Kennedy Wright ’23 (left) and a fellow AmeriCorps volunteer during a recruitment drive in Greenville. Kennedy served at Pendleton Place for a year before beginning the Mercer University School of Law last fall.

When Kennedy Wright graduated from Presbyterian College, she walked away with more than a bachelor’s degree in political science. She left with a purpose.

After a year of service with AmeriCorps, PC’s 2023 Outstanding Senior is now in her first year at Mercer Law School, where she is preparing for a career in civil rights law and finished her first semester in the top 30 percent of her class.

Her goal of becoming a civil rights attorney—forged during her college career—remains as potent as ever.

“I want to use my law degree to assist and advocate for others who have had their civil rights infringed on,” Wright said. “I feel that this protection is especially being attacked right now.”

Before law school, though, Wright put her alma mater’s motto, “While We Live, We Serve,” into action. Through AmeriCorps, she served at Pendleton Place’s Youth Resource Center in Greenville, a day shelter that provides meals, case management, and other support for unhoused young adults. Her role focused on helping clients secure stable housing, employment, and access to healthcare.

“I learned so much from my clients, especially the fact that what separates someone with a house and someone who lives on the street is one bad day,” Wright said.

Her passion for advocacy took root at PC, where she was a leader on campus. Wright served as student body president and earned the Outstanding Senior in Management award. She also received both a Senior Achievement Award and an Academic Excellence Award, capping off a distinguished career at PC.

A finalist for the Truman Scholarship—one of the nation’s most prestigious fellowships—Wright was recognized for her commitment to public service. She also helped foster inclusivity on campus as treasurer and president of the Multicultural Student Union.

“Attending PC played a huge role in who I have become,” Wright said. “The experiences and valuable lessons I learned at PC have been crucial to my character as an individual. I learned more about my morals and who I wanted to be as a person and as a lawyer.”

Despite the demands of law school, Wright remains connected to the mentors and values that shaped her at PC. She continues to seek guidance from Dr. Erin McAdams, her former advisor and current provost and vice president of academic affairs, who taught her the importance of courage and making a difference.

“I still reach out to her when I need a reminder of the importance of the work I want to do and a reminder of hope,” Wright said.

Though she now spends most of her time studying law, Wright enjoys relaxing with her dogs whenever she gets a break. Even with a packed schedule, her commitment to advocacy remains at the forefront—an ethos she first embraced at PC and now carries into her legal career.