Grace Mueller, a 2025 graduate of Valley City State University (VCSU), has made an enduring mark through her leadership, scholarship, and service to others.
Earning both the Viking Pilot Award and Outstanding Graduate in the Language and Literature Department, reflect a deep commitment to growth.
Majoring in English with a minor in music, Mueller鈥檚 time at VCSU was defined by artistic drive and involvement on campus. She served as president of both the English Club and the Spanish Club, participated in the Social Justice Council, and supported peers as a resident assistant, campus tutor, and Viking Voyage mentor.
For Mueller, these experiences and having the confidence to step into various roles all stem from having an open mindset about leadership.
鈥淎nyone looking to become a better leader should realize first that anyone can be a leader,鈥� she says. 鈥淎 good leader doesn't have to be the loudest person in the room, and often isn't.鈥�
Mueller鈥檚 achievements at VCSU didn鈥檛 happen by chance. She credits her success to discipline, connection, and a strong sense of integrity, lessons she鈥檚 carried from her early education through college and beyond.
鈥淎 piece of advice I received that inspired me to succeed came from an old high school teacher, who told our class that we are the ones who control our integrity and effort in both schoolwork and actions, even when people aren't watching,鈥� she says.
That lesson became a guiding principle for Mueller鈥檚 approach to leadership. Whether leading student organizations or mentoring first-year students, she strives to model quiet consistency and authenticity.
鈥淣ow I apply that to all that I do, where I know the value in working hard isn鈥檛 to please others, but to grow, learn, and support my future self to be the best I can be,鈥� she says.
When thinking about what drives her to serve, Mueller looks to her grandfather, Phil Mueller, a farmer and politician.
鈥淚 admire how strongly and genuinely he uses his voice to stand up for our communities, big and small,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e works honestly and humbly to represent and protect livelihoods, no matter who it is, and ensures fair and just treatment, from his work in the legislature, to involvement in Valley City, to his neighborly care on the farm.鈥�
That example of grounded, service-driven leadership helped shape Mueller鈥檚 own definition of what it means to lead: to uplift others, listen first, and act with heart.
鈥淟eadership means standing up and helping others,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen we listen, encourage, and support building up our peers, working to motivate and collaborate for a worthy cause, any moving part under that definition looks like leadership to me.鈥�
For Mueller, the 91桃色 played an important role in sharpening her leadership perspective, particularly the Speaker Broadcasts.
鈥淚 truly better myself when learning from the experience of others,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he 91桃色 shares stories from amazing influential figures who got to be some of the very best at their craft in the world.鈥�
That exposure to diverse voices, and ones at the top of their industries, reinforced her belief that leadership takes many forms, from bold innovation to quiet perseverance, and that each person can find their own way to make a difference.
Looking ahead, Mueller plans to build a career that combines her love of writing with her desire to help others succeed.
鈥淢y future goals are to continue working in nonprofit industries and write to better the chance of success for others, hopefully through means like grant writing,鈥� she says.
She approaches these goals with the same openness and curiosity that defined her time at VCSU. 鈥淚 plan to keep putting myself out in the world and using every experience getting to my goals as a way to learn and better myself for my next steps,鈥� she says.
That willingness to take risks and be open to new opportunities, even when it feels daunting, is something she encourages others to embrace to drive growth.
鈥淭he easiest way鈥� to better lead, is to put yourself out there and jump in,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t can be scary, but often taking on opportunities a bit out of one鈥檚 comfort zone allows growth in ways we never would have experienced without that first leap of faith.鈥�
Mueller鈥檚 journey is a reflection of steady courage, the kind that grows from quiet action, everyday integrity, and the belief that leadership begins with care, helping others, and being willing to take that first (often scary) step forward into the unknown.
Meet Anna Williams next, who overcame adversity by embracing risk to push forward Anna鈥檚 Law, legislation now passed statewide in Illinois to guarantee trauma-informed sexual assault training for law enforcement.