"Back home … there's nothing like it."

To say that University of Kentucky biology graduate Kellie Farthing loves Eastern Kentucky is an understatement.

Farthing is as proud of her accent as she is her hometown. She's proud of her sister, who graduated from the University of Kentucky last year with a 4.0 GPA in psychology. There's also her mom and three other siblings and the nieces and nephews, many who have remained in Martin, Ky.

"Martin probably has a couple thousand people. I graduated high school with a class of 83, to put it in perspective," Farthing said. "I say that I'm halfway between Pikeville and Hazard… people usually know one place or the other."

Farthing will gladly be moving back in with her mom after graduation, having accepted a two-year contract with Teach for America in its inaugural year in Whitley, Floyd and Knox counties.

There's even a chance that Farthing will work at Allen Central, her old high school.

"When I interviewed last fall, I was definitely interested in working in a rural area," Farthing said. "I love the land and the people, but I was really hoping that everything worked out for Teach for America in Kentucky."

Farthing will be teaching high school science at one of four possible schools where she's optimistic that her experiences will help future students. "I know where these kids are from, and I know what they're going through," she said. "I was really nervous to come to UK, but it was a great experience, and I want to show others that they can go too."

As a fourth generation UK student and lifelong Wildcat fan, Farthing will be able to tell her students exactly what they need to do to get to Lexington. Teach for America training this summer will provide Farthing with the basics, but she'll have ultimate control in managing the class environment.

"What I've noticed most from observing Teach for America classrooms is the importance placed on making sure that kids know the material. They don't have just one shot," said Farthing. "It's more than memorization, which doesn't really help anyone."

One of the nation's largest providers of teachers for low-income communities, Teach for America has put faith in Farthing. Not only was she chosen as one of 5,400 out of 48,000 applicants nationwide, but she is also an Amgen fellow, qualifying as one of the top 50 Teach for America corps members in math and science education. As a result, Farthing will be awarded a $1,000 signing bonus as well as $1,000 for classroom supplies.

With all of the honors, Farthing is most excited to help out back home and to introduce her Teach for America peers to a new part of the country.

"Most people have never been to this part of the country. We wear shoes! We don't all have tons of missing teeth," Farthing said. "Kids are the same back home as they are here at UK. It's just in the country. And it's beautiful."

There's that pride again. "People think that we're backwards. Well, I want to prove them wrong," she said, satisfied. "Don't hide where you're from. If people think I'm stupid because of where I'm from or what I sound like, it's just fuel for me."

Farthing has a mission. "So many people want to leave town and never come back," she said. "But I think it's so important to better yourself and then come back and better where you're from."

The Floyd County Times featured Kelli Farthing in a recent article.