The West Virginia University Center for Civic Engagement has announced this year’s winners of the Excellence in Civic Engagement Awards.

On April 25, during the Center for Civic Engagement’s annual Engagement Celebration, exemplary representatives of each category for the Excellence in Civic Engagement Awards were recognized. The award presentation took place as part of the eighth-annual Week of Engagement.

The awards, which were created in 2009, are dedicated to recognizing the most active and civically engaged among us at WVU. For 2013, the award categories included student excellence, faculty excellence and community partner excellence. Each recipient has to have shown a strong commitment to civic engagement and service throughout the 2012-13 academic year.

“This group of recipients represents the very best of WVU and our community,” said Dr. Kristi Wood-Turner, director of the Center for Civic Engagement. “Their hard work and accomplishments speak for themselves, and we are proud to recognize each of them with these awards.”

The 2013 Excellence in Civic Engagement Award Recipients are as follows:

Dr. Elizabeth Oppe – Faculty Excellence
Oppe is an assistant professor in the PI Reed School of Journalism who is dedicated to service-learning and civic engagement outside the classroom. Oppe has taught one of the service-learning courses most popular with Center for Civic Engagement community partners for several semesters, PR 324 Public Relations Writing and Application. The students and community members learn together through the foundation of reflection and understanding Dr. Oppe provides in the classroom. Her contagious excitement for her field and the pedagogy of service learning had made her a top advocate on campus.

Arnold Hall – Student Excellence
It was very clear this year that the award for student excellence could not be just one student. Arnold Hall, under the leadership of Resident Hall Coordinator Amy Skeens-Gessler, has be a powerhouse of service this year. The hall has designed events, provided promotion for events and has attended many events as volunteers. The students have worked in and out of town with partners like the Mountaineer Boys and Girls Club and Old Hemlock. The students in this hall have provided more than 5,000 hours of service to our community.

Sundale Nursing Home – Community Partner Excellence
Led by Marketing Director Donna Tennant, Sundale Nursing Home is a dynamic and willing partner with WVU when it comes to providing innovative ways for students to get involved. Donna and Diane Kissinger, activities directors, have helped make it one of our longest-serving community partners. Hundreds of students have been able to learn and serve with the residents there throughout the years. Sundale is poised and ready at any time to provide experiences that keep our students learning and coming back. We are proud to recognize them for the continuous dedication this year.

-WVU-

am/04/30/13

CONTACT: Alexis McMillen, Center for Civic Engagement
304-293-8344, Alexis.McMillen@mail.wvu.edu

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