LEWISTON, Idaho – Two Lewis-Clark State College students were honored last Friday at the Washington Campus Compact Student Leadership Awards Ceremony at the Washington Museum of Flight in Seattle.
Caden Massey, a senior from Kamiah, Idaho, and Simone Johnson, a senior from Blanchard, Idaho, received President’s Civic Leadership awards at the event. Traci Birdsell, senior director of the Educational Opportunity Grants Program at LC State, presented the two with the awards on behalf of LC State President Cynthia Pemberton.
The award recognizes outstanding student leaders for their work in civic engagement and social entrepreneurship.
The Washington Campus Compact is a coalition of higher education institutions committed to advancing the public purpose of colleges and universities, educating students for civic and social responsibility, and working in partnerships to cultivate vital and sustainable communities. The Campus Compact consists of college presidents and chancellors from Washington state higher education institutions along with some, like LC State, located near the Washington border.
At each member institution, up to two student leaders are selected from the campus who are making a difference in their communities and campuses through service. The president or chancellor at each school makes the selections after receiving nominations. A majority of the nominations are students participating in the AmeriCorps program, which is a part of the Campus Compact. Americorps has more than 250,000 individuals each year serve organizations and make a difference in communities across the United States.
Massey is majoring in secondary education with an emphasis in English and a minor in theater. Johnson is a social work major and is minoring in psychology and Spanish.
Massey is president of the Associated Students of LC State this year,. He is active in the TRIO program, theater productions, tutoring, hosting a fireside chat radio show and student government. He founded a college video gaming club and also worked for the school newspaper, The Pathfinder, and the Student Involvement office.
Massey has worked 300 hours in the AmeriCorps program. His work this school year included helping to teach advisors and students on how to use the new “Do More” app that permits LC State students to track events and other opportunities on campus, and to monitor an individual’s personal progress in earning a micro-credential in leadership.
Johnson attended Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy High School and is a member of the LC State tennis team. She also is a peer mentor for freshmen, a resident assistant for Residence Life, and a member of the Social Work club on campus. In addition, she is doing her social work internship this year.
Johnson has worked 450 hours for AmeriCorps and with a focus on the college’s Student Success Program, which serves approximately 200 students who are limited income, first-generation (neither parent has a bachelor’s degree), and/or have a disability.
Friday’s event had more than 50 students honored during the afternoon ceremony. The students spent Friday morning engaged in program discussions on a variety of issues. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee spoke to the group and also gave out three Governor’s Awards.