A chorus of roaring ambassadors and students chanting, “It’s a great day to be a Mustang” can be heard down Owings Mills Boulevard during the morning of Stevenson’s Accepted Student’s Day. One of the many excited screams is none other than Stevenson’s own Ashlynn Toppin. 

As a student ambassador, Toppin is one of the many cheerful faces that you can find at campus events.  

She was recognized for her involvement in organizing and presenting displays for Stevenson events when she was awarded New Ambassador of the Year for the 2022-2023 academic year. 

Toppin is not just an excellent ambassador; she is also an excellent student.  

Toppin is a sophomore communication studies major with a minor in film and moving image. She is a member of the Stevenson Honors and Leadership Scholars programs, where students are encouraged and required to take leadership roles in campus activities and events.

She goes above and beyond with involvement as the Senator for the SU NaturALLs, Stevenson’s natural hair club, in addition to being a member of both the Sophomore Student Class Council and the Communication Hub. Toppin is also a Resident Assistant in Wooded Way.

“There are so many opportunities to get involved on campus, and I want to fully take advantage of them,” Toppin said. “I think this year I have maybe hit my capacity, but there’s still a yearning inside of me; I want to do so much more.” 

Ashlynn is just as passionate about her family and friends as she is about scholarly achievements. 

Originally from Laurel, Delaware, Ashlynn is one of many students who made the move to make Owings Mills and Stevenson University their home.  

Her immediate family includes her Mom, Dad, and her cat Fluffy.

She is an only child but has a very large extended family who gathers frequently for holidays and celebrations. She loves having the best of both worlds: a small, close-knit circle, all the while having the benefits of a large family.  

She talks to her family and friends from Delaware almost every day. In addition to her friends from back home, at the beginning of her freshman year, she made a core friend group, all of whom continue to regularly hang out whether it’s a day full of adventures or just grabbing a quick bite to eat. 

Having made a number of her friends from being involved in so many activities on campus also allows her to more easily incorporate spending time with them into her schedule as they also participate in the meetings and activities that she regularly attends.  

Toppin’s faith and religion are also important aspects of who she is. Back in Delaware, Ashlynn is a leader in her Church’s praise of worship team. She knew she wanted to find an extension of her Church family on campus.  

Ashlynn wasted no time becoming as involved with the Stevenson Community as she is with her own back home. Just one week after she began her first year at Stevenson, she had already joined the worship-oriented club Campus Crusade for Christ, also known as CRU.

She now holds the title of Vice President within the club, where she can be found leading weekly meetings, posting on their social media, engaging with potential new members, as well as organizing larger scale CRU events. 

Toppin admits there is a struggle to fitting all her activities in the limited time of the week. She has to organize her schedule in a way that allows her to dedicate certain days to the clubs and activities she is a part of in a way that will allow her to give each activity full attention for the dedicated time as she would never want to give less than her all to something she is committed to, all the while always prioritizing her school work.  

“I don’t want to be a part of something and not be fully in it,” Ashlynn explained. “It’s just not who I am. I try to think about things strategically and how much of myself am I willing to put into it.” 

Ashlynn said she has figured out how to deal with the stress of academics and extracurriculars.  

“My boyfriend reminds me to prioritize myself outside of all my activities. He allows me to take a step away. And he gives me love, joy, peace, and motivation when I need it.”