Working with Maggie at BEAM always brings a smile to my face. From contributing wonderful ideas at meetings to making new community members feel welcome, she never fails to bring joy to those around her. Maggie’s unwavering enthusiasm means that she is deeply committed to all of her pursuits, always going above and beyond to help out others, whether that be through giving advice to members of BEAM or reaching out to her community through her work with the NSHSS. I have been greatly inspired by Maggie’s love for communication. Her skills in writing are a reflection of her deep interest in this area. I jump at the chance to read her work, and always find myself drawn in to any story she tells. She displays a level of creativity and maturity that is so rare amongst others her age, and possesses the skill to think deeply. Maggie considers the world in a beautifully unique way, and this positive outlook makes her an unparalleled team member and leader.
- Emma Last, Co-Director of Community Engagement at BEAM
I’m constantly inspired by Maggie’s aptitude for community building and outreach, as her drive in this area plays a vital role in BEAM’s work & impact. As a Co-Director of Community Engagement for BEAM, she never fails to develop creative ways to spread awareness of our initiatives to as many students as possible. When first onboarding Maggie onto BEAM’s executive board, her enthusiasm immediately stood out to me. Whenever our team sets a new goal, she is always up to the task and incredibly determined to turn her team’s visions into a reality. Maggie’s vision to educate and inspire her fellow peers incentivizes her to go above and beyond when it comes to expanding BEAM on an external level. Whether it be finding new methods to advertise BEAM or ways to amplify our outreach to schools across the nation, her grit amazes me on a daily basis. Maggie is a true leader, trailblazer, and innovator who strives to excel in any endeavor she takes on. Working with her has helped push BEAM to great heights, and I’m endlessly excited to see where her hardworking mentality takes her next—whether it be in BEAM, college, or beyond.
- Skyler Basco, Founder & CEO at BEAM
In the short year that I have had the pleasure of knowing Maggie Jordan as an NSHSS Ambassador, she continues to impress me with her desire to create a safe, equitable learning environment for her peers, building upon her personal experiences to ensure that other students have a voice and are heard. Wise beyond her years, I find Maggie to be bright, eager, incredibly intelligent, and enormous support to our online leadership community.
My direct relationship with Maggie began when I put out a call to action on the Ambassador Slack platform for graduating high school seniors to apply to our collegiate leadership program (Student Council) for early admission. It is part of our practice to offer this early admission to all members of our high school leadership program because they have shown true leadership skills, developed knowledge of the inner-workings of the organization, and have a direct line to the needs of our general members as they navigate through the difficult college application process and transitioning to college life. At the time, Maggie was only a rising junior in high school, but she reached out to me to ask if she qualified for early acceptance into Student Council because she participates in a dual-enrollment program at her community college and was also a Sophomore in college! We connected over a video call and it took no time at all for me to recognize her as not only an academic powerhouse, but as someone with the maturity, poise, and confidence to represent NSHSS as a Student Council member.
Equally as impressive as her academic qualifications are her leadership and community development skills. Specifically, when two Ambassadors had a conflict about how a nonprofit they started should be run, Maggie brought the issue to me and the NSHSS leadership to help us start a conversation with the members to help resolve any conflict. Even though she had personal relationships with both Ambassador peers, Maggie was firmly rooted in hearing both sides of the story, ensuring that everyone had a place at the table, and encouraging them to talk about their differences of opinion in a constructive way without resorting to personal attacks.
Maggie is not only a leader but a mentor, offering guidance to other Ambassadors and general members on how to engage in the NSHSS community. She often shares resources that she finds with the entire community, again helping to build equitable access, and encourages her fellow Ambassadors to do the same. She cares about her community and wants to see everyone succeed. These are qualities that would be an asset to not just your campus, but the entire community.
I believe you will find, as I have, that she is a wonderful person to have on your team, and just a general delight to be around!
- Leslie Walton, Member Engagement Manager at NSHSS