January 12, 2015
MARSHALL, Texas (1/12/15) - Christmas came four days early for a family from Mount Pleasant as a prayer was answered. The prayer of Jill and Kevin Kent was to one day see all five of their daughters earn college degrees. Their prayer was answered as daughters, Karson and Kaitlyn, the fourth and fifth from the family graduated from East Texas Baptist University during Fall Commencement held December 20th. All five of the Kent's daughters are now alumni of ETBU.
The oldest child, Kallie, was the first to attend and graduate from ETBU. The Kent's early Christmas present becomes very unique because Kallie's younger sisters, Kinsey, Klaire, Karson and Kaityln, are quadruplets. The four were born on February 4, 1993. At one time all five of Jill and Kevin's daughters were students at ETBU.
"ETBU has been wonderful to the Kent family," said Kevin. "Jill and I appreciate everything the university has done to get us to this point to have all five of our daughters become college graduates."
Kallie was a junior when the quads moved into Linebery Hall as freshman in August of 2011. The sisters chose not to live together. The four had been sharing the same large bedroom back home all their lives but when they came to college, they made the decision to each have new roommates in order to have the full college experience.
Kallie became the first to graduate from ETBU in May of 2013 when she received her Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication degree. Then last May, Klaire and Kinsey graduated. Klaire received her Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication degree and Kinsey received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree. The last two Kent's, Kaitlyn and Karson, both received their Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degrees four days before Christmas.
The quads were all on an academic schedule to graduate earlier than a four-your plan as they all four came to ETBU with dual credit hours they took while at Mount Pleasant High School. Kinsey and Klaire walked a year early. Kaitlyn and Karson graduated a semester early.
All five of the Kent's excelled as college students while at ETBU.
For example, Kallie and Karson both played varsity tennis and both were named Senior Girl-Call Out. Kallie received the honor in 2013. This past spring Karson followed in the footsteps of her oldest sister when she was named Senior Girl-Call Out. Klaire served as a varsity cheerleader on the ETBU Cheer team. Kinsey was heavily involved in the Student Government Association. Kaitlyn served as a Learning and Leadership coach. All five were consistently recognized for their high GPA's making the Dean's List with Honors numerous times during their time at ETBU.
When Kallie became the older sister to four siblings at one time the thought of how all five would eventually go to college was a concern of Jill and Kevin. The family will testify that God had a plan.
"I did not know how it would happen but I knew God would take care of that," said a happy father after Fall Commencement. "All five graduating from college was something that Jill and I hoped for them, prayed for them. We think it is a product of many, many prayers, not just from our family but from many other families."
"The Kent's are very blessed," shared Kevin.