Assunta Forgione received a decidedly dubious honor in her high school yearbook. She was voted the "quietest" in her class.

Upon entering college, she was determined to find her voice.

"I was very shy before I came to Temple, but I always wanted to be the person I've become. No one was going to change me, so I had to do it myself," said Forgione, 22, who attended Montgomery County Community College before transferring to Temple University Ambler. "I decided to jump right in, try to be outgoing and meet more people. I decided to become a leader — something I never thought I would be." 

Temple Student Life was the pool where she decided to prove herself and she waded right into the deep end.

"I've had a lot of great mentors at Temple — Dr. Wanda Lewis-Campbell in Ambler Student Life, Lauren Bullock in Temple's Office of Leadership Development — that simply wouldn't let me climb back into my shell even if I wanted to. As students, I think we get so much out of the opportunity to work with our advisors and mentors," said Forgione, who graduated with a degree in History in December 2014. "I've learned how to communicate — how to speak and market myself in addition to working as a team. These are all skills that are essential to any profession."

While maintaining a stellar 3.89 grade point average, Forgione immersed herself into all aspects of the Temple community, from taking on the presidency of the Ambler Campus Program Board to working in the Ambler Administration office, taking part in the Student Leadership Challenge at Ambler and Main Campuses and participating in the Temple University LeaderShape Institute.

"Becoming president of Program Board was a huge leap for me. I never felt comfortable putting myself out in front like that before, guiding events, projects and programs from start to finish — I didn't even know if I had the skills to do that," she said. "Working collaboratively with students, faculty and staff to achieve common goals while also bridging some of the gaps between students at Ambler and Main campus has been an incredible experience. We've helped each other build pathways toward success."

Forgione also developed the determination to commandeer a ship on the Delaware River…in the nicest way possible…spearheading Program Board's annual semi-formal on the Spirit of Philadelphia, which today welcomes hundreds of students from multiple Temple campuses for an evening of fun and camaraderie in true Cherry and White fashion.

"My entire Temple experience has been eye opening. The classes are challenging and engaging and, of course, student life and student activities at both Ambler and Main Campus have provided me with so many opportunities I wouldn't have otherwise had," she said. "For students, you can feel like it's easier to just focus on getting your degree and getting out, but you miss out on so much if you do. I think if you have the ability, then you have the responsibility to do what you can to help others, and that help can take many different forms, from charity events to just making someone's day a little better. It all adds up, it's all important." 

When Temple University created Hootathon, a dance marathon benefiting Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), in 2013, it was a foregone conclusion that Forgione would be putting on her dancing shoes for the cause each year. Years ago, the doctors at CHOP saved her life.

"I was air-lifted there in a diabetic coma at age 13. They told my parents I probably wasn't going to wake up again. But CHOP refused to give up on me and I surprised everyone by waking up the very next day," she said. "I am forever grateful to the people there and what they do. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The first time I was at CHOP was nine years ago and I still go back for treatments today."

At Hootathon 2014, Forgione shared her own CHOP story and "heard from other Temple Owls who have been treated at CHOP."   

"We are called 'CHOP Saved, Temple Made,' and it was amazing to hear these empowering stories. Too many people go through life without understanding the hardships other people have because they haven't personally experienced it," she said. "Events like Hootathon show people that not everyone can be so lucky, but we can do something to help. It's the best experience I've had at Temple and it's a chance to be part of something bigger than yourself; to make a connection with the university community."

Time and again, Forgione has proven herself to be an excellent ambassador for the Ambler Campus as one of the first people visitors speak to when they set foot on campus in the Ambler Administration Building, a position she'll be keeping through most of 2015. She also served as the Ambler Campus Homecoming Queen in 2012.

"It was so exciting!" she said. "I've never been anything close to homecoming queen before and I got to represent the University my very first semester here!"

Recipient of this year's Normal J. Kaner Award in History, Forgione said her love of history certainly hasn't waned but she believes her true calling is in higher education.

"There is no question that I fell in love with my major within the first two classes I took, but I want to do for other students what Temple has done for me. I truly believe that student life, becoming involved on campus, can change lives," she said. "I want to help other students become leaders and grow into the people they were always meant to be. My parents say how happy they are that I've become so much more independent and willing to take chances. I'd say I'm definitely not quiet anymore!"

Galen Newsum contributed to this report.