Sabrina Gambill - Alma Graduate Makes Big Impact In College Community

​Hi Everyone! My name is Sabrina Gambill, and I am serving at Alma College. As some of you know, I graduated this spring from Alma and I am so happy to be back serving the campus and community. Time has been flying by and the semester is drawing to a close, but I am staying busy. Here at Alma, I work within the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. One of my primary responsibilities is to help oversee the Campbell Scholars, a group of 23 students from Detroit enrolled here at Alma. I hold individual meetings, study tables, and weekly lunches with selected topics like financial management and successful study habits to best help students achieve success at Alma. In October, I organized a leadership workshop and a trip to the Grand Rapids Public Museum to see exhibits based around diversity for these students. Interacting and connecting with these students has been very rewarding so far.

Starting this year, we have pushed to have a closer relationship with our four partner schools in Detroit where the Campbell Scholars are from. As a part of this, I have visited a school each week to do college readiness presentations for the day. I think this is probably where I have my biggest impact, since these students have so many questions about college that they feel more comfortable asking a recent college graduate rather than a teacher. Most of these students are also first-generation, and lack many resources on college information. While putting together a series of presentations for each grade level has been quite a challenge, I am hoping to create a lasting impact with the information by putting together college readiness binders for each classroom I’ve visited.

The last major facet of my position is working with Alma Public Schools in their After School Program. The program currently has 51 students ranging from 4-8th grade, and is continually growing. I am mostly responsible for recruiting volunteers for the program and making sure the program runs smoothly. I also host College Positive Volunteerism training sessions for the staff of the program as well as Alma College students. The After School Program also has monthly Kids’ Night Out events, which serve as a fundraiser for the program. There are typically about 250-300 kids that are there for a night of activities. I recruit the 30-40 volunteers necessary for the night, and also have a college station there for the kids to participate in college scavenger hunts, coloring college mascots, and talk about college. It is always so exciting to see an 8 year old enthusiastic about college!
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I have been extremely busy this year, but I have loved every second of my craziness. I hope everyone is having a great year and is getting ready for the holidays. This weekend is the first annual Campbell Scholar holiday party, and I can’t wait! Happy holidays everyone!