The Community Engagement Scholars Program (CESP) wrapped up the 2024-2025 academic year with their annual showcase on April 18^th! Our Scholars connected with campus and community partners to celebrate their dedication to community engagement and present their work on collaborative community-identified projects.

“Our partners at community organizations serve as co-educators with our Scholars,” said CESP Program Director Stephanie Brewer. “They support and guide the Scholars’ work and development over the year. They have an invaluable role in the success of this program.”

The MSU Community Engagement Scholars Program is an initiative offered by the Center for Community Engaged Learning and the Office of the President in partnership with community organizations in Michigan. This program completed its 9^th year this spring and has co-educated 95 student Scholars and 10 graduate student coordinators with 24 community partners. Students selected as scholars are paired with a primary community organization, and projects with community partners can range from project management and infrastructure to communications and data collection. In addition, the full CESP cohort connects to design and implement a cohort project, participate in professional development workshops, take part in reflective learning, and learn from one another.

“I’m very proud of our Community Engaged Scholars and their exemplary commitment to service,” said President Kevin Guskiewicz in video remarks shared at the showcase. “These experiences are great preparation for careers and for developing engaged citizens and leaders of tomorrow.”

The CESP cohort also collaborates with a graduate student coordinator, who is responsible for facilitating goal-setting and team-building sessions for the cohort, connections with community partners, and access to resources and support. Vivian Morales, this year’s graduate coordinator, presented at the showcase about her tasks throughout the year in supporting the program.

“Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to support and learn from such a passionate, driven, and resilient group of students,” said Morales. “Being part of this community has reminded me of the power of connection and how much we can accomplish when we uplift one another.”

At the showcase, Scholars gave poster presentations to attendees about the projects they completed with their community partners. Mariana Flores-Cantu served with the Eastside Community Action Center; Jannet Garcia served with the Michigan College Access Network; Bailey Griffin served with the Michigan Women’s Commission; Jerome Hamilton, Jr. served with South West Action Group; Sumaiya Imad served with Michigan Institute for Contemporary Arts; Jai Kozar-Lewis served with Todd Martin Youth Leadership; Abigail Livingston served with Meta Peace Teams; Ella McKanna and Cho Aye Zi served with the Refugee Development Center; Mel Miles and Jessica Pacheco-Perez served with Allen Neighborhood Center; and Logan Skinner served with Capital Area District Libraries. In addition, Morales, Flores-Cantu, Griffin, Hamilton, McKanna, Miles, and Skinner will graduate this spring.

Congratulations to our Scholars on a stellar year of community engagement!