Every year, tufts university Give Presidential Award for Civic Life Awarded to a student who has demonstrated both academic excellence and social impact. This award is given to undergraduate and graduate students and represents the highest recognition of service, leadership, and civic engagement at the University. tufts.
This year, 14 students will receive this award, including seven undergraduate students and seven graduate students. Each student has been involved in a variety of community-oriented projects during their time on campus. The newspaper spoke to five of the award winners about their involvement in civic activities.
to Safiya CokerFor the fourth-year international relations and economics student, civic life comes from applying academic learning off campus and to the world.
“For me, civic life means taking what you learned in school, including classes, and trying to apply it to your surroundings,” Coker says. Said.
Citizen participation is a big part of it. Cokers time of tufts. Her notable experiences include: tissue scholarI work at Campus life office in cooperation with africana centerI am doing volunteer work in Harvard Square Homeless Shelter.We also deliver cokers Wendell Phillips address At the 2024 Baccalaureate Awards Ceremony.
alex dingleFourth-year students studying international relations and Middle East studies felt similarly.
“Focusing on civic life is about ensuring everyone knows their place and feels understood within their role.” citizen's Community”, Dingle Said.
dingle I have been involved with political and humanitarian organizations on and off campus. On the political front, she participates in the following activities: Middle East Research Group and worked for iowa democratic party. She has also done humanitarian work. India, Jordan and Greece.
both dingle and coker We will continue to be active internationally as part of our civic activities.
coker I have roots all over the world and plan to move to Indonesia after graduation.
“I've always had a very global perspective on life. My father's background is gambia And my mom's family is from Jamaica, so I always had a non-U.S. perspective,” Coker said. “After graduation, she will move to Indonesia for 13 months on a program called Luce Scholars.”
Through the Tisch University program, now called Civic Semester, Dingle has had the opportunity to: live in India.
“It was a great experience, if not the most formative experience of my life,” Dingle said. Said. “I lived in India for seven and a half months. I worked with Teach for India in a school there. … IReally It taught me how impactful education can be and the importance of being in the field, learning directly from students, and seeing things from their perspective. ”
dingle We have also worked with refugee children. Greece I studied abroad in Jordan 1 year. After graduating, he returned to Jordan and Chiang Mai, Thailand.
“I received a Peace Project grant from Tisch University and ended up working in Jordan for the same organization I volunteered with when I studied abroad there,” Dingle said. Said. “In August of this year, I was accepted into a fellowship called Via Global Community Fellowship. I will be spending a year in Chiang Mai, Thailand, working with students from Myanmar at Palamy University.”
There is also a lot of citizen participation both domestically and internationally. Medford/Somerville at Tufts campus. Onesie NanaA fourth-year student studying biological psychology spoke about the importance of involvement with the community.
“I love self-development, so I have been working on various things.” Nana Said. “I love community development.”
Nana While attending school, he participated in various extracurricular activities. tufts,especially black men group And that Tufts Community Union Senator. Nana-chan too interfaith ambassadorIn collaboration with University Chaplain Association Designing programming for students from different faith backgrounds.
“[The Chaplaincy has] A large part of my experience at Tufts University was working with a group of students from various faith backgrounds under the pastorate of Ellis Winger,” Nana said. “We work with the various pastors who are part of the pastorate to develop programs and initiatives. [and] Host a panel. ”
Shasha KingstonA senior who studies biology, psychology, and environmental studies, he is also working on the following: Mr. Tufts campus.she very involved Environmental activities, activities as Sustainable Core Fellow He serves on the boards of two environmental nonprofit organizations. At Tufts, Kingston co-created three new sustainability programs through the Office of Sustainability.
“Off campus, I serve on the boards of two different nonprofit organizations. The first is called Our Climate Common…The overall mission is to foster relationships across social divides. is to do [to] Let's move together toward a more sustainable future,” said Kingston. “And his other nonprofit organization, he calls BREN, is the Boise River Enhancement Network, which is based in my hometown and is very similar to the Mystic River Watershed Association, which helps with land management. It is an organization.”
Adrian HukThe fourth-year applied environmental studies student spoke about the power of engaging with the local community.
“I think active citizenship means learning about the local politics around you,” Huk says. Said.
For Huq, local includes: tufts Similarly, their home communities new haven, connecticut Haku is a co-founder youth action team under new haven climate movement Founded the organization and spearheaded sustainable efforts. Mr. Tufts campus as Sustainable Core Fellow.
“and [the] New Haven Climate Movement, we are very locally focused. We are focused on targeting New Haven City Hall and the New Haven Board of Education.' said Haku. “Through that, I was able to learn more about local politics and local governance structures. So active citizenship means being informed about what's going on in the cities of your state and making your own demands. I think it's about showing up to be heard.”
This is how the award recipient felt Mr. Tufts The campus is primarily civic-minded, with peers and community members fostering a sense of active citizenship.
“Tufts University has a student body full of amazing students with a focus on civic engagement, and I am continually amazed by my colleagues. and me My friends and my faculty are doing really great work across disciplines to advance understanding of civic engagement and civic engagement efforts in our community,” Dingle said.
Nana and Haku shared Dingle's Emotions.
“At Tufts, [civic engagement is] There. It’s everywhere,” Nana said. “This is an aspect of Tufts that I have really come to enjoy in the various extracurricular areas outside of academics. ”
“It’s really exciting to have this opportunity.” bunch' said Haku. “Thank you to all the student activists who make our campus a more vibrant and fulfilling place. Get used to it”
Even though this year is coming to an end, their work isn't done yet. 2024 Cohort Presidential Award for Civic Life Recipients deeply value active citizenship and pass on that experience. tufts On to the next chapter of their lives.
Haq said her passion for the cause won't disappear anytime soon.
“I want to continue my organizational activities for as long as possible,” Haq said. “Once I get involved in activism, I feel like there's no going back. I feel like it's become a pretty core part of my identity, especially when I'm working with young people. It's going to be… This is also something I would like to do.”
Nana Similarly, I realized that my drive to better myself would continue even after I graduated.
“I try my best to be the best version of myself every day.” Nana Said. “When it comes to citizen engagement, it’s just a matter of finding out where you want to be.””
Nana's Other honorees also recognized the importance of active citizenship in a variety of areas. tufts.
“What does it mean to graduate in 2024 when every corner of the world is on fire?” Coker said. “There is so much responsibility on us as young minds. graduationAnd then we have another election year, and there's a lot of global crisis and suffering happening at the same time… It's just, 'What are we going to do? I think it's important to talk about these things instead of just saying, ”
“Now, more than ever, I think it’s important that we really think about what civic engagement means, especially in a global world that is more focused on conflict than on communities,” Dingle said. says. Said. “There is still a lot of work to be done, and I am pleased to be able to move forward with that effort.””
kingston provides the best summary of each awardee's commitment to civic improvement.
“It is important to do what is within your ability to make the world a better place.” she said.
