Honorable Mention Winner
Sasha Minor
Gulf Coast Community College
Sophomore in Pre-Med (dental)
3.50 GPA
     Being an older sister was merely the beginning for Sasha Minor, 20. While taking care of her younger sibling for her mother, who was busy going to school, Minor realized she was a born leader. "Responsibility and reality came along pretty early in my life," Minor says.
     "I’ve seen students who demonstrate leadership abilities on campus and through community involvement. Sasha is a candidate who ranks at the top of both areas," says Mary Carmichael, student activities specialist.
     Inspired by her mother to get involved, Minor became vice president of the Kappa Eta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. "As an influential leader on campus, it's with ease that I gain the attention of fellow students," Minor says. Through PTK, Minor encouraged other academically committed students to participate in campus-service projects. On "Make a Difference Day," PTK members gathered in costume at Books-a-Million to read to the children. One of her greatest achievements, Minor says, was the Faculty Appreciation Banquet, for which a local restaurant donated all the food. "I took it upon myself to go and recruit all of those teachers," Minors says, although she had to lure them with drumsticks. "The entire GCCC faculty is forever grateful, and every day I receive another thank you for the PTK event."
     Minor also is a representative for the Student Activities Board. Her duties include informing administrators and fellow board members about club views, interests, plans, and service projects. Because of Minor, campus involvement is on the rise. "It’s a community college, and it’s hard to get everyone involved at one time," Minor says. "We just want people to spend more time on campus doing activities other than studying." SAB advertises for events by using posters, the campus television channel, and word of mouth. "We would like more people to enjoy the activities," Minor says. "They're paying for them when they enroll, so we want them to participate."
     Not only is Minor active in campus organizations, she’s the founder and president of the GCCC Soccer Club. "I began my task of initiating a soccer team at GCCC in 2000," Minor says. "I took it upon myself to recruit members, to make new contacts, to promote student involvement and interest." The club started out small, with two practices a week. Now, the soccer team will begin tournament games with teams from Destin, Pensacola, and other nearby areas. If she could have done anything differently, Minor says that she would have scheduled games before the club was established to avoid schedule conflicts from members.
     "Sasha’s leadership skills, dependability, and strong academic dedication have set her apart as a role model for fellow community college students to emulate," says Carmichael.
     The Florida Merit Scholarship funds 75 percent of Minor’s tuition, and she covers the remaining tuition and living costs with the Pell Grant, a Gulf Coast Community College Foundation Scholarship, and a part-time job at Captain Anderson’s Restaurant.
Contact Minor at majorsminor4879@aol.com.