USU grad dances her way to national leadership award
A Utah State University graduate was one of 25 students nationwide awarded the 2020 Miracle Network Dance Marathon Distinguished Leadership Award on April 30.
Jenna Stoker, who recently graduated USU with degrees in dietetics and human movement science, received the award for her work on the Aggiethon Dance Marathon.
The Aggiethon is a student-led event that partners with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to raise awareness of childhood illness and injury.
“Students, through peer to peer fundraising, raise money for our local Children’s Miracle Network hospital, Primary Children’s Hospital,” Stoker said. “Each year we have a culminating event to show our support for the Miracle kids from the hospital and to celebrate all that has been fundraised by the students. This event includes dancing, activities, stories from Miracle kiddos and their families, performances, food and more.”
Stoker has three nieces who are regularly treated at Primary Children’s and said she’s seen the positive impact the hospital has on children.
Stoker said she was “super shocked” when she heard she won the leadership award.
“My hope in receiving it is that I have helped begin an inclusive movement on campus where everyone feels like they can make a difference,” she said. “They meet our Miracle kiddos who are strong and go through so much and as they interact with each other in a cause that is helping heal future and current Aggies.”
Stoker said now that she’s graduated, she may continue working with the Miracle Dance Network Marathon.
“I didn’t know about child life specialists before becoming involved in the Dance Marathon but it may now be the direction I head with my career,” she said. “Dance Marathon has solidified my dream of working with kids in some way, shape or form. They are the next generation and are truly amazing.”
Stoker said she hopes Aggiethon becomes a popular event in Logan.
“It would be so fun to have each college, club, organization, class, professor, administrator, business and family become involved in this movement,” she said. “There are so many fun ways people can raise money and awareness for the kiddos at the hospital while also being individually impacted in so many positive ways.”
Stoker plans on staying connected with the Aggiethon program. This includes creating an alumni team that continues to fundraise for Primary Children’s.
Nelda Ault, USU’s service center coordinator, has known Stoker for four years and has worked with her on many volunteering and service events. She said Stoker is the “perfect candidate” for the leadership award.
“You can give an award for raising the most money or talking the most people into participating,” Ault said, “but real leadership means being down in the trenches, keeping records, making plans for next time, and inspiring the next group of leaders to keep growing the movement.”
Ault said she was impressed with all Stoker accomplished while at USU.
“Jenna brings great enthusiasm and compassion to any service that she does, whether it’s checking people into the food pantry, encouraging people to raise money for a good cause, or caring for other service directors who want to give of themselves,” Ault said. “Her motivation behind kickstarting Aggiethon and cultivating a leadership team to keep the event going is icing on Jenna’s service cake.”
David Higashi is a friend of Stoker’s and said Stoker truly deserves the leadership award.
“Her dedication and passion for Aggiethon is endless,” he said. “From getting participants to finding donors, she was working hard alongside her team. She is definitely a leader that leads by example, and who is not afraid to do the small tasks.”
Higashi said he was impressed with what Stoker did with Aggiethon, saying she raised $15,000 the first year and more than $35,000 the next year.
“Jenna’s passion for helping others and her dedication to her work is truly inspiring,” Higashi said. “Usually, the first events are the hardest to put on and do not gain a lot of success. However, Aggiethon is so successful and I think that is due to Jenna’s leadership and all of her hard work that she put in.”
@harriskarcin