by Melissa Fox
Over the years when posed the question, ”What do you want to be when you grow up?” Grace Community School senior Kate Glenney never really had a definitive answer. That is until through her involvement with the Women’s Fund of Smith County’s G.I.V.E. (Girls Invested in Volunteer Efforts) program, which educates and engages local high school girls in philanthropy and community issues, did things begin to change for Kate and she finally had an answer to that question.
Through G.I.V.E. she learned about a local organization helping to fight human trafficking called For The Silent. After hearing about the horrors of human sex trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable youth, Kate realized that she felt called to do more for this cause. “In talking with my mom, I realized that yes, everyone sees how terrible this issue is. But not everyone feels the intense need to help like I do,” says Kate of her experience. “That was the start of when I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
She sought the advice of her older brother who first planted the seed about considering law school and then around that same time she saw the movie Sound of Freedom, which is a gripping, real-life account of a former U.S. government agent who embarks on a mission to rescue children from sex traffickers in Columbia. “All of these conversations and things just kept confirming my desire to help in some way,” says Kate “and I know the Lord was using them to help lead me in the right direction.” That began her pursuit of familiarizing herself with the legal system and joining Grace’s Inspire Program, where she has been mentored by District Attorney Jacob Putman over the course of her senior year, shadowing court proceedings, attending meetings and gaining first-hand experience. Ultimately, she plans to attend law school so that one day she hopes to be a part of the solution for young women entrapped in human trafficking.
Kate’s goals are lofty, but there is no doubt that she will achieve them. As a 4.0 student, Captain of her Varsity basketball team, Section Leader of her State Champion school choir, member of the National Honor Society and Captain of her school’s Arete Legacy Group – Kate’s high school resume is both robust and impressive. In addition to being extremely involved at school, she is actively involved in our community as well. She recently co-chaired the Women’s Fund Power of the Purse luncheon where she helped plan, serve, and speak to over 800 women. Through her participation in G.I.V.E., her group has raised and granted almost $30,000 over the last three years for various local non-profit organizations. She also serves on the Texas Bank and Trust Student Board and is actively involved in her church youth leadership program, Catalyst.
Kate has been accepted into the Mays Business Honors program at Texas A&M University and will begin in the Fall of 2024. While she may not have known exactly what she wanted to do when she grew up, she had a pretty good idea of where she wanted that to be. Both of her parents graduated from Texas A&M and Kate will be a 4th generation Aggie on her father’s side. “I grew up going to Aggie games, ever since I was little bitty!,” says Kate. “When deciding on where to go to college, my parents encouraged me to consider several schools to be sure. But my response was “Do I have to consider other places?,” I know where I want go.” states Kate.
When asked what she is most looking forward to in college Kate says, “Meeting all sorts of new people!” Kate started at Grace Community School in pre-k and has loved her time there. She feels extremely prepared for the academic rigors of college, given her AP and honors classes with Grace. But, as any high school senior will tell you she is a little nervous, but more so excited to embark on new experiences in the fall. She plans to rush, already has her roommate and since she’s been on campus so much with her family, she already knows her way around. All of this will come soon enough, but not before Kate spends the summer mentoring youth through Pine Cove Camp as a counselor-in-training.
As her senior year comes to an end, Kate is savoring these last couple of months with family and friends. “I’m kind of glad that I don’t have a sport right now at the end of the year, since basketball is over, because I’m able to hang out and really enjoy my friends before we all go our different directions,” remarks Kate. For parents, Shannon and Chris Glenney, they are cherishing these last few weeks with their daughter as well. Kate is the youngest of three children and once she leaves for school, Shannon and Chris will officially be empty nesters. They can be confident that Kate will flourish in college given how much she has accomplished as a high school student. As a leader today, Kate will most assuredly be a leader in the years to come as well and we are looking forward to her journey.