Kendra Smith
Biography
Branch of Armed Services: Army Dependent (Father – Master Sergeant Ernest Smith)
Age: 22
Hometown: Lawton, Oklahoma
Institution of Higher Learning: University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)
Degree Sought: Master of Public Administration
Growing up, Kendra Smith learned about leadership from a whole host of family members. Her father served for over 20 years in the U.S. Army, her brother is currently serving in the Army, and her mother works on base at Fort Sill, OK, with servicemembers as the Branch Chief of the Soldiering Processing Branch. Taking these examples to heart, Kendra is currently a leader regarding women’s issues in her central Oklahoma community. In order to take her family-influenced leadership skills to the next level and truly affect change, Kendra is earning her Master of Public Administration with an emphasis on nonprofit management at the University of Oklahoma in order to someday soon open a women’s resource center in Oklahoma City.
Quote from Kendra:
“My family has had a long history of serving our country and community. ‘…but still serving’ is a motto that my family has always lived by. From watching my family’s service and, in particular, my dad’s service to our country, I have always been aware of my need to give back. I’ve always known that our lives are intertwined and that I must take action on the things that are important to me and put my all in to truly helping a cause because that’s what my family has always done.”
