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Where Policy Meets Purpose: Cole Osowski

The UAF College of Liberal Arts proudly recognizes Cole Osowski as the 2024–2025 Outstanding Pre-Law Student. A senior majoring in political science, Osowski embodies the curiosity, leadership, and commitment to civic service that define the liberal arts experience. His journey to discovering a passion for law and governance didn’t begin with certainty—but with curiosity, campus engagement, and one eye-opening course.

"My turning point would have been right as I started Constitutional Law," he said. "Up until that point, I had been a political science student, but I wasn't actually 100% certain if I wanted to be a political science major. I was afraid to even declare it."

That fear gave way to clarity. The course, and the deep dive into the legal system and the judiciary, helped solidify his direction. "That’s when I really became interested in the law, the Supreme Court, our court system, our judiciary," he explained. "At that point, I really knew I wanted to be a political science student, and I wanted to eventually end up going to law school."

Osowski didn’t just explore these interests in the classroom. He immersed himself in student leadership, beginning with a spontaneous conversation two weeks into his undergraduate career. "I think I just happened to walk by the ASUAF office, and a senator was just sitting at the computer desk," he recalled. "I struck up a conversation with him, and ever since, I’ve just been involved in student government."

From senator to rules chair to Senate chair and ultimately ASUAF president, Osowski credits student government with transforming how he saw the campus and his own role in it. "Up until joining student government, I had thought of myself as a student and my needs. But once I got involved more, I recognized that there were greater issues on campus that were affecting everyone."

It was a shift from self to service—a lesson he hopes future students will also embrace.

His advice? "Go to your professor’s office hours if you can," he said. "Read the syllabus. Do the work. If you're paying thousands of dollars in tuition, prioritize school whenever you can... education is important. That's why we're all here."

As he prepares for law school in Oregon, Osowski is weighing paths in constitutional law or criminal law. Either way, he sees a future rooted in public service. Currently interning in Juneau through the Ted Stevens Legislative Internship Program, he works firsthand with state legislators to learn the inner workings of policymaking.

"It kind of gives us a greater perspective on government and policymaking," he said. "And it’s definitely opened my perspective to criminal law."

The College of Liberal Arts congratulates Osowski on this well-deserved honor. Through political science, student leadership, and legislative service, he represents the very best of what it means to engage deeply, think critically, and prepare for a future in the public good.