McKenzie Morgan, ’22, creator of the popular fashion and lifestyle blog StyledbyMcKenz, decided to support Kent State fashion students on their journey just a few years after graduating. But her decision wasn’t about making a grand gesture. It was about gratitude.
“The scholarship I received at Kent State changed the trajectory of my life,” McKenzie said. “I’ve always wanted to be able to pay that forward and give that opportunity to another student. I think about how many students could be more successful in their career if they had the proper education to do so.”
That scholarship was what first brought McKenzie to Kent State. As a high school student passionate about fashion and already running her own blog, she knew she wanted to study fashion merchandising at a university that would help her turn creativity into a career. “I truly believe that if I didn’t go to Kent, I wouldn’t even be half of the influencer that I am today,” she said.
Between classes and campus life, McKenzie was building StyledbyMcKenz into something special. What started as a blog in high school became a full-scale business during her freshman year. When one of her YouTube videos unexpectedly went viral, her audience – and opportunities – grew overnight. “That was the first time I realized this could really be a career,” she said.
One of the most transformative parts of her Kent State journey came through studying abroad in Florence, Italy. Traveling overseas not only expanded her worldview but also inspired the travel-focused content that would later become central to StyledbyMcKenz. “Studying abroad rewired me in the best way,” McKenzie said. “I had so much travel anxiety going into it, but once I started seeing the world and working with hotels abroad, I realized I could build a career that combined fashion, travel and storytelling.” That experience sparked her signature blend of fashion and destination content, taking her to more than 35 countries since 2022.
Through every challenge, from navigating college during the pandemic to learning the realities of the fashion industry, Kent State remained a place that nurtured her growth. She credits much of that to her professors, especially Hillary Stone, a mentor who encouraged her to trust her unconventional path. “She told me, ‘You’re not meant to take a traditional route, you’re supposed to do this,’” McKenzie said. “That support gave me the confidence to keep going.”
Today, McKenzie’s platform reaches thousands of followers across the globe, and she’s built partnerships with major brands – all while staying grounded in the values Kent taught her. Giving back to her alma mater, the place where it all started, felt like the natural next step.
“I wanted to show young alumni that you don’t have to wait until you’ve ‘made it’ to give back,” she said. “Even a small scholarship can change someone’s future, just like mine did for me.”
For McKenzie, philanthropy isn’t just about writing a check; it’s about showing what’s possible when passion meets purpose. “I just think about the way that Kent State prepared me for my career,” she said. “I want to be able to give that opportunity to other students and show them that they can follow their passions at a young age and be successful.”