Where are you from? I was born in Ohio and grew up in Robins, Iowa.
Why did you choose Kirkwood? I began at Kirkwood back when the Adult Accelerated Learning program first started. I was working full-time and raising two kids so I was excited to have an education option that I could fit into my busy and complicated life.
What is your major and how did you choose it? My current major is human service. In 2020 I was doing phone customer service from home and became involved in local activism and started working in food pantries. Becoming aware of social issues and active in the community made me want to learn and do more. This is my next step.
What was your proudest moment at Kirkwood? I have had many proud moments at Kirkwood starting with coming back after a several year hiatus. My proudest moment at Kirkwood was speaking at the Samuel J. Kirkwood Society Dinner. I conquered my fear of public speaking and had a great meal.
What are your plans after Kirkwood? I plan to continue working with nonprofit organizations and find community-based solutions for local issues.
What inspires or motivates you? I am driven to confront injustice and inspire change and progress.
Tell us about who you are outside of Kirkwood. I am a mother to my awesome grown kiddos. I also work with some amazing people in local non-profits, Feed Iowa First and Advocates for Social Justice, fighting food insecurity and inequity in general respectively.
What does being named an Outstanding Student mean to you? Being named an Outstanding Student means quite a bit to me. I was very nervous coming back to school with so many other balls in the air. It has given me the confidence to take on future challenges and the knowledge, I cannot just survive, but prosper.
Categories: Outstanding Students
