Kelly is committed to various philanthropic endeavors to empower the next generation of Auburn engineers. He established an endowment for minority engineering students from his hometown of Eufaula, Alabama. Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering named the Engineering Academic Excellence Program Office Suite Reception Area in the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center in his honor. Kelly also served as vice chair and treasurer of the Auburn University Engineering Alumni Council before becoming chair last year, making him the first African American to chair the council in its 55-year history.
“Kenneth Kelly personifies the value of an Auburn degree and the potential it holds,” Auburn President Jay Gogue said. “He is a true servant leader, and his efforts have made an impact on his profession as well as on our students, who are empowered by the expertise and resources he shares.”
In 2018, Kelly was awarded the Distinguished Auburn Engineer Award, an honor granted to less than 140 individuals over the last 50 years across more than 35,000 engineering graduates. That same year, he was presented the Spirit of Detroit Award by the Detroit City Council. More recently, Kelly was inducted into the prestigious state of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in 2020. Kelly has been included in the Birmingham Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 and has been recognized for his leadership in Georgia by the Henry County Chamber, Council for Quality Growth and 100 Black Men of Atlanta.
Kelly is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 100 Black Men, the National Black MBA Association, and a board of director of the Detroit Regional Chamber.
The Auburn University commencement speech is available on Auburn University Spring 2021 Commencement – Graduate School – YouTube and commencement website.
For more information about First Independence Bank, visit www.FirstIndependence.com or follow at @ficonnected.
