting to be able to help Katie pursue activities that will enhance her work toward her educational goals,” Holder said. “Her enthusiasm has encouraged several GCSU faculty members who have voluntarily stepped up to work with her.”

Hanna was home-schooled the first 12 years of her education before she enrolled at Georgia College where she maintains a 4.0 grade point average.

“It’s really great to be a part of a team of people who bring their own ideas, personality, and passions together to improve lives,” Hanna said.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes excellence in journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality of the U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers.

The Knight Foundation focuses on projects with the potential to create transformational change.

For more information, visit www.knightfoundation.org.