Kiwanis Student of the Month May 2023: Jazzie Gonzales

FHS senior Jazzie Gonzales has been a driven and hard-working member of the Golden Eagles community for years. She’s taken on multiple significant leadership roles – Jazzie is both the Senior Class President this year, as well as one of two student representatives on the Ferndale School Board.

For her work on the Board, Jazzie attends every regular monthly meeting and provides a student perspective on district discussions. Earlier this school year, she and fellow student representative Kwabena Ledbetter successfully advocated to create a student advisory vote – this means before the Board votes on a matter, the students can state their stance on the issue.

“I am proud of being a part of ASB and being on the school board,” she said.

Jazzie has also participated in numerous extracurriculars beyond leadership at FHS, including soccer, wrestling, choir, and chess. She also has a near-full-time position as a line cook at Bob’s Burger and Brew, and spent part of her high school years volunteering at the Louisa Place assisted living community.

Jazzie said she felt the most important issue facing the community is child hunger. She hopes to eventually work with schools to send out meal kits, given to students in need on weekends or school holidays.

After graduating in June, Jazzie plans to attend Whatcom Community College to study early childhood education. Eventually, she hopes to become a Jump Start preschool teacher.

Jazzie said the most influential person in her life is her older sister, who took care of two kids while attending nursing school.

“She is one of the only people in my life to believe in me, and she showed true determination,” Jazzie said of her sister.