Vetsmany strives to make a difference
ASUI President Nate Fisher said he could describe his second in command, ASUI Vice President Sarah Vetsmany, in just one word — genuine.
Daphne Jackson | Argonaut
ASUI Vice President Sarah Vetsmany helps hang a banner Thursaday evening in the ASUI office.
Fisher, who befriended Vetsmany through their mutual involvement in ASUI, said the University of Idaho senior is not only a capable leader, but also serves as a strong voice for the student senate.
“She stands out daily,” Fisher said. “Sarah is one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. She takes on so much responsibility but regardless of how busy she is, she always makes others feel like she has all the time in the world to talk and to make them feel comfortable.”
Vetsmany, a Boise native, said she was first introduced to UI by her cousin, an alumna, and has been actively involved in campus life ever since.
Although she was originally torn between UI and neighboring Washington State University, a campus visit quickly changed her mind, she said.
“I saw that U of I was home,” Vetsmany said. “It felt like a close knit community and there’s this certain Vandal bug … Our school spirit and the amount of admiration we have for our university cannot be capped, and I think that’s the most beautiful thing about being a Vandal.”
As a political science major with a minor in international studies, Vetsmany said politics has played an integral role in her life and is just a part of who she is.
“I have always enjoyed following American politics,” Vetsmany said. “It’s a realm that I feel I can make a difference in and a place in which I would like to see myself advance professionally in the future.”
Although American politics began as her primary focus, Vetsmany said she became interested in global affairs through UI’s international studies program.
“Through the international studies program and the Model United Nations class I have made some of my best friends and have learned so much about the world, current events and people,” Vetsmany said.
In addition to her passion for politics, Vetsmany said she loves to bake and a dream of hers is to one day compete on the popular TV show, “Cupcake Wars.”
“If money wasn’t a problem, or if I were financially stable, I’d like to open up a cupcake shop and also be a politician,” she said.
Between balancing her love for politics and baking, Vetsmany spearheaded numerous projects through ASUI, including the It’s On Us campaign, a national program that helps put an end to sexual assault. Vetsmany has also served on the Panhellenic Council as recruitment chair and has remained active in the UI Homecoming Committee and Student Alumni Relations Board.
“Sarah is a powerhouse,” Fisher said. “She knows how to get the important things done, and while our terms haven’t completely gone off without a hitch, things have gone remarkably well.”
The recipe for her success, she said, is to make the most of every opportunity.
“Taking every chance you get to make a difference or to be involved will bring you miles,” she said. “That’s what has carried me to my accomplishments … that and just remembering to be mindful of others.”
Vetsmany said at the end of the day her ultimate goal is to make a difference in the world, even if it means helping the life of one individual.
“I feel like everything I’ve worked for here at U of I has been to initiate change and to increase the quality of student life, and I hope I can continue to make a difference throughout my professional life,” she said. “I want to enrich the lives of whoever I’m around, whether it be in politics or in business or even in family life … I hope I can make their lives better, because that makes me happy in turn.”
Corrin Bond can be reached at [email protected]