Ashley Pierson, Accounting

Ashley Pierson is only a sophomore, but she has already achieved higher levels of involvement than many students do in four years.

As part of her Business Honors Program service project her freshman year, she decided to volunteer with Junior Achievement, a Tampa nonprofit that helps low-income children reach their potential and teaches them economic principles and planning skills. She enjoyed working with the organization so much that she continued even after completing her service requirement. This fall, she recruited more than 70 students from USF to volunteer for Junior Achievement. Pierson says Junior Achievement opened her eyes to the fact that many children don’t see going to college — or even graduating from high school — as a reality. She says she has seen how three hours of time from a college student can change a child’s life. In addition, Pierson recently served as a site leader for a Bulls Service Break to New Orleans.

Pierson also represents USF as a member of the Green and Gold Guides, giving multiple tours a week to prospective students. She is the main tour guide for high-ability student tours and all College of Business tours. She holds the social chair position in the organization, planning events so guides can get to know each other outside of their tour requirements. Pierson is more than a social butterfly, though; the accounting major and MIS minor has also earned a 4.0 GPA, finding substantial success academically.