Student Leadership spotlight
The four year experience each student spends as an undergraduate varies person by person.
Three female undergraduate leaders, Angela Lee, sophomore in chemistry and mathematics, Hannah Bae, senior in communication studies and Reilyn Intemann, sophomore in nursing have all said they have geared their experience to make sure they leave their mark as Blazers.
Angela Lee, sophomore in chemistry and mathematics and the newly elected USGA Vice President, said she enjoys being involved in different student organizations. Some of Lee’s involvement includes work with the Science and Technology Honors Program, along with intramural sports and multicultural organizations.
“I love that I am involved in multicultural organizations such as the Vietnamese Student Association and the Chinese Society. I knew that I was in the right place because of how their core values of diversity, inclusivity and culture aligned with my feelings.”
Angela Lee
Lee said her plans for the future include continuing her service towards others.
“While I hope to attend medical school one day, I want to spend time in impoverished and underserved countries or communities to broaden my global perspective,” Lee said. “My backup plan follows my continuation of research in chemistry.”
Lee said her passions have been shaped by women who have come before her.
“There are unique qualities of the various women in my life which have shaped me,” Lee said. “An inspiring woman who I continuously look up to is Amelia Earhart. Her independence and ambitions were unheard of during her time, but these qualities should be a motivation for all women to strive for something greater than themselves. I hope to lead fearlessly and act passionately with everything I do as she did.”
Hannah Bae, senior in communication studies, said she has dedicated her college years to serving in organizations such as URGE and SMDP because these groups encourage student growth and development.
“(SMDP) is what I have been most intensely involved with on campus, aside from the Public Relations Student Society of America. I’m a student leader within SMDP. When I first got involved, it was as a freshman representative within SJAC.”
Hannah Bae
Bae said throughout her involvement in URGE, she began with UAB’s chapter, and is now a student journalist for URGE National. Along with URGE, Bae is involved in the University Honors Program and the American Advertising Federation, where she was recently selected for the Most Promising Multicultural Students Program.
“Students from all across the country submit their applications and they pick fifty students,” Bae said. “They bring you to New York for a full week of immersion experiences within the industry. It was really empowering to have that experience, knowing that they’re committed to making sure there are more faces like mine within the industry.”
Reilyn Intemann, sophomore in nursing, said she has volunteered her time with Children’s Hospital of Alabama for over a year, which was inspired by her passion for helping children in need. After her UAB tour guide shared their experiences as a volunteer Intemann said she was excited to become involved.
“Right now I’m a nursing ambassador at (Children’s Hospital,)” Intemann said. “I help out with anything the nurses need on my ward. I am in the special care unit (and) I help out the nurses and clinic staff.”
Intemann said part of her job is bringing joy to a child while they are enduring a traumatic situation.
“A lot of time, it’s patients who have had a difficult experience while they’ve been there or who don’t necessarily have family that can be at their bedside all the time,” Intemann said “Just being there for them using resources that Children’s has available.”
Intemann said there have been times throughout her volunteering that the joy on a patient’s face told her she was where she needed to be. Intemann said one patient in particular brightened her day on multiple occasions.
“Every time you walked by, she was just super smiley and you knew she was always going through something difficult,” Intemann said. “The way that some of them go through that and they’re always super upbeat and happy regardless of what they’re going through.”
Reilyn Intemann
Along with volunteering at Children’s Hospital, Intemann said she enjoys serving as a Trailblazer, giving tours as an honors college Smart Leader and skating competitively. Being a female leader, Intemann said she enjoys having these opportunities and thanks those who have come before her.
“Using the power that other people have put before me,” Intemann said. “Other women who have given us rights and fought for those rights and shown the power that women have.”
