University of Richmond Recognizes Students, Faculty, and Staff For Excellence in Civic Engagement

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — The University of Richmond’s Bonner Center for Civic Engagement celebrates students, faculty, staff, and community leaders who are making an impact in our communities at the annual Engage for Change award ceremony.

“Place-based learning is central to becoming civically minded scholars, teachers, learners, and members of the Richmond community,” said Sylvia Gale, executive director of CCE. “The Engage for Change Awards are an opportunity to come together and recognize the people at UR and beyond who are doing exceptional work in community-engaged teaching, scholarship, and service.” 

Among the awardees this year are: 

• Leadership studies professor Kristin Bezio received the Community-Engaged Teaching Award for her Leadership on Stage & Screen course, which connects students and community members in the production of a Shakespeare play. The class fosters a mutual understanding between the participants and community at large, and offers an opportunity to examine contemporary concerns about race, injustice, and equity in our schools, institutions, and justice system.
  
• Izzy Blaylock, a senior from Cleburn, Texas, received the Service for Change Award for her work spearheading an initiative aiming to register all eligible student athletes in the Atlantic-10 conference to vote. She is also working to get student athletes involved in community-based electoral measures such as registering voters or working at polls.
  
• The SEEDS Project (Students Engaging & Enacting Dialogue on Service) received the Collaboration for Change Award. SEEDS is a student-run organization that engages students in meaningful and sustainable service projects, offering alternative spring break trips each year. They have travelled to the Gulf Region of Louisiana, the Appalachian Region of West Virginia, and the Detroit area of Michigan to learn about environmental and social issues in those regions.
• The Community Educator Awards, honoring an individual or organization within the community who have shared their knowledge and expertise with UR, were awarded to My Lan Tran, executive director of the Virginia Asian American Chamber of Commerce, and Janis Allen, president of the Historic Jackson Ward Association.

A full list of award winners is available on the CCE website.