Gaskill: third generation Ranger, inspiration to all

Gaskill: third generation Ranger, inspiration to all

Jordan Gaskill just started her junior year of college at Northwestern but those fi rst two years of college were ones not to be forgotten. This small-town Waynoka girl has made quite an impact on the university and the surrounding community. Jordan came to Northwestern as a third-generation Ranger. Eight of her family members hold degrees from Northwestern starting with her grandparents, Tom and Opal Treece, and ending with her sister Autumn. Jordan and her older brother Robbie are looking to make that list longer over the next couple of years. At an early age, Jordan decided she wanted to do whatever she could to serve those around her. She got involved and made it her civic duty to help others. She has served through her church, Future Farmers of America (FFA), 4-H and many other community organizations. During high school, amongst her busy school schedule, basketball and just trying to be a kid, Jordan served at the Waynoka Nursing Center. Every Sunday she would spend the afternoon at the nursing home and visit with the ladies. Jordan bonded with many of the ladies and couldn’t wait to see them every Sunday, giving up free time and activities to visit with them. This attitude and willingness to serve carried over into college where she received an academic scholarship to attend Northwestern. Rob and Patti Gaskill are very proud of the decisions their daughter has made at a young age. “We love her very much and it has been a joy to watch her further explore her dreams and the challenges of life at such a wonderful university staffed with individuals who want only the best for her,” Patti said. Jordan currently carries a 3.84 grade point average (GPA) and wears number 22 on the basketball court as a walk-on guard for the Lady Rangers. She is majoring in Biology and hopes to attend medical school after she graduates. This is not, however, her only goal. Jordan’s dream is to one day be Miss America. Jordan competed in her fi rst pageant as a senior in high school and won the title of Miss Waynoka. So, when she got to Northwestern, this shy girl was not unaccustomed to the pageant atmosphere. She slowly built up her confi dence to enter the Miss Northwestern pageant as a freshman, after she was voted by the student body as the Freshman Queen in her fi rst semester. Jordan was successful in her bid for Miss Northwestern and at a young age would be heading to Tulsa for the Miss Oklahoma Pageant in the summer following her

freshman year. She decided to use her passion of service as her platform for Miss Oklahoma. Jordan didn’t win the pageant but came away with a better understanding of herself and how she truly could make a difference. It was after that experience that she decided to pursue her goal and dream of being Miss America. “After the Miss Oklahoma Pageant I decided that this was something I could do but I didn’t want it for recognition. I saw it as a way to serve others and really make an impact,” Gaskill said. And make an impact she did. She started helping out young students as a reading mentor for the Alva Public Schools. She spoke to classrooms about her service experiences and participated in a volunteer service learning project for Hurricane Katrina victims. “I know I have a profound impact on those students’ lives and my goal is to leave each of them a more confi dent person with a clear view of their future,” Gaskill said. Jordan continues to compete and won the title of Miss Northwest Passage in 2008. She was headed back to the Miss Oklahoma Pageant and though she didn’t win she didn’t walk away empty handed. Jordan was presented with the Miss State Scholar Award from the Miss America Organization. This scholarship is given at the state pageants to one woman from each state for academic excellence. Misti Knopf, Miss Northwestern Director from 2003-2008, helped Jordan realize her potential. “Jordan is one of the most dediMiss Northwestern 2008 Jordan Gaskill cated Miss Northwestern’s I have had the pleasure of working with,” Knopf said. “I watched her go from a shy, small-town girl to a confi dent woman capable of accomplishing anything she sets her mind to.” Jordan is still trying to attain her goal of becoming Miss America and also trying to get into medical school. She is set to compete in the 2008 Miss Oklahoma State Fair Pageant in hopes of returning to the Miss Oklahoma Pageant. Skeeter Bird, Northwestern Foundation Chief Executive Offi cer, is proud to have students like Jordan on campus. “Jordan is a great representative of the type of students we have attending Northwestern,” Bird said. “Knowing that we have so many students with stories like hers makes it easy for me to ask potential donors to invest in our students and university.” 10