Watch Kaelin’s Story
In this video, Kaelin Hatfield shares how studying Elementary Education at PBA helped her discover her passion for service, launch a humanitarian-focused business, and found a nonprofit serving people in crisis around the world. This year, Kaelin was honored with the Women of Distinction Humanitarian Award for her dedication and service to those in need across our country and overseas.
Highlights of Kaelin’s Story
Kaelin Hatfield’s journey at Palm Beach Atlantic University began with faith and a calling. Drawn to PBA through women’s lacrosse and its Christ-centered community, she quickly found a campus that cared about her not only as a student-athlete, but as a person with dreams and purpose.
As an Elementary Education student at PBA, Kaelin was deeply impacted by professors and mentors who prayed with her, invested in her goals, and encouraged her to pursue what God placed on her heart.
Her God-Sized dream began during a difficult season in eighth grade when her sister struggled with depression. Kaelin began designing shirts with messages of encouragement, first for her sister and then for others in hospitals who needed hope. What started as a small act of compassion grew into a retail business that now donates a portion of proceeds to depression and suicide prevention efforts both locally and internationally.
When war broke out in Ukraine, Kaelin felt called not only to design shirts but to go serve directly. Today, she and her husband run a nonprofit called Christ in Crisis, which provides humanitarian aid — and more importantly, eternal hope found in Jesus — to people in some of the darkest places in the world.
Kaelin describes PBA as the place where her passion was refined and her calling was strengthened. Through her education and spiritual formation, she gained the confidence to step into leadership and serve boldly. Today, she is living her God-Sized dream, using everything she learned at PBA to bring hope to people in crisis.
Interested in Studying Education at PBA?
About Our School
Our school is well-known throughout Florida and as such, has established solid partnerships with school districts and other organizations for meaningful hands-on student teaching and clinical opportunities. Our Christ-centered approach to teaching and learning will deepen your outlook on your chosen profession and the impact you can have on others. And our innovative range of programs, from education to athletic training, results in a dynamic range of students learning together and collaborating daily.
Marcia Bedasse
Dean of the School of Education
& Behavioral Studies