Ashley Bradford, a junior pre-physical therapy major and a native of London, KY, has been recognized as “Student of the Block” at Tusculum College for her campus leadership.
The College’s Office of Student Affairs recently recognized Ashley with its “Student of the Block” award for the fifth block of the fall semester during a ceremony on Feb. 23. She was presented a plaque detailing her achievements and campus involvement by Jacqui Elliot, vice president for enrollment management. The plaque will be displayed on the “Wall of Honor” outside of the Student Affairs Office in the Niswonger Commons.
Ashley is a 2006 graduate of North Laurel High School. Always the active student, Ashley participated in her high school soccer program, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Tri- Beta, National Honors Society and the track and field team (where her father was the coach). Recruited as a part of the highly-awarded Tusculum College Women’s Soccer Team, Ashley contributes to the team in her position as a mid-fielder/forward and upperclassmen leader.
Ashley notes she came to Tusculum College because of its close proximity to home and the unique block system. Ashley thoroughly enjoys the distinctive class schedule because it “allows me to be able to focus on one class at a time and not direct my attention to more than one thing. I can put all of my time and energy into one item instead of deciding what is most important to study.”
When she isn’t studying for her next test or working hard to make the upcoming season a success on the soccer field, Ashley is an active member of the Tusculum College Fellowship of Christian Athletes as the incoming 2009- 2010 president, a peer tutor, member of Pioneer Student Athletic Council and a member of the prestigious Honors Program.
Maintaining an impressive 3.88 GPA, Ashley has hopes of entering graduate school at the University of Kentucky as a member of their Doctorate of Physical Therapy program. As a reward to her academic successes, Ashley has received numerous awards including the Tusculum College Freshman Academic Female Athlete honor, 2007 South Atlantic Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.
Ashley’s love of service extends beyond the classroom and into missionary work, another sector in which she is heavily involved. Susie Jones, executive assistant to the vice president of finance and CFO, nominated Ashley because of her dedication to service to her community and her commitment to her faith.
“I admire her immensely for her dedication to her faith. In my opinion, it takes a special young person, especially during their college years, to come to a church by herself to worship, especially when that church is not her hometown church,” said Jones of Ashley’s commitment to faith and community.
“Ashley is a fine example of what Tusculum College Civic Arts is all about… giving back! She definitely leads by example,” Jones added. Ashley is active with her church youth group, her college church family, and plans to go on an alternative spring mission trip with a group from Tusculum.
The “Student of the Block” award is a program of the Office of Student Affairs to honor Tusculum College students who excel not only in their academics but are also active on campus and in service to the community. Nominations for the award are sought from the campus community. A student is recognized each academic block. Tusculum operates on a focused calendar in which students take one class per a three-and-a-half week period, a block. The academic year is divided into eight blocks, four per semester.