Episode 3

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Published on:

24th Mar 2026

Breaking Barriers: How One Scholarship Changed a Life with Kennedi Luckett

Can a single scholarship transform someone’s college journey and maybe even their entire future? Kelly Albrecht sits down with Marquette’s first-ever Wade Scholar, Kennedi Luckett, for a conversation that pulls back the curtain on what true support and opportunity can look like on campus today.

Many students never realize how much staff care or how accessible personal connections are at a school like Marquette, until someone opens the door for them. Kennedi’s story disrupts the old narrative of intimidating universities, instead highlighting how proactive outreach, belonging initiatives, and genuine staff-student relationships can create a launchpad for self-discovery and success.

What would your college experience be like if your wildest ambitions were met not with barriers, but with hands reaching back to help? Hear how Marquette and the Wade Scholarship helped Kennedi Luckett not just survive, but truly thrive.

Episode Highlights:

15:15 - I have like 3 quick things for that. One is Urban Scholars. That is my full tuition scholarship and the groups that I'm a part of just for, because Marquette is a PWI… sometimes it is, you can feel a little ostracized at some points. So being able to be a part of a program where there are a lot of Black and brown students who are dealing with the same sorts of things, being able to be seen in that area and have that community is very much needed. And I feel like it would've been hard to do things at Marquette without that space.

21:12 - Put your mental health first. Cause you're not gonna be able to finish college if your brain is not there. Like if you're mentally burned out, it's just not gonna, it's not going to work out well for you. And you're going to be very upset at how you lived your college life if you didn't actually get to enjoy it. Like I said before, it's genuinely like a safe space for you to mess up or for you to fall without being in real adulthood.

25:37 - I would say my We Are moment has been… Marquette gives you the space to really become whoever you want to become and gives you all, like, the outlets you can and to actually, like, live out what you want if you just go and ask someone. So the support that Marquette in general just has… I would say my We Are Marquette moment is definitely the support that Marquette has shown me with all the endeavors that I want to do, even with like the Visit Milwaukee internship… Just giving me different opportunities to figure out what I want to do or like to grow more into what I want to do.

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About the Podcast

Marquette CAREs
Highlighting the people and programs that bring “We Are Marquette” to life.

College life can be exciting, overwhelming, surprising, and transformative. Often all at once!

The Marquette CAREs Podcast supports students and families as they navigate that journey with clarity, connection, and compassion. Hosted by Kelly Albrecht, CARE Team Case Manager at Marquette University, each episode features a campus expert, community partner, or student leader exploring topics such as well-being, safety, transition, struggle, resilience, and growth.

In these 25-30 minute conversations, listeners gain practical takeaways, behind-the-scenes context, and real talk about what students experience throughout their time at Marquette. Each episode closes with our signature “We Are” Moment, where guests share a personal story of care, support, or community. A reminder that at Marquette, we show up for one another.

Informative, accessible, and rooted in cura personalis, this podcast is your guide to understanding how we care for the whole person at Marquette University.

About your hosts

Zabrian "Z" Oglesby

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Zabrian "Z" Oglesby (ze/zir or they/them) serves as the Assistant Dean of Students within the Office of Student Development housed in Division of Belonging and Student Affairs at Marquette University.

Zabrian joined Marquette in July 2023 as Assistant Director of the LGBTQ+ Resource Center and brings more than a decade of experience as a Student Affairs administrator. Their expertise spans Student Conduct, Crisis Response, Operational Excellence, and Social Justice Education.

Beyond Marquette, Zabrian is a Senior Instructional Program Manager at CodePath, a tech-education nonprofit reimagining higher education for first-generation and low-income students and preparing the first AI-native generation of engineers, CTOs, and founders.

MU OSD

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The staff in the Office of Student Development serve as educators and supporters who are available to help you make the most of your college experience. The office oversees SPARK, New Student and Family Orientation, Family Weekend, Student Conduct, and the CARE Team.

The Office of Student Development is located in room 329 of the Alumni Memorial Union. The office is open Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.