Two AQ seniors, Laura Rico ‘16 and Elizabeth Sensing ‘16, were recipients of Michigan Campus Compact (MiCC) Commitment to Service Award for their dedication to community service. The pair were honored on April 7, 2016 at MiCC’s Awards Gala, held at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Center in East Lansing. Students are chosen for the award specifically for either the breadth or depth of their community involvement or their service experiences and the demonstration of meaningful reflection of those experiences.
Rico has dedicated numerous hours of her life to serve in a variety of issues throughout her college career. She has worked as a reading and bilingual tutor at Congress Elementary School, participated in several service-learning programs, taught ceramics in an after-school program with the Cook Art Center for the Hispanic Community, and in 2012-13 she logged over 300 service hours as an AmeriCorps volunteer.
Through her involvements Rico has become a strong leader by helping organize and create events with diversity organizations that unite students of different backgrounds. She actively advocates for social justice, helps students explore their identity and educates the community about various traditions and cultures.
Sensing embodies the principles of sustainability and works tirelessly to advocate for social justice to help create a better world. She has held various roles in Social Action Committee (S.A.C.) engaging others in dialogue while coordinating trips and events for social issues, and has been an active participant in service learning programs since she started at Aquinas, as both a participant and student leader. Sensing also works as an intern for the Center for Sustainability, fiercely advocating for AQ’s Zero-Waste initiative and developing policies to increase sustainable efforts on campus.
Whether conducting educating and engaging others in sustainability or advocating in solidarity with the poor, Sensing demonstrates outstanding commitment to service and impact on the lives of others and the environment.
Michigan Campus Compact is a coalition of college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the public purpose of higher education. MiCC promotes the education and commitment of Michigan college students to be civically engaged citizens, through creating and expanding academic, co-curricular and campus-wide opportunities for community service, service-learning and civic engagement. For more information, visit www.micampuscompact.org.