BEING CENTRAL TEXAN Jennifer Hetzel

A Place to Grow and Make a Difference

Icame to Killeen in the summer of 2000 a and run robotics competitions; volunteered as resentful 15-year-old frustrated at the prospect an ambassador at the Greater Killeen Chamber of starting over in a new town (again). My family of Commerce; and became a founding member moved every year or two growing up, so I had a of the Greater Killeen Young Professionals. The serious case of teenage angst for having been opportunity to engage in such a wide range of uprooted only a year into high school. Despite my causes taught me a lot, and helped me grow trepidation, I soon learned that my new community personally and professionally. was very welcoming and there was no shortage of I was hired as the Director of Strategic opportunities to get involved Communications at the Greater Killeen Chamber and make a difference. of Commerce in 2014. In 2017, I transitioned to Upon arriving in Killeen, economic development as the Director of Research I attended the recently for the newly created 14 Forward campaign. Both completed Shoemaker High positions have allowed me work on projects and School. After graduating in with local leaders that have had a profound impact 2003, I worked full time for on the community. a few years while attending Environmental sustainability has always been Central Texas College. After a passion for me, and in 2017 I started a group a few years, I decided it was called the Centex Planeteers to help educate the time to finish my degree, so I community on this topic. The group meets monthly quit my job in 2008 (as I would to hear from a speaker and talk with others who later learn, in the middle of a are interested in learning about sustainability. I also JENNIFER HETZEL recession) to attend CTC and Texas A&M University-Central started a podcast called Sustainably Geeky in 2018 to reach a wider audience. It has been extremely Texas full time for the next two years. During this rewarding for me to help and meet others who time I worked at CTC as a Student Ambassador. share my passion through these outlets. In 2010, the grant funding my department was If you want the opportunity to grow as a person ending and the college was looking for creative and make a difference in the world around you, ways to continue funding these positions. After Central Texas is the place to be. This community brainstorming with other staff at the college we inspired me to reach higher and try things I am came up with a novel idea: hold a mini comic-con not sure I would have had the courage to try style event at the college’s Planetarium. We called otherwise. The encouragement and support I have it Geekfest, a “celebration of all things geek.” received over the years gave me the tools I needed A lifelong geek myself, I was particularly excited to create two of the things I am most proud of, to help create a space for others who shared Geekfest and the Centex Planeteers. common interests. The event was a hit and grew Central Texas has a special place in my heart. over the years, adding programming (and often This is where I became an adult, bought my first celebrities), attracting more attendees and raising home and made friendships that will last a lifetime. thousands of dollars for scholarships. The name This place gave me the courage to try new things changed to Epically Geeky Expo in 2019 and and be bold. These lessons have given me the the event will resume after the pandemic. It is courage to start a new chapter in my life and gratifying to know I was part of creating such an pursue my dream of attending graduate school impactful event while raising money for college overseas to study sustainability. I begin that pursuit students. this summer. Upon completion of my bachelor’s in 2010, I This is a bittersweet time for me, leaving the started work full time at CTC in the Continuing place that has been home for my entire adult life, Education Department. During this time I for something entirely (and literally) foreign. While continued serving on the “Jedi Council” for I will miss this place-and more importantly, the Geekfest; became a commissioner for the Killeen people — I can leave knowing I left my mark on the Arts Commission; volunteered with the USO as a community that has given so much to me. I believe costume character at family events; helped plan I will always be a “Central Texan.”