Nominations open for 2021 Community Engagement Awards
Nominations open for 2021 Community Engagement Awards
Each year, the Utah State University Center for Community Engagement (CCE) recognizes the work of those who exemplify mutually beneficial partnerships between USU and the greater community through the Community Engagement Awards. This year, awards consist of two esteemed recognitions: the Presidential Awards and Ivory Prize for Excellence in Community Engagement. Nominations/applications for both awards are open until April 2.
“It’s important to recognize those individuals within the USU community who go above and beyond to apply their work or their degree to the greater good in meaningful and impactful ways,” said CCE Associate Director Kate Stephens.
The Presidential Awards recognize the work of outstanding faculty, staff, students and community partners that exemplifies collaboration between USU and the greater community for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The award is broken into five separate categories:
- Community-Engaged Faculty
- Community-Engaged Staff
- Community-Engaged Student
- Community-Engaged Alumnus
- Committed Community Partner
The Presidential Awards recipients are nominated by their peers. To nominate a peer for a Presidential Award, visit www.usu.edu/community-engagement/awards/presidential-award.
The Ivory Prize recognizes extraordinary, influential student accomplishments and leadership in community engagement. Established by Clark and Christine Ivory and the Ivory Foundation and awarded by the CCE and the USU Advancement Office, the prize includes a $2,000 scholarship for the recipient or each co-recipient and an additional $10,000 to be invested in the community program or efforts developed by the student(s).
“Students who are working collaboratively with community partners to address critical needs in the community can apply for the Ivory Prize for Excellence in Community Engagement,” Stephens said. “The award is given to a student project that is responsive to community-identified needs.”
The Ivory Prize from 2020 was awarded to Kara Bachman and Amria Farnsworth, both juniors in USU’s Dietetics program. The duo created the Gleaning Team, which recruited over 300 volunteers in its first year and gleaned 15,000 pounds of fruit which was donated to the SNAC pantry and the Cache Food Pantry. Prize money from the Ivory Award helped them expand their program even further.
“The $10,000 they received from the Ivory Prize enabled them to rent a truck, purchase more crates and ladders, and hire a full-time AmeriCorps member to coordinate volunteers and work with landowners,” Stephens said. “The Ivory Prize made the USU Gleaning Team an established program that is now a critical piece of fighting food security both on campus and in the Cache Valley community.”
Students wishing to enter themselves into the running for the Ivory Prize can fill out an application at www.usu.edu/community-engagement/awards/ivory-prize.
For more information on the USU Community Engagement Awards and to nominate a peer for the Presidential Awards or to submit an application for the Ivory Award, visit usu.edu/community-engagement/awards.
