OSU Service-Learning Volunteer Center Awards Carisa Winters scholarship

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Oklahoma State University students are known for pledging hours to service projects benefiting and serving their communities. The Service-Learning Volunteer Center recently recognized and awarded three $1,000 Carisa Winters Endowed Service Awards to deserving student volunteers who embody a true commitment to service at the 2015 President’s Leadership and Service Recognition ceremony held earlier this month.   

The Carisa Winters Endowed Service Award is a scholarship available to a sophomore or junior undergraduate student who demonstrates service by contributing to the community.  The award is given in memory of Carisa Winters, a former OSU student committed to serving others. The award’s intent is to assist the recipient while they pursue service ideas and create structures for service and delivery. This award may fund the conceived project or support the student academically. The award is $500 each semester for fall 2015 and spring 2016. This is the first year three recipients were awarded $1,000 scholarships.

“Through an endowment given by a generous donor, we have seen seven students receive $11,000 total in scholarships to date,” said Joyce Montgomery, Service-Learning Volunteer Center coordinator. “We are proud of the efforts of these selfless students in providing help and service to others in the community.” 

Ashtyn Anders, a microbiology, cellular and molecular biology and philosophy major from Arlington, Texas, and Rachel Olson, a marketing and entrepreneurship major from Flower Mound, Texas, were each recognized for their efforts with the MICAH Foundation. The MICAH Foundation is an organization dedicated to providing volunteer services to the elderly and giving back to the community. Anders and Olson plan to recruit and train OSU students to participate in the program and increase visibility through marketing efforts.  

Breeanna Russ, molecular biology major from Fairview, Texas, was acknowledged for her work on the 5K Glo Run benefiting Habitat for Humanity. Russ served as secretary for the Service-Learning Volunteer Center Ambassadors for the 2014-2015 school year and will serve as vice president for the 2015-2016 school year. In 2014, Russ introduced the 5K Glo Run. Her plans are to familiarize more students with the program and to make it a larger event in 2015. 

Since its inception in 1984, the Service-Learning Volunteer Center has promoted leadership for OSU students by offering interactive and meaningful service-learning activities, providing research opportunities and connecting with society to promote the general welfare of its citizens. For more information about the SLVC, visit volunteer.okstate.edu.