Jamie Haag
When you ask Jamie Hagg who her heroes are, she absolutely does not hesitate a moment before her response. It’s her mom and dad. For sure, Jamie has had incredible mentors and supporters during her life at SVSU, but it is her parents who have influenced her in ways that have set the tone for her SVSU experience that has been rewarding, fulfilling and down right awesome. Jamie says that in spite of her mom’s daily struggle with health issues, it is her positive outlook on life that is so motivating.
So it’s no surprise that when Jamie arrived at SVSU in 2002, armed with a positive, go-get-’em attitude, she would make good on the two goals she shared with her mom: The first was to graduate, which she will accomplish in December 2007 as an education major and a social studies minor; and the second was to win the Teresa George Red Pride Spirit Award, which she did in academic year 2005-06.
The only thing that Jamie failed to share was everything in between; the amazing hard work at her studies, her volunteerism, and her highly-involved life. She says it’s this place, and that it’s easy to fit into, easy to get involved in, and easy to find ways that make a difference in the lives of others. That’s Jamie’s positive take on things, but the amazing things she has accomplished suggest that “easy” wouldn’t necessarily be the word most would use to describe her SVSU experience. “Awesome” … “admirable” … “amazing” — yes; “easy” — probably not.
In the fall at SVSU, you’ll either see Jamie, or Jamie’s handiwork, at every home football game. Since she has been at SVSU, Jamie has created three of the “RED ZONE” signs that proudly announce the location of the student Cardinal fans. In 2005-06, Jamie didn’t miss a Cardinal game, and that includes the long trip to Nebraska to root for her home team in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
And when Jamie isn’t spearheading cheering sections, you’ll likely find her at various spots around campus (and around the country) where she’s highly involved in a variety of volunteer jobs, projects and organizations. She doesn’t like to pick one that she’s most proud of, but ranking high on the list has to be her work with “Up ’til Dawn,” a letter-writing campaign that supports St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis. In just two years, the fundraiser has increased from $16,000 to more than $21,000 and, as the director for the project in 2006-07, Jamie set the goal of $25,000.
Jamie also is highly involved with Alpha Phi Omega, a service community fraternity. She’s been a part of a community center’s bingo events, the Maple Sugar Festival at Midland’s Chippewa Nature Center, and has worked with area Girl Scout troops; and feels that she has gained much more from the experiences than she has given. “Community service has made a huge difference to my college experience. I’ve become more open to new things, and I’m more flexible. I see the bigger picture.”
In Jamie’s next big picture, she is looking forward to a life as a teacher. She wants to be as helpful, caring and comforting as the teachers she has had throughout her life. In fact, she’s thinking about becoming a tutor at St. Jude’s, teachers who help kids or family siblings stay up on their studies during their hospitalization.