Amanda Shooster is a junior in communications with a concentration in public relations who wants to help to do good in the world. She is the current and first vice president of philanthropy for Drexel University’s Panhellenic Council (PHC), the governing council for Drexel’s sororities.
When asked why she wanted to take on the new position, Amanda replied simply that she liked to help people, especially people that she knows. After joining Alpha Sigma Alpha in the fall of 2014, Amanda signed up as fundraising chair for PHC. When PHC executive board elections came around the following year, she heard that this new position had been created. Not long after, Amada was elected as vice president of philanthropy, giving her the opportunity to lay the foundation for the position and what it would entail. She was recently elected vice president of programming for the 2017 PHC executive board.
One of the biggest projects that Amanda is in charge of as the vice president of philanthropy is the PHC’s annual philanthropy event, the High Heel Derby. High Heel Derby is a multi-divisional race where contestants run in heels to raise money for the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation, which supports entities that remove barriers to education for girls.
Amanda, who is originally from Media, PA, never thought she would be so involved in sorority life. After not having the best girlfriends in high school, she never thought she would join a sorority. However, after meeting her current big sister in an honor society while her roommate was deciding to rush, she abandoned her preconceived notions about Greek life. The first house she visited was Alpha Sigma Alpha where she met her future grand-big. For the first time, she found a group of women who genuinely supported and cared about her life. Also, the values of ASA seemed to align with her own personal values and goals.
During Amanda’s first time at the Special Olympics, which is ASA’s national philanthropy, her life was changed when she met Tess, a Special Olympic athlete. At the end of the day, Tess asked if Amanda would be her buddy next year at the Special Olympics. Of course Amanda said yes. She found it refreshing that the athletes were not competitive and many of them were just happy to finish no matter their placement.
When Amanda is not running around in the Special Olympics with her buddy Tess or planning philanthropy events, she is studying to receive her bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in public relations, as well as working on her master’s degree in communications, culture and media. Previously, she played field hockey for Drexel’s club team but had to stop due to its sporadic scheduling. She was also treasurer for the Red Cross Organization on campus and used to write for The Triangle.
When asked about her plans after graduation, Amanda said that she wanted to take a month off and travel Europe before she started her career in crisis management public relations. Amanda has always wanted to be the face of something good. She aims to be the face for non-profits, especially those dedicated to helping repair damages after natural and human disasters.