The Community Impact Award will be given annually to the Meredith student who has exhibited an exemplary level of dedication to civic engagement and who has had a deep and lasting impact on Meredith College and the community. She will have strongly embraced Meredith's mission of global citizenship and service to others. This student will consistently have been a voice for community action in the classroom, in campus organizations, and in her world.

Criteria

Nominees will be judged based on the following:

• Outstanding personal commitment, or a student's long-term dedication to community action issues during her time at Meredith College. Nominations should speak to her ability and courage to inspire and challenge others, as well as her willingness to give the time and energy necessary to see projects realized.
• Community Impact, or evidence that the civic engagement project(s) created and/or implemented by this student addresses real community needs, while positively affecting the Meredith campus. Nominations will be judged in terms of how effectively a student's contribution to the wider community reflects Meredith College's mission to develop in students the desire "to lead responsible lives of work, citizenship, leisure, learning, and service."

Application Process

The Office of Volunteer Services and the Service-Learning Advisory Committee will determine the recipient of this award. They will call for nominations of eligible students from faculty and staff who have a vested interest in civic engagement at Meredith College. This group may include, but is not limited to, the Dean of Students, the Dean of Special Academic Programs, Service-Learning faculty, faculty advisors for related campus organizations, and Volunteer Services staff members. Nominators will be asked to complete a nomination form and a letter of recommendation. Once the nomination form and letter have been received, a form will be sent to each nominated student on which she will be asked to describe her civic engagement activities at Meredith. Once all the forms and letters have been collected, Volunteer Services and SLAC will convene a selection committee to review all the forms and make the final selection.

Recognition

Students recognized as Community Impact Award winners will receive a plaque during the awards presentation on Celebrating Student Achievement Day.