Ten Michigan State University engineering students were awarded the Dean’s Choice Award for their dedication and time spent volunteering at Broadening Participation K-12 programs. The awards were sponsored by Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) and hosted by the College of Engineering.
Awardees were chosen by the dean and presented with $250 each by MSUFCU Vice President of Risk Management Jacob Simmons.
“A big part of our values is giving back to our community, so it’s a great opportunity to support young individuals doing great work in the community that we serve,” said Simmons. “Today's volunteering impacts tomorrow, and the work that students are doing helps now, but also helps build that foundation for the future.”
Tyler Crockett, a junior majoring in applied engineering sciences, volunteered with his club, the Society of Applied Engineering Sciences, during an Introduce a Girl to Engineering event.
“It’s a cool event that we get to do every year, and this year I assisted the girls in working through problems and in the marshmallow challenge,” said Crockett. “It was inspiring to see all of the girls who are passionate about STEM.”
Laila Jackson, a junior majoring in applied engineering sciences, coordinated volunteer efforts between the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the K-12 outreach office.
“Working with our K-12 students is truly something that fulfills me, and it’s always good to give back to the next generation and inspire them to become engineers,” said Jackson. “Seeing the smiles on their faces, and hearing that they learned something throughout the day is always super rewarding.”
Recipients of the Dean’s Choice Awardees include:
- Snigdha Akula, computer science
- Sitara Baxendale, computer science
- Tyler Crockett, applied engineering sciences
- Weeam Guetari, chemical engineering
- Laila Jackson, experience architecture
- Gillian Kuehnle, biosystems engineering
- Emma Renalds, chemical engineering
- Eva Shaska, computer science
- Lauren Spott, mechanical engineering
- Macy Spevacek, mechanical engineering
“It takes a lot of time, planning, and dedication doing outreach and giving back to the next generation,” said Teresa Vandersloot, director of Broadening Participation K-12 and Women in Engineering in the College of Engineering. “We’re honored and thankful for the opportunity to be able to recognize these hardworking and passionate students, and we couldn’t do it without the help of MSUFCU.”
Learn more about opportunities to volunteer with the College of Engineering.
Written by Maggie Dillion, a student writer in the Marketing Communications office of the College of Engineering.
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page