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Jillian Asay '12, left, received an Outstanding Senior Award at the 2012 ODK Awards Ceremony.
Laura Young '14 presented the award. |
5/21/12
Randolph-Macon College student
Jillian Asay ’12 has benefited from the mentorship of many people.
“Coach Carroll LaHaye, Psychology Professors Kristen Klaaren and Susan Parker, Robert and Anne McDougall '79, and Stuart and Pepper Laughon ’56 have been incredibly helpful to me,” says the
psychology major. “They have given me the guidance that I needed to grow as an athlete and student. I cannot thank them enough. They are excellent role models.”
Giving Back Asay is a standout on the
women’s basketball team in more ways than one. The 2009 and 2011 ODAC Championships are some of her proudest moments. But she is just as proud of the team’s 2009 “adoption” of 7-year-old Reese Klauer through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, a group that matches pediatric brain-tumor patients with sports teams who provide support. Asay met the Klauers when the team hosted a tea party on campus to celebrate Reese’s birthday.
“I consider the Klauers part of the Yellow Jacket family,” says Asay, “and I am happy to report that Reese is cancer-free.”
In 2012, Asay took part in a field placement at the ASK Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Clinic at the VCU Health System.
“I made sure patients were as comfortable as possible,” she says. “I became very close with many of them, and I plan to stay involved in the organization.” Asay is also a member of Connor’s Heroes Foundation, which was designed to help families battling childhood cancer.
“Mrs. Klauer introduced me to the foundation, where I was matched with a family who has 5-year-old twin boys,” explains Asay. “One of the twins was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. I got to spend lots of time with him while he received chemotherapy in the ASK clinic.”
Charting Her Course
In 2011 Asay participated in a
study-abroad voyage through the Semester At Sea organization. Aboard a ship for 26 days, she traveled to seven countries in conjunction with a service-learning course.
“Service-learning fits my interests in social work and psychology,” says Asay, who traveled when the ship was docked in port.
“In Guatemala, I spent time at an orphanage; I also traveled to a special-needs school where I spent time with an 8-year-old autistic boy. We walked along the countryside and spoke to each other in Spanish. Another highlight of the trip was in Costa Rica, where I went zip lining and whitewater rafting, and at night I slept in a hammock! I have always loved to travel and I look for every opportunity to explore the world.”
Scholarship Asay, a
Presidential Scholar, is a member of the
Honors Program,
Psi Chi and
Omicron Delta Kappa. In addition, she is the recipient of the Ira M. Lechner Scholarship. This
scholarship fund was established in 1988 by Ira M. Lechner ’55 to provide full-tuition scholarships for students interested in pursuing careers in public service.
Future Plans Asay will enter Virginia Commonwealth University this fall to earn a master’s in social work. Her future plans include working with children battling cancer or with children who have special needs.
“R-MC has given me a solid undergraduate education that will serve me well in my future studies,” she says. “Through classes, athletics,
travel, and other opportunities at R-MC, I have acquired the skills to help others. I have committed to two years of public service after I finish my master’s. It is my goal to represent Mr. Lechner in my future work.”
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