Recently, the Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness at Averett University hosted the Engage Showcase in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center lobby. Twenty groups of students from Averett University showcased their internships, service-learning, experiential learning, leadership and community engagement on April 9.
Two Averett students who are also members of the sorority Kappa Delta Alpha, stood in front of their display of photos of the sorority all around the community, interacting with young girls.
“It shows that we actually give back to the community we live and grow in. We like to show young girls what sisterhood means through these different projects,” said Clarice Ellinger, member of Kappa Delta Alpha.
Across the room, James Whitlow, a senior and computer science major, worked to explain his project titled “ServUs” – a practical application database for restaurants. Whitlow created the computer program himself and hopes to continue to update it until he can sell the service to ‘mom and pop’ shops in hopes to help them succeed.
“It was a really tough project but I powered through. I liked the practical application of taking an instruction from my professors and making it broader until I’m here presenting it and telling you where it can be implemented,” Whitlow said.
Averett University President Dr. Tiffany M. Franks welcomed the crowd before the awards ceremony that evening.
“Students here tonight have gone above and beyond what was required of them for a grade. They have stepped up and stepped out, and taken a stand to become active members of the community” she said. “Whether they call Danville home, or their home away from home, they have clearly been ‘called’ to do more, to give more, to care more. Individually and collectively, the students we honor this evening are making the world a better place through their ideas, their innovations and their engagement.”
The Showcase honored three people and one community organization with its annual awards.
Engaged Intern Award: Jenny Gregory, Averett senior. Pictured on the right, Angie McAdams, director of career development at the CCECC.
Engaged Student Leader Award: Sydney Glass, Averett senior. Pictured on the right, Lindsey Fulcher, Averett senior and the 2017 Engaged Student Leader Award winner.
Engaged Faculty Member Award: Karen Oaks, Averett School of Nursing faculty member. Pictured on the right, Meaghan Byrne, instructor of business administration and the 2017 Engaged Faculty Member of the Year.
Engaged Community Partner of the Year: Commonwealth Senior Living at the Stratford House. Pictured on the far right, Kenneth Lewis with the Danville Church-Based Tutorial Program, was the 2017 Engage Community Partner of the Year.
Following the Engage Showcase, the Honors Recognition Program was held in Pritchett Auditorium. The ceremony recognized students for their group and individual academic accomplishments. To see the full list of award winners, click here.
