Sarah Lutes
UNC AshevilleCommunity engagement has always been an important emphasis in Sarah Lute’s life. From her social justice-centered church community to her current service engagement both inside and outside of the classroom. In addition to her rigorous academic pursuits, Sarah is active on the Asheville Wesley Foundation leadership team, planning community service and outreach opportunities for her peers. In her short time at UNC Asheville, Sarah has proven herself to be a motivated, compassionate and engaged lifelong learner. Sarah is a dynamic young person who is enthusiastic and passionate about life and people. Sarah builds positive connections with peers and advisors and genuinely wants to make an impact in the world through helping others. For the energy and commitment Sarah brings to community engagement and the University of North Carolina Asheville, I give Sarah Lutes my endorsement for the Newman Civic Fellowship program.
Personal Statement
Growing up in a social justice oriented church setting, community service has always been emphasized in my life. I started going on service trips in middle school, and gained a love of service. As I got older, and even more so as I began my studies in sociology and Spanish, I also began to understand the deep societal structures that play into an individual’s personal life circumstances and choices, and the ways in which these structures privilege some individuals over others and prevent some from understanding the problems faced by those less privileged than themselves. This past semester, I have been working with the immigration department at Pisgah Legal Services- an organization that provides free legal help to low income individuals in western North Carolina- helping to build an asylum case through research focusing on the root causes of violence towards women and migration in many Central American countries. On campus, I am involved in student leadership of the Asheville Wesley Foundation, a campus ministry group that does a variety of community services projects throughout the semester, including an ongoing partnership with a local ministry focusing on the needs of the homeless population in downtown Asheville.