Jessica Woodward, a sophomore at McLennan Community College, has been selected by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to serve on the Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee. Woodward is the sole student member of the committee and was chosen from among students representing all institutions of higher education in the state who applied to serve on THECB committees.

The Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee provides recommendations to the Coordinating Board regarding undergraduate education in Texas. Woodward will serve a one-year term beginning in June and will travel to Austin three to four times in that year for committee meetings.

"I hope that I will be able to make a difference in our educational system," Woodward said. "Maybe I can give a new student perspective to the committee members on issues that affect us most often."

Woodward submitted her application to serve on the committee in November last year. It included two short essays—one on an issue related to higher education that she was interested in and the other on how she would help fellow college students by serving on a committee. Woodward chose to write her essays on the rising cost of textbooks and how her involvement in student organizations keeps her in touch with the issues most important to college students.

Woodward was nominated to the Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee by Raymund A. Paredes, commissioner of higher education. Her nomination was passed by the Coordinating Board on Jan. 29.

A mother of three and full-time student, Woodward is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Student Government Association, Student Veterans Association and Baptist Student Ministries.

For more information, contact Claudette Jackson at 299-8465 or cjackson@mclennan.edu.

Jessica Woodward