Kea Yengst

Meet an ambitious academic powerhouse from the picturesque coastal town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, who's making waves at Clemson University's Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business. As a double major in Financial Management and Marketing with a minor in Accounting, she exemplifies academic excellence and professional drive.

Currently serving as a Teacher's Assistant for the Business 2010 course, she guides and mentors 500 business majors, demonstrating her leadership capabilities. Her diverse professional experience includes roles with Clemson's First-Year Academic Programs (FYAP) and the nationally-ranked TD's of Clemson restaurant, showcasing her ability to balance multiple responsibilities while maintaining academic excellence.

Her commitment to personal growth extends beyond the classroom as an active member of Clemson Women in Business and the Clemson Snow and Ski Club. With an eye on the future, she's pursuing her real estate license, SIE exam, and AWS certification before graduation, demonstrating her dedication to building a robust professional portfolio.

What sets her apart is her remarkable journey before Clemson. After completing high school in just three years, she embarked on a transformative gap year in Zaragoza, Spain through the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy's School Year Abroad (SYA) program. During this time, she founded KeaCares in 2019, an innovative nonprofit organization that breaks down barriers in education by providing underprivileged students with SAT prep materials. Through a strategic dropshipping model, she expanded the organization's reach globally, making test preparation accessible worldwide.

Her passion for communication and journalism shines through her impressive contribution of over 50 articles to The Carmel Sandpiper, her high school newspaper. This journalistic pursuit led her to participate in a high school journalism conference at Harvard University in 2020, further highlighting her commitment to excellence in all her endeavors.