Honored for Giving

The Center for Internships & Community Engagement honored students, faculty and community partners for service to the campus and community during its eighth annual Community Engagement Awards in May.

The program recognizes leadership, service and partnership for “strengthening the bonds of engagement that connect the university and the community.”

“We gratefully acknowledge the faculty and community partners who are dedicated to creating experiential educational opportunities for our students and to inspiring their service to the community,” Dawn Macy, associate director of the center, said about the program. “Our students, faculty and community partners affirm the incredible value that experiential education has for them, and the lasting effects of community engagement on teaching, learning and research.”

This is the fifth consecutive year that the university has been named to the U.S. President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, in recognition of its service of students. It is the third time the honor roll designation has earned “with distinction.”

In addition, the university carries the community engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Honored during the festivities were:

• Human services graduating senior Talitha James of Fullerton — Outstanding Student Leader Award 

• Psychology graduating senior Hanh Dang of Garden Grove — Extraordinary Acts of Service

• Sora Park Tanjasiri, professor of health science — Extraordinary Internship Coordinator 

• Christine Gardiner, assistant professor of criminal justice — Outstanding Service-Learning Instructor

• Orange Caregiver Resource Center — Stellar Support of Students

• Women Helping Women/Men 2 Work — Most Committed Partner

Also recognized were 11 graduating students who have served two years or more in AmeriCorps. Each received a special sash to be worn at commencement. Ed Trotter, interim associate vice president for undergraduate programs, made the presentations.

Recognized were:
Brittany Arture of Covina, child and adolescent development
Tara Librojo of Tustin, child and adolescent development
Grace Baek of Buena Park, child and adolescent development
Leslie Navas of Altadena, child and adolescent development
Nirali Brahmbhatt of Anaheim, child and adolescent development
Andreina Rodriguez of Anaheim, psychology
Theresa Bui of Stanton, business administration
Radiance Santifer of Ontario, history
Rebecca Carreto of Anaheim, business administration
Kyla Smith of Laguna Niguel, child and adolescent development
Grace Gonzales of Chino, child and adolescent development

Trotter also presented community engagement medals to 256 graduating seniors “who have pursued experiential education opportunities during their academic studies.” To be eligible, students had to demonstrate that they have exceeded the academic internship or service-learning requirements for their major with an additional 120-hour internship or 80-hour service-learning experience.

June 6, 2012