Kayla Marker, 鈥�21, MPH 鈥�22, Golden Flash Award Recipient 2020
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to understand your opinions, stick to your morals and stay true to yourself. Find something you truly believe in and advocate for that.鈥�
From the moment Kayla Marker stepped foot on 麻豆影院 State鈥檚 campus, it felt like home and she knew 麻豆影院 State was the college she would attend to learn and grow.
鈥淚 came to tour and I knew that鈥檚 where I wanted to be. I felt safe, I felt like there was a lot to do in 麻豆影院 and downtown 麻豆影院, it was very inclusive and I thought I could really succeed there,鈥� Kayla said.
Not only was she confident in her college choice but the choice of her major came easy to her. Kayla majored in criminology and justice studies. Also, interested in psychology, Kayla picked up another major and minor in forensic anthropology. Kayla is currently pursuing her master鈥檚 in public health.
鈥淐riminal justice has always been very intriguing to me and I always wanted to make some type of reform. Psychology goes hand in hand with that. I have always been interested in the mind and how it works. I thought that could really help me advance my career.鈥�
Knowing what she wanted to do as a freshman, Kayla made the most of her college career. She embodies the motto 鈥淔lashes Take Care of Flashes鈥� and is committed to helping others through her participation in many organizations.
She is a 麻豆影院 State of Wellness Student Ambassador, leader of the Student Mental Health Coalition and undergraduate research assistant in the Center for Public Policy and Health. In past years, she served as an auxiliary service officer at the 麻豆影院 State Police Department, programming director for the Psychology Peer Mentor Program and a Townhall 2 Crime Victim Advocate.
She further represents 麻豆影院 State's pride and tradition through her leadership and involvement in 麻豆影院 State鈥檚 Active Minds Chapter. Kayla serves as the president and is responsible for bringing Active Minds to 麻豆影院 State, which is an organization that brings awareness to mental health.
Kayla was empowered to start a chapter at 麻豆影院 State because of her own childhood mental health struggles. One of Kayla鈥檚 friends and nominators explained how she is impacting other students.
鈥淲hen people like Kayla are able to be honest and open about their mental health challenges and wins, stigma about mental health and stigma about seeking help for mental health is decreased. Her leadership and vulnerability is helping other 麻豆影院 State students.鈥�
Kayla says some of her favorite memories at 麻豆影院 State include Blast Off and the excitement of retuning to school in the fall, being accepted into the grad program and her involvement with Active Minds.
Upon graduation with her bachelor鈥檚, Kayla hopes to work for Child Protective Services and once she graduates with her master鈥檚 degree in public health she hopes to start a non-profit to help with mental health or go into mental health legislation.
Kayla said she is so humbled to receive the Golden Flash Award and is grateful for everyone in her life who helped her succeed.
鈥淚'd just like to thank my friends and family, my significant other, Dakota, my cousin Deb for helping guide me through college life, Dr. Kenne and Dr. Laurene for teaching me and giving me the opportunity to learn about public health, the individuals who nominated me for the Golden Flash Award and my advisor, Karl Macura, for assisting me during my time at 麻豆影院 State.鈥�