Kendall W., a senior at Wilmer-Hutchins High School, is preparing for more than just graduation.
As valedictorian of the Class of 2025, she’s headed to Prairie View A&M University this summer on a full-ride academic scholarship to major in architecture.
“I actually wasn’t aiming to become valedictorian,” Kendall said. “It kind of just happened. I just wanted to keep all my grades in the 90s because that’s the standard I hold myself to.”
Kendall is the only Black female student in the school’s construction pathway, where she focused on plumbing while also earning her associate’s degree. This summer, she’ll take part in Prairie View’s summer bridge program to help incoming freshmen transition to college life.
Her passion for architecture was first sparked in seventh grade at Harry Stone Montessori Academy, when her math teacher, Nyla Love, noticed her doodling during class.
“She would always catch me drawing during her class when I got bored and suggested I look into architecture,” Kendall said.
Love encouraged Kendall to attend Wilmer-Hutchins for its construction pathway, which offered hands-on experience and the chance to earn an associate degree. That decision proved pivotal.
During her freshman year, Kendall met her then construction teacher, Renee Sears, who quickly noticed her focus and eye for detail during a lesson on the parts of an inch and the architecture ruler.
That curiosity quickly turned into real-world experience. Sears helped Kendall land an internship with SBLM Architects, where she worked eight-hour shifts three days a week learning AutoCAD, a software used to create 2D and 3D designs. By the end of her internship, she had successfully drawn a full rendering of the office she worked in.
“This experience definitely confirmed things for me,” Kendall said. “It was the first time I was able to see what it was like to be an actual architect.”
The SBLM internship wasn’t her only exposure to the professional world. Kendall participated in multiple programs during her time in high school, including Work-Based Learning Alliance, Assist for Life, and TDIndustries, all of which she said shaped her identity as a young woman in construction.
As she leaves high school behind, she hopes her legacy will encourage girls to consider careers in construction and architecture.
“Put in the work,” she said. “It’s easy to get sidetracked in this world because things start to get harder and people start to disappear, but stay the course and most importantly, have fun.”
