FORMER HOSA NATIONAL OFFICER NAMED ONE OF THE USA TODAY TOP IN AMERICA

Tamira Cole, 2002-03 HOSA National Officer

Clarksville, TN- Tamira Cole, is not your typical college sophomore. She balances a rigorous academic schedule, dozens of extra-curricular activities, a top Tennessee 4-H Foundation Board of Directors position, and the founder of ACTIVE A.C.E.S. and BOOK B.U.G.S. programs and a resume that would make some college seniors jealous. On February 12th, 2004, USA Today named Cole one of the top 100 college students in the nation. She received an Honorable Mention honor out of 600 nominees from colleges and universities across the nation. She is the first student in the history of Austin Peay State University to ever be so honored. Students are selected annually based on outstanding intellectual endeavor, on and off campus activities, leadership, academics and community service.

Cole, a sophomore at Austin Peay State University was nominated by Professor Meredith Gildrie, is an English major and double minor in Journalism and Psychology. In December 2003, she became the founder and creator of ACTIVE A.C.E.S. and BOOK B.U.G.S. programs for city youth and 4-Hers in Jackson, TN. The ACTIVE A.C.E.S. Program is designed to help high school student develop in the areas of leadership, community service, outreach, academics and scholarship. BOOK B.U.G.S. is design to help area 4-Hers excel in a given 4-H project. Both are supported by Madison County 4-H and hopes to receive a grant from the Points of Light Foundation.

She has volunteered in Atlanta, Georgias, ART of the Season. An annual event held for young children in Atlanta that provides gifts and presents during the holiday season. She has donated several dozens of cans to the APSU Can Provide Community Outreach Project. To date she has volunteered over 1,000 community service hours and looks to further her endeavors in Thailand this summer. Her compassion and effort has been noted by many, including her 4-H agent, Sharon Tubbs of Madison County 4-H.

When she is home from college during the breaks, she offers assistance to younger students and helps them accomplish excellence and encourages them to I think I Can and they see they really can, said Tubbs.

Her credits include; being on the SGA Student Tribunal as an Associate Justice, features editor/writer of the school newspaper, news editor of the school APNEWS show, Governors Ambassador, Homecoming Week Committee, Student Allocations Committee, Residence Hall Association Executive Secretary, Residence Hall President, S.I.S.T.E.R.S. U.N.I.T.E.D, ASTAR Student Leader, Academic Grievance Committee, University Hearing Board, Ad-Hoc Committee, APSUnite Our Campus/The Wall Project, APPLE Leadership Programming, American Cancer Societys Colleges Against Cancer and several other committees and campus work.

She has also earned numerous literary credits. She was an online columnist for CyHigh College Diary 101 and National Famous Poets Society Honorable Mention. She is a member of the National Association for Broadcast Journalists. Her next goal is to become a contributing writer in a book.

Cole served as the 2002-2003 National HOSA Region II Vice-President. HOSA, which stands for Health Occupations of America, has a national membership of 70,000 members. During her term of office she was able to meet and work with the Honorable Emily DeRocco, United States Assistant Secretary of Labor, National Vice-President of SunTrust Bank, Susan Peryham, Texas A&M University Professor and motivational speaker, Dr. Rick Riscby, Judith M. Schilling of Bracewell and Patterson Attorneys at Law, Thao Nelson, Hospital Corporation of America, and NASA representative, Dr. John B. Charles just to name a few.

Its not just Coles ability that has taken her to the next level but her drive and motivation. She analyzes situations, determines options, and makes effective decisions leading to realistic and well-planned solutions. Tamira is results-oriented and extremely persistent in achieving worthy goals, said Dr. Jim Koeninger, Executive Director of the National HOSA Organization.

Tamira Cole (bottom right) and members of her officer team in front of HOSA booth at a national convention.

She has been a public speaker for nine years, speaking in numerous states and serving as a leadership coach for HOSA officers. Not only did she serve HOSA nationally but the 4-H organization, both which made a profound impact in her life. She served on the 2002 National 4-H Congress Youth Leadership Team, where she met 2003 Miss America, Erika N.L. Harold who made an impression on her.

Coles academic credits and honors are an impressive as well. She is a Magna Cum Laude Deans List Scholar, National Honor Roll Winner, National Volvo for Life Award Nominee, member of the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, National Scholars Honor Society and Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society. She has received state honors for her programming work in RHA, placing no. 4 in 2003 during the TACURAH Conference.

In 2003 she made history as the first African American student to become a member of the Sigma Kappa Chapter of Chi Omega Womens Fraternity in its 32 years. In December she became one out of 500 national semi-finalist in the 2004 Maybelline5 Competition. Over thousands of girls nation wide applied. The competition is held annually as a search for five fashion experts to help market Maybelline. She also was awarded the 2002 Emancipation Award of Excellence for her stellar record of achievements, including being noted as one of the top African American 4-Hers in Tennessee 4-H and a barrier breaker. She has made history more than four times only at the age of twenty.

She also makes time to serve on numerous state and national panels. She is an ESSENCE Magazine Window on our Women Reader Panel member, member of the Tennessee 4-H Alumni Inc. and the youngest member of the Tennessee 4-H Foundation Board of Directors; where she serves as a State Youth Coordinator. She is currently working with other state 4-H staff on the Tennessee 4-H Endowment Campaign. She has had several poems, essays and articles published appearing in seven books.

She will speak and give greetings on behalf of the Tennessee 4-H Foundation in March.

Cole is a 2002 high honor graduate of South Side High School in Jackson, TN. There she was Student Body President, a pageant winner, winner of over $165,000 in scholarships and grants, and Student of the Year, among many other honors.

She is currently taking her talents to the stage in Austin Peay’s production of Vagina Monologues, Feb. 13, 16.

Cole is the daughter of Bonita Cole. She hopes to become a speech language pathologist and magazine editor in chief.