You can support students like Kailynn today by making a gift to the UNK Fund - College of Business and Technology Student Scholarships.
Kailynn Rodewald’s dream was born out of boredom.
The McCook, Nebraska, native was a sophomore in high school during the height of COVID-19. She needed something to fill the space in the day created by the pandemic.
“I have three siblings, and we would all get done with our online schoolwork pretty early in the day,” she said. “My mom pretty much said: ‘I need you to go find something to do.’”
So, Rodewald turned to baking. In the beginning, it was a simple cake made for her grandmother’s birthday that her mother later shared on Facebook. From there, interest in Rodewald’s baking seemingly grew overnight.
“Tons of people started messaging me and asking if they could order a cake for a birthday party,” she said.
From that moment, Rodewald knew she had found a passion that she could grow into something bigger.
Now a senior at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Rodewald has seen her business flourish. She credits this success to her experience as a student in the College of Business and Technology.
Rodewald, a business administration major with a minor in entrepreneurship, received scholarship support through the College of Business and Technology. She’s also been involved in the college’s learning community and benefited from professors’ expertise.
With these opportunities, Rodewald said she has had the resources she needed to turn her dream into a reality.
“I think the most valuable part of my college experience has been just getting to know all the different people who will help me be successful in the future,” Rodewald said. “I think this degree has been super helpful, but I think the people that I have created these really strong relationships with have set this experience apart.”
Rodewald added that the scholarship support she received from the UNK Fund – College of Business and Technology Student Scholarships was the sprinkle on top of her college experience.
“I am so grateful for the scholarships I have received,” she said. “I am paying for college myself, and I will be graduating debt free because of this support. I genuinely don’t think I would still be in school if that was not the case.”
Following graduation, Rodewald plans to return to rural Nebraska and open either a storefront bakery or take her desserts on the road with a “cupcake trolley.”
“Picture an ice cream truck for cupcakes,” she said. “The whole idea is that I can travel anywhere, park a trolley somewhere and sell my products.”
Thanks to the resources and support from the college, friends and family, Rodewald is taking the next step of her life with confidence.
“I just feel so proud of myself,” she said. “It’s been six years since I started this business, and I’ve just seen it grow so much.”
