UNDERGRADUATE SPOTLIGHT
“... BELIEVING THAT AN UNDERGRADUATE-LED BANQUET, BRINGING THE MAJOR PUBLIC FIGURES OF THE AREA AS WELL AS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP FROM ST. JUDE AND KAPPA TOGETHER, WOULD MAKE THE TYPE OF IMPACT MY CHAPTER AND I WERE LOOKING TO MAKE.”
in the scientific and fund- raising fields made me want to work even harder as the National Vice Chairman. St. Jude is a powerhouse organization, and Kappa’s efforts in this partnership will yield results that benefit the diverse generations of children coming in the near and distant future. Journal: You spearheaded a St. Jude fundraiser on your own campus that raised $10,000. Tell us a little about that? Bolling: Within my new- found Vice Chairman role, I wanted to create a situation or event that highlighted the undergraduate efforts and support within this initiative. After discussing this with Grand Polemarch McMikle, the concept of a partnership fundraising banquet in the city of Memphis came about. I spearheaded this event, believing that an undergrad- uate-led banquet, bringing the major public figures of the area as well as executive leadership from St. Jude and Kappa together, would make the type of impact my chapter and I were looking to make. Our goal was to show the Memphis commu- nity that Kappa stands with St. Jude. Through planning, prayer, and execution, the event was a complete
success, raising over $10K and reaching Apple News headlines, not to mention local city news feeds. Journal: Kappa Alpha Psi has made a commitment to raise an additional $2M for St. Jude over the next three years. How active, involved, and impactful do you envision the undergraduate demographic to be in this effort? Bolling: My committee’s vision is for our under- graduate brothers to be highlighted for their efforts all the way through the achievement of the $2M commitment in 2027. We want this partnership to be not only a plan for fundraising, but a limitless opportunity that breeds internships, jobs, St. Jude collegiate leadership roles, and more. The committee wants our undergrads to
be developed into confi- dent leaders who take full advantage of the global organization that is St. Jude. Journal: Are there any exciting next steps for this initiative? Bolling: My committee’s plan is to create a struc- ture for which all our undergrad chapters can directly engage with St. Jude. Very soon, there will be a release of the official St. Jude Undergraduate Engagement Plan from the committee. This plan will lay out the concrete ways and opportunities that undergrads can participate in fundraising, set clear and achievable donation goals for chapters across provinces, and provide incentives that will moti- vate our college brothers to lead the fundraising charge.
Journal: You also serve as a Junior Province Vice Polemarch. That position comes with tremendous responsibility. How is that role shaping you to be a better leader? Bolling: The role of the South-Central Province JVP has been a transfor- mative experience for me as a young man and leader. Attending meetings ran by Robert’s Rules of Order, discussing planning and budget for a jurisdiction stretching over three states, understanding the scope of Kappa at a high-level… this position has given me the confidence to take over roles that make an impact locally, regionally, and nationally. As I transition into life after college, I feel so equipped to take on leadership roles and high-level initiatives even outside of the fraternity. I think that’s one of the
26 THE JOURNAL ♦ FALL 2023
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker