If you have ever spent any time on campus you have seen SGA, and if you have ever heard of SGA then you most definitely have heard of this week’s Campus Celebrity. She has been making an impact in more than one way. Her name is Ellen Hogan. Ellen is a senior here at THE Georgia Southern University and she is very proud of it. While attending Georgia Southern Ellen has worked countless hours to dedicate herself not only to her academics but to the better well-being of Georgia Southern as a whole. Ellen, 21, is a logistics and marketing major from Savannah, Georgia. This week we were able to sit down with Ellen to get to know her a little better.
Her Campus: What is your greatest accomplishment, thus far at Georgia Southern?
Ellen Hogan: My greatest accomplishment is being vice president of finance for Student Government, because I got to help students who were in organizations that wanted to go to a conference or put on an event and were almost there but needed a little push financially to make it happen. I was able to assist them with that, as well as working with individuals who wanted to go to conferences. It was such a wonderful feeling to help individuals who couldn’t have been able to make an impact without the assistance.
HC: What organizations are you involved in?
EH: Technically you are always a SOAR Leader and part of the SOAR family. For my senior year outside of SGA, Phi Eta Sigma is an honors society that I am a member of.
HC: What legacy do you want to leave on our campus?
EH: I would say the power of positivity. If you see me around campus I’m often smiley and bubbly. I call everyone friend, which is just one of my little quirks. I just want to leave behind being a friend to all and being positive every day although the day may get challenging and obviously we all have really hard jobs. There are so many students putting themselves through college and working long hours on top of going to class and being involved in extracurricular activities.
HC: When you are not working to make an impact on campus how do you spend most of your time?
EH: Outside of SGA, other organizations, and school, I really give time to my loved ones along with time to god which is really important to me. I try to keep a healthy relationship with all of that. I have so many friends and I just try to catch up with them whenever I am not out and about. I really love to read I am a huge book worm. I love to boat. My family owns a marina, so I love the water and the beach and all that fun stuff.
HC: Who would you say is your favorite author?
EH: Barbara Kingsolver, she wrote The Poisonwood Bible which is a great book about diversity and the average American opening their eyes to cultures outside of the United States. Also, helping them to understand what is right here might not be right somewhere else.
HC: What would you like to do once you leave college?
EH: Well, I have been a business student for four years with a logistics degree and I decide I want to go work with children. I am going to be a camp counselor in North Carolina for a little over three months and spend most of my time at an international camp that will be super fun. After that, I think I will focus on finding myself. There are a couple of small family businesses that my dad and grandfather own together so I will probably invest my time in those slowly taking over management roles. One is called M.J. Hogan and Company and the other one is called Hogan’s Marina. Or, I could go a different route and try to look for jobs through Georgia Port Authority to build relations to later strengthen my career and the family business.
HC: What is your personal mantra?
EH: It is a quote by Mother Teresa, “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one come to you without leaving happier.” This is something I really try to live by. As a part of human kind, I feel like we should have little acts of kindness throughout the day because we never know what anyone else is going through. Everyone is walking through different paths in life, so just try to be as kind as you can to others.
HC: If you could invest everything that you own and love into one thing or person what would it be and why?
EH: If I could invest everything that I own right now it would be to help orient young students into college life. Probably working through the office of admissions to play as much of a hands-on role in the lives of students. Maybe even being a counselor because I think this is a very stressful time for students when they are learning so much about themselves. I think often they need a friend who will help them see all the positive and exciting things about life when they are going through a rough time.
HC: What event do you enjoy most on campus?
EH: Out of my four years I would say SOAR. I was a 2013 SOAR Leader. When I was going through SOAR it was such a great experience to get to know Georgia Southern and to get to lead other students through that was such an exciting time. It was sometimes overwhelming and scary to lead students through the same process, but it was one of my greatest joys in life.
HC: If you could surround yourself with three top executives who would they be and why?
EH: I am a big fan of Abraham Lincoln. He was a strong public speaker and such a humble man. Another one is my “momma bear” here at GSU, Dean Jackson. She is the most fabulous woman. She brings so much wisdom when she talks, and so much kindness and empowerment. She has that way of talking to help you figure out where you are going. Lastly, my dad, he is my favorite person in the whole world. He gives the best advice and has the biggest heart for anyone. He is also a small businessman. He is very wise in the business world. He really takes care of his community.
“Isn’t she just the sweetest I love how she calls everyone friend,” said Morgan Thomas, a fellow student and SGA member. If you haven’t been convinced that Ellen is a great guy then ask some of her peers we are sure they can all account for her positivity.