November 13, 2007

Devoting time to helping others drives Cowley’s November Student of the Month

Along with being a full-time student and working 28 hours a week as a Case Aid for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Cowley County, Cowley College sophomore Jackie Hutchinson recently found the time to be recognized as the college’s November Student of the Month.

Hutchinson, daughter of Ronald and Terri Hutchinson, is a social work and elementary education major from Arkansas City. She has two older sisters, Shannon Smykil, and Lacey Kennedy. Grandparents are Leon and Charlotte Williams of Ark City, and Esther and the late Doy Hutchinson of Ark City.

Hutchinson considers both of her sisters to be major influences in her life along with her former high school Math and Science teacher Melissa Nichols.

The Arkansas City Christian Academy graduate always knew she would attend Cowley. She has been taking classes at Cowley since her junior year in high school.

Her mother, Terri, works in Cowley’s Admissions Department and has been employed at the school since 1979.

“I pretty much grew up around Cowley and just feel really at home here,” Hutchinson said. “I bleed black and orange and have always known this is where I wanted to be.”

Hutchinson is actively involved on campus as President of Campus Christian Fellowship, Co-Vice-President of Fellowship for Phi Theta Kappa, Photo Editor for the Cowley Press, Co-President of PAWS, Student Ambassador, and as a member of the Journalism Club.

“I didn’t think I would get so involved, but I have had so much fun with it,” Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson is also a Big Sister to a little girl and serves in the nursery at the Assembly of God Church in Ark City.

As the Photo Editor of the Cowley Press, she was awarded first place for Infographics, second place for Multimedia Storytelling, and honorable mention for a photo essay in the two-year newspaper division at the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press (KACP) Conference.

“I had no idea what I was doing at first but then I took Dave Bostwick’s photography class and just loved it,” Hutchinson said. “I’m happiest when I’m behind the camera taking pictures.”

She began as a Big Sister three years ago and has been working for the organization as a Case Aid for the past six months.

“It has been an incredible experience and has changed what I want to do,” Hutchinson said. “I love being around kids and feel like I am actually making a difference.”

In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, scrapbooking, and taking photos.

After Cowley, she plans to attend a four-year college with a good social work and education program. Hutchinson is getting married in March, so after she obtains her Bachelor of Arts, she plans to start a family while working towards her career with Big Brothers and Big Sisters or as a school counselor.

For now, she is thankful to have been named Student of the Month at a place she has made many memories.

“I’m very grateful because I know there are so many people on campus that deserve it,” Hutchinson said. “This has been my second home, I will miss it but know that I will always come back here.”