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Nine USM Students Recognized as Citizen Scholars for Community Engagement
By: Christy Kayser
The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) Center for Community Engagement has announced nine new recipients of the Citizen Scholar Award, a recognition for students demonstrating significant involvement in community engagement.
The Citizen Scholars program recognizes undergraduate students who have made significant contributions to their communities by incorporating service and community engagement into their academic experience. Students who earn 100+ service hours, participate in a community-engaged learning experience, and complete a reflective exit interview are eligible to be recognized as Citizen Scholars.
This semester’s nine awardees are: Bailey Davis, business administration major from Sumrall, MS; Avery Dickerson, kinesiology major and child advocacy studies minor from Hattiesburg, MS; Camryn Harris, psychology major from Brandon, MS; Olivia Knight, nursing major from Florence, MS; Genesis Mann, health sciences major from Brandon, MS; Clancy Slay, healthcare marketing major from Quitman, MS; Mary Cate Sliman, speech language pathology major from Gulfport, MS: Joseph Tarver, business administration major from Cleveland, MS, and; Angel Walker, biological sciences major from Hattiesburg, MS.
“The Citizen Scholars program recognizes students who show a deep commitment to service and honors the different ways they contribute to the community as student leaders, scholars, researchers, and future professionals,” said Christy Kayser, director of CCE. “We continue to be impressed with their stellar records and the amazing work they do on campus and in the community.”
Listed here is a summary of each Citizen Scholar’s accomplishments:
Bailey Davis completed more than 197 service hours through volunteer work with Christian Services, Special Olympics, Edwards Street Fellowship Center, and Hope Church. Her community-engaged learning experience was an immersion experience traveling with Mississippi Special Olympics to the 2022 Special Olympics USA games in Orlando, Florida.
Avery Dickerson completed more than 141 service hours through volunteer work with Forrest General Hospital. Avery’s community-engaged learning experience was as the coordinator of It’s on Us Week, an entire week dedicated to raising awareness and preventing sexual assault on college campuses.
Camryn Harris completed 121 service hours through volunteer work with Forrest General Hospital, Jackson Free Clinic, and Aldersgate Mission. Camryn’s community-engaged learning experience was an internship with Forrest General Hospital where she helped to provide support, comfort, and guidance to those in need.
Olivia Knight completed 202 service hours through volunteer work with Florence High School Future Health Professionals, First Baptist Church of Florence, Letters Against Isolation, and Forrest General Hospital. Olivia’s community-engaged learning experience was as coordinator of “Do Good Week” for Delta Gamma, through which students raised awareness for Service for Sight. crafted eyeglass holders, played bingo with retirement home residents, and made dog toys for Southern Piene Animal Shelter.
Genesis Mann completed 318 service hours through volunteer work with Oseola McCarty Youth Development Center, West Point Baptist Church, Boy’s and Girl’s Club, and Growing Patch Daycare. Her community-engaged learning experience was serving as a volunteer recruitment intern with Oseola McCarty Youth Development Center.
Clancy Slay completed 147 service hours through volunteer work with Forrest General Hospital. Clancy’s community-engaged learning experience was as the Make-A-Wish liaison for Chi Omega Sorority through which she organized events that helped raise over $50,000 for the local and national Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Mary Cate Sliman completed 102 service hours through volunteer work with Forrest General Hospital and Hawkins Elementary. Mary Cate’s community-engaged learning experience was an internship at Forrest General Hospital through the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center.
Joseph Tarver completed 101 service hours through volunteer work with Extra Table, USM Student Accessibility Services, and Downtown Hattiesburg Association. Joseph’s community-engaged learning experience was as coordinator of the 15th annual Sigma Phi Chili Cookoff which raised approximately $20,000 to benefit Extra Table.
Angel Walker completed 127 service hours through volunteer work with Forrest General Hospital, USM Student Accessibility Services, and USM Office for Disability Accommodations. Angel’s community-engaged learning experience was an internship with National Cancer Institute where she focused on esophageal health disparities within the state of Mississippi.
More information about the Citizen Scholars program can be found online or questions can be addressed to christy.kayser@usm.edu.
The Center for Community Engagement promotes service and service-learning on The University of Southern Mississippi campus and throughout the Hattiesburg community. To learn more about the CCE at Southern Miss, call 601.266.6467 or visit https://www.usm.edu/center-community-engagement.
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