Students Compete for Prestigious Leadership in Action Award

Every year, a Florida State College at Jacksonville student is honored through the Herbert W. Scheidel Community Leadership in Action Award. The award is designed to recognize students whose volunteer work has expanded the opportunities of those who are less fortunate and who have the passion to continue their work.

The award includes a college scholarship and $2,500 donation made to the non-profit of the winner’s choice. (Click here for more details)

I had the privilege of interviewing our 2011 Leadership in Action Award winner, Ashley Sczukowski. Here’s her story:

Ashley is a graduate of Florida State College’s Class of 2011. Ashley earned her Associate in Arts degree—a feat she couldn’t have imagined reaching JUST a few years ago.

“I was desperate. I was desperate when I came here,” said Ashley. “My situation was drugs and alcohol…. I had just found out some IRS information that was devastating… I was at a point in my life where I Just didn’t know what I was going to do.”

That changed—when she enrolled in the Challenge Program for Displaced Homemakers at Florida State College’s Women’s Center. She became a College student AND a college employee as a volunteer coordinator.

“I needed a job and when I came over there I didn’t even know what it was. My job now is to connect students with opportunities in the community, and that’s what I do best,” said Ashley told us in our 2011 interview.

“I love working with this college it has given me self esteem and just the backing that I have gotten from the college that they encourage me, the staff encourages me to continue they want me to be a better person,” said Ashley.

Ashley says she now dedicates her life to community service.

“I work with a lot of organizations. I work with City Rescue Mission, I work with Hands on Jax, Habitat for Humanity Jax, I’ve worked with Claire Wright Mission, I’ve worked with Community Connection, I’ve worked with the Dream Center and Faith with Azda, I’ve worked with Celebration Church, I’ve worked with a number of different organizations.”

In recognition of her work, Ashley received the first annual Herbert W. Scheidel Community Leadership in Action Award. The award created in honor of the late Herbert Scheidel—a businessman and philanthropist who believed in paying it forward.

I spoke to his daughter Miki Scheidel via Skype from West Africa, where she was living at the time. Here’s what she had to say about Ashley.

“She has an amazing story where she’s overcome many obstacles and she has a spirit about her, that’s just… I don’t know it was inspiring to meet her. She gets involved in as many different ways as she can, and you can tell this is part of her life.”

Ashley’s daughter Alexis—who volunteers a lot of her time in the community— beams with pride when she talks about her mother.

“She helps a lot of people she makes new friends and it’s fun and she just, when you’re done helping those people you feel so proud and happy all the time, and I want to be like that.”

Clearly moved by her daughter’s response, Ashley replied, “It feels amazing, it feels absolutely amazing, I couldn’t drink that. That is a feeling that you only get by giving back to the community.”

Stay with Florida State College Network for interviews with this year’s leading candidates and recipient. Nominations will be collected through mid-February.