CHANGE-MAKER
CHANGE-MAKER
“Focusing on the barriers gets me nowhere. I set my mind on the end goal, giving every task my all despite the obstacles in my way.”
Kaleigh Brendle ’25 CLAS
Born with a rare eye disease called Leber Congenital Amaurosis, which left her visually impaired, Kaleigh Brendle ’25 CLAS found her voice as an advocate at an early age. At 17, she challenged the College Board’s decision to replace hard-copy Braille AP exams with a digital format. Her victory was a win for blind and visually impaired high school students across the nation.
As a Peace and Justice major at Villanova, Kaleigh continues to let her voice be heard in other ways: A musician, she released her first album, Karma, in September 2021 and directs Sing for Serenity, an international online choir she founded at age 14 for blind and visually impaired vocalists.
PHOTO: VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY/JOHN SHETRON
CHANGE-MAKER
“Focusing on the barriers gets me nowhere. I set my mind on the end goal, giving every task my all despite the obstacles in my way.”
Kaleigh Brendle ’25 CLAS
Photo: Villanova University/John Shetron
Born with a rare eye disease called Leber Congenital Amaurosis, which left her visually impaired, Kaleigh Brendle ’25 CLAS found her voice as an advocate at an early age. At 17, she challenged the College Board’s decision to replace hard-copy Braille AP exams with a digital format. Her victory was a win for blind and visually impaired high school students across the nation.
As a Peace and Justice major at Villanova, Kaleigh continues to let her voice be heard in other ways: A musician, she released her first album, Karma, in September 2021 and directs Sing for Serenity, an international online choir she founded at age 14 for blind and visually impaired vocalists.
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