During Marquita's junior year at Clark Atlanta University, she encountered a kidney disease that runs in her family.

While recovering, she was accepted to the Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program.

"I don't believe in allowing circumstances or life's problems to stop what you are supposed to be doing," she says.

Scholarship in hand, Marquita went on to earn her Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a Master's degree in Digital Forensics. Today, she works at the biometrics and forensics branch of the Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic in Charleston, SC.

SMART was established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. It aims to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories.