Senior Emma Wiederhoeft has been selected as the Student Leader of the Month for October 2020. Originally from Houston, Texas, Emma came to the U of A to study Social Work. She is involved on campus as the Cooking Matters intern for the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry and serves on the board of the Volunteer Action Center. Through her degree program, she has had the opportunity to intern with the NWA non-profit, Seeds That Feed and is currently interning with the Fayetteville Housing Authority.

When asked why she got involved in these organizations, Emma wrote that it all started "first semester freshman year when I was looking to get involved on campus. I knew that volunteering was where I felt my best while surrounding myself with others with similar intentions."

Emma's advice for other student is to be open for help. She wrote, "You aren't supposed to figure it all out on your own, and it's more than acceptable to lean on others. Admitting you need help is never easy, but to know your support system is there to help you makes all the difference."

Her favorite quote regarding leadership comes from Brené Brown: "We can choose courage, or we can choose comfort, but we can't have both. Not at the same time."

Emma would like to thank her mentors, especially Dr. Ferguson and Sage McCoy, for their unending support. 

The Student Leader of the Month award, sponsored by New Student & Family Programs, recognizes U of A undergraduate students for their excellence in leadership through campus involvement, leadership activities or through volunteer and community service.  More information about the award can be found here.