While earning her Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a Dance Minor from Loyola University New Orleans, Kristi performed such roles as Arora from The Sleeping Beauty, Nikiya from La Bayadere, and Queen Mekhmene Banu from A Legend of Love, among many other lead roles. Along with gaining the title of Loyola’s Dancer of the Year twice, she also won the Junior Philharmonic Society of New Orleans’ overall honor, The John Tobin Award. At age 17, Kristi was named Baldwin County’s first Distinguished Young Woman (formerly known as Jr. Miss). In the scholarship program, she won the Talent, Fitness, and Self Expression categories within the overall title. She went on to choreograph for the prestigious program and has now been on involved with the program for ten years. With her guidance, her students continue to win talent merits, among many other awards and scholarships.