Kelly Stewart is a freelance writer living in the greater New York City area. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing with a focus in non-fiction at The New School.
A 2013 Journalism and Mass Communications graduate from Kansas State University, Kelly spent the three years following her graduation working as a sports writer for K-State Athletics. Her daily publication, the K-State Sports Extra, was sent daily via email to 80,000-plus K-State students, alumni and fans. In her three years she wrote nearly 1,000 stories for K-State Athletics varying in topics from profiles on athletes, coaches and donors to coverage of numerous events including the College Football Hall of Fame, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and numerous College Football Bowl games. Her stories were also published to the K-State Athletics website and shared on all K-State Athletics social media platforms.
Along with writing for K-State Athletics, Kelly has worked with and published for Sports Illustrated, The Associated Press, The Kansas City Star, The Manhattan Mercury, K-Stater Magazine, Sporting Kansas City, The SportsXchange, Niles Media Group, the Huffington Post and the K-State Collegian.
Formerly Kelly McHugh, in 2016 Kelly married her best friend and college sweetheart, Mark Stewart, in Manhattan, Kansas. The couple has a six-year-old black labrador named Jack. He's a rescue dog, and he runs the show.
A proud Gold Star daughter, Kelly’s father, Col. John McHugh, was killed in action in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 18, 2010. He is the inspiration for much of her writing. His life was a key reason behind her move to New York City and, using the skills she is currently gaining through her MFA program, Kelly hopes to publish a memoir about her father.
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Kelly is also involved with numerous non-profit orginizations that provide support for veterans and their families. Kelly is a speaker and an advocate for the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, an orginization created in her father's memory by his 1986 West Point Classmates to help veterans and their families through education. She is also involved with Children of Fallen Patriots, an orginization dedicated to providing scholarships to Gold Star Children.
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A family photo. Kelly, Jack and Mark in Manhattan, Kanasas. (Photo by Scott D. Weaver Photography)
Interview with Philadelphia Eagle's Darren Sproles. (Photo by Scott D. Weaver Photography)
Interview with K-State men's basketball players Thomas Gipson and Shane Southwell. (Photo by Scott D. Weaver Photography)
Interview with Sporting Kansas City forward Kei Kamara after the 2012 Open Cup. (Photo by Scott D. Weaver Photography)
Following our father's death, the Kansas City Royals invited my brother, Mike, to Kauffman Stadium to throw out the first pitch.
John M. McHugh. My dad. My hero. Captain of the 1986 West Point Soccer team.
Interview with Coach Bill Snyder following his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. (Photo by Scott D. Weaver Photography)
Hosting the K-StateHD.TV pregame show with WNBA star Nicole Ohlde in Bramlage Coliseum. (Photo by Scott D. Weaver Photography)
ABC's Blackish star Anthony Anderson introduces Kelly before her speech at the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund Greater Houston Gala in April 2015. (Photo by Dave Rossman)
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