GwendolynBaumgardner

Gwendolyn is a Board Member from the great sunflower state of Kansas, representing the Central Zone.

Gwendolyn is a resident of rural Louisburg, Kansas. While attending Louisburg High School, Gwendolyn dedicated her spare time to service learning and public service activities. She was a charter member of her school’s safe driving program, joining with other members as two-time finalists for State Farm’s Project Ignition. While president of LEOs Club, she led multiple food drives, organized community blood drives, and coordinated clothing drives for state VA hospitals. She was named a 2010 Coca Cola Scholar.

Gwendolyn also initiated a program for her local elementary school called “BackSnacks.” Her goal was to provide children identified as chronically hungry with a backpack full of healthy foods each Friday. By working with a local food provider, she was able to aid 35 students for the school year.

Gwendolyn is a sophomore broadcast news major at Drake University and is a pole vaulter on the track team. She remains an active service volunteer with the Boys and Girls Club of Des Moines and the Des Moines Area Food Pantry. She is working to establish a non-profit called ‘Best Feet Forward’ to provide shoes for children in need.