We all know that IU is filled with some of the best students in the nation from California to New Jersey. Essentially, we are the cream of the crop. Nevertheless, there are some students that still manage to stand out from the rest of the 40,000. Here are some of the students at IU who are killing the game and have some pretty bright futures ahead of them.
Grace Sensenig
Grace is a freshman and a field hockey player at IU. She played in every game in order to help her team have a winning season. Her teammates described her as "a spark off the bench." She is also involved in the Excellence Academy and the Emerging Leaders program in hopes to be a captain of her team in the future.
"I am constantly busy going from class to practice to study hall, but playing a sport definitely keeps you well rounded. I also tend to hold myself to a higher standard on the field, which translates over to setting higher standards in the classroom and life in general. Playing field hockey has also given me a reason to live up to those high standards I set and pushes me to becoming a better person," Sensenig said.
Sofia Stevenin
Sofia is one of the PINK Reps here at IU. Last year she was a part of the PINK Campus Team, and this year she is one of the girls in charge. Her job is to put together events and come up with creative ways to spread the word about the PINK Campus Representative Program on campus. She is a media advertising major with a minor in marketing, and she is also the apparel chair for her sorority at IU.
"The program has made me a more professional person. It has opened up a lot of doors for me. I have already applied for internships because of it and had a few interviews with PINK. This job has helped me realize what type of career I want to pursue because we get to work so closely with corporate and get so much experience. It's a program that you have to give a lot to but it gives so much more back in return," Stevenin said.
DJ Glander
DJ is all about IUDM. This year, he is the
Culture Chair on the Executive Dancers committee. His job is to basically ensure that all of the dancers are having the best experience they can possibly get. DJ was, and still is at times, a patient at Riley Hospital for Children and being involved with IUDM gives him the opportunity to give back to the hospital that saved his life. His goal is to raise $3,500 by November for next year's IUDM."IUDM to me is more than just a group of college kids raising money for a children's hospital. While that is the absolute main goal, it's also a lifestyle. To love life. To live life to the absolute fullest. To be kind always because we don't know what someone else is battling. To love every single person as a brother or sister. To show that there is inspiration, courage, and passion inside of every single person on this planet. It has shaped me, and will continue to shape me into an even better leader and role model to those around me," Glander said.
Molly Connor
Molly is only a sophomore and already president of her her sorority, the Alpha Xi chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha. But that is not all, she is also C
o-Director of State and Legislative Affairs, Conference Coordinator of the Indiana University Student Association, Public Relations Associate of The Association of Big Ten Students, a member of Women in Business, and is currently running in the IUSA Election with Empower IU as the Vice President of Administration candidate. Needless to say, she knows how to time manage and be a leader."My ZTA experience has been a wonderful compliment to my collegiate career. I have never been so inspired by a group of people than when I hear the amazing things the women of my chapter are doing. They are passionate, smart, driven, and hilarious. There is never a dull moment at our house," Connor said.
Dong Kim and Josh Yazdian
Josh and Dong are seniors at IU and have taken it upon themselves to create their own clothing brand. The duo started their company, "Yaz Apparel," in February of 2015 and work out of their own house. The brand focuses on creating unique apparel that will still appeal to everyone. In order to spread positivity throughout Bloomington, for every item sold, one item is donated to the homeless in People's Park.
"Yaz Apparel gives back to the people because it's for the people. It always has been and always will be," Kim said.
"Seeing people walk around in the clothes we design and sell is a cool feeling especially when you don’t know the person,” Yazdian said. “It's been good, it's been hard, it's been crazy, it's been fun. I see myself selling clothes for the rest of my life, but not just clothes.”
Ok, so maybe you're not a basketball prodigy, college business mogul, or have a strong connection to a massive children's hospital, but that doesn't mean success is out of your reach. There are many ways to make yourself stand out from the rest and set yourself up for success, and one of those is getting connected with a successful company or organization while you're still in school, like Sofia did with PINK. Companies, like PINK, offer amazing opportunities for college students to get real-world experience and, specifically with PINK, give you an invaluable insider look into their brand. PINK is currently accepting applications into their Campus Rep program, so get a jump start on your future and apply now!