One Hope-One Dream Award

Erin Riegle, Class of 2008, discovered early in life the joy of caring for others and the power of service. At Hoban, she was active in athletics, including basketball, track and field, and cross country. She engaged in clubs and experiences such as Spanish Club and Kairos Retreat, and she spent time as a Student Ambassador. At Hoban, the plethora of volunteer and service opportunities offered opened her eyes to the needs of others, sparking a lifelong commitment to serve with compassion and advocacy. It was here at Hoban that she began to understand that every individual carries a story and the importance of offering understanding and grace.

After graduating, Erin pursued her passion for science and service at Walsh University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012. She began her career in the Medical ICU at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus and then spent nearly a decade as a travel nurse, providing critical care in hospitals across the country. Throughout her work in ICUs across the US, she advocated for patients and families, ensuring they were informed, supported and heard—an approach rooted in her early volunteer experiences at Hoban.

Her commitment to service has since extended far beyond her nursing career. While volunteering at an orphanage in Kenya, Erin was moved to act on behalf of children living in poverty. That calling led to the founding of Linc Worldwide, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the education and well-being of orphaned and impoverished children. What began as a small Facebook fundraiser in 2012 has grown into a thriving organization. 

In January 2025, Linc Worldwide completed construction of the Awasi Education Centre in Kenya, opening its doors to 61 students from preschool through second grade. Today, 101 students are sponsored through Linc Worldwide - receiving uniforms, meals, clean water, medical care and a strong education. 

Erin continues to advocate for others and expand Linc Worldwide’s mission, with plans to dig a well and install solar-powered pumps for a clean and sustainable water source, while also expanding the school through Grade 9. Through LINC, Erin’s team has provided jobs to more than 200 individuals in Kenya and built a team committed to listening to community members, respecting local culture and empowering children to shape their own futures. She believes education is one of the most powerful pathways out of poverty. When children recognize the value of education and are given a clear opportunity to pursue it, they gain the confidence to direct their own lives.

Through her work as a nurse and nonprofit leader, Erin has learned the importance of humility and collaboration. She has learned that no one can do everything alone, and that meaningful change happens when diverse gifts and talents come together in service of others. She has witnessed this diverse collaboration within the Hoban community throughout her journey with LINC—Hoban alumni like Phil Maynard, Dave Showers and Cathy Reeves each helped her learn new business and fundraising skills to help reach her goals. Even students in the room have helped support LINC by sponsoring two students’ educations through the Women of Hoban.  Her guidance, inspired by her faith, mentors, and the Hoban community, demonstrates a life lived in the spirit of Zeal, Option for the Poor and Cultivation of Heart and Mind.

When asked what advice she would offer students who feel called to serve, Erin emphasized that no one is ever too young to make a difference and that it isn't necessary to have all the answers to begin. She encourages students to spend time in prayer, listen for God’s guidance, ask questions and build relationships with those who are already doing meaningful work. Above all, she reminds them to lean on the strength of the Hoban community and trust that when a call is inspired by God, the path will unfold one step at a time.

Through Linc Worldwide and her nursing career, Erin embodies the vision of the One Hope–One Dream Award. She has answered the call to serve, to lead, and to advocate for those without a voice. By nurturing the minds, hearts and futures of children in Kenya and demonstrating compassion and care at every stage of life, she brings hope to communities across the globe.  

Jasmine Walker ’15
Jasmine Walker, Class of 2015, lives a life of service rooted in faith, justice and hope for others. Guided by the Holy Cross values instilled during her time at Hoban, she has dedicated her career to addressing environmental inequities and ensuring underserved communities have access to safe, healthy and sustainable living conditions.

Inspired by the needs she witnessed while growing up in Akron, Jasmine developed an early appreciation for the environment and a strong desire to help others. Her father taught her to fish, and her mother’s work as a social worker opened her eyes to the connection between science and service at a young age. Those early experiences sparked questions that would shape her life’s work to understand who is most impacted by environmental harm and how systems can be transformed to better serve those communities.

While at Hoban, Jasmine was an engaged student involved in Science Club, Art Club and Spanish Club. She served on Student Council, and worked as an office aide. She credits Hoban educators for helping her discover her voice and purpose by allowing her the freedom to think critically, ask questions and explore diverse perspectives. Her passion for environmental justice was ignited in the classroom, particularly in her environmental science and biology courses, taught by Mrs. Bates and Mrs. Mohan. During those classes, she learned to examine issues of extinction, pollution and resource depletion through both scientific and humanitarian lenses.

After graduating from Hoban, Jasmine attended Central State University, Ohio’s only public Historically Black College and University (HBCU), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering. Through internships at Ohio State University, the Kellogg Company and Montgomery County Environmental Services, she gained hands-on experience addressing complex environmental challenges and exploring the various paths within the environmental engineering field. She later earned a master’s degree in environment and natural resources from Ohio State University, where her research focused on environmental justice and access to green spaces, clean water and healthy environments for marginalized communities.

Jasmine began her professional career in engineering consulting and urban planning, where she worked with cities and organizations to improve policies and practices related to environmental equity. She also returned to Central State as an instructor, teaching undergraduate courses in water resources management. 

Today, Jasmine serves as a Community Resilience Manager with Impact Community Action in Columbus. In this role, she helps families access energy-efficient appliances, weatherize their homes and reduce financial strain, while working toward the creation of one of the nation’s first net-zero neighborhoods, led by and serving African American residents. Through her work, she has learned a fundamental truth—you never know what challenges someone may be facing, and offering patience, understanding and grace can make all the difference in restoring dignity and hope.

As a Black woman in the STEM field, Jasmine has often been the minority. In consulting firms and engineering spaces, she was frequently the only woman and the only Black professional in the room. These experiences taught her the importance of advocating for herself, building relationships and creating opportunities not only for herself but for others. Navigating a field with silos, high stakes and systemic barriers requires patience, resilience and persistence. Jasmine has learned to embrace both success and failure as part of the process, using each challenge to strengthen her commitment to environmental justice and community advocacy. Through her determination, she continues to open doors for others and lead by example in a space where representation and voice matter deeply.

Throughout her career, Jasmine has been recognized for her leadership and impact, including being named a COSI STEAM Star, a Young Black Climate Leaders Seed Grant recipient, and a Who’s Who in Black Columbus honoree. One of the most exciting and meaningful moments of her career came when she was featured on PBS’s Engineering Your Future, an opportunity that allowed her to share her passion for environmental justice and inspire students and young professionals pursuing careers in STEM.

Grounded in zeal and guided by a belief that advocacy is an act of service, Jasmine lives out the conviction that faith is made visible through action. By serving others with compassion and dedication, she turns hope into reality for those who need it most.