Kenner Taylor ’23 ’25

Kenner Taylor ’23 ’25 makes balancing the rigors of an elite academic schedule, collegiate athletics, robust extracurriculars, and entrepreneurship look easy. He may also be one of the nicest, most down-to-earth achievers you will ever meet. Lean in.

Kenner Taylor ’23 ’25’s early childhood memories are summers of Texas A&M tennis camps. Mays Business School’s Master’s in Real Estate student, podcast entrepreneur, and letterman spent his undergrad sprinting between the courts and his University Honors Studies alongside a torrent of extracurriculars. Like many outstanding Aggies, Taylor’s humility is outpaced only by the strength of his accomplishments. But his unmatched penchant for achievement predates his arrival in Aggieland.

As visionary as he is determined, ten-year-old Taylor undauntedly approached coaches at Aggie tennis camp and asked, “What does it take to play here?” They challenged him to make the top-ten rankings in Texas—a target he wasted no time pursuing, updating coaches yearly on progress. Hitting the top ten at 16 and grabbing the No. 1 spot at 17, Taylor realized he needed more than exceptional rankings. After a disappointing assessment by Aggie coaches late in high school, grit, determination, and faith ultimately earned him a spot on the team.

Once at Texas A&M University, Taylor set the gold standard for student-athlete performance. “He puts everything into everything he does,” shares men’s tennis coach, Steve Denton, “and he does it all so well; his work ethic is second to none.”

Scholastically, Taylor’s resume includes a finance degree from Mays’ Business Honors program (he was a peer leader coordinator); University Honors; and the elite “Titans of Investing” course (he served as CEO). Taylor’s undergraduate senior capstone project was a podcast, “Aggie Greats.” Simultaneously, he was president of Texas A&M Fellowship of Christian Athletes, selected for the prestigious Texas A&M Foundation’s Maroon Coats, and traveled internationally with Mission of Hope. Taylor’s athletic journey hasn’t been seamless. With a red-shirt freshman year, Taylor’s second year was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite reaching the NCAA doubles championship junior year with partner Noah Schachter ’23, and sound performance senior year, he prayerfully stepped away from tennis in 2023 to focus on his master’s. The team asked him to return this spring, in the wake of unanticipated departures. “I felt a bit like the 12th man,” shared Taylor, who spent some time waiting in the wings, only to be called back in as a seasoned student-athlete in his final semester of eligibility. “I’m excited to contribute and hope to be a positive leader within the framework of my experience.”

From Denton’s perspective—he’s answering the call. “Kenner leads by example,” he notes, “never giving up, always giving his best with a positive attitude—qualities that significantly impact our team.”

Taylor received the Distinguished Letterman’s Award last spring, the highest honor awarded to a student-athlete. He also led Traditions Night (Fish Camp for athletes).

Taylor credits others’ help in managing a schedule that leaves little room for rest and names Mays as “one of the most incredible things I’ve been a part of.” He elaborates, “The Business Honors team was essential to helping me balance student and athletic workloads.” He thrived, maintaining Honors status in a competitive degree.

He’s found entrepreneurial joy and fulfillment in the “Aggie Greats” podcast—an academic exercise that unexpectedly turned into a passion project. Taylor interviews current and former students of exceptional achievement on varying leadership topics to answer, “What makes an Aggie great?” Taylor summarized—“The show’s premise is to get into the minds, habits, and lifestyles of some of the most impactful leaders, coaches, and high performers here at Texas A&M.”

Taylor is ultimately driven by faith. His parents’ nonprofit helps families overcome obstacles to adoption, and he is always moved by their mission. He plans to build a career in commercial real estate and eventually start his own business, perhaps following in his parents’ mission-minded footsteps.