According to Yahoo! News, Birgen Hartman has a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism. Prior to attending the University of St. Thomas, she’d graduated from Edina High School in 2010 and was even once a teen trendsetter at the Mall of America. Each of the members of the mall’s “Trend Board” put together looks that represented what they saw as in style for the 2009 prom (via the StarTribune). Birgen, who wasn’t even old enough to go to her high school’s prom at the time, told the paper she was hoping to go with a senior (as only seniors attend prom at Edina H.S.). On the topic of prom style, she told the StarTribune, “One-shoulder dresses. I think they look very elegant and flattering on almost everyone. Also, no one should be color-shy. Bold is beautiful.”
In addition to her studies and an interest in fashion, take one glimpse at Birgen’s Instagram feed, and you’ll know right away that social issues and animals are important to her. That’s no coincidence. Per Yahoo! News, she has spent a lot of time volunteering for important causes, having done time as a staff volunteer with an organization called Caring for Cats. Birgen is also an advocate for Erin’s Law, which is dedicated to protecting children from sexual abuse through prevention at the public school level. She has even gotten her Consent Culture Educator certification through SafeBAE, which works to end sexual assault and harassment among teens.
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
