This special senior spotlight addition stars everyone’s favorite ginger: Kent Brantley! It is tough to imagine school without Kent, as he has been an integral part of the class of 2023 ever since joining the RMA family in the first grade. From listening to him produce the most outlandish interpretations of literature in English (which somehow ALWAYS seem to be right) to just having a short conversation with him, Kent is sure to leave you laughing either way. He has a unique sense of humor that incorporates both friendly jests and sarcasm to make jokes that never seem to miss the mark. But make no mistake: Kent has a serious side too and is a great friend who will always be there for you when you need someone to talk to. As summed up by his good friend Darshan Patel, “Kentavioussavious “Ginger Mamba” Brantley is truly one of a kind. His fiery red hair ignites inspiration in my heart to be my best self, and his humor and intellect, especially in the literary arts, are truly unparalleled.” 

Kent excels in many subjects, but he is especially good at writing. He has received many accolades for his skill, but he’d say his favorite is his award for fifth place in the Poetry Competition at Senior Beta. This becomes even more impressive when you find out he was competing against kids from all over the state! In addition to AP English, he is taking AP Biology, Marine Biology, Honors Calculus, and AP Psychology for his senior year. He is also taking two music classes as his electives and participates in both Sr. Beta Club and FCA. Making him the epitome of a well-rounded student, Kent is playing both varsity soccer and varsity tennis as a senior. He has been playing soccer since he was five years old and usually plays in the midfield or wing, but in some games, he gets to show off his skill as a defender. Kent joined the tennis team this year, but he has quickly gotten the hang of the game and has quickly improved with each practice and match. 

Outside of school, Kent is a very active member of his church. He even helps out with Vacation Bible School every summer, working with kids seven years and younger. He also volunteers at the State Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. In his free time, Kent loves to go fishing, swimming, and snorkeling, and he always makes sure to take care of his multitude of fish tanks and plants. 

Kent applied to Wesleyan, UNCW, and Barton this year and ultimately decided to commit to Barton! He is going to follow his love for the sciences by pursuing a degree in Biology with a focus in Ecology. No matter what Kent decides to do, he will definitely go very far. From everyone here at RMA, we wish you the best of luck, in college and every step after!

Get to know Kent!

What is your favorite movie?- “It’s Kind of a Funny Story”

Describe your dream vacation.- I’d love to go to Japan and island hop all the way down to Australia and New Zealand going scuba diving and looking through rainforests.

Who is your role model?- My role model is Tyler Childers for the way he overcame his addiction issues.

If you were trapped on a deserted island, what three things would you bring?- I’d bring 25 pounds of olive garden breadsticks, the “Quiet Heavy Dreams” EP, and a harpoon.

What will you miss about RMA?-I’ll miss the people that make up RMA.

What is your funniest story at RMA?- The time Dr. K had everyone try mealworms in his class and people all thought it was super weird.

What is one piece of advice you’d give to an incoming freshman?- Procrastination is too easy to do and will hurt you in the long run.

What class would you take again, and why?- I would want to take AP Environmental again because the class was interesting and the group was fun.