As twin sisters growing up in Gentilly, Kayla and Kyla Frey already have a long list of things in common. Now these two recent graduates of Frederick A. Douglass High School in New Orleans can add full scholarships from major universities to that list, and together, they collected nearly $5 million in potential funding for college.
This fall, Kayla will attend Yale University with an eye on a double major in political science and sociology, and eventually Yale Law School. Kyla is attending LSU and majoring in kinesiology to prepare for a career as an athletic trainer in the National Football League.
Kayla, who graduated first in her class, is known as the family bookworm for her fondness of reading everything she can get her hands on. She said, initially, she wanted to see how much money she could earn in scholarships, but she applied to Yale because she knew a lot of successful people have come out of the vaunted Ivy League school.
“I have to admit, I was quite surprised when I got the (acceptance) email because it’s so competitive,” Kayla said. “I wanted to go out of state for college, I love the location, and I couldn’t pass up the amazing financial award package they gave me.” Her package includes full tuition, room and board and other personal expenses. “It makes me really happy because I won’t be in debt,” she added.
Kyla, who finished fourth in her class, is known in her family for her love of painting and making bracelets. She is also a big sports fan, and she chose LSU over many other schools because it offers a strong kinesiology program and a rich sports heritage. Both are important in helping her reach her career goals of being an athletic trainer in professional sports.
Twin sisters Kyla, left, and Kayla Frey, right, are seen with their mother, Leslie Frey, who said 'We encouraged them a lot and let them know they can do whatever they want in life.'
Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida, Kayla excelled in her studies and participated in extracurricular activities such as softball, where she was recognized as the Scholar Athlete of the Year as a junior. She was a member of the award-winning Aspen Challenge Team, and was also involved in community service initiatives such as Operation Hope 4 NOLA. She was a statistician for the football team.
Kayla was an active member of several student organizations including the National Honor Society, the Bard Ambassador Program, the Bard Student Leadership Council, the Total Black Out Organization and the African American Studies Club, and was a reporter for the school newspaper. Most recently, she was named a Gates Scholarship recipient.
“I was determined to not fail, so I had to do what I had to do, and I got it done,” Kayla said. “I used my syllabus to plan out my studies, and I always made sure I was prepared for class no matter what extracurriculars I was involved in. School always came first.”
Kayla said some nights she would get home at 9 p.m. after tallying statistics for the football team and still have assignments due by midnight. “I’d just get to work and not stop until 3 a.m.,” she said. “Some nights, my mom would have to come tell me to go to bed.”
Kayla was dealing with a case of burnout toward the end of the school year but credits her parents for helping her stay focused and on track.
“Toward the end, I just wanted to watch Netflix, but they kept me focused on my goals and it paid off.”
Kyla said that although the advanced college prep classes in her senior year were challenging, they gave her the experience and skills she’ll need to succeed when she moves to Baton Rouge in less than three months.
“I’m really not that nervous, and I’m confident that I’m ready for college,” said Kyla. “I’ve been to LSU’s campus and it feels like a good fit for me.” She’s looking forward to attending her first LSU football game as a student this fall.
Kyla was a semifinalist for the Gates Scholarship and was a member of the AP Pathways program in 10th grade. She was also a Peer Tutor for Bard Ambassador Program and an active member of the National Honor Society.
Proud parents Leslie and Derrick Frey credit their girls' success to a supportive home environment, an emphasis on making goals and a focus on completing their homework no matter how late they got home from other activities. Leslie Frey also credits home instruction programs for helping her prepare the girls for school and getting them in the right mindset to get the most out of their studies.
“We encouraged them a lot and let them know they can do whatever they want in life,” she said. “They worked really hard, and they get the credit for making this happen.”
She also emphasized the importance of not letting one's surroundings limit their potential.
“We made sure the girls supported each other, and there was never a rivalry or competition between them,” she said. “We are so incredibly proud of them.”