Hometown:

Indianapolis, IN

Biography

A National AP Scholar and a National Merit Finalist, Kendra is the first Wells Scholar from Herron High School, where she was valedictorian and president of her class. She founded the school’s debate club and its Ethics Bowl Team and served as captain of both. In the 2016 national competition, the Ethics Bowl Team won the Ladenson Award, which is given to the team that best embodies the Ethics Bowl spirit and ideals as voted on by the competitors. A member of the cross country team, she was also active in the arts, performing with the Indiana Repertory Theatre and the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and volunteering for Jubilate, a choir for those with special needs. In her freshman year in high school, a service trip abroad exposed her to international discrepancies in wealth and general care and stimulated her interest in serving impoverished or isolated communities and in exploring cultures outside her own. She has interned with Timmy Global Health and volunteered at the Mexican Consulate. She plans to study anthropology and biology with particular attention to international health. In addition, Kendra will participate in the IU Science, Technology, and Research Scholars mentored-research program with the goal perhaps one day to work for the World Health Organization.

She is inspired by spiritual teacher Eknath Easwaran’s words: “Live only for yourself and you will never grow; live for the welfare of all those around you and you will grow to your full stature.”

She will hold the William and Martha Lea Armstrong Scholarship in the Wells Scholars Program.