At the end of the Vanguard Awards banquet on April 25, Ashley Clark took the oath of office from outgoing Student Government Association president Zayd Kelley, accepting the leadership of SGA for the upcoming academic year.
“I am excited to serve the students in this role and what we can accomplish together,” said Clark.
Clark, a freshman, has been involved with SGA since she arrived at ASU-Beebe last fall. Starting out as a leadership scholar, Clark helped wherever she was needed. She has served on SGA as a first-year senator, Student Activities Council member, graphic and media director, vice chair of the wellbeing committee and a Vanguard volunteer. Clark also served on the TRIO Leadership Council, helping with the community cleanup, local animal shelter, and a mini-library proposal.
“When I was in high school during the pandemic, there were so many activities students couldn’t do, but I tried to stay involved as much as possible,” said Clark. She attended Beebe High School, where she was a member of the student council, Broadcasting Club and FCCLA. She served two years as vice president and two years as president of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA. She also served seven years in band, playing trombone, and performing on the color guard team during marching season. Additionally, she enjoyed playing tennis.
As a theatre major, Clark has gotten to experience all areas of theatre – costume design, makeup, stage craft, saying her favorite classes have been those with student involvement and hands-on experience.
Clark said the ‘Black Box’ simple performance space style theatre was fun and enjoyed doing stage makeup. “We created real lifelike-looking cuts and bruises or a black eye. The grosser it looked meant you did a great job with the makeup,” said Clark.
Clark said her parents Nicole and Jeff Bowker have been her support system for attending college. “As a first-generation college student, I really didn’t know what to expect with college, but I knew I wanted to do something that helps others,” said Clark.
Clark plans a career in broadcast journalism. “This is a career where I can share news and important information to help people be informed about something,” said Clark. She said she hopes to eventually work as a radio director, but she doesn’t mind working behind the scenes, too.
“My mom has been my role model and inspiration,” said Clark. “She raised me and my brother as a single mom for many years. She missed the college experience, so she always encouraged us to finish high school and go to college.”
Clark shared a story of her mom helping her to make campaign posters when Clark was running for student council in middle school. “Neither of us knew what we were doing but we had so much fun creating these ‘cheesy’ slogans for posters together and working on my speech,” said Clark.
Clark shared advice to future students: “Don’t be scared to get involved. Do something interesting and enjoyable while you are here,” said Clark.
“For me, I will remember sitting outside in the Grove to watch a Spiderman movie with other students and the weekly housing hangout activities, like making smores by roasting marshmallows using a makeshift ‘fire in a can.’ These are the little things and the fun moments of my college experience,” said Clark.
Life as a Vanguard is a social media series produced by the ASUB Office of Marketing and Public Relations. These are ‘get to know’ articles of interest about students, faculty, and staff within the Vanguard campus community.
