Ally stays involved on campus as a member of the Sigmas, the track team and her passion for working with people

Junior Ally Voss has been, and continues to be, a very important part of the Gustavus community.

She is a double major in sociology/anthropology and Spanish, and as proud a Gustie as they come. “Ally has one of the most positive attitudes toward Gustavus,” Junior Political Science and Communications Studies Major Kate Redden said.

Ally expressed how she felt to have ended up at Gustavus. “I’m so thankful to be part of such a diverse and passionate community.”

Ally has demonstrated her passion for both facets of her sociology/anthropology major through her endeavors at Gustavus and abroad.

“I have a passion for talking with people,” Ally said.

In the fall of her sophomore year, Ally became a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. She was elected by her sisters to serve on the executive board as head of recruitment within the sorority.

“It’s all about reaching out to other women in the community, and doing so in a welcoming and friendly way,” Ally said.

Senior Athletic Training Major Megan Hoeft, Ally’s sorority big sis, had the job before Ally.

“Being membership recruitment director is a huge responsibility. This is the woman that our sorority has put faith into to organize the Sigma’s and to find all our new members so that our organization will continue to exist! Recruitment director plans all the recruitment events, and communicates with interested women on campus. Ally is welcoming, outgoing, organized and overall a genuine sweetheart which made her an excellent choice for the position of recruitment director,” Hoeft said.

“We just love her so much, she is always so enthusiastic and positive. A true pleasure to be around during recruitment activities,” Redden, who is also one of Ally’s sisters, said.

The following year, Ally showcased her dedication in her effort to recruit new girls. During the spring, she set aside time for lunch dates and helped arrange sorority events. Over the summer, Ally sent personalized flipbooks and letters to each Sigma in order to remain in touch with them.

Her dedication and passion for speaking with people helped her to succeed. She brought in the largest pledge class during the fall of last year. “Sixty girls put in bid this past fall,” Redden said. On average, fifteen girls are asked to go through the new member education process each year.

Not only did she bring in the largest Sigma pledge class, but  two of her pledge activities, knitting and making tie blankets, also won her recognition in outside circles. “I’m so proud of Ally for accomplishing this,” Redden said.

Ally is really thankful for having been inducted into the Sigma sorority. “The girls are like my family, and it’s such a positive experience. You really get to connect with each sister and develop meaningful and lifelong relationships.”

The Tri-Sigma sorority, is not Ally’s only on-campus family, however. She is also on the Gustavus women’s track and field team. She joined her first year because she loves to pole-vault. Her passion for pole-vaulting began during her freshman year of high school and the track team at Gustavus has allowed her to nurture and grow that passion.

The hard work and dedication to be successful, which Ally demonstrated in Sigmas, has also helped her to achieve success on the track team.

“Ally has been an instrumental part of the women’s team. She works very hard to become the best she can be each day. She qualified for the DIII Outdoor National Championships last year as a sophomore. She continued to dedicate her summer to training and came into fall training in great shape. Even after being diagnosed with an injury this year, she never missed a practice. She practices on her own time apart from the team to get in the cross training needed to stay in shape to be able to compete her best when she is healthy.

Ally is not only a great competitor, but also is dedicated to her academics,” Head Coach of Gustavus Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Dale Bahr said.

Ally joined the track and field team not only because she is passionate about pole-vaulting, but also because she loves being part of a group of people who share her passion.

“Being able to do something that you are so passionate about, while at the same time connecting with people who share my passion, is very special,” Ally said.

Ally’s passion for the anthropology side of her major is expressed through her love of traveling and of other cultures. Last January Interim Experience, Ally traveled to India along with other students, where she traced the history of Buddhism. She visited different religious sites such as the Bodhi tree, where the Buddha was enlightened.

“It was a great experience because it expanded my perspective view of other world religions, and how those religions affect different cultures,” Ally said.

The proud Gustie is outward about her love and acceptance of other cultures. “It’s not uncommon to see Ally walking around campus in one of her Indian outfits,” Redden said.

She enjoys sharing with the Gustavus community, and the rest of the world, her passion for other cultures through her photography.

“It’s not unusual to see Ally walking around with her ‘big ass’ camera,” Redden said. “And, I don’t know how she does it, but her pictures always seem to turn out perfectly!”

Last fall, Ally participated in the international photo contest. The judges selected one of her pictures to be showcased.

When asked about what she hopes to accomplish this year, she paused. “Oh, where to begin,” she said. “College is going by so fast.”

Ally, however, has plans to continue dedicating herself to her on-campus families, and to her passions. She hopes to keep expanding her perspective view of the world, expanding and developing friendships and traveling.

She recantly applied to the Critical Language Scholarship, a prestigious scholarship that provides intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences and lasts for seven to ten weeks. She will find out whether or not she has been accepted in February.