Honorable Mention Winner
Jamie Lowe
Florida College
Sophomore in Nursing/Biology
3.52 GPA

Some people reach for the stars. Jamie Lowe, 20, reaches for rainbows. "Like a rainbow, I try to reach as far as possible across the sky," Lowe says. She says her duty in life is to make other people happy. "In everything I do, I want to make other people smile," Lowe says.

Lowe, a sophomore at Florida College, is vice president of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and is president of Circle K, the college-level Kiwanis service club. She also is the first Florida College student to be honored in this program. Among other service-related projects, Lowe works with the American Lung Association to organize an anti-tobacco program for children that she hopes will be used all over. "Ms. Lowe is extremely conscientious as a student, as a citizen, and as a moral example to all in her circle of influence," says Dr. Charles G. Caldwell, Florida College president.

Lowe wants to show her community a greater appreciation for life and tries to motivate her fellow students with her enthusiasm. As a freshman, she participated in a coastal cleanup to help pick up the trash on the local beach. Her sophomore year, she continued help with the coastal cleanup and expanded her services to volunteer at Forest Hills Elementary School, Hillsborough County Fair, Madrigal Dinner, and a Sept. 11 remembrance.

Whether it's helping people or helping clean up, volunteering is just one way Lowe stays in touch with her community. Lowe currently holds office positions in Circle K, Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Omega Chi Society, Young Women's Training Organization, CREST, and Alpha Club. “The majority of these activities are in service areas which work for the good of people in both civic and school communities,” Caldwell says.

As president of Circle K, Lowe worked with Temple Terrace city councilman Jerry King to honor the country’s veterans by organizing a Veteran’s Day program.

"She has served in a number of volunteer roles directly related to college operations: participating in a fundraising phone-a-thon, helping entering freshmen as an orientation volunteer, making recruiting calls to prospective students, serving as a campus guide to visiting prospects, and helping coordinate recycling in campus residence halls," says Mark E. Bingham, PTK advisor. "She is a Florida leader."

Working at Food Lion fulltime during her summer breaks back home covers Lowe's personal expenses, but everything else is covered by scholarships and the college's "Adopt-a-Student" program. "When I have the ability later in life, I will also contribute to the adopt program," Lowe says. -LE

Contact Lowe at jamilo2001@yahoo.com.