KEARNEY – Kayla Rover comes from a long line of proud Lopers.
Her grandparents, Richard and Judy (Maul) Williams, attended UNK when it was still known as Kearney State College, and Judy was a member of the first KSC women’s basketball team in 1967-68.
The family tradition continued with her parents, John and Shelley, who met at UNK in the 1990s. John graduated with a degree in aviation and Shelley earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a marketing emphasis and a master’s degree in speech communication.
Rover’s uncle, aunt and older sister Jenna also graduated from UNK, and she has a cousin who currently attends the university.
Although she grew up in Corinth, Texas – part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex – Rover always thought of Nebraska as her second home. When the time came to choose a college, UNK was the “perfect fit.”
She was already familiar with Kearney, “so moving here felt natural,” Rover explained. Plus, she received financial assistance through the New Nebraskan Scholarship.
Launched in fall 2021, that scholarship program allows undergraduate students from any state to attend UNK for the in-state tuition rate, saving them more than $30,000 over four years.
“The New Nebraskan Scholarship was ultimately the reason I chose UNK,” Rover said. “I knew I wanted to go to college away from my hometown, but out-of-state tuition can be so expensive. This scholarship made that dream possible. Thanks to it, I’ve been able to experience so much during my three years here – meeting incredible friends, getting a personalized education I couldn’t find anywhere else, and truly making the most of my time in college. It’s been life-changing in more ways than I ever imagined.”
The UNK junior is studying sports management with minors in strategic communication and digital marketing, and she currently works with UNK Athletics as an event management intern.
“I love the individuality of that program – it’s so flexible and lets you carve out your own path based on what you’re passionate about,” she said. “For me, I leaned into the marketing and communications side of things, but I’ve had classmates who pursued finance minors, event management or even coaching endorsements. There’s room for everyone to tailor their experience to their future goals, and that’s what makes it so special. It’s not just about the academics; it’s about the connections, the opportunities and the doors it opens to follow your dreams within the sports industry.”
Outside the classroom, Rover is a member of Gamma Phi Beta, the same sorority her mother and older sister joined, and the Order of Omega honor society. She’s also a campus tour guide and vice president of internal recruitment for the Panhellenic Council.
“The community here is something I really value,” she said. “I came from a huge high school where, by the time graduation rolled around, I didn’t even recognize some of the people I’d gone to school with. Kearney feels like a ‘small big school’ to me – you can know a lot of people, but not quite everyone, which is the perfect balance. I also love all the opportunities available to students here. For me, that means being involved in different organizations and clubs while also holding two on-campus jobs. There’s always something to do, and it’s easy to find your place.”
After graduating in spring 2026, Rover plans to work in marketing and communications. Her dream job is event marketing and communications for a Major League Baseball team.
“I’ve always been passionate about sports, especially baseball, and getting to combine that with my career would be incredible. And since I’m clearly OK with moving far away, any team or organization willing to give me a shot would be amazing!”
