FLEX Student of the Month – March 2014

Gulnar Resulkulyyeva, a World Link FLEX student from Turkmenistan, is a proven leader and dynamic FLEX ambassador. In her Leadership class at school she received an award for being the most active participant in school activities. She is a member of the Key Club, Green Club, and Spanish Club and recently earned a spot on the varsity track team. She was named the Key Club Member of the Month and was recognized by the school principal for her work on props, make-up, costuming and backstage support for the school musical. Connecting through culture is also high on Gulnar’s list of priorities. In the presentations she has given, she shared Turkmen history, holidays and her favorite national foods. She also taught her classmates to play the traditional Turkmen game Otyr we Tur. 

 

Gulnar is an energetic volunteer and has already served over 209 hours of community service. Most of the hours were devoted to programs that benefit people with disabilities: para-Olympic bowlers, a basketball tournament, and 5K run to raise money for children with disabilities. Gulnar also participated in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life; distributed pamphlets for the American Red Cross; volunteered as a translator during the World Agriculture Expo; helped organize “Two Canned Dance” to collect food for families in need; marched in a Veteran’s Day parade to honor her host grandfather who served in the Navy; and she was recognized by a local Veteran’s group for her support and visits to Veterans’ nursing homes. 

 

In March Gulnar organized two large events focused around the 2014 Winter Olympics. The first event, a Bowl-a-thon to support para-Olympic athletes raised over $700. The second event, an assembly performance for her school’s entire student body of over 2000 students, was a cultural presentation called “Mixed Olympic Games Dance.” Gulnar, along with other exchange students in her school, each carried the flag of their home country, danced cultural dances and presented facts about their home country. The performance received a standing ovation!  

 

Gulnar believes leadership is learned, not just in the classroom, but by leading events and projects in the community. She said that one of the best moments of her life was when she realized her potential to make something happen.

 

Congratulations, Gulnar!