LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On a cold February morning in downtown Louisville, the actions of Kentani Sneed will warm your heart.
The senior at duPont Manual High School has a 3.7 GPA and received the Rotary Bridge Scholarship to help her take a full schedule of college classes a year early.
But it’s her commitment to her community that truly sets her apart. She organizes pop-up shops for the homeless, where she collects and distributes desperately needed supplies for free.
She said she volunteered to help the homeless because she feels they are frequently overlooked and it’s a way for her to make the most impact. She said, “You can tell how much they appreciate it. They look in your eyes and say, ‘Thank you.’”
But that’s just the start of how she gives back. She also has her own sewing business called Kentani’s Creations, where she makes masks and onesies for the underprivileged, which she distributes to local hospitals.
Kentani also creates portraits for people, giving art to those who otherwise couldn’t afford it.
Motivated by the example set by her mother, she lives a life of service, trying to set an example not to let tough circumstances bring you down.
She said, “You can change the things that are bad if you keep trying and keep moving, even on those bad days. We’re all the same. Giving back helps one another and puts a smile on other’s faces.”
“Smile” is a relevant word for her future — because she wants to be an oral surgeon. She chose her career path out of a sense of appreciation for those who helped her, explaining, “This smile hasn’t always been here. It took a long journey, braces and surgeries and things like that. I just know I want to make other people smile, too.”
One of her mentors is Carmelita Weakley, the founder of the Change My World charity. She believes Kentani is the type of person who can do that.
She told Spectrum News 1, “It only takes one person to do it. People are watching to see if you can do it. And if she can do it — she’s done it — other kids can do it as well.”
Kentani Sneed is a role model for her generation and a deserving Spectrum News 1 High School Scholar. She’ll get $1,000 toward her college expenses.