Jesse Perkins, a 22-year Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, is thriving as a criminal justice student at North Shore Community College. Jesse has held progressively responsible positions of leadership in his two years at the college, first as Student Veterans Center work study, President of the Student Veterans Club, and now elected student representative on the college's Board of Trustees. Jesse's leadership originates with his own commitment to helping the underserved. Jesse is committed to "giving back" and in every role Jesse has encouraged his fellow students to join him in making a difference by volunteering to tackle such issues as food insecurity, homelessness, and lack of opportunities for youth. He has done this through grassroots community organizing on our campus. He has mobilized students and staff to volunteer at community nonprofit agencies, serve at soup kitchens, work at a homeless shelter, volunteer to do community cleanups, and run annual blood, clothing and toy drives. Whether serving as the Student Trustee, President of the Veterans Club or volunteering in the community, Jesse's contributions to civic engagement on campus and in the community are significant and admirable.