As far a campus engagement goes, Quincy Elliott has already accomplished more in one year of college than many students do in four.
The senator in Transylvania University’s Student Government Association has organized a cafeteria forum, helped get equipment installed in the game room, addressed outdoor lighting and disseminated info for the school health clinic.
And he seems like he’s just warming up.
“When I first got to college, I knew I wanted to be involved in a lot of stuff,” Elliott said. “I never like to not be busy.”
He was recently elected to serve as chief of staff next school year for SGA, which is a liaison between students, faculty and administration — and an organization that teaches its members leadership skills that will serve them well in their careers.
Elliott, who’s majoring in political science along with education and social change, plans to earn his master’s of education degree, teach for a few years and then work for the U.S. Department of Education to help improve public schools.
He currently does community outreach and is the service chair for the Kentucky Education Association Aspiring Educator program — he has also completed 50 hours of service for his Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and is a member of TUnity. Additionally, Elliott is creating a Puzzle Club, and down the road he’s looking to keep building relationships between dining services and students and work on diversity, equity and inclusion scholarships. (He has a job, too.)
As someone who wants to be the best person he can while getting the most out of college life, Elliott has advice for the incoming Class of 2028: “Get involved. Go outside your comfort zone a little bit. You’d be surprised at what you would fall in love with.”
Check out how Transylvania students have plenty of opportunities to make a mark during their time on campus.
Part of Elliott’s desire to get involved stems from his small-town roots in Grayson, Kentucky — the kind of place where everyone pretty much knows everyone else. He’s the kind of person who waves when he passes you.
At Transylvania, he’s found that niche like the one he grew with — but with expanded opportunities from being Lexington. “It’s a big city life, but at Transy it’s that small community that you can rely on,” Elliott said. “It’s just absolutely awesome to be a part of.”