Student Profile: Allie Gasiorowski
If cardiac operations are a measure of how big a person’s heart is, Allie Gasiorowski takes the prize. Having survived four open-heart surgeries, the Birmingham junior is eager to help others with all of her aorta.
To do this, she designed a program of emphasis in nonprofit management. Her ultimate goal is to open up a camp or hospital program for teens with heart disease.
“Being in and out of the hospital all the time made me realize the importance of having a support network,” she says. “While there are a lot of these groups for adults and children, there aren’t as many for teens, so I’d like to start my own somewhere.”
Gasiorowski is inspired by her experiences at Camp Odayin, a camp for children with heart disease. She raised money for the camp by selling homemade heart bracelets on campus for a dollar apiece.
“Just by advertising through friends and sitting in Saga, I made over $100,” she says. “I realized how great this campus is about giving back, to anyone or anything.”
Alma College has empowered Gasiorowski to give back through opportunities such as Alternative Break. She also is involved in choir and Phi Sigma Sigma.
“I came to Alma because of how much it encouraged service,” she says. “I can testify that I’m getting a great education, and I’ve made friends for a lifetime.”
