ABOUT KAYLA WILLIS

Kayla Willis is a 2023 graduate from Fisk University, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish. A South Fulton County native, she attended Oakley Elementary and Hapeville Charter Middle School before starting her high school career at Westlake High School. At Westlake, Kayla was an active magnet, honor student, and international baccalaureate student. During her sophomore year of high school, Kayla co-founded Going Against the Grain, which is a social club that focuses on the injustices seen among minorities in the nation.

In 2019, Kayla was acknowledged for her impressive senior wall, where she was accepted into 33 universities without paying a single dime! As a result, she received two full rides and over $1.5 million worth of scholarship money combined. She has been featured in many articles about her success, including Teen Vogue, Essence, and even the Fulton County Schools website. She has also been on Fox 5, 11 Alive, and, more notably, The Steve Harvey Show.

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On March 19th, 2019, Mayor William "Bill" Edwards of South Fulton, GA, granted her own day in the City of South Fulton. On May 19th, 2019, she graduated in the top 5% of her class from Westlake High School and began preparing for her college career.

Kayla chose to further her education at Fisk University, where she received a full-ride scholarship. In addition, she became a member of the W.E.B. Dubois Honors Program at Fisk, along with the Political Science Club, Business Club, and Memorial Chapel Assistant. In addition, Kayla served as a Sophomore Class Senator, University Senate Secretary for Fisk University, and President of Going Against the Grain, which she chartered on Fisk's campus in August of 2020.

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Kayla is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she served as the Pi Chapter President. As a member, she has won the 2022 and 2023 Medium Chapter Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and the 2023 Undergraduate President of the Year for Medium Chapters.

 

Kayla wishes to use her work in politics and her love for Spanish in a career that can continue to provide service to others. She always states that her life purpose is to help.

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Kayla is currently in Cohort 8 of the Columbia University HBCU Fellowship, receiving her Masters of Science in Political Analytics. After completing graduate school, she hopes to work in government, hopefully having a political career. In addition, she hopes to continue to run her 501(c)(3) nonprofit,  The More than Numbers Youth Program, Inc.