Illinois Valley Times

Western Illinois University- Quad Cities Student Government Association President Ashley Danner has been chosen as the recipient of the WIU- Quad Cities Core Values Award for Personal Growth.

Danner, a graduate student in WIU's Marketing and Management program, was presented with her award at the WIU-QC faculty and staff holiday party. A nameplate will be displayed on the award board on the third floor of the Quad Cities Complex.

The award for Personal Growth recognizes Danner's leadership in implementing and expanding WIU-QC's Student Government Association.

"Ashley is an extremely kind and compassionate individual," said the selection committee. "Her ongoing efforts have brought more student involvement through student organizations and have played a key role in taking her Marketing degree and applying it to the WIU-QC Student Services department as a graduate assistant."

Danner began her journey as a student worker at WIU in the fall of 2020 and had no intention of getting involved in student organizations. It wasn't until Student Services Director Curtis Williams and Assistant Director Nicky Fredrichsen encouraged her to join; she took on Chief of Staff for the Student Government Association in the Fall of 2021.

"During this time, I was involved in several events across campus," Danner said. "I started the Anime-Manga Organization because we didn't have an anime club for the Quad Cities campus and I wanted to be able to put together an organization for students that had similar interests. The organization grew over the year and a half that it has been active, and I went from being President of A-MO to being co-advisor alongside Ashley Wilkinson."

Danner also became involved with Quad Citians Affirming Diversity, which is an LGBTQIA+ non-profit organization that has an office on the WIU-QC campus.

"I had the opportunity to design their logo and assist in running the organization's social media accounts," Danner said. "This opportunity is something I'm really grateful for as I've been able to give back to the LGBTQIA+ community and be an advocate."

Danner graduated with a Bachelor of Business degree in Marketing in May 2022 and decided to continue her education in Business Administration and take on a graduate assistantship with Student Services.

"I was appointed as President of SGA this semester, and I've been able to take part in planning Homecoming, Welcome Week and Manage Your Stress Week and continue the SGA Student Research Survey to further gain the insight of the student body," said Danner. "There are several other plans for the spring semester that SGA and myself want to accomplish.

"Growth and opportunity truly go hand in hand in what I have seen on campus from other students, staff and faculty. But I think learning and listening is equally as important too as I wouldn't have had the opportunity to grow if I didn't have the opportunity to learn and listen from those around me. Those opportunities are so valuable, and I'm forever grateful for being able to have them."

The 2022-2023 Core Values selection committee includes Katherine Broughton, Quad Cities Faculty Council; Cameron Ruiz, Council of Administrative Personnel; and Thomas Rosner, Civil Service Employees Council. The committee is convened when nominations are received by the Office of the Vice President for Quad Cities Campus Operations. 

Original source can be found here