Natalie Kasmarek

Natalie Kasmarek’s nominators – and there were four of them – wrote, “We have been incredibly impressed by Natalie’s extraordinary passion to make a difference in the world through her work, her energetic presence, and her numerous volunteer activities.

“Natalie is continually taking on new challenges and seeking to improve herself and sharpen her skills so that she can give her best to the communities she loves. Her eagerness to learn and be open to doing things she wasn’t expecting embodies a willingness to help others. She is a force of positivity and energy on campus and spreads light and optimism wherever she goes with her generosity of heart.”

Natalie lived on the 4th floor of O'Shaughnessy Hall her first year at Virginia Tech and made wonderful friends who helped her find her ‘why’ for being here. She said, “After COVID, I kind of lost my place. Joining the Student Affairs Advancement team really made me get back into events and helped me find a new place without the safety blanket of my residence hall floor.”

Natalie said the highlight of her experience at Virginia Tech so far was the kick off to her first Big Event. She said, “Getting to see the volunteers lined up waiting to go out with their tools spoke to me in a way that not much else has. Once I joined The Big Event, I found what I was looking for. I accomplished my goal of becoming co-director of The Big Event. I worked very diligently to help my team and felt honored when they picked me and my co-director to serve them in a new way, overseeing all operations, planning, and logistics for the event.”

Natalie said that she sees Ut Prosim as the way of life at Virginia Tech. She said, “To me it means that we aren’t just here for ourselves or our education. We are here for others, not just in the traditional service sense, but also just being there for other people. I try to imbed a small act of service in my life every day. No matter how big or how small, I try to do something for someone every day.”

Natalie is a senior majoring in Mathematics with a minor in Physics and a first-generation student. She is also a member of the Leadership and Social Change Residential College. She plans to continue her education at Virginia Tech, getting her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She said, “I want to teach high school calculus, and I have a guaranteed teaching position in Virginia Beach City Public Schools when I graduate. As someone who wants to pursue a career in education, my passion is trying to help others find their passion. I love to see the light in their eyes when they get to do something they love, or they achieve a goal that they didn’t see themselves achieving.”

It is a pleasure to present the Aspire! Award for EMBRACE UT PROSIM AS A WAY OF LIFE to Natalie Kasmarek.