Hailey Davis Heads up the Student Activities Board with a Posture of Hospitality

It started when she was six years old. Young Hailey Davis would invite her friends over for sleepovers, carefully planning what they would eat and what games they would play so that everyone could have fun. As she grew older, her sleepover planning turned into party planning; and her party planning turned into full-blown event planning. 

That’s when she realized hospitality was her thing.

Now, Davis is a successful third-year student in the Business Administration program at Grace College. And she’s still showing hospitality in creative and powerful ways. Kearstin Criswell, Director of Student Involvement, sought out Davis in her first year and recommended her for the Student Activities Board (SAB). After becoming a part of the team last year, she was promoted to coordinator and has been leading the board in planning college activities ever since.

“Hailey shines most when it comes to getting all of the last minute ducks in a row for an event and being thorough to gather everything,” Criswell said.

And her co-workers agree. 

“From the first week we started working Hailey has been very intentional about getting to know our team,” said David Mullen, a student on the SAB team “She’s done a great job supporting us and making the job fun.”

Davis plans the majority of student activities and events on campus. And when it comes to collaborating with her team to create spaces for Grace students to connect — she is a powerhouse. But the job certainly doesn’t come without its fair share of challenges. The team has been forced to get creative as they incorporate COVID guidelines into everything they plan, but that hasn’t stopped them.

“On campus right now, we’re in a difficult season,” Davis said. “By providing opportunities for students to interact, we create an opportunity for them to get out of their rooms and worship God in a unique way.”

The job has also afforded Davis unique opportunities to marry her passion for diversity with her knack for hospitality. This combination has resulted in some powerful outcomes. One way she has put this into practice is partnering with the Black Student Association to create an event called Music and Madness. This was a night of karaoke, Minute to Win It games, and culturally diverse music and prizes.

“The purpose of the event was to get minority students and white students in the same room to get to know each other and have a good time,” Davis explained. “We wanted to provide a space where all students felt seen and could be comfortable.”

As Davis pours her talents into serving the people of Grace, she is empowered by those around her.

“I’ve had a tough few years, but everyone at Grace has been so supportive,” she said. “I’ve met some amazing people that will probably be my friends for life.”

At Grace, Davis found a place where she can live out her greatest passions, step into her God-given strengths, and show up fully in the leadership roles she fills. 

This is the way of Grace. 

Is hospitality your strength? Learn more about Grace’s Student Activities Board! It may be the start to the career in event planning you’ve always wanted.