Kyle Pendergrass: 2L at the University of San Diego School of Law
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published March 19, 2007
Rebecca Unzicker
<<"It's just inherent in my personality," Pendergrass said, regarding mentoring. "I appreciate it when someone does it for me, and I just generally understand how beneficial it is."
Now a second-year student at the University of San Diego School of Law, Pendergrass, 26, also works as a patent agent at Cooley Godward Kronish, LLP, where he expects to practice after law school. Having selected the firm in large part based on their commitment to pro bono work in the community, Pendergrass plans to do pro bono legal work in addition to practicing patent law.
"It's always been a concern of mine to have an opportunity to give back," Pendergrass said.
According to Pendergrass, volunteer work was modeled often and early in his family. When he participated in Habitat for Humanity in grade school, it was at his mother's urging, and they participated together, building a home for a working mother and her children. In high school, Pendergrass was a Husky Ambassador, giving speeches to Seattle-area high schools and taking telephone calls from high school students. He also volunteered for the Kids Invest Toys day camp.
While a NASA undergraduate student researcher at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Pendergrass spoke with Houston-area high schools, encouraging students to set and achieve goals and to pursue higher education. He also took on extra responsibilities as editor of the weekly newsletter, facilitated social events and meetings, and coordinated the volunteer activities. He also collected canned goods on Halloween.
Citing his family, friends, and colleagues as role models, Pendergrass also admires various historical figures who promoted human dignity and respect for others along with individual social responsibility. Community outreach groups enable the less fortunate to eventually enable themselves and to let them know that others care about them, he said.
Another role model for Pendergrass is his 96-year-old grandmother who volunteers at the local retirement community in her hometown of Colfax, WA.
"The funny thing is, she enjoys it," Pendergrass said. "She is the one who should be served, and she is doing the serving. She just enjoys it."
"Volunteering was just always apparent in my family," he added. "My mother and father opened my eyes to other opportunities outside of our middle-class life."
According to Pendergrass, the most meaningful activities he has been able to participate in are those that involve mentoring youth. He said he enjoys encouraging them to attempt and achieve their goals, listening to their perspectives, and helping them realize their potential.
"I enjoy helping them demystify the challenges they face," he said. "I think it's important to help younger people advance their lives in positive directions—it's beneficial to society at large to promote obtainable and satisfying achievement."
Q.
What do you do for fun?
A.
Visit with family and friends. Hang out at the beach. Read.
Q.
What CD is in your CD player right now?
A.
I primarily listen to my iPod—I'm a big fan of Johnny Cash.
Q.
What is the last magazine you read?
A.
National Geographic Adventure magazine.
Q.
What is your favorite TV show?
A.
Arrested Development on Fox (now cancelled).
Q.
Who is your role model?
A.
My family, my friends, my colleagues, and historical figures.
Q.
What is something most people don't know about you?
A.
I don’t know. I'm transparent.
<<"Experiences like these have always kept me grounded," he added.
Planning to practice intellectual property/patent law after graduation, Pendergrass chose those areas of law because of what he terms the "convergence of technology, business, and law."
"Patent law is a great fit," he said. "IP/patent attorneys are continuously introduced to cutting-edge technology. They assist clients in achieving commercial success by obtaining and managing their IP. They enable clients to make legal decisions."
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