Graduating Senior KC Jennings Headed to Law School

Office of Marketing and Communications

April 29, 2022

Media Contact: Beverley Golden
Senior Director of Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.566.7303

As Katherine “KC’’ Jennings wraps up her term as student government president and her final semester of studies at The University of Texas at Tyler, she’s preparing to cross the stage not once but twice in spring commencement ceremonies.

Jennings will graduate with two degrees – a Bachelor of Science in economics from the College of Arts and Sciences on Friday and a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Soules College of Business on Saturday.

And while the Tyler native says she has mixed emotions about leaving UT Tyler, she is also looking forward to the next chapter in her life. She has accepted a full-tuition scholarship to attend law school at Pennsylvania State University, beginning in the fall.

“Attending law school has been a dream of mine, so I’m definitely excited about that, but UT Tyler is home and I’ll miss it, for sure,’’ she said. “I take comfort in knowing that I will be back for visits. Our campus has gone through a huge period of growth, and I look forward to coming back to see what that will look like in the future.’’

Graduation will mark the culmination of an eventful four years for Jennings, who accepted a Presidential Scholarship to attend UT Tyler in 2018.

In addition to pursuing two degrees and serving as Student Government Association senator and president, she has belonged to numerous other organizations including the National Society of Leadership and Success, served as a leader for New Patriot Orientation and Swoop Camp and represented the university on the UT System Student Advisory Council.

“When I came to UT Tyler, I was determined to make the most of my time here, and I’ve been able to do all sorts of things that I may not have had the opportunity to do anywhere else,’’ said Jennings, who also has immersed herself in a variety of campus events from silent discos to midnight breakfasts to cheering on the Patriots at games.

The personal focus on students is what she has enjoyed most about UT Tyler. In fact, it was a major factor in her decision to attend the university.

Jennings said she originally planned to attend college outside her hometown, but “I just didn’t feel quite certain about the other schools I visited. And then I felt a nudge to check out UT Tyler, and I had such a positive experience with everyone I met here. I got to talk to an advisor, the admissions team, all these people within the first 30 minutes of my visit. It was that kind of personal attention you don’t find everywhere. That was my turning point, when I decided UT Tyler was a really good option.’’

That personalized attention also extended to the classroom, she said.

“I’ve had a lot of professors who have advocated for my needs as a student. And I’ve had professors email me and say, ‘You didn’t do as well on this assignment as I know you could have. What’s up? How can I help you?’ That kind of responsiveness and investment in students has been beneficial to me.’’

Her involvement in SGA was a highlight of her student life experience. Planning to run for president, she spent a year talking to students to determine her priorities for the position.

“By spring 2021, when I was elected, I already had a game plan for how I was going to spend my year bettering our campus as president,’’ said Jennings, whose objectives included advocating for equity, accessibility and transparency.

“Looking back at my campaign platform, I believe I’ve been able accomplish everything that was on my checklist,’’ she said. “I’m also proud of the team that is stepping in to fill my shoes for next year. Our current vice president, Landry Smith, will serve as the next president, and I have no doubt that he and his team will carry on the legacy of positive change.’’

Planning a legal career with a particular interest in the area of wills and estates, Jennings said she wants to apply her knowledge and skills as a lawyer to help improve lives.

She is the daughter of Jason and Angela Jennings and has five younger siblings. She said her 5-year-old brother, who is the youngest, wants to sneak into her suitcase and accompany her to Penn State.

With a mission to improve educational and healthcare outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate programs to 10,000 students. UT Tyler recently merged with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (now known as UT Tyler Health Science Center). Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center (HSC) and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.