by Deanne Puca

April 15, 2011 | WMU News

KALAMAZOO–A statewide organization presented community service awards to five Western Michigan University students during the 15th annual Outstanding Student Service Awards ceremony April 9 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing, Mich.

The awards were presented by the Michigan Campus Compact, a coalition of 38 colleges and universities from around the state. The recognition ceremony honored Michigan college students who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to community service during their college years.

WMU students who received awards were:

• Angela Bowman, a sophomore from Taylor, Mich., studying social work.
• Natalie Graetzel, a senior from Brighton, Mich., studying art.
• Marida Little, a sophomore from Detroit studying social work.
• Kathleen Paauwe, a senior from Mattawan, Mich., studying family studies.
• Janell Raisanen, a junior from Waterford, Mich., studying accountancy.

Paauwe and Raisanen received the Commitment to Service Award, which recognizes two students per MCC member campus for either the breadth or the depth of their community involvement. Only 45 students of the 350 honored this year received this award.

The remaining three students received the Heart and Soul Award, which recognizes students for time, effort and personal commitment to their communities through service.

Michigan Campus Compact is a coalition of college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the public purpose of higher education. MCC promotes the education and commitment of Michigan college students to be civically engaged citizens, through creating and expanding academic, co-curricular and campus-wide opportunities for community service, service-learning and civic engagement.

For more information, visit micampuscompact.org.