Jasmine Turley
Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University (FHSU) and the Center for Civic Leadership (CCL) are committed to producing students that are engaged civic leaders. Jasmine Turley, a biology major with an emphasis in cellular and molecular and is an active student who is a leading change agent on the FHSU campus. Jasmine has also dedicated extra time in her educational career to work on a certification in Business Law. Ms. Turley approaches social issues through her time spent volunteering and being civically engaged within the community, state, and nation. Her engagement is strongly demonstrated by her position held within the FHSU Student Government Association, as senator for the College of Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics. Ms. Turley has also been civically engaged throughout the state and nation with her active work on various FHSU Tigers In Service alternative breaks and service trips. She was a founding member for the CCL campaign, Embrace Difference. Ms. Turley has modeled herself as a champion of diversity and has encouraged and inspired her peers to do the same. Jasmine is an accomplished student leader that our campus is extremely proud of and grateful for leaving such a strong footprint of civic engagement.
Personal Statement
I believe that no act to bring about social change is too small. Sometimes it may even take just the smallest act to bring about a passion for change so strong that the sudden clarity of the expression "almost palpable" lights a fire in your belly. The New York Times defines civic engagement as "promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes". To me, civic engagement means working for others towards a goal that benefits all. Civic engagement exists because of incredible individuals working to achieve goals and dreams. My first act of civic engagement started with attending a single Times Talks hosted by the FHSU American Democracy Project, and from there I was hooked. I joined the organization, hosted countless events to impact hundreds of my peers, and then went on to act on behalf of Fort Hays State University as our representative for the Kansas Regent's Diversity and Inclusion Task-force. The role of activist is one that you take on for life. Every adversity that you face makes you stronger, and makes you fight that much harder against the adversity others face. To be civically engaged means to be passionate for your community, and the individuals that make it.
