Graduate E. Josiah Kenty named 2026 Outstanding Young Alumnus

MURRAY, Ky. — E. Josiah Kenty, a 2020 graduate of Murray State University with a degree in criminal justice, has been honored with the University’s 2026 Outstanding Young Alumni Award in recognition of his work as an educator, speaker and advocate for student-athlete development. 

Kenty, a former Racer football player, has turned his own experiences of transition, resilience and leadership into a mission to help young people succeed both on and off the field.

Reflecting on the honor, Kenty said the recognition represents the journey that began when he first arrived on campus as a student-athlete.

“It means a lot, because when I first got on Murray State’s campus, it was through the lens of being an athlete,” he said. “Football afforded me the opportunity to go to college for free. It made me an example to my siblings that it’s possible for them, as well, to go to college through these natural-born talents married with hard work.”

His path shifted early when a severe knee injury during his first spring football practice forced him to reevaluate his future.

“I had the decision to make whether I was going to return home and try to figure things out or pursue higher education while I was figuring things out,” Kenty said. “A lot of my priorities were shifting.”

Today, he describes his identity in a single sentence: “I am a mosaic of lived experiences.”

Kenty credits Murray State with helping develop the confidence and perspective that would later guide his career.

“Murray State fostered that curiosity and creativity that was lying dormant on the inside of me,” he said. “It taught me how to function inside of professional spaces and recognize the skills that made me valuable, even when I didn’t feel confident yet.”

After graduating with a degree in criminal justice, his career evolved through several roles including educator, coach and speaker. Inspired by a public speaking course at Murray State, he discovered a passion for communication and mentorship that continues to shape his work today.

“Your presence fills up the space,” he recalled being told by a professor who helped him build confidence as a communicator. “That’s when it was birthed in me that I had something valuable to say.”

He later founded Flip the Culture, a program focused on helping student-athletes develop skills for success both during and after their athletic careers. Through speaking engagements, curriculum development and mentorship, his work focuses on guiding young people through major life transitions.

“My target audience is athletes who are in a transition moment in their life,” Kenty said. “But the principles apply to anyone going through change.”

In addition to speaking and consulting, he authored the book Leaving the Game, which began as a personal reflection while navigating his own transition away from competitive athletics.

“It started off as a diary,” he said. “I was at a very low place trying to transition from playing football to everyday life.”

Returning to Murray State as a guest speaker and mentor has been especially meaningful. Earlier this year, he visited campus to participate in events with students and alumni, reconnect with faculty and mentor current students navigating their own transitions.

“I had a goal to go back to the spaces that impacted me and give a refined impact to those organizations,” he said.

For him, the Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognition represents more than personal achievement—it highlights the perseverance behind many student success stories.

“There are a lot of stories that deserve to be highlighted,” Kenty said. “Stories of people who fought to stay and get their degree and are now seeing the value of that decision.”

Kenty will be honored at the Distinguished Alumni Dinner on Friday, April 17 from 5-8 p.m at the CFSB Center.