The Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement is seeking nominations for its Celebration of Service award ceremony to honor Kent State students, faculty, staff and community partners who have committed their time to address community needs during the 2016-2017 academic year.
The event is scheduled for Friday, April 28, from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center. The awards recognize outstanding service, engagement and social justice by members of the Kent State community and express gratitude to community partners for the critical role they play in providing opportunities to engage students.
"The university’s core values emphasize service and living a life of impact," says Amanda Paulus, director of the Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement. "The Celebration of Service recognizes these efforts and showcases the partnerships that have been built across campus and through our community. When you go to a school like Kent State, a campus system with nearly 41,000 students, receiving an award like Volunteer of the Year is an outstanding honor. We want this celebration to be seen as an important accolade and a moment of recognition for those committed to service and active citizenship."
The event, formerly known as the Showcase of Excellence in Action, will feature a keynote speaker from the community and a buffet-style dinner. The award-selection committee will be made up of last year’s award recipients and local community partners.
"Attendees of the event are always blown away by the projects and the students’ impact on our community,” Paulus says. “The spirit of altruism is outstanding. We really want to make sure this event is a celebration of that."
Nominations will be accepted through Friday, March 10, at 5 p.m. The top three nominees in each category will be notified by April 3.
To learn more about the award categories and nominate Kent State students, faculty or staff who have demonstrated service and civic engagement, visit www.kent.edu/oeece/showcase.