By Krystal Moralee

As a recipient of the Little Brother, Little Sister Scholarship through the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, Kayla Dunham arrived at Michigan State University carrying more than her luggage and the typical nerves of a first-year college student. She also brought with her the honor of being the first in her family to go to college, and the determination to make the most of the opportunity.

“I just feel like I had to set the example,” she said.

Now, four years later, that example is already rippling outward. Dunham’s twin brothers, who are graduating this year from Port Huron Northern High School, are both headed to college themselves, motivated by their sister’s success.

For Dunham, who graduated from Port Huron High School in 2022, the scholarship provided more than just financial assistance. It connected her with a support system that helped her navigate college life and celebrate her victories along the way while building confidence far from home.

“It has truly been a pleasure working with Kayla over the past four years through her renewable scholarship and as part of our high-priority student cohort,” said Jessica Flann, Program Officer of Postsecondary Success for the Community Foundation of St. Clair County. “Watching her transition to Michigan State and fully immerse herself in the college experience has been incredibly inspiring.”

Dunham initially dreamed of attending Louisiana State University and was accepted there but ultimately realized she was not ready to move so far from home on her own.

“Michigan State felt more at home,” she said, and that decision became the beginning of a college journey defined by leadership, service, and involvement.

This August, Dunham will graduate from MSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and a minor in African and African American Studies. Throughout college, she has maintained above a 3.1 GPA while balancing demanding coursework, leadership roles, internships, and hundreds of hours of community service.

“I made sure I was involved in a lot of organizations,” she said.

That might be a bit of an understatement.

During her time at MSU, Dunham served as secretary, vice president, and president of Sisters Building Women. She was director of committees for Sistas That Care, historian for MSU’s Black Celebratory, secretary for Eris Mob, and secretary for the National Council of Negro Women. She also organized and led campus programs focused on wellness, culture, mental health, and student engagement.

Along the way, she earned the Senior Class Exceptional Leader Award from the Associated Students of Michigan State University, was recognized within the Kinesiology department for leadership and community impact, and completed more than 100 clinical hours as a physical therapy intern with ATI Physical Therapy. She is CPR and AED certified and was also admitted into two fellowships this summer.

Flann said Dunham demonstrates exactly what the Community Foundation knows students can achieve when they feel supported.

“Kayla took full advantage of every opportunity by getting deeply involved on campus and applying what she was learning through her extracurricular activities right away,” Flann said. “When we encourage students to engage beyond the classroom, Kayla embodies exactly what that can look like. She is going to be a difference-maker and a tremendous asset as she begins this next chapter.”

Dunham plans to continue her education in graduate school, pursuing clinical exercise physiology and potentially a second master’s degree connected to African studies.

While the scholarship itself helped financially, she said the encouragement and continued support from the Community Foundation made an equally lasting impact. The handwritten notes, care packages with gift cards and essentials, and supportive check-ins reminded her that people were genuinely invested in her success.

Now preparing for graduation and the next phase of her journey, Dunham encourages younger students to keep pushing forward, even when opportunities feel out of reach.

“Don’t take no as an answer. Continue to follow up,” she said. “Rejection is literally just redirection, so don’t take it personal.”

She also strongly encourages students to build relationships and connections wherever they can.

“So many doors opened for me from networking,” she said. “Just get to know people better, because you just never know what you might need and who will be able to give it to you.”

Help open doors for more students like Kayla. To support student success through the Community Foundation, contact Jackie Hanton at jackie@stclairfoundation.org or 810-984-4761.