Bluffton University

Community and service

05/13/2020

Ky Gurley '21

Bluffton student drawn to community and service

As an avid volunteer for the Lima Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program (Lima-UMADAOP), Ky Gurley ’21, a sociology major from Lima, Ohio, understood the importance of community and service well before applying to Bluffton. But once she learned community and service were two of Bluffton’s four enduring values (Community, Discovery, Respect, Service), she was hooked.

“I always enjoy helping those in need and giving back,” said Gurley. “When I found out Bluffton emphasizes both community and service, I was sold. I'm from a small town, so I wanted to be at a small campus, but what made Bluffton so special was how the community comes together.”

Gurley found community at Bluffton immediately after moving into her residence hall.

“Some of my favorite memories at Bluffton are from Freshman Welcome Week,” said Gurley. “I will never forget that week. I was able to make friends with people who I still call friends.”

She’s helping others get acclimated to campus, as well. Gurley is involved with Project H.O.M.E and Multicultural Student Organization. Project H.O.M.E. (Hope, Opportunity, Mentorship and Education) matches incoming underrepresented students with upperclassmen who serve as mentors. The pairings meet on a regular basis so that the new students can get better oriented to Bluffton’s campus and the surrounding community. She also serves as a student ambassador and is often found giving tours to prospective students.

In February, she collaborated with Dr. Perry Bush, professor of history, and a fellow student from Lima on a presentation at the Lima Public Library titled, “Calling it Home: The Origins and Development of Lima’s African American Community.”

Now, she’s combining her passion for research with her passion for helping fellow minority students. Gurley is undertaking a research project on college retention of African American students with the hopes to improve graduation rates. While her project focuses on Bluffton specifically, retaining underrepresented students is a national problem in higher education, and her evaluation will analyze other colleges in northwest Ohio, as well.

“My main goal is to help a school that is helping me. I see this as an opportunity to not only improve a university I respect and care about, but I also see this as an opportunity for me to leave a mark on this campus for others to follow,” said Gurley.