Michigan Campus Compact Recognizes UM-Flint Students with Service Award

Four University of Michigan-Flint students have been honored by Michigan Campus Compact for their dedication to community service. Kawshik Ahmed, Priscilla Lawson, Kristin McBride, and Martin Rivera-Salas received the Heart and Soul Award on April 12, 2014.

Kawshik Ahmed was nominated by Quamrul Mazumder, Ph.D. Dr. Mazumder stated, "Kawshik is passionate about technological advances that change the world to make a better place to live. He proactively seeks opportunities to help peer students, community members, and high school students towards success. As an engineering student, he would like to volunteer in his native country, Bangladesh to improve the socio-economic conditions of under-privileged people."

Kristin McBride was nominated by Elizabeth Collardey, Ph.D. Dr. Collardey noted, "Kristin has been a shining star as a student leader and in service to the community. She has been recognized as NASW-Michigan's Social Work Student of the Year because of her advocacy work with Genesee County's Human Trafficking Task Force. Last summer, Kristin successfully wrote a grant that provided 10 rain barrels for Flint's expanding network of community gardens. Kristin has served as the President of Phi Alpha, UM-Flint's chapter of social work's honor society." Winner of the prestigious Maize and Blue Award, Kristin will serve as the UM-Flint student commencement speaker at the May 4, 2014 ceremony.

Priscilla Lewellen is another social work student nominated by Bobbie Schaefer. Ms. Schaefer said, "She is a member of Phi Alpha Honor Society and the Social Work Club and goes above and beyond in both organizations. Priscilla has attended all the volunteer opportunities that the social work club have been involved with, many of which have been outside of the school and in the community. Those volunteer activities have taken time away from her family yet she continues to give back to her community to make it a better place.  She and her husband are youth pastors and she gives to the youth community in so many ways as well. Priscilla has a big heart and gives to many."

Martin Rivera-Salas was nominated by fellow student Kyle Cawood. Martin, a psychology and nursing major, is an active part of the UM-Flint Commitment to service program. He has a wide range of talents that he puts to use for a number of organizations including the nonprofit Centro Multicultural La Familia in Pontiac where he assisted with web development. Martin is engaged in undergraduate research, he serves as president of the Michigan Nursing Students Association, and was recently elected to the National Student Nurses' Association board of directors.

Michigan Campus Compact is a coalition of college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the public purpose of higher education.
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PHOTO: Kristin McBride will be a student speaker at UM-Flint's 2014 Spring Commencement on Sunday, May 4th.