College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University

At her best

Political science major Angela Groh named among Glamour magazine's top 10 college women.
One year.

That's how long it took for Angela Groh to be named one of Glamour magazine's Top Ten College Women – from the moment her friends encouraged her to apply to the day the senior political science major rushed through the Salt Lake City Airport to grab the October issue of the magazine at an airport bookstore.

Groh's race to the honor, however, has been a lifelong journey.

"I do my best even when no one's watching. That's something my dad told me when I was young," she said. "I always give 212 percent to try to make a difference."

She gives 212% as a student - as the president of the Government of the Student Body (GSB) - and in the many projects she has initiated. Glamour chose 10 different themes for the honorees. Groh says she was selected because of her "political victories."

"I have a lot of background on educational policy. I look to promote change in that area," she said.

In high school, Groh led an initiative to mandate that the Iowa Board of Education include a high school member. She helped draft the legislation, lobbied Iowa's elected officials, and was in the governor's office when the bill was signed into law.

"I thought it was important that the group that oversaw the education of young Iowans should have a student representative," she said. "I felt this was something that needed to be changed."

With that goal accomplished Groh has moved on to other projects, like her effort to get senior citizens working on computers. "T.A.P. into the Future" (Technology Access Partnerships) works to increase the comfort and competency levels of individuals, particularly senior citizens, with the world's ever-changing technology.

For four years, Groh and fellow ISU student Jenny Martin wrote a curriculum for T.A.P. workshops. These workshops are conducted by teenagers across the nation. During the workshop each senior citizen is partnered with a teen trainer for more individualized and specialized instruction.

"I know this program is really good," Groh said. "It's really making a difference in communities and I'm proud to know that I had a small piece in making it a reality."

Just as she made the ISU Ambassador Program, a GSB initiative, a reality.

This is another Groh-spearheaded project where Iowa State students work with their local legislators and hometown media outlets to bring college student issues to the forefront.

Like T.A.P, the ISU Ambassador Program is moving national. Representatives from Nebraska, Kansas, UNI and the University of Iowa each want to start similar programs at their institutions.

"Legislators say more students are now engaged in the political process," Groh said. "This is a great start in our effort to get students' voices heard."

But it's not just other colleges that have taken notice of Groh's efforts.

"Other organizations are seeking to join us on lobbying campaigns," she said. "I doubt if we will take them up on the offer because we don't want to adversely affect our efforts. But it's a good sign that external groups find the initiative productive."

Despite all her accomplishments, Groh says she was surprised when selected by Glamour for the award. That surprise turned into what she called "a humbling experience" when she met the other nine honorees.

"Wow! These were amazing women. Each of us was so different - they all had amazing stories to tell," she said.

"I had to wonder why I was part of this group."

After learning about and meeting Angela Groh, the other nine recipients were probably wondering how they got so lucky to be honored with her.