Jason Sprinkle is an IUAA Volunteer Leader in our IU LGBTQ+ affiliate group. I interviewed Jason recently and am thrilled to highlight his involvement as an Alumni Volunteer.

The IU alumni body represent thousands of individuals from all walks of life. Our alumni invest their time and resources to help fulfill the IU promise and I am excited to spotlight someone who personifies what it means to be a Hoosier, Jason Sprinkle.

Jason was impacted by IUAA at an early age. As a gay man who grew up in a very small town on the southern border of Indiana, he immediately felt welcomed and supported at IU. Jason got involved with the IU LGBTQ+ Alumni Association after receiving a generous academic scholarship during his undergraduate work and again when he attended the IU McKinney School of Law at IUPUI. He was then encouraged to serve on the board as a student member and has remained involved ever since!

When I asked Jason what he enjoyed the most about volunteering with the Alumni Association, his response was, “the feelings of comradery, community, and commitment that we all share.” The LGBTQ+ Culture Center was one of the first resources he was made aware of as a freshman. Director Doug Bauder and his staff genuinely expressed the importance of student safety and support which made a lasting impact in Jason’s life.

Jason currently serves as the treasurer and philanthropy chair of the IU LGBTQ+ Alumni Association and believes that fundraising for a scholarship as a team is much more rewarding than doing it alone. He is most proud of when the IU LGBTQ+ AA surpassed the one-million dollar threshold for their emergency and academic scholarship fund. Jason knows firsthand how meaningful these scholarships are to students and how hard everyone involved has worked to make this scholarship fund a reality.

This type of volunteer leadership is ingrained in our alumni. When it comes fundraising for the IU LGBTQ+ AA group, they have no plans of slowing down anytime soon!