Senior Spotlight: Makayla Owens

Congratulations to our graduating seniors, and thank you for your work with NeW! We are pleased to spotlight some of our outstanding chapter leaders and members. 

Meet Makayla Owens, President of NeW at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

What were some of your favorite events that you participated in with NeW? 

My favorite events were our self-defense class, Galantine’s Day party, Susan Mantell speaker event in Champaign, and Leadership Retreat in Washington, DC. 

What are your plans after graduation? 

I will be attending Grad School for Speech-Language Pathology. I have four options and am still working on making my decision! 

What advice would you give to a conservative woman starting college? 

Always stay true to your values no matter what. Your true friends will find you and accept you for who you are. I was very hesitant to keep NeW on my resume due to the nature of my field, however, I was accepted into all graduate schools, regardless of my political beliefs. Stay true to yourself and those meant for you will find and appreciate you! 

How has NeW impacted you and prepared you for your next steps? 

NeW has provided me with a voice to change the lives of many individuals. Giving me the courage to stand up for what I believe in and creating a community of women who value me for me, has increased my confidence, enhanced my professionalism skills, and most importantly, NeW has contributed to my many friendships. 

Why is NeW important to you? 

NeW is important to me because I believe as Americans, we have a right to voice our opinions and stand up for what we believe in. College campuses, such as mine, limit our freedom of speech. With a community like NeW, I have been given the resources needed to be a leader, a confident conservative, and a strong and independent woman! With the guidance from the incredible women at NeW, I have been inspired to be a leader, stay true to my values no matter what, and encourage others to do the same. 

The Network of enlightened Women (NeW) provides premier opportunities for young conservative women like Makayla. Learn how to bring a Chapter of NeW to your campus today!