We held our End-of-Year awards on Monday, June 3rd, 2024. Thank you to everyone who made it a joyous occasion; we missed everyone who could not attend! Please see below for the recipients of our awards in 2024. 

Dr. Donna M. Murasko Distinguished Faculty Award for Innovation in Civic Engagement

This award is presented annually to a faculty member who has incorporated the value of civic engagement into their teaching, research, clinical practice, or other academic pursuit or activity in new and innovative ways. 

Recipient: Dr. Annette Gadegbeku, Associate Professor of Family, Community, & Preventive Medicine; Senior Associate Dean in the Office of Community Health and Inclusive Excellence within the College of Medicine. Dr. Gadegbeku infuses civic engagement into all areas of her work both as an educator and clinician, inspired by her own clinical experiences in under-resourced communities. In addition to her titles, she works at the Community Wellness HUB at the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships and is a 2023-24 recipient of the UnMapping grant for an experimental course where students in the College of Nursing and Health Professions engage in "PhotoVoice" with community members to learn about their health and wellness needs. 

Dr. Mark L. Greenberg Distinguished Faculty Award for Community Based Learning

This distinguished faculty award is named in honor of the founder of the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement and former Provost, Dr. Mark L. Greenberg. It is awarded to a faculty member who is deeply committed to improving the public good on the local, national or global level through community-based learning. 

Recipient: Dr. Sharrona Pearl, Associate Teaching Professor in the Health Administration department of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. For several years she has been teaching unique and meaningful CBL courses to CNHP students and interdisciplinary groups, focusing on Philadelphia's medical history, medical ethics, and medical history museums such as the Mutter and the Science History Institute. Her courses truly exemplify Drexel’s vision of applied pedagogy and civic engagement.

Distinguished Leadership in Civic Engagement for a Graduating Student

This award recognizes a Drexel senior that has shown the greatest level of leadership in programming of the Lindy Center and across the campus to promote the public mission of the university. These students serve as role models for undergraduates and are deeply committed to civic engagement.

Recipients: 

• Lakshmi Parvathinathan - Outside of Drexel, Lakshmi has been actively involved with a national youth-led immigration organization advocating for immigration reform (work she shared with us through a Lindy Center "Issue to Action" event a couple years ago). Within our office, she served as a planner for our "Coffee and Community" events during the pandemic and as a mentor to students in our Civic Engagement Living Learning Community. She shows steadfast dedication to making the world a better place and connecting with like-minded students. 
• Valeria Arango-Aliaga - Throughout her time at Drexel, Valeria has proactively pursued opportunities for knowledge and engagement beyond the traditional curriculum. She is a Civic 101 course assistant and has done other service such as providing free tutoring during the COVID-19 pandemic. She founded ALEUP, an organization that aims to Advocate for Latin American youth, concentrating on educational initiatives. She has consistently demonstrated a commitment to making a positive impact in the community back home as well as here at Drexel. 
• Maeva Kadjo - Maeva has been a fixture at Lindy as long as any of us can remember, starting as a Drexel Community Scholar (now Community Collaborators) and moving on to be a CIVC 101 Course Assistant, Course Assistant Leader, Civic Engagement Leadership Certificate participant, and LLC mentor. Throughout all of these roles, Maeva has demonstrated incredible growth, thoughtfulness about our work, and kindness to her fellow students. Staff appreciate her insights and questions and also her sense of humor which keeps us laughing even in difficult times.

Outstanding Lindy Center Student Leader Award

This award is given yearly to a student that has shown deep commitment to civic engagement and significant contribution to Lindy Center programming. This “rising star” is recognized as an emerging leader both on campus and in the community.

Recipients: 

• Minh Trinh - Nominator Gracie Sobalvarro said, “Minh found our organization on Drexel Galaxy last year and has been a mentor with U.S. Dream Academy ever since. He meets with his mentees once a week and is incredibly consisted with them. He mentors two 6th grade boys with incarcerated loved ones who are not always the easiest to engage. However, this does not discourage Minh, he continues to show up for them and treat them with empathy and care. He also attends many of our in person events including our care package building event at the Lindy Center this past January. In addition, I know he is committed to the Lindy Center in additional ways such as being a Civic 101 TA.”
• Sukriti Dhungel - Nominator Minh Trinh said, “Sukriti has demonstrated remarkable dedication to the Drexel campus, the Lindy Center, and civic engagement. In her role as a Course Assistant Leader, she brainstorms innovative ideas and poses critical questions for sharing among her peers and Lindy faculty. As a participant in the Civic Leader Engagement Certificate program, she is working toward workshops that help fellow students improve practical skills related to Blackboard Learn, Zoom setups, and class facilitation… Serving on the executive boards of various student clubs, Sukriti has showcased her leadership skills as Treasurer of the Nepali Student Association and Vice President of the Drexel Economics Society. She has successfully managed events and boosted student engagement in her two areas of passion: Nepali culture and economics.” 
• Fahima Liza - Fahima has demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership throughout her college career, particularly in her involvement with the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement. Over the past two years, she has served diligently as a Course Assistant, CA Mentor, and, more recently, as a CA Leader. Her contributions extend beyond administrative tasks; Fahima has actively participated as a panelist for the Lindy Center and represented the center on Accepted Students Days, where she educated both students and parents about the center's crucial role in the community. Fahima has also volunteered with Philabundance, where she has done more than simply contribute her time - she has taken a proactive role in educating her peers about the importance of volunteering, effectively spreading awareness and inspiring others to take action.
• Rohan Dontha - Rohan has been an active and integral member of the Lindy Center community this year through his participation in our Civic Engagement Leadership Certificate program, and serving as a Drexel community collaborator at Philabundance, as well as providing support in our efforts to expand the use of Drexel’s Galaxy volunteer database to support Drexel student organizations, Greek life, and campus departments. 
• Adia Edmondson - Adia is a graduate student in the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and an active participant in the Drexel Community Collaborators program. Through DCC she volunteers with the Body Empowerment Program, as well as serving as an AmeriCorps member with the DREAM program. Adia has also proven herself to be a community-engaged leader by serving on the Westphal Student Council, participating in an anti-racism course outside of the Drexel community within the Cultural Equity Learning Community, and engaging as an active participant in community events on and off campus. 

Student Organization Awards for Promoting Public Service and Social Responsibility

This award is presented each year to a student organization that exhibits leadership in promoting the ideals of public service and social responsibility. We award organizations that make distinct marks in engaging volunteers and meeting community needs.

Recipient: TechServ - Nominator Rich Dollery said, "TechServ has shown an exceptional commitment to environmental sustainability, technological education, and community service, significantly benefiting both the Drexel community and the broader Philadelphia area….TechServ played a crucial role in this year's Campus Race to Zero Waste e-waste collection event in March. Partnering with Bo Solomon from Procurement Services, the team successfully collected 27 pallets, totaling 30,000lbs of hardware from the Drexel and West Philly community, preventing a substantial amount of electronic waste from ending up in landfills. Since March, TechServ has responsibly disposed of the e-waste while also refurbishing and repurposing a significant portion of the inventory, addressing environmental concerns and providing valuable resources for reuse.”

Outstanding Education Partner Award

The Lindy Center believes that education is a large part of responsible civic engagement - people who are going to make collective change in their communities need to be informed about the issues at hand and the tools of social change.This award recognizes individuals, community organizations, and/or campus partners who have done outstanding work to ensure education is included in civic engagement efforts. This includes Lindy Center partners who have been outstanding co-educators for our courses and other programs. 

Recipient: Dr. Andrew Philips (Program Director, Architecture in the Westphal College of Media, Arts & Design) along with the Drexel Chapter of American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) and Department of Architecture, Design, and Urbanism - Dr. Phillips is the program director of Architecture in the Westphal College of Media, Arts, and Design. He offered great support, encouragement, and guidance to students in Drexel’s Chapter of American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) so they could developed and implement afterschool programming at local middle schools throughout the winter and spring terms through the Lindy Scholars program. AIAS members noted, “We are fortunate to have the support and expertise of our program director, Andrew Phillips, who is well known for his work in K-12 design education. Their involvement will be instrumental in developing high-quality lesson plans and tracking the impact of our educational sessions. With their guidance, we can ensure that the content we deliver is both accurate and pedagogically effective.”

Lindy Scholars' partnership with Dr. Philips, AIAS, and the Architecture, Design and Urbanism department shows that these entities embrace Drexel’s commitment to civic engagement by not only motivating and encouraging involvement in local initiatives but also providing clear pathways and guidance for student success. 

Staff Award for Campus and Community Engagement

This honor is given to a staff member that exhibits the tenets of good campus or community partnership in their efforts regardless of their university role. This staff person should be someone who is not only personally engaged in their own communities, but also encourages those around them to get involved and applies a civic-oriented mindset to their University work. 

Recipient: Bernetta McCall-Millonde, Executive Director of the Center for Inclusive Education and Scholarship - Nominator Chloe Mshana says, "Ms. Bernetta incorporates her love for civic engagement and teaching into everything she does. Whether she is planning a student-centered event for the Center for Inclusive Education and Scholarship or supporting a student through a difficult time, Ms. Bernetta does it with admirable passion. Ms. Bernetta is not afraid to have tough conversations with students. She recognizes the value of honest communication and effective discourse. She is dedicated to advancing students' understanding of modern social issues and subsequent advocacy. Through her teaching and leadership, Ms. Bernetta exemplifies profound civic engagement."

Outstanding AmeriCorps Co-op Member Award

This award is given yearly to an AmeriCorps co-op member who served during the past year (either fall/winter or spring/summer co-op cycles)  who has shown deep commitment to civic engagement and made a significant contribution to their co-op partner and/or Lindy Center programs. 

Recipients: 

• Fariha Nila, Co-op at Beyond Literacy - Nominator Mara Imms said, "Fariha made a meaningful difference in the lives of learners, providing a critical bridge from learners to the technology that can make their lives easier. Fariha was responsive, warm, organized, and outstanding in her role. Staff across our organization raved about the way she took up her role at Beyond Literacy… Fariha extended her commitment to learners beyond working hours. In February, we had a New Year's party for learners, in which learners and staff brought food and dressed in traditional clothes. Fariha was at this event, bringing food, and being a warm and committed member of the community. This illustrates Fariha's commitment to all aspects of learners' lives, contributing to a diverse community which helps her to be more responsive in her job.”
• Paige Montijo, Co-op at PA CareerLink Philadelphia Northwest - Nominator Dominique Butler-Jones said, "During her term, she brought innovative solutions and took the initiative to develop positive outcomes in complex situations. Her work ethic aided in the advanced use of technology systems that supported customer engagement. While in her role she developed and facilitated various workshops, such as workplace readiness, Wonderlic Test Prep for assessment tests, and English Translator life skills. She also worked with the Youth department, all while participating in community and school tabling events, to educate the public on CareerLink services.”