Monica McKeon, Plymouth State University
Community involvement was already a part of Monica’s life prior to arriving at Plymouth State in 2011. She was active in the Nashua School District as an Elementary School Student Aide and a Preschool Student Aide. Once in Plymouth, Monica continued working with youth at the Pemi Youth Center (PYC) where she was a Youth Advisor Coordinator and also was an intern at PYC through the Psychology Department. In addition to her role at the Pemi Youth Center, Monica also serves as the Student Representative on the Service Learning Partnership Committee at Plymouth State. She also is an active participant in Community Conversations, which brings community partners, university faculty & staff and area citizens to the same table for discussion on issues impacting our area. Monica’s other involvement while at PSU include: participating in the International Service Trip to Petersfield, Jamaica, and presenting at the New Hampshire Young Women’s Conference. This past summer, Monica also worked at Girls, Inc. in Nashua. Monica continually finds ways to embrace volunteerism and community and makes a difference in Plymouth and her home town.
-Dr. Sarah Jayne Steen, President
For as long as I can remember, I have been passionate about helping others. At recess in elementary school, I ran a “business” giving advice to my schoolmates. This passion has followed me to college, where I began volunteering for the Pemi Youth Center, and participating in the mentoring program. Over the summer, I work at a day camp for young inner-city girls so they have a safe place to go in the summer months. Beyond that, I became involved in the service-learning initiative team for Plymouth State, working on ways to strengthen service-learning partnerships and streamlining the process for students and partners. I then became part of a community-wide meeting to discuss how different sectors of the community can work together to further the goals of our town and foster better relationships. This past year I became involved in the International Service Trip club at Plymouth State, and in January we traveled to a small town in Jamaica to work in the elementary schools there and help plant a farm that will help feed children who can’t afford school lunches. I am grateful every opportunity that I have had to serve others while at Plymouth State.
-Monica McKeon
