Volunteer Highlight — Cathleen O'Higgins
Volunteer: Cathleen O’Higgins
Volunteering Since: 2018
Site: Jamestown, ND
Meet Cathleen O’Higgins!
Cathleen is our Site Director at our BIO Girls site in Jamestown, ND. Cathleen is determined to see a bright future for her community. She has a passion and a drive to leave each place better than she found it. She isn’t afraid of a challenge and exemplifies what it means to be an adult BIO Girl. We are so grateful for all she does for the BIO Girls mission.
“Cathleen has amazing passion and drive to make BIO Girls a possibility for so many girls in Jamestown. She is always trying new ways to keep the program successful, holding two seasons in one year (during a pandemic, rockstar!) and giving it her all to work toward holding a new program type, cross-training, to help make the program more appealing to all those non-runners. It is always fun to get a call from Cathleen and I am so thankful for her drive to strive to be better!”
— Angie Will, BIO Girls Programming Team
We asked Cathleen a few questions about her involvement with BIO Girls:
What do you do for work?
“I am the health, safety, and environmental coordinator for the Dakota Spirit location of Midwest AgEnergy. We manufacture ethanol, corn oil, and distillers grains and I manage regulatory compliance.”
What drew you to become involved with BIO Girls?
“I was yearning to get involved with something great, an organization that really made a difference, and after my first season volunteering with BIO Girls, there was no looking back.”
Do you have any hidden talents?
“I’ve got a mean flapjack flip.”
Name one-way BIO Girls has impacted you personally?
“You become so invested in the girls’ journeys through the 12 weeks. And when you see girls come back you get invested in their growth. It makes you not want to stop volunteering when you see the curriculum work.”
What do you think girls would be missing without BIO Girls?
“Without BIO Girls, girls would be missing an opportunity to be challenged to think outside the box when it comes to the four pillars of our program.”
Do you have a vivid memory or story that stands out to you from your time volunteering?
“In 2020, we had one girl who walked the course for our showcase fun run. She was the last to cross the finish line and as she got close, the entire group of BIO Girls ran out to her and they crossed the finish line with her. There were a lot of happy tears.”
What is one piece of advice you would tell your younger self?
“God points you in a direction and it’s meaningful. You never know when you will recognize the significance.”
Why is mentorship important?
“Simply put, you don’t know what you don’t know. There’s always someone that knows a little more.”
Cathleen —
The BIO Girls team, the participants you have made an impact on, and the Jamestown community sincerely thank you.
TAKE ACTION.
Ready to get involved?
View our Get Involved page for opportunities.
Need more information?
Register for our next Virtual Lunch and Learn to get a program overview and Q&A.