Octavia Carson, Central Michigan University

Octavia Carson is a tremendous leader and advocate who has directed and participated in several projects to educate and improve the campus, local, and global community. For the past two years, Octavia has served as the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center Special Events Student Coordinator. She has coordinated more than 15 major events and programs educating the campus community on issues including hunger and homelessness, veteran’s needs, at-risk youth, and more. Octavia’s service has touched countless lives, volunteering in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and two months in Costa Rica teaching children English as a foreign language through an after school learning camp. Octavia has also been involved with the CMU Alternative Breaks program having served in Atlanta, GA with a child refugee aid center and in Poland and Germany furthering her knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust. Octavia provides leadership as President of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc., a student organization that promotes service opportunities that support the organizations principals of academics, community service, cultural awareness, morals, and ethics. Octavia’s leadership and advocacy has had a tremendous impact on the community and she will continue to inspire, motivate, and encourage others to be civically engaged in her future endeavors.