Click on the title below to see the 2026 awardees:
Student Civic Leadership Awards
Community Collaboration Awards
Student Civic Leadership Awards
The Student Civic Leadership awards recognize a student or group who model civic responsibility and leadership through initiative, collaboration, and community building, integrating civic engagement into their college experience.
Food Security and Food Justice Team: Rahma Mohamed, Lane Certo Ilstrup, Fiona Smith, & Sam Galvez | Augsburg University
Rahma, Fiona, Sam, and Lane go above and beyond in their roles with the Campus Kitchen, Health Commons, and Veggies for All programs to ensure food access in Augsburg’s community and our neighborhood. Between applying for additional grants to support community elders, organizing additional food distribution to at-risk students and neighbors, and growing a food distribution program to our unhoused neighbors, these students, driven by their own initiative and in partnership with community leaders, are working with few resources to create systems that that enhance food security in the neighborhood. Further, they recruit others to join their work, demonstrating that their civic engagement is a calling that other students can answer.
Chloe McCarthy | Bethel University
Chloe McCarthy embodies student leadership centered in humility, grace and loving care for others. She devoted two years to working at the Life Center – an organization offering services to individuals experiencing homelessness, socio-economic adversity and mental health issues. Whether serving in the onsite retail store, distributing food, or conversing with Life Center patrons, Chloe assisted those in need with empathy and tenderness. Chloe does not draw attention to herself but to the presence of others. Such was her impact as a community work-study employee that many Life Center staff embraced her as a cherished family member.
Heavy Equipment Club | Central Lakes College
For the last five years, the Heavy Equipment Club has been integral to ensuring the success of the Ruby’s Pantry Drive Thru Food Distribution that occurs on Staples Campus every month. During the months that regular classes are in session, their club makes up at least half of the volunteer population. Even when classes aren’t in session, there are typically a few students that help out. Aside from Ruby’s, they participate in their own projects, such as Kids Christmas Drives and Community Cleanups. During the 9/11 Week of Service, they showed up to most of the volunteer events that were hosted at Staples Campus. Finally, club members are very active and engaged in the Staples campus Student Senate.
Ellie Rose Piette | College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University
Ellie Rose has been nominated for Student Civic Leader Award because she continuously goes above and beyond in her role as the Community Engagement Liaison for the Bonner Leader Program. Ellie Rose establishes and maintains relationships between the CSB+SJU Bonner Leader Program and the community, though that only summarizes a piece of her work in this role. She has built new partnerships with on-campus clubs, organized a large scale event with a local non-profit, and created a student employment position in the local government center. Her infectious smile and can-do nature coupled with her genuine care for the community are what make her a fantastic awardee for Student Civic Leadership Award.
Phia Revoir | Concordia College
Phia Revoir’s civic engagement centers on community-building, restorative justice, and sustainability. As an Environmental Policy major and a Sustainability Advocate, they have partnered with congressional leaders to protect wilderness areas in Minnesota while also advancing composting and Earth Week initiatives on campus. Phia led a Justice Journey to North Carolina, learning alongside a congregation serving housing-insecure neighbors. Through coursework engaging incarcerated youth, Phia examined systemic injustice and presented research on nature’s role in healing. As a Smaby Peace Scholar in Oslo, they studied nature as a bridge for refugee inclusion. A talented celloist, Phia has played at concerts benefiting local food pantries.
Drake Food Security Coalition | Drake University
As President of Drake’s Student Senate, Ty Walls made student food insecurity a priority this year – combining research with advocacy to better understand the scope of the issue on our campus and its possible solutions. As Food Security Peer in the Office of Community Engaged Learning, Kira Schall laid groundwork for a stronger relationship with IMPACT CAP, the food pantry that serves the Drake Neighborhood, leading to greater awareness of local resources and a growing network of student volunteers. Leading the Drake Food Security Coalition alongside Ty and Kira are Marra Catherine, Leannah Choi, Emily Fredin, Elliot Nelson, Monica Osborn, and Lexi Welter.
Maddison L. Cunningham | Grand View University
As a member of AmeriCorps at Grand View, Maddie Cunningham supports the retention of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students, building meaningful relationships that foster belonging and success. As an Elevate Peer Mentor and Career Center Peer Coach, she empowers peers academically and professionally. Maddie is also active in View Crew, Viking Council, BSU, Vikes for Life, and Track and Field. She balances these commitments while excelling in the classroom. Maddie embodies initiative, collaboration, and a deep commitment to strengthening her campus community.
Diya Shrestha | Grinnell College
Diya Shrestha embodies civic leadership grounded in dialogue, trust, and steady presence. As one of the initial student facilitators of the Grinnell Listening Project, she has helped convene nearly 40 community dialogues engaging more than 500 students and local residents in thoughtful conversation about issues facing the town. A compassionate and deeply curious listener, Diya builds trust across difference and helps create spaces where people feel genuinely heard. Community members often ask after her when she is away, reflecting the relationships she has cultivated. She extends this commitment through volunteering at the Community Meal and mentoring international students, modeling civic engagement rooted in deep, genuine relationship.
Ashley Cuevas | Inver Hills Community College & Dakota County Technical College
Ashley is the president of the Volunteer Club but is a campus-wide student leader because of the bridge building and community building she creates. Ashley is involved in identity-based clubs, Student Senate, and Student Life, and through her involvement she invites all those students into campus and community engagement. In her Civic Engagement work study job, she provides an invaluable student voice on everything from the campus food pantry to voter engagement programming.
Judith Hernandez-Hernandez | Macalester College
Judith Hernandez-Hernandez personifies civic virtues both formally and informally. Through three years with the Youth Leadership Initiative, Judith has empowered St. Paul teens to lead with purpose and address issues of equity and justice. A generous collaborator and thoughtful mentor, she models civic responsibility through her community partnerships and academic work. In her Bonner summer of service project and IRT, she has explored unlearning and embodied practices that link education, environmental justice, and healing. Her capstone on curriculum design for justice-centered learning reflects both her deep commitment and her vision for transformative community engagement.
Jolene Jones | Metro State University
As an elder in the Little Earth community, Jolene Jones has a long history of advocating, organizing, protecting, and promoting her community. She has dedicated her life to strengthening Little Earth as a community and home for native people from across the U.S. She does so by promoting voting for Native Americans across the state through her work with Make Voting a Tradition for the Native American Community Development Institute, to founding Little Earth Protectors, a patrol group to protect Little Earth residents from social and environmental threats, to conducting participatory research on reducing violence, and by advancing the use of NARCAN® to save lives.
Jilles Caleb Aklassou | Mount Mercy University
In his first year at Mount Mercy, Jilles has shown a strong commitment to civic engagement. He serves as the Freshman Class President for MMU’s student government, the Service Coordinator for Gen 1, and a student representative on the Critical Concerns Committee. Additionally, he organized an independent service project for Mission of Hope and spoke thoughtfully at MMU’s annual MLK Jr. Breakfast about the importance of creating a welcoming community for all. Through his participation in Project Connect, the McAuley Scholars program, and United Way of East Central Iowa’s Collegiate BOLD program, he has shown a sincere interest in building community through collaborative leadership.
Sheridyn Runs After | Southwest Minnesota State University
Through her four years at SMSU, Sheridyn has exhibited tremendous leadership. Sheridyn is SMSU’s current student body president and is also involved in additional clubs and organizations. She has been involved with improving equity on SMSU’s campus and in the community. She has been instrumental in encouraging more students to seek leadership in student senate on campus. She is also involved in mutual aid and advocacy work. In each of these roles, Sheridyn leads with compassion, collaboration, and community in mind.
Sumaya Yassin | St. Catherine University
Sumaya Yassin is a junior who radiates care and builds community wherever she goes. She has fostered inclusion and advocated for others as part of the Student Senate, a Resident Advisor, and president of the Black African Student Union. She participated in our Citizen Katie morning of service, tutored K-5 students through America Reads, conducted public health research, and participated in the Civic Bridgers’ rural-urban campus dialogue initiative, including being featured on their podcast. Finally, she advances global engagement through Students for Justice in Palestine. Sumaya is committed to ensuring that our campus, state, and global community is healthy, inclusive, and celebrated!
Christine Whear | St. Olaf College
Christine Whear launched a bilingual conversation exchange at the Contented Cow and mobilized students to assist with home weatherization in a local mobile home community last spring. Christine worked on a resource map for Spanish-speakers, which led her to meet and collaborate with a number of local government and nonprofit leaders. For her BA in Music for Social Impact major, she is collaborating with the new choir at the Northfield Public Library, Sabios Cantores, to co-create an anthem for the Spanish-speaking community in Northfield.
Arthur Morris | University of Minnesota Morris
Arthur has been a Food Systems Student Leader for three years, in addition to other roles. A peer wrote of Arthur, “I have seen how committed he is to the community and the work he has done. I have worked with him in the community garden, on the community kitchen survey, at the food shelf, and on many other amazing projects. He is always the person I know to go to when I need help, and he is always willing to help.” Faculty added, “Arthur was always on-time, on-point, dedicated to the sensitive nature of the work, and is someone we would hire in a second, were we in a position to do so. It did not seem to matter how much work there was, or how complex or new it was, Arthur approached everything with the same calm, competent attitude.”
Women In Public Service | University of Northern Iowa
Women in Public Service is all about turning an interest in advocacy into actual leadership skills. They don’t just discuss the lack of representation in public office; they host workshops and non-partisan talks to give students the tools they need to lead. Their work helps bridge the gap between “wanting to help” and “knowing how to lead,” making civic engagement feel accessible rather than intimidating.
Katie Steinlage | Wartburg College
As a three-term Student Senate Recorder, Katie has redefined the role by merging administrative excellence with passionate civic leadership. Through her role as Senate Recorder, Katie chairs the Political Action Committee. She has leveraged her role in student leadership to promote civic engagement on campus. Whether promoting voter registration, sharing Constitution Day trivia, or working to secure a satellite voting station on campus, her leadership has fostered a more engaged campus culture. Forever seeking opportunities for thoughtful discourse, her next project includes coordinating opportunities for our student body to engage in dialogue with state legislators. Katie’s visionary leadership has set a new standard for student advocacy.
Emerson Omangi | Winona State University
For Emerson’s Research Project she chose to focus on African American Men’s Mental Health. In researching this topic there was an incredible amount of peer-reviewed information that focused on African American men’s anxiety and the healthcare system. Yet, she wanted to center the voices and lived experiences of African American men in her work, so she tirelessly sought out other secondary and primary sources to frame people in her research, not just data. She did this because she knew that her work was essential to bringing light to a key issue in broader society. Therefore the community has benefited from Ms. Omangi’s stalwart commitment to knowledge creation that will have a lasting impact for years to come.
Civic Educator Awards
The Civic Educator awards recognize a faculty or staff member who models civic responsibility by supporting students’ civic development and strengthening a culture of engagement on campus through their teaching, mentorship, or leadership.
Antonio Vásquez | Augsburg University
In his relatively short time at Augsburg, Antonio has worked tirelessly to build meaningful connections in our neighborhood. His courses connect passionate students to the Brian Coyle Center and East Phillips Neighborhood Institute, where students partner with community leaders to make and deliver meals, and connect more deeply with the neighborhood.
Suzanne W. Nelson | Bethel University
For more than two decades, Suzi Nelson has been a stalwart supporter of faculty, students, staff and community partners committed to addressing the learning experiences of others. As a Bethel University administrator, she models how to employ empathy when interacting with individuals. She works tirelessly to advance the administrative needs of programs spearheaded by Bethel faculty and staff. With generosity, she helps community work-study student employees navigate onboarding processes so they can flourish in their appointments. Community partners praise Suzi for her caring attentiveness. Her welcoming presence affirms Bethel’s mutually beneficial partnerships with diverse communities.
Kari Frisch & Curtis Pribnow | Central Lakes College
Kari Frisch has been a prominent figure in the Central Lakes College community-building sphere. She has successfully organized and supported many events, including efforts of the Outreach Program, the Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen, the Parent/Kids Holiday Party, and Raider athletics. Kari exemplifies the culture of caring through her efforts and she has done so with enthusiasm. Curtis Pribnow lives as an engaged member of the Brainerd Lakes Area community and has built service into his curriculum. He serves on the boards of several local non-profits and governmental advisory committees. His students have volunteered this year at the Crisis Referral Line, Common Goods, animal shelters, and more.
Dr. Ted Gordon | College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University
As Director of Native Nations Initiatives and Scholar in Residence, Ted works to serve all members of our culturally diverse community. He consistently has been a driver for civic duty on-campus and in the community. He is a believer in experiential learning and undergraduate research pushing students to dive deeper in his honors, anthropology, and sociology classes. Beyond the classroom, Ted serves as a liaison between the schools and native nations as they work to reconcile the history of Indian boarding schools. He also currently serves on the Community Education and Research Committee for the Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization, a non-profit that serves refugees in need.
Dr. Philip Lemaster | Concordia College
Recognizing that so many young people have limited interactions with older adults, Philip Lemaster partners with Eventide Senior Living Communities for his psychology course on aging. Class sessions are regularly held at an assisted-living facility, where students form meaningful relationships with residents through discussion and activities. As a result, students confront and overcome their own prejudice toward aging populations, learn about the lived experience of aging, and develop empathy for a group of people they at least initially perceive as very different from themselves – all while contributing to the wellbeing of their elder neighbors.
Dr. Lendie Follett | Drake University
Dr. Lendie Follett joined the faculty of Drake University in 2017 and has since distinguished herself as a leader in food insecurity research and civically engaged teaching. Dr. Follett incorporates service-learning projects into Data Analytics courses across the major, equipping students with hands-on experience while leveraging advanced data insights to maximize the impact of area non-profits. Dr. Follett’s recent course partnerships include WesleyLife Meals on Wheels, Polk County Health Department, and DMARC Food Pantry Network. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Follett’s research on hunger relief and SNAP policy has informed national conversations. This year, she became President of DMARC Food Pantry Network’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Heather Brady | Grand View University
Dr. Heather Brady models civic responsibility through innovative, community-engaged teaching that advances students’ civic development and strengthens Grand View’s culture of engagement. Through sustained partnerships with Findley Elementary, Captain Roy’s, the Union Park Neighborhood Association, and the City of Des Moines, she creates meaningful opportunities for students to practice democratic participation and public problem-solving. Whether mentoring youth, curating community exhibits, or contributing to a Road Safety Audit, her students engage in authentic civic work that fosters leadership, agency, and commitment to the common good.
Dr. Danya Crites | Grinnell College
Professor Danya Crites, a longtime Grinnell resident and devoted art history instructor, demonstrates exceptional innovation in community-engaged teaching. In Making Space in Community, students examine how the built environment shapes belonging and memory in Grinnell, engaging directly with local residents to understand the meaning and layered history of place. Dialogue is woven throughout the course, grounding artistic inquiry in lived experience and reciprocal exchange. Students leave with a deeper sense of civic responsibility and a richer appreciation for the artistic, cultural, and historical narratives embedded in the built environment they inhabit. Her sustained commitment strengthens both the Grinnell College campus and community.
Jeremy Clark | Inver Hills Community College & Dakota County Technical College
The DEIBJ team has been continuously working to improve the sense of campus belonging for all students, faculty, and staff members. They have hosted communities of care summits, provided workshop opportunities for folks to learn, provided space for folks to connect to each other and find needed resources. They have been important “bridges” to our outside communities, in the work on the Unity Trail, high school outreach and other community partners. In addition, they have helped champion our campus accessibility efforts to ensure our campuses are welcoming to all.
Jake Mohan | Macalester College
In his role as Writing Support Coordinator & Instructor in Macalester’s Writing Center, Jake regularly develops students’ abilities to communicate complex ideas effectively. Jake has also invested considerable time and effort into the broader Macalester civic community, having chaired the Staff Advisory Council in previous years and in his work to connect staff and student units currently in the process of developing union contracts with the college. Jake demonstrates a consistent and deep commitment to fostering academic rigor and integrity in students, and an equally strong belief in the importance of a campus culture and community rooted in solidarity.
C. Scott Cooper | Metro State University
Over the past few years, C. Scott Cooper has worked to help create a successful project, the Metro State Model Legislature program, a two-day civic learning event at the State Capitol that builds deep connections between Metro State students, policy makers, staff within the Minnesota State Legislature, K-12 social studies teachers in multiple Twin Cities-area high schools, community-based youth leadership development programs, and hundreds of high school students. Having a long history of teaching classes on the legislative process and how to navigate policy-making at the state and federal level, Scott has taken this knowledge out into the community and has engaged broader audiences in the development of these skills.
Ben Thiel | Mount Mercy University
Ben has dedicated over a decade of his career to supporting students’ development at Mount Mercy. Ben is a lifelong learner who cares deeply about the communities in which he’s involved. This past January, he taught a “Servant Leadership” course, and one of his students shared that “Ben is an inspiring teacher who encourages students to get involved and make a difference. In this class, he does not just teach about civic responsibility; he really shows us how to live it. He guides us to take action and think critically about our impact on the world. His mentorship and leadership create a campus culture where civic engagement feels meaningful and achievable.”
Amanda Sieling | Southwest Minnesota State University
Amanda Sieling goes above and beyond for student success inside and out of the classroom. She fosters collaboration and encourages each student to connect to their community and to their peers. She is never just a professor, advisor, or mentor. She guides students to help them identify their motivations and passions and sets them up for success. Amanda is dedicated to teaching students in justice administration. She brings that dedication to serving on the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC). The JJAC provides leadership and support in setting a vision for juvenile justice in Minnesota. Serving on the JJAC allows her to have meaningful discussions in her classroom.
Dr. Jennifer Biggs | St. Catherine University
Jennifer Biggs PT, PhD, MPH, CWS is Program Director and Associate Professor in St. Catherine University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Across her 24 years at St. Catherine University, she has been a champion of community-engaged learning, including ensuring that community health and advocacy are at the heart of the DPT curriculum through its immersive capstone course. Jennifer has recently conducted collaborative research with other St. Catherine University faculty and community organizations in the United States and abroad on such topics as decreasing missed medical appointments, community acceptance of children’s disabilities, and assessing rehabilitative care.
Dan Hofrenning | St. Olaf College
Professor Hofrenning has helped shape the civic identity of St. Olaf College in many ways. Hofrenning regularly teaches classes that engage with the public, including the New Hampshire Primary study away program for the past five election cycles. He models the role of the public intellectual, maintaining a 20-year presence on the Almanac political panel and fostering deep ties with state and national media. He institutionalized civil discourse as the Founding Director of the Buntrock Institute for Freedom and Community. He has advised both College Democrats and Republicans as part of his commitment to engage students respectfully across their political differences.
Miriam Gieske | University of Minnesota Morris
Miriam Gieske is a community-engaged learning practitioner, integrating CEL into three courses. She serves as the advisor to the Stevens County Community Garden, providing both hands on teaching and support to the Food Systems Student Leaders who coordinate the garden. Her community-engaged research agenda has been practical and impactful. One partner writes, “Miriam has collaborated in research on soil at the West Central Research and Outreach Center which has led to results that are helpful for local farmers. Her most recent project on mulch types (paper and plastic) for bell pepper production and how the soil was influenced has led to future questions that can be answered through grant-funded research between UMN Morris and the WCROC.”
Catherine Helen Palczewski, PhD | University of Northern Iowa
Cate Palczewski has written the book Rhetoric in Civic Life, but more importantly, she teaches her students how to handle the “tough” conversations with grace and logic. From her years leading the debate team to her current mentorship, she’s always been the first to defend the importance of civil discourse. She challenges students to be more than just observers. She wants them to be ethical, loud, and effective advocates. She speaks about these issues on a global scale, including recently in Amsterdam.
Dr. Abbylynn Helgevold | Wartburg College
Dr. Helgevold models civic responsibility by transforming ethics into actionable global engagement. Her classroom centers on discourse, teaching students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world interactions. Beyond the classroom, she supported the campus climate during the 2024 election and moderated presidential debate watch parties, fostering constructive dialogue. By leveraging her deep community connections, she introduces diverse perspectives to campus events, ensuring students engage with complex issues through thoughtful inquiry. Her commitment to mentorship and her willingness to ask difficult questions strengthen our culture of engagement, empowering our community to navigate their civic duties with curiosity and empathy.
Mary Jo Klinker | Winona State University
Dr. Klinker continues to advance a partnership with the Honoring Dakota Project, a 501c3 organization led by Dakota individuals. The alliance Mary Jo has forged and maintains with the Honoring Dakota Project is unique to the campus community. Students, faculty, and staff benefit from Dr. Klinker’s leadership and relationship-building skills. Dr. Klinker’s teaching and mentorship provides opportunities whereby students develop social engagement skills, engage in volunteer activities, and conceptualize activism to bring about meaningful change. The breadth of Dr. Klinker’s impact is extensive. Each year, students enroll in their courses and engage in learning grounded in justice, community partnership, and civic responsibility.
Community Partner Awards
The Community Partner awards recognize a community-based partner or organization that enriches both educational and community outcomes through sustained, reciprocal partnerships with a college or university.
East Phillips Neighborhood Institute | Augsburg University
The East Phillips Neighborhood Institute committed to working with Augsburg to build deep and lasting ties to our community. They represent a group of neighbors concerned with improving the neighborhood of East Phillips, building community agriculture, advocating for environmental justice, and working to build support for local resident businesses and activities. They work with Augsburg’s students, staff, and faculty to teach skills in community organizing, leadership, policy advocacy, environmental justice, and urban agriculture.
The Urban Farm and Garden Alliance Leadership Team | Bethel University
For more than two decades, the Urban Farm & Garden Alliance (UFGA), co-founded by Elder Melvin Giles, has occupied a central presence in the Minnesota neighborhoods of Rondo, Frogtown, and Midway. The UFGA leadership team helps neighbors cultivate their gardens. They distribute fresh produce to communities alongside local farmers. They mentor Bethel University students by deepening their practice of environmental stewardship. Attendees of the annual UFGA Greens Cook-Off sample African American delicacies prepared by Minnesota culinary experts. UFGA’s annual Peace Celebration promotes the impact of peaceful collaborations. Honoring the human dignity of all guides their mission.
Eventide Senior Living | Concordia College
Eventide Senior Living Communities is a longstanding and valued community partner of Concordia College. Through sustained collaboration, Eventide has opened its doors to meaningful, reciprocal learning between students and residents. Weekly visits with students create space for conversation, shared activities, and authentic relationships. Eventide’s commitment to welcoming students fosters intergenerational connection, reduces social isolation, and enriches both academic learning and community life. By investing time, trust, and care in this partnership, Eventide embodies the spirit of community engagement and makes a difference in the lives of Concordia students and residents alike.
Jessi Balk | Drake University
Jessi Balk has been involved in community engagement and volunteer leadership for 8 years. She serves as Volunteer Manager at IMPACT Community Action Partnership in Des Moines, Iowa, where she got her start in the Community Outreach department 3 years ago. As an advocate and volunteer leader, community service is more than a career for Jessi – it’s her passion. Jessi worked closely with Drake students this year to establish a food pantry volunteer training program on campus, advised initial meetings of the Drake Food Security Coalition, and educated student leaders. Jessi also supported institutional efforts to become more responsive to students facing food insecurity and provided training to Drake employees on identifying signs of food insecurity and responding with sensitivity and appropriate resources.
Des Moines Public Schools: Peter LeBlanc & Theron Hobbs | Grand View University
Grand View University’s Teacher Education Program maintains a strong partnership with Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) focused on expanding the pipeline of special education teachers. In Fall 2022, Grand View launched an evening and online cohort for DMPS paraeducators through the Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship (TPRA) grant. The partnership has since expanded, creating accessible pathways for DMPS staff – including associates, executive assistants, and nutrition and library staff – to become licensed special education teachers. A new cohort began in Fall 2024 with specialized coursework and advising designed to support persistence and success, strengthening special education staffing across DMPS.
B & B Farms: Barney Bahrenfuse & Suzanne Castello | Grinnell College
Barney and Suzanne exemplify extraordinary partnership. For decades, they have welcomed students to their farm, collaborating with courses such as Policy Analysis, Choreography, and Environment and Literature. Through generous hospitality and thoughtful teaching, they translate the agricultural landscape for students, many of whom have little rural experience, helping them see farming as both ecological and civic practice. Their modeling of regenerative, ecosystem-sensitive farming – and their invitation into “cow time,” a practice of attentiveness and slowness – has enriched our understanding of labor as skilled, relational work deeply tied to land, community, and care. Barney and Suzanne cultivate so much more than what grows on their farm.
Neighbors, Inc. | Inver Hills Community College & Dakota County Technical College
Located in South St. Paul for 54 years serving Northern Dakota County, Neighbors, Inc. has been a partner for years through hosting student volunteers and service-learning classes, and promoting their basic needs opportunities to our students. In 2024, Neighbors, Inc. approached the colleges about interest in partnering on a Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) grant to provide certification training for their clients. They reached out to the college again Summer 2025 to partner on another larger DEED grant. The grants were awarded and since that time Neighbors has sent five clients through the Class A CDL certification program. Neighbors provide clients background support such as financial management and career services to be successful in training programs with the colleges and beyond. Clients are placed at the college for training after receiving the background support.
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota | Macalester College
ILCM has been a bedrock of immigrant rights locally since 1976. They provide free legal representation to low-income immigrants and education and advocacy around immigrant and human rights. ILCM has supported Macalester student employees and interns to take on key roles supporting cases as well as sharing vital information to potential clients calling their hotline. ILCM staff have always supported Macalester students to maximize their growth. For many students, their ILCM experiences were key to their education and vocation going forward. ILCM also generously engages in immigrant law events on campus, including a Macalester Constitution Day event this past fall.
Waḳaƞ Ṭípi Awanyankapi | Metro State University
Waḳaƞ Ṭípi Awanyankapi is a Native-led environmental stewardship nonprofit that engages people to cherish natural places and the cultural value within them. Their programs reinforce the relationships Indigenous people have with the bluffs and wetlands near Metro State’s St. Paul campus through Dakota storytelling, bird walks, and an annual BioBlitz. From a course-based community-engaged scholarship project, to utilizing the university’s GROW-IT Center to grow plant material for medicinal gardens, to hosting a community experience during a Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) conference, we continue to explore how institutions can move beyond land acknowledgments toward active partnerships with Native communities.
United Way of East Central Iowa | Mount Mercy University
The United Way of East Central Iowa has been an excellent partner for Mount Mercy. Their Collegiate BOLD program is designed to equip college students with skills necessary to serve on non-profit boards and make a difference on campus and in their community. It also introduces them to many non-profits in the local area. Additionally, their Civic Circle discussion series offers an opportunity for community members to explore the nine civic actions of the Civic Circle, reflecting on their role in fostering a community where everyone is seen, supported, and thriving. Through thoughtful conversation and shared experiences, participants examine their values and connect with others who care about building a stronger community.
The Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth – Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health Initiative | North Hennepin Community College
The Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth is a leader in the Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health initiative, a sustained, community-driven effort that strengthens both educational and community outcomes. Centering Black youth voices, the initiative brings together schools, higher education, health providers, and civic partners to address mental health through culturally responsive education, advocacy, and systems change. Through reciprocal partnerships, the work expands learning opportunities, builds youth leadership, and advances equitable mental health supports that respond directly to the lived experiences of Black youth in Brooklyn Park.
Willmar Public Schools | Southwest Minnesota State University
The SMSU School of Education has collaborated with Willmar Public Schools, as well as the Brightworks Education Cooperative, to create SOTA – Scholars of Teaching Apprenticeship. This innovative opportunity provides aspiring educators to serve in the schools and complete their bachelor’s degree with licensures in Elementary Education and Special Education with ABS (Academic Behavioral Specialist). The first cohort launched in fall 2025, with a second planned for fall 2026. As one of Minnesota’s first teacher apprenticeship programs, this intensive collaboration is at the forefront of shaping the future of teacher preparation across the state.
Mary’s Pence | St. Catherine University
Mary’s Pence is a women-led organization that provides financial resources and holistic support to grassroots women’s organizations across the United States, Mexico, and Central America. Since 1987, their values of dignity, solidarity, women’s empowerment, and social justice have inspired their advocacy work and programs. For over a decade, Mary’s Pence has partnered with St. Catherine University for community-engaged learning courses and hosted student interns through the Community Leaders program. Students report having an exceptional internship experience, with the chance to learn more about grant writing, data collection, and the inner workings of a nonprofit organization.
Northfield Public Library | St. Olaf College
The Northfield Public Library is a trusted community space showcasing a deep commitment to equity by providing essential services like resource lending and passport services to everyone in our community. Over the past few years, the partnership between NPL and St. Olaf College has grown tremendously. NPL has partnered on many academic civic engagement courses, including the course that implemented the incredibly successful Celebrate Asia Pasifika event during AANHPI Heritage Month; served as a site for our new student orientation “Service Saturday”; hosted many faculty and student presentations; and so much more!
Night to Unite; National Night Out – Crookston, MN | University of Minnesota Crookston
This year’s National Night Out (NNO); Night to Unite, celebrated its 41st year nationally and 22nd in Crookston. Noting the last five years, Night to Unite has been held on the campus of the University of Minnesota Crookston the first Tuesday in August. UMN Crookston has been partnering with Night to Unite since 2010. Nationwide over 40 million people in over 15,000 communities attend National Night Out events every year and in Crookston this event has grown in participation, scope, and community engagement. More than 1,500 guests ascend on the Crookston campus each August and engage in what is one of the largest collaborative community events.
Lisa Denzer | University of Minnesota Morris
As Director of Raising Up Stevens County Kinship (RUSC Kinship), Lisa Denzer inspires Morris community members, including UMN Morris faculty, staff, and students, to mentor youth. She coordinates Lunch Buddies with local schools, pairs mentors and mentees for long-term relationships, and coordinates reading programs. Her nominators wrote, “She is completely organized, friendly, inclusive, and innovative. Bringing our local youth together with community members that they can look to and build relationships with is something that benefits all.” In addition, Lisa wrote a grant to support the Stevens County Community Garden, which now has a park area and a state of the art shed with a family corner, thanks to her initiative.
Love INC of the Cedar Valley | University of Northern Iowa
UNI began planning its first Day of Service (April 8, 2026) in Fall 2024. At the first planning meeting the executive director of Love Inc., Glen Keith, mentioned a program where they deliver beds to families in need, usually 20 beds a month, turning away many. Glen imagined, “What if we deliver 150 beds in honor of the 150 years of UNI?” This requires planning, logistics, and funds. Love Inc. did not shy away from the challenge. Grants were awarded: ServePro, Foster’s Mattress, Ashley Furniture, and Young Plumbing & Heating are supporting the effort with trucks and drivers, a UNI class is mapping the routes, and UNI athletes are providing the heavy lifting. Glen is managing everything and his energy for this project is driving the goodness that will come.
Retrieving Freedom, Inc. | Wartburg College
Retrieving Freedom, Inc (RFI) has enriched the Wartburg College experience through sustained collaboration with the Social Work Department and the Institute for Leadership Education. RFI provides students with real-world perspective and hands-on learning opportunities. The reciprocal partnership with RFI evolved into the newly founded student-led Wartburg Service Dog Club, offering diverse engagement opportunities including hosting campus events to provide socialization for service dogs in training, supporting fellow puppy-fosters, and educating the community about service animals. RFI is committed to personal development as well as service excellence, and this makes them an indispensable partner in fostering a culture of empathy.
Parks and Recreation of Winona | Winona State University
The City of Winona Parks and Recreation Department is an exemplary community partner whose sustained commitment to student mentorship, experiential learning, and community engagement has strengthened Winona State University for decades. WPARD’s willingness to invest time, expertise, and institutional support – serving as supervisors, collaborators, guest lecturers, and adjunct faculty – has resulted in meaningful educational experiences not only for students but also for faculty, successful career pathways for graduates, and lasting benefits to the Winona community.
Community Collaboration Awards
The Community Collaboration awards recognize a project or initiative co-created by campus and community partners that showcases meaningful collaboration and exemplifies the campus’s civic and community engagement, contributing to both student learning and community well-being.
Zinnia Koy | Augsburg University
Zinnia Koy embodies Augsburg’s community engagement commitments to our neighbors and contributes to both student learning and community well-being in their work everyday at Campus Kitchen. Zinnia develops deep partnerships with community organizations to ensure we can continue to distribute food in the Cedar-Riverside community, even in the midst of crisis. Zinnia spends countless hours working with partners and funders to ensure continued availability of food as other sources of food support (such as SNAP) became uncertain. Zinnia models to students what an Auggie alum and staff should do in moments unimagined. Our students, staff, and faculty learn a tremendous amount from Zinnia as they walk alongside one another in inspiring ways.
5K for Mental Health Awareness Committee | Central Lakes College
The 5K for Mental Health Awareness is run each April and is a visible event open to college community members and the general public. The committee and Crow Wing Energized (a county effort) have worked each of the last five years to hold this event and build connections within the Brainerd Lakes Area community, reducing the stigma around mental illness. The run demonstrates these collaborations with other stakeholders in the mental health arena. Proceeds have been donated to benefit both Central Lakes College and non-profits that work to support those in poverty and/or living with mental illnesses.
Salem Community Outpost | College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University
The Salem Community Outpost demonstrates outstanding cross‑sector collaboration in service of community health and wellbeing. Located in the Salem Lutheran Church facility, the Outpost was established through the unified efforts of Salem, the CSB and SJU Nursing Department, CentraCare, the Public Safety Foundation, the St. Cloud Police Department, and additional community partners. Their coordinated vision, shared resources, and collective commitment created a comprehensive, health‑focused hub that strengthens access, support, and connection for Saint Cloud residents. The outpost exemplifies the definition of community collaboration.
Kristin Larson | Grand View University
Kristin Larson is a visionary leader supporting the Theatre Department’s young audiences program, providing 16 free productions over 19 years. Touring and on-campus performances have reached over 20,000 K-5 students across the Greater Des Moines community. Kristin’s students gain hands-on experience as performers and crew while inspiring young audiences and building lasting community connections. Productions like Treasure Island (2023, reaching 1,650 students) and Pete the Cat: The Musical! (2025, reaching 1,550 students) exemplify a sustained, vibrant collaboration that enriches student learning and makes arts education broadly accessible to all.
Grinnell United Methodist Church | Grinnell College
When the pandemic paused Grinnell’s long-standing Community Meal and its previous host closed, Grinnell United Methodist Church stepped forward in a meaningful way. Building on its own tradition of hosting a “Blessed Meal,” the congregation chose to fold that effort into a broader community collaboration – an intentional and generous shift. In partnership with Grinnell College’s Center for Careers, Life, and Service and dozens of local and campus groups, GUMC provides space, kitchen access, and steady coordination. In 2025 alone, nearly 50 meals were shared, expanding food access while creating a welcoming space where neighbors and students from many backgrounds build relationships and strengthen shared responsibility across the community.
East Side Seed Library | Metro State University
The East Side Seed Library was launched by Metro State University Library, the Dayton’s Bluff branch of Saint Paul Public Library, and Urban Roots in the spring of 2023. More than just a space to take or donate seeds, the seed library connects neighbors, students, and community partners while expanding access to healthy food and gardening resources. Through its educational programs, participants of all ages gain knowledge, confidence, and a sense of empowerment to grow their own food and tend to native plants. The work of the East Side Seed Library is uniquely collaborative, leveraging the strengths of an academic library, public library, and nonprofit organization to bring shared learning and hands-on experiences to the community.
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa – 3DE | Mount Mercy University
The 3DE program is designed to provide case‑based learning experiences for high school students. Through this initiative, Mount Mercy employees and students were able to connect with students from local high schools, who worked to identify a nonprofit organization for potential collaboration with students in MMU’s Leadership program. The purpose of this partnership was to strengthen community engagement and create mutually beneficial opportunities for both the university and the selected organizations. MMU chose to participate in this partnership to increase high school students’ familiarity with the university, its mission, and its people, while also introducing students to impactful nonprofit organizations throughout our community.
Maurice O’Bannon | North Hennepin Community College
Spearheaded by Director of Community Impact Maurice O’Bannon, the Civic Engagement Education Series reflects a sustained, reciprocal partnership between North Hennepin Community College and the City of Brooklyn Park that connects education with community impact. Through interactive, accessible sessions on civic rights, government processes, voting, advocacy, and leadership, the series expands civic knowledge and empowers residents especially youth and historically underrepresented communities to engage in local democracy. By co-designing and co-hosting this initiative, the partners leverage educational expertise and community trust to amplify community voices and strengthen inclusive civic participation.
Shanda Walker | Southwest Minnesota State University
Shanda is the facilitator for the Lyon and Murray County CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) Program. SMSU collaborates through College Now as students engage with their community while learning about starting and operating a business. Students are immersed in real life learning experiences with the opportunity to take risks, manage the results, and learn from the outcomes. Shanda assists young professionals in building relationships and connections to thrive in the future by contributing to economic development and sustainable communities.
SMMART Clinic: St. Mary’s Health Clinics & St. Catherine University | St. Catherine University
St. Mary’s Medical and Rehabilitative Therapies (SMMART) Clinic is a collaboration between St. Catherine University and St. Mary’s Health Clinics, an organization providing high-quality, affordable healthcare since 1992. Founded in 2018 and led by Dr. Amy Kelly, the SMMART Clinic expands healthcare access for underserved community members by integrating primary care, physical and occupational therapy, nutrition services, and reliable access to healthy food. Students provide hands-on care alongside licensed faculty and clinicians. Through this interprofessional approach, the clinic improves community health outcomes while preparing compassionate, skilled professionals committed to serving others.
Day of Service | University of Northern Iowa
UNI is celebrating its sesquicentennial, honoring 150 years of transformation and impact. The spring 2026 semester is named Spring into Service: Cats Who Care and invites UNI students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends to come together to give back by strengthening the communities that have supported us. On Wednesday, April 8, UNI hosted is first ever Day of Service. The purpose of the day was to enhance learning through service. Faculty and staff embed service projects in classes. An additional 30 service projects were available to students campus-wide with nearly 1,000 individual volunteer opportunities. This was possible due to the extraordinary community partners in the Cedar Valley who responded, joining in on planning and partnership.
Community Builders & Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School Leader In Me | Wartburg College
The Community Builders initiative exemplifies a meaningful, evolving partnership between the Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School and the Wartburg College Institute for Leadership Education. A MacJannet Prize winner, the program meets on campus to reinforce lessons learned from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. As a Lighthouse Certified Leader in Me School, Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School is committed to student development of the 7 Habits. The Community Builders relationship highlights students as engaged citizens and thrives by adapting to district needs, ensuring that all Community Builders participants develop the essential leadership skills to flourish, contributing to both student learning and community well-being.
Arcadia School District | Winona State University
The Arcadia/WSU Spanish Literacy initiative has been ongoing since Fall 2019. For this project, WSU students work in pairs to design a 15-minute mini-lesson in Spanish literacy for native Spanish-speaking middle-school students at Arcadia Middle School who are newcomers to the US and who may have had traumatic immigration experiences or interrupted schooling, and who are in the process of learning English. They also read to Elementary students from Spanish books, immersing themselves in the classroom and the school.
