Kelsey Carlton (2021)

Newly minted Patriot alumna says goodbye to JMPS, heads to Pepperdine

June 6, 2021

Armed with a full-ride scholarship, new JMPS alumna Kelsey Carlton (’21) is heading to Pepperdine University, in Malibu, California, this fall. Carlton, who was accepted into more than eight prestigious schools, chose Pepperdine in part because it offered such an excellent scholarship package.

What Carlton will miss most about JMPS is how the people at the school turn it into one big Madison Prep family.

Carlton describes herself as shy and introverted, but she says she “instantly made friends” at JMPS, because it is such a “welcoming, friendly place.”

And for Carlton, the JMPS teachers are an important piece of the school community.

“They’re into their subjects and passions, and they go above and beyond.” She noted Dr. Quigley, who has his Ph.D. in Marine Science.

She describes this kind of passion and experience as something she had never experienced in school before attending JMPS.

In part because of these teachers, Carlton is now planning to pursue a B.S. in Biology with a pre-med track. She’s passionate about people with autism, and she’s considering becoming an occupational therapist.

Carlton will not be the only JMPS graduate at Pepperdine. Karissa Huckeba (’21) is also going to Pepperdine on a full-ride scholarship, where Huckeba and Carlton will room together. Both Huckeba and Carlton have been close friends since before Carlton started attending JMPS, when they played on the Patriot volleyball team together.

Huckeba (’21) will also be completing a pre-med track and is interested in women’s health.

Both Carlton and Huckeba (’21) are the youngest of their siblings to attend Madison Prep, including Johanna Huckeba (’14), Cody Carlton (’16), Ian Huckeba (‘17), and Annika Huckeba (’20).

Carlton (’21) and Huckeba (’21) will also be joining Huckeba (’20) at Pepperdine, who is studying Criminal Law and wants to join the FBI.