Contact:
Leah Seupersad, 404-413-1354
University Relations
Jasmine Frink has been learning about how to make the world a better place since she joined the Girl Scouts in the second grade.
This semester, the senior is teaching others about the importance of service as philanthropy chair of the Georgia State University Greek Council and president of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority, Zeta Tau Chapter.
"I like to do service and I like to encourage other people to do service," Frink said. "Service helps you grow as a person. It has challenged me, shaped me and pushed me into leadership positions that I didn't think that I could do."
Frink, who is majoring in history with a minor in political science, has served on a variety of community service projects in Atlanta, including working with at-risk youth through Jumpstart AmeriCorps, and enhancing the lives of refugees at the International Rescue Committee. The 21-year-old is also a senator for the College of Arts and Sciences on the GSU Student Government Association.
"Girl Scouts shaped my life and I don't know where I would be without it," said Frink, who was a scout for 13 years. "I wanted to continue serving people and helping people any way that I could. My mom always infused that in me because she always helped people whenever she could."
Frink said she learned a lot during a service project at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens this year. She volunteered there every Friday during the summer and fall semesters.
"We would mulch, pull weeds, water the plants, trim hedges and shorten plants so the people could observe the color and richness of the plant," she said. "I always try to do different projects every couple of month to try something new and to learn about myself. I learned there that I could do outside work without complaining about it being too hot. I learned something because we worked with a gardener there who was really smart, and he taught me some Spanish as well."
As a sister in the Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority, Frink is able to combine her love for service with sisterhood. The organization's national philanthropy is Alex's Lemonade Stand, which aims to bring awareness and raise funds to eradicate childhood cancer. The local philanthropy is the Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency through Cafe 458, which assists people struggling with homelessness and addictions by helping them become stable through their services.
"We chose them because they are close to our campus and directly help within the GSU community," she said. "At the cafe, we are hosting a Big Hat Brunch each semester to support them, raise awareness of what they do and encourage continual support through volunteering."
As philanthropy chair of Greek Council, Frink has helped provide service project ideas that all of the Greek organizations can work on together. During Greek Week this week, donations will be collected to donate to Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency.
"We are considered leaders on our campus and a lot of organizations come to us to find out what we are doing and to bring awareness to certain issues," Frink said. "As leaders, I want us to shed light on positive issues instead of the negative stereotypes that people have about being Greek. We are beacons of light and that's what we are supposed to be as leaders."
April 4, 2011