Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, '89

A government major in 1988, Bridgetta Bourne-Firl was heavily involved with college politics and once ran as Jerry Covell's running mate in a bid for Student Body Government leadership.

A soft-spoken yet charismatic student and a natural leader, she joined forces with the new SBG president Greg Hlibok and outgoing SBG president Tim Rarus when the protest began.

After receiving her master's from Gallaudet, Bourne-Firl worked as coordinator of professional and community training at the National Academy, and as coordinator for conference management at Gallaudet University's Kellogg Conference Center. A lifelong activist, she received the National Association for the Deaf's "Flying Fingers" award for her work with the Americans with Disabilities Act. She is currently community education coordinator at the California School for the Deaf, where she resides with her family.