This week I found the ultimate Campus Celebrity: Jasper Davis!
If you have done anything on campus you’ve been bound to come across Jasper at some time or another. This 19-year-old Columbus, Georgia native has already accomplished so much as only a sophomore at UT. On Campus, Jasper is a Pathways mentor and a START team member for freshman orientation. He is an active member of Delta Sigma Pi, the professional business fraternity. In DSP he recently served as the Director of New Member Education and now is on the Financial Committee. He also serves on the conduct board, the Communications Committee of Young Libertarians, and the Judicial Advisory Board of Student Government.
The list does not stop here. Jasper is the Director of Technology Education for the UT Technology Club, Vice President of Member Services for UT Entrepreneurs, a Strengths Ambassador, a Bonner leader, and a President’s Leadership Fellow. He is also the Chief-of-Staff and one of the founding fathers of the Orti Oricellari Intellectual Circle.
If all of that isn’t enough, this Entrepreneurship and International Business & Management major also has time for an on campus job! You can find Jasper working in the PEACE Volunteer Center as an Alternative Breaks Coordinator and an OrgSync Specialist. Jasper plans and leads several trips throughout the school year, working with different social issues and helping other UT students give back to the community.
When Jasper isn’t busy being the Superman of UT, you can catch him beat boxing, rock climbing, tree climbing, doing handstands everywhere, stuffing his face with chocolate chip cookie dough, or eating hot sauce. He can solve a Rubik’s Cube in less than 120 seconds and has a record for holding his breath at 3 minutes and 34 seconds. He also can play seven instruments and has a recording studio set up in his bedroom. How cool is that?
If he could be on one TV show he would want to be on The Office because the hilarious office setting reminds him of his job in the PEACE Volunteer Center. His co-workers have the ability to put a smile on his face even when he walks into the office in a bad mood.
When asked where his favorite spot in Tampa is, Jasper said Bayshore. He spends several nights running along the bay with the moonlight in the distance. Each run he goes on he is reminded of how much he loves the city.
At the end of ninth grade, Jasper withdrew from public school and homeschooled himself until he attended UT. He admits to doing his schoolwork in his pajamas most of the time. This ties together with his passion for world-class education, an issue he hopes to one day solve.
“I would absolutely love to see a world-class education become available to any person on the planet, regardless of cost. Education is something I’m very passionate about because of its ability to combat many of the social issues that exist today. I have been blessed greatly to experience all that I have and I would love to see those kinds of opportunities afforded to everyone. I’m currently studying Entrepreneurship, but I would love to continue my education, get a MBA, with a concentration in nonprofit management, and then start an organization dedicated to making my educational dreams a reality,” says Jasper.
Although his mom has forbid him from jumping out of a plane while she’s still alive, skydiving is top on Jasper’s bucket list. He would love to wear a wing suit or go sky boarding for a true flying experience.
When asked what is one thing he could never live without, Jasper replied with the sweetest answer: love!
Jasper said, “I have been quite fortunate to receive unconditional love and support from my family and close friends throughout the course of my life. I have always had ideas and practices that aren’t very conventional or common, yet the ones I’m close to have always encouraged me to pursue my passions and not let the world discourage me.”
Next time you see Jasper on campus be sure to ask him for help on perfecting your handstand, prove that he can indeed hold is breath for over 3 minutes, and of course an autograph.