From the president
Ella Burrows, a fourth-generation Fort Hays State University (FHSU) Tiger, is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a Pre-Law Emphasis along with certificates in Legal Studies and Community Engagement. She is a Freshman Senator in the Student Government Association (SGA) and serves as the Legislative Affairs Director. She is also a Student Coordinator for the American Democracy Project (ADP), a Peer Mentor to the Honors College, and a Peer Academic Leader to the Law, Politics, and Justice Living and Learning Community. She is the Chapter President of the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society, Secretary and Vice President of Marketing for the FHSU’s Young Democrats of America, and the Chaplain and Vice President of New Member Education for the Delta Zeta Sorority. Ella was a 2022 ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Student Voting Honor Roll Recipient and was selected as a VIP Ambassador for the university. She is also actively engaged in the Ellis County Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. Ella Burrows is a dedicated and accomplished student leader who embodies our university’s tenacious Tiger spirit.
Personal Statement
Satanta, Kansas, population 1,092, raised me to advocate fiercely for the least, the last, and the lost. Growing up in a community fighting for its survival taught me that civic engagement and community development are not only interlaced but also imperative in ensuring the vitality of rural America. My passion for rural development encapsulates my entire undergraduate experience. As a Coordinator for the American Democracy Project, I worked to promote civic engagement through civil discourse and coordination of mock voting for 300 fifth-grade students. As the Legislative Affairs Director for the Student Government Association, I have hosted voter registration drives; coordinated opportunities for students to meet with legislators; formulated legislation fostering diversity, inclusion, and equity; and am currently developing a survey studying student voting rates at Fort Hays State University. I have found my home at FHSU through Delta Zeta sorority, where I strive to live by our values of belonging, citizenship, and empowerment, and by attending the Hays First United Methodist Church. Following my undergraduate studies, I plan to attend law school and work in the nonprofit sector before beginning my political career and advocating for policies to combat poverty and advance educational opportunities in rural America.