2017 President's Civic Engagement Awards

The annual President's Civic Engagement Awards ceremony celebrates students, faculty, staff, and community partners who make a difference in their own world and the world around them. The Nazareth community gathers to share service stories, and honor and celebrate the organizations who help the College serve. Additionally, the awards celebrate the commitments that Nazareth students, faculty and staff make towards leading a civically engaged life.

Nazareth is recognized nationally for its commitment to civic engagement, which has been a pillar of Nazareth education throughout the College’s more than 90 years. A full 97 percent of Nazareth College undergraduates participate in community service while they are students. Nazareth is one of the few schools to have an on-campus Center for Civic Engagement. The Center strengthens student learning through service, service-learning, and other civic engagement activities. Through their involvement, students develop the understanding, commitment, and confidence to lead fully informed and actively engaged lives. The College’s distinctive commitment to civic engagement was recognized at the national level when Nazareth won the following:

• In 2016, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators selected Nazareth for its 2015-2016 NASPA Grand Silver Medal Excellence Award. This award, one of the three highest national NASPA awards, recognized the College for program excellence for its Partners for Learning and Partners for Serving programs, which are part of the Center for Civic Engagement.
• Nazareth College was one of five colleges nationally named as a Presidential Awardee in the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to community service and civic engagement, and was a finalist in 2011, 2014, and 2015. Nazareth College has been named to the honor roll since its inception in 2006.

The 2017 President’s Civic Engagement Award winners:

Community Service Awards for Students

Aubrey Anna Baldauf ‘19, Kelsi Barnholt ‘18, Toni Battista ‘19, Nancy Bauter ‘18, Margaret Beiter ‘19, Katelin Jennie Benini ‘19, Elizabeth Carro ‘17, Ceara Curry ‘18, Brittany Donovan ‘17, Sarah Eneix ‘19, Joshua P. Fess ‘20, Shane A Fuentes ‘18, Marissa Holloway ‘18, Janna Yoebhum Jamso ‘17, Elayna Johnson ‘18, Juliana Joyce ‘19, Chelsea J. Lebeck ‘18, Alexandria Lovejoy ‘19, Cassie Matalavage ‘17, Emily Mroczek ‘18, Caitlyn Paris-Woods ‘19, Brian Rush ‘19, Julie Lynn Steinmetz ‘17, Ahmad Tariq ‘20, Sophie Valenti ‘18, Jenny Wess ‘18

Community Service Awards for Faculty, Staff, and Community Partner

• Faculty: Matthew C. Schoell, Ph.D., assistant professor, program director of clinical laboratory sciences in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
• Staff: Michael Palermo, equipment room coordinator in Athletics
• Staff: Lynne Staropoli Boucher, former chaplain in Center for Spirituality
• Community Partner: Refugees Helping Refugees

Partners for Learning Award

Laura Keech ‘17

Jessica Shackelton Maclay Partners for Serving Award

Andrea Raphael ‘17

Center for Spirituality Award

• Isho Abukar ‘17
• Angela Tona ‘17

Newman Civic Fellowship Award

Alyssa Henry ’18

Service-Learning Champion Awards

• Faculty: Melissa A. Johnson, Ph.D., assistant professor in communication sciences and disorders
• Staff: Linda Crandall, senior department assistant in Career Services
• Community Partner: Olle Jane Z. Sahler, M.D., Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong

Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.

Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.

• published: 2017 May
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