Jessica Kimpell is forging her own way in life.

Tuesday, June 05, 2001

Jessica Kimpell is forging her own way in life.

Her choice is to serve the public.

Now the recipient of a $30,000 Truman scholarship to be used for her last year of undergraduate studies and graduate work.

Kimpell was featured in the St. Paul Pioneer Press in an article detailing her amazing track record toward a career in public service.

The graduate of Bloomington Jefferson High School completed the University of Minnesota honors program, College of Liberal Arts, fourth year, and is a visiting student at Harvard University with a major in political science.

According to the article, she was an intern in the press and speech offices of then-Vice President Al Gore, spent a summer interning for Twin Cities Public Television, served on the board of directors of the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis and the American Cancer Society and written a children’s book.

In order to qualify for a prestigious Truman scholarship, she had to identify a flaw in public policy and suggest a way to fix it. This she had to do to an individual in a position to make change.

Her idea was to institute a voucher system for television advertising for candidates for Congress.

Kimpell is the daughter of former Austin residents Dr. Randy Kimpell and wife Marsha Wilkenson Kimpell. She is a granddaughter of long-time Austin residents Curt and Mildred Wilkenson and the late-Jim and Mariam Kimpell.

The Truman scholarship recipient plans to apply to graduate schools this fall.

Her goal is to work as the White House chief of staff some day.

And, Kimpell told the Pioneer Press reporter, she also wants to carry her idea about a voucher system for television political advertising forward to see it become reality some day.

Call Lee Bonorden at 434-2232 or e-mail him at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com.