Ball State wasn’t on Jordyn Blythe’s radar.
Not initially at least.
Then, she received a mailed invitation to apply for admission. While living with her parents in Bloomington, Illinois, Jordyn did some investigating into the University’s Honors College, and she liked what she learned.
The Honors College was the biggest draw for me,” she said. “With the Honors program you are in classes with kids from all different majors. A lot of our classes are discussion-based, and because of that we can understand perspectives that we might not get in other settings.
Jordyn received the Whitinger Scholarship, which recognizes just 10 “exceptionally talented” students each year and is considered the University’s most prestigious scholarship. Barb Stedman, Ball State’s director of national and international scholarships, interviewed Jordyn for the award. The first line in Stedman’s interview notes: “Jordyn is a dynamo: confident, passionate and ambitious.”
A double major in political science and communication studies with a concentration in public communication, Jordyn expects to graduate in spring 2022. Then, she hopes to merge her majors into a career as a political and legal correspondent for television news. First, she plans to attend law school to boost her resume.
Memorable Moment Alert! Sophomore public commstudies student Jordyn Blythe reminisces about the @bsuspeech team. "Being on the speech team made my transition to Ball State SO much easier. Having the opportunity to speak about things I really care about is emotionally liberating" pic.twitter.com/0e4UlRiYNf— BSUCOMM (@BSUCOMM) May 21, 2019
Memorable Moment Alert! Sophomore public commstudies student Jordyn Blythe reminisces about the @bsuspeech team. "Being on the speech team made my transition to Ball State SO much easier. Having the opportunity to speak about things I really care about is emotionally liberating" pic.twitter.com/0e4UlRiYNf
Growing up, Jordyn’s parents taught her the importance of community involvement and public service.
In her first two years, she has served as a Cardinal Corps Ambassador, an orientation leader, a peer mentor in the Honors College, and as a senator and vice president-elect in the Student Government Association. She also joined the speech team, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and has volunteered for the Boys & Girls Club of Muncie.
“You have to give back,” she said.
You know you’re a Ball State Cardinal when you first hear the chirp, when you look to “Frog Baby” for luck, and “Beneficence” for guidance. You’re a Ball State Cardinal when you chase your dreams, present your case, and win. When the University you call home is small enough to be a community but big enough to change the world. You know you’re a Ball State Cardinal when you’re one of us. We are Ball State University. We Fly.
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