Kelly Blanton is a junior at North Carolina State University studying animal science. An animal lover from an early age, Kelly has owned dogs and horses. Her hometown is Taylorsville, North Carolina. Kelly was injured during a rodeo accident in the summer of 2011. Her favorite part about college is the independence it provides, allowing her to live away from her parents. Kelly has already been pleasantly surprised by some classes she didn't know she would enjoy, thanks to some great professors: "My biology, animal science, and public speaking professors have been my favorites so far. I didn't expect to enjoy going to these classes, but they made them interesting and my professors seem to be passionate about making my first year of college successful." In her free time, Kelly enjoys hanging out with her two-year-old nephew, Corbin.