When Kenia Ontiveros looks back on her journey from Terrell High School to becoming the founder of a growing law firm, one message stands out: nothing is impossible.
A 2010 Terrell High School graduate, Ontiveros earned two bachelor’s degrees from Texas Tech University in 2014—political science and legal studies—before continuing to Texas Tech School of Law. In May 2017, she earned both a Master’s in Personal Financial Planning and a Doctor of Jurisprudence. That July, she passed the bar exam on her first attempt.
Her path was shaped by the opportunities and encouragement she received at Terrell ISD, particularly through debate. As a student, she competed throughout the DFW area, experiences that helped her develop critical-thinking, preparation and communication skills.
“My teachers in Terrell ISD did a great job in never making it seem like it was impossible,” Ontiveros said. “They encouraged me to be creative, to think outside the box.”
After beginning her legal career with the U.S. Small Business Administration and later working in private practice, Ontiveros opened Ontiveros Law Firm in downtown Terrell in 2022. A second office followed in Dallas in 2024. Today, the firm employs 24 people and focuses primarily on family law.
For Ontiveros, practicing family law is about helping people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“Family law is personal,” she said. “I help people see that there are options.”
Her success is deeply connected to her family. Her parents immigrated to the United States, and her mother, an educator in Mexico, gave up her profession to help provide greater opportunities for her children.
“I am proud for my parents more than anything,” Ontiveros said. “My parents worked so hard and made so many sacrifices for me. This is my way to honor them.”
Now, she is creating opportunities for others. Ontiveros intentionally hires Terrell graduates and serves on the Terrell Excellence Foundation, helping provide students with experiences beyond the classroom.
“Terrell ISD shaped who I am as a professional and a person,” she said. “The experiences afforded to me have made all the difference.”
From a Terrell classroom and debate stage to a law firm bearing her name, Ontiveros is living proof of what can happen when students are encouraged to dream big—and believe that nothing is impossible.