Name: Kaitlin Englund
Major: Journalism with minors in International Studies and Art
Classification: Senior
Her Campus: What are you involved with on campus?
Kaitlin Englund: Campus involvement was one of my top priorities when I started at UWF four years ago, and since then, I have continued to take on new opportunities whenever possible. During my time I have been involved with the Women’s Rugby Club, the UWF Pep Band, The Voyager, Alpha Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Phi, Order of Omega, and I have worked with UWF Phonathon, the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Dean’s Office, and The University Commons and Student Involvement.
Photo courtesy Kaitlin Englund.
HC: What are your passions? How do the things you love to do fit in with what you do currently?
KE: I love learning. I love exploring and learning about people, places, cultures, everything. I’m lucky in that the clubs I am in, the places where I work, and the career I am pursuing allow me to learn something new every day. Part of why I decided to pursue journalism is because I think the stories that people have to tell are pretty incredible, and every day I get to interact with new people and learn more about their story.
HC: Was it a surprise for you to win the Linda O. Dye Award?
KE: Absolutely. It was an honor to simply be a finalist with so many other outstanding individuals. There are so many incredible leaders on this campus who are more than deserving of this award.
HC: What does that award signify to you?
KE: To me the Linda O. Dye Award signifies a dedication to the UWF community. I think that what all of the finalists had in common was a sense of immense pride for the university and a willingness to go out of their way to lead others and help them realize their full potential. I am humbled to have received the award and it will always stand as a benchmark for me to continue pushing myself to be a better leader and live up to the precedent it sets.
HC: What are your future plans either on campus or elsewhere?
KE: This fall I will start my master’s degree at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Chicago! I am thrilled to see where this new adventure takes me (hopefully around the world)!
HC: Where are you from?
I am from a small town in Central Florida, called Inverness. As anyone from the area knows, it’s mostly just manatees and citrus fruit.
HC: In your opinion, what’s a good quote to live by?
KE: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
― Theodore Roosevelt