Community Engagement Leads to 2015 Lindquist Award at WSU

March 24, 2015

OGDEN, Utah – For passionate commitment to community engagement locally and globally, two recipients have been selected to receive the John A. Lindquist Award at Weber State University. They will be honored at a luncheon April 1 beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Shepherd Union Ballroom B.

This year’s honorees are Mike Moon, assistant director for WSU’s Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) and Leah Murray, associate political science professor and CCEL faculty in residence.

Mike Moon

Mike Moon has dedicated his career to improving communities — locally, nationally and internationally.

“I work hard to help students understand that successful community engagement is more than just a project or event,” Moon said. “Meaningful community impact is a way of life.”

Moon advises WSU’s Community Engaged Leaders program. This academic year, the service team of 28 students organized more than 100 volunteer events for 18 local nonprofit organizations such as Youth Impact, Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity.

Moon also has helped create a “tiered strategy” with community groups, so coordinators can access their own volunteer needs and get as much or as little student service as is beneficial.

The GOAL Foundation of Ogden participates in a tiered community partnership.

“Because of this program, and Mike’s efforts, we have been able to collaborate and recruit WSU students to fill specific needs of the GOAL Foundation, as well as provide meaningful volunteer and educational experiences for the students,” wrote Jenny Scothern, GOAL Foundation executive director, in a nomination letter.

In the summer of 2014, Moon coordinated and co-advised a trip to Chiclayo, Peru, with 28 students and alumni. Group members improved parks as safe spaces — free from gangs, drugs and violence. They also laid the groundwork for future community education and clean water projects. This year, as part of a cross-campus collaboration, Moon will take 35 students and alumni to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to serve orphans, young and elderly through education, sports, water, sustainability and construction projects.

“International work can be the catalyst for lifelong local engagement,” Moon said. “Through the reflective and journaling process that is essential to connect these experiences to deep learning, students grow and mature as they internalize the sometimes challenging experiences and relate them to their own understanding.”

Leah Murray

As a teacher, scholar and citizen, associate political science professor Leah Murray is passionate about teaching the next generation the habits necessary for good citizenship.

Murray who earned a doctoral degree in political science at the University at Albany- SUNY, came to Weber State in 2002. In 2004, she helped launch and co-coordinate the American Democracy Project (ADP). Under her direction, student volunteers bring a full slate of national, state and local experts to discuss controversial community issues including gun control, economic inequality, health care and college athletics.

“Deliberation is such an important life skill,” Murray said. “Participation enables students to say, ‘I’ve been through a deliberated focus group, had a hard but civil conversation, and had to live with the outcome.’”

As part of ADP, Murray also helps coordinate Constitution Week events. She is part of a collaboration that conducts election-day polling and voter registration outreach both on and off campus.

“Our partnership with Dr. Murray and her students has been invaluable to the success of our organization in providing the residents of Weber County with fair, open and honest elections,” wrote Jennifer Morrell, Weber County Elections director, in a nomination letter. “Dr. Murray has organized several dynamic projects that have enhanced the mission of our office while giving students an opportunity to demonstrate the concepts they have learned in a real working situation.”

Murray and CCEL director, Brenda Kowalewski, conceived and created WSU’s Civitas program — a specific designation for civically engaged scholars. Students who demonstrate distinction in four areas of civic engagement earn the phrase “non sibi, sed civitas” (not for self, but for community) on their transcript. Murray and Kowalewski have presented the idea at a number of regional and national conferences. “I have crafted a career that allows me to teach the habits of citizenship to my students, both in my classroom and in co-curricular experiences,” Murray said. “I enjoy working with the next generation of citizens and feel I am encouraging the education necessary to good government.”

The award is named for John A. Lindquist, a strong advocate of education and the community, who spent a lifetime supporting Ogden, Weber County and Weber State. Lindquist’s ties to WSU date back to the late 1930s, when he attended Weber College and was a student body officer. Throughout his lifetime, he generously supported cultural, academic, athletic and student activities and programs.

During the 2013-14 school year, 71 professors taught 83 community engaged learning designated courses. Of WSU’s students, 6,396 registered and completed 176,922 service hours through CCEL, worth an estimated $4 million. Many of the 132 community partners, along with faculty and staff involved in engagement, also will be honored at the Lindquist luncheon.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
 

Author:

Allison Barlow Hess, Director of Public Relations
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu

Contact:

Allison Barlow Hess, Director of Public Relations
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu