Hi Hounds! This week on Highlighting Hounds, we are featuring junior Kailey Sova ’26! From the moment she stepped onto campus, Kailey made it her mission to get involved and leave a meaningful mark on the community. As a strong leader and advocate, she quickly immersed herself in campus life—joining clubs, forming impactful connections, and taking on a variety of leadership roles. Her dedication to service and community shines through from her involvement in Best Buddies and the Student Government Association to her work as an admissions ambassador, orientation leader, and resident assistant. Now a business management major with a concentration in healthcare management, Kailey continues to grow as a leader, driven by a desire to help others and inspire future students to find their voice at Assumption. Read more to learn about Kailey’s experience, and what advice she has to offer!
Give a brief overview of your campus involvement and impact on the Assumption community.
Entering Assumption, I knew I wanted to get involved with the Assumption
community. I attended the clubs and activities fair in my first year, and I signed up for a
multitude of clubs that sparked my interest. The first club that stood out to me was
Best Buddies. One of my friends was involved with the program in high school, and she
wanted to join, so I agreed to do it with her. Right away, I knew I had found my passion in
Best Buddies. I have been able to form some incredible friendships and connections.
My first semester, I also joined the ambassador club. I wanted to become a tour guide due to
the influence my tour guide had on me. I began my tour certification process and started
volunteering for events. The next semester, I became an official admissions
ambassador. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be a summer and fall
orientation leader. This experience allowed me to be a resource for incoming students
and share about my time at Assumption. In my sophomore year, I joined the student
government association as a senator. I wanted to get more involved with the club and
advocate for students. I am honored to have served this year as the 2026 class
president and have been reelected for next year. This opportunity has allowed me to
become closer to my classmates, plan fundraisers, and grow my leadership skills. This
year, I have also served as a resident assistant. This experience has allowed me to
expand my communication skills. I am grateful for all Assumption has done for me and
the opportunities I have had.
Can you talk about how your experiences in the Business management program
helped shape your current focus in healthcare management?
As a first-year student, I had no clue where I saw my future. When looking at
colleges, I originally wanted to major in fashion marketing and merchandise. I ended up
changing my mind about ten more times. Coming into Assumption, I decided to focus on
health sciences and planned to transfer into the nursing program. I quickly realized this
was not where I saw my future. I have always had a passion for helping people and saw
myself doing something in the healthcare field. I decided to major in business
management with a concentration in healthcare management. Majoring in management
will provide a multitude of opportunities for careers. This program has been extremely
supportive in helping me grow, learn, and develop new interests. I have been able to
grow my knowledge on management and continue my love for healthcare.
As the marketing director for Best Buddies and soon-to-be co-president, what do
you think has been the key to your success in these leadership roles?
I joined the Best Buddies program at Assumption in my first year of college. The
past two years, I have had the honor of being the marketing director for the program.
This experience has shaped my love for the cause and the members involved. Best
Buddies is a nonprofit organization that focuses on forming friendships and providing
opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Last year, I
was able to meet Amy, an individual with Down syndrome. Right away, she and I formed
a connection. We decided to be one-to-one buddies with each other and planned our
first outing. Amy can communicate with American Sign Language when she is
struggling to communicate. At Assumption, I have completed ASL I and II. These
courses have allowed me to be able to communicate with Amy better. As much as I am
helping Amy, she is helping me. The buddies in the program have made me realize how
incredibly lucky I am. Next year, I have the honor of serving as co-president of the
Assumption Best Buddies Chapter. The members in this club have truly changed my
life; they are the key to my success in the program. They push me to work hard and
remind me that anything is possible. My love for the program has helped me develop
amazing leadership skills.
What did your experiences as an admissions ambassador and peer mentor teach
you about leadership and communication, especially with first-year students?
Working as an admission ambassador and being a part of the
mentor collective program has allowed me to expand my leadership and communication
skills. As an admissions ambassador, I work in the admissions house answering
phones, greeting families, helping with big events, and giving tours to prospective
students and their families. This has allowed me to expand my knowledge on
Assumption and the opportunities the school has to offer, become close with staff and
faculty, and grow my interpersonal skills. As a tour guide, you are the first face families
see, and the main goal is to sell the school. This experience has allowed me to
communicate with all different types of people. I have learned how to put a smile on my
face even when I am in a bad mood. If I could take anything away from this experience, it
is knowing that I was able to connect with a prospective student. As a peer-mentor, you are
assigned a group of incoming first-year students based on similar interests. This has been
rewarding and challenging at times. I have been able to be a resource and support
system to students. These experiences have taught me to be more open about myself
and my experiences, taught me how to communicate with all types of people, and how to
be adaptable.
What inspired you to become so involved, and how did you obtain these positions?
Two of my biggest role models are my siblings. They are both successful and
never fail to be themselves. Throughout their experiences in highschool, college, and
work life they have been so involved. I wanted to get involved to be like them. I wanted
to prove to myself and my family that I could do anything I put my mind to. I have made
many mistakes and taken many falls, but I always had my family cheering me on. I have
been able to obtain these leadership positions by taking risks and being honest. I
believe the biggest thing is admitting you are not perfect. I am a very passionate and
determined individual. I wanted to make my mark at Assumption.
What are your career goals? How will your experiences help you reach those goals?
My career goals involve helping people and being able to make a difference. I
see myself working in a children’s hospital as an administrator. This would include the
day-to-day operations, managing staff and patient care, and making sure everything runs efficiently.
I would love to work with children because I have a lot of experience working with them
in the past. I also want to be able to teach them valuable lessons and be a positive
influence. My experience will help me achieve goals by providing me with lifelong skills.
I have learned how to be flexible, get along with all types of people, and work in a team.
My education at Assumption has provided me with the knowledge to succeed in a
career as well.
As a member of the Student Government Association, you mentioned running for
president and increasing your class’s fundraising efforts. Can you share more
about the strategies you used to double the profit raised, and what you’re most
proud of in this role?
I have had the honor of being the class of 2026 president. The main purpose of
this role is to fundraise, plan the senior class gift, and plan senior week. Along with that,
it is to advocate for my class and be the middleman between the faculty and to students. This past
year, we have been successful in multiple fundraisers. Some of the events from this
year include a family weekend fundraiser, the annual holiday bazaar, the selling of
Assumption ornaments, a St. Patrick’s Day hat sale, and a “Pie it Forward’ fundraiser. In
order for these fundraisers to be successful, the most important step is planning. I have
been able to work with a team of students and an advisor to help me plan these events.
Planning for each fundraiser may look different, but it always includes steps like logistics,
reaching out to different groups or companies, calculating profit and success, and
marketing. The main strategy I have used to succeed in this role is being honest. I have
communicated with my team and worked to keep my classmates up to date on
information. As a leader, it is okay to ask for advice and help. I go out of my way to put a
smile on my face and make myself known as a friend and a leader. The main strategy
that has been used to help double profits has been marketing. The Instagram account is
very active and highlights important events. I send out monthly emails to keep everyone
up to date. When an event is approaching, we make flyers to post on Instagram, put
around campus, and hand out to students. I am extremely thankful for the members of
my class entrusting me with this position. I am very proud of the success I have had in this
role and look forward to seeing what next year has in store.
What are your key takeaways from your experience?
One of the biggest things I gained from serving as class president is the importance of
collaboration and communication. Leadership is not about doing everything alone, but
learning to bring people together. This role has taught me how important adaptability is.
You never know what may happen, and you need to be flexible for every situation. The
biggest takeaway is authenticity. People value the true version of you.
Will you continue your education? If so, what are the key factors that will
influence your decision on where to continue your education?
At this point, I do not plan on continuing my education. I feel ready and confident to
begin working after graduation.
Looking back on your time at Assumption, what would you say is the most
rewarding aspect of your involvement in student leadership? How has it
influenced your personal and professional growth?
Looking back at my time at Assumption, I believe I have had many rewarding
aspects of my involvement in student leadership. One main aspect is the connections I
have been able to make. I have found my closest friends from the clubs and activities I
have been involved with. If it were not for these experiences, I may have never met
some of these people. The biggest aspect for me from student leadership has been my
own personal growth. I have been able to mature incredibly since starting college. These
opportunities have shaped me into the person I am today. On a professional level, I
have had hands-on experience that I will be able to carry with me. On a personal level, I
have realized my passion and learned I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your
leadership roles, or any lessons you wish you had learned sooner?
Every experience I had has come with lessons, even the most successful. I wish I
learned early to be myself and not do things for others’ approval. My experiences have shaped
me to be the person I am today.
If you are interested in being featured on Highlighting Hounds or know of any students who would be a strong candidate, please email us at careerdevelopment@assumption.edu!
