“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'” This famous quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. is at the heart of one of the foundations of Sigma Alpha Lambda – SERVICE. The 2014 MLK Day of Service took place on January 20th and called for Americans from all walks of life to work together and provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. SAL members answered that call as they participated in various MLK Day local service projects around the country. Utilizing the MLK Day of Service website and its project locator, SAL members found meaningful ways to impact the lives of others on this milestone federal holiday.
Through their efforts, members of various chapters will earn a special Drum Major for Service Award. This award is a component of the President’s Volunteer Service Award and comes accompanied by a letter from the President of the United States. Winners of the Drum Major for Service Award are listed at the end of this article.
Marisse Padron of the Florida International University Chapter of SAL volunteered at a Sunrise Senior Living facility and had this to say of her experience with the residents: “The glow and smile they gave was a reminder that no matter one’s background or story, anyone can brighten someone else’s day! It was a rewarding experience. It might have been my first day volunteering on MLK weekend but it definitely won’t be my last!” Alexandra Singer of the University of Southern California Chapter participated in a school garden beautification workday at an elementary school. Through this project, she helped with planting, cleaning up and rejuvenating the school’s garden which is a part of a program that promotes healthy eating habits.
Layla Niavarani of the University of Central Oklahoma Chapter helped organize an on-campus food pantry and assisted at the Infant Crisis Services Center, and her efforts were recognized in a local newspaper article. Ruben Touprong, a SAL member from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, took part in a multi-station service project set up to assist a variety of local nonprofit organizations at his local mall. In summarizing his MLK Day experience he said, “This volunteer service really encouraged me a lot. I loved doing the work and I felt honored that I could do something to help people in unfortunate circumstances. I’m looking forward to participating in many future volunteer projects.” A member from the University of South Florida, Katie Collins assisted Feeding America and said, “It was awesome to see so many people of different ages and backgrounds come together.”
Regardless of what their local projects involved, SAL members showed dedication and commitment to volunteerism this year through the 2014 MLK Day of Service. We have created an album on our Facebook page of all photos received. Thank you to everyone that participated! Winners of the Drum Major for Service Award are:
Emily Claffey – Boston University
Akliatese Harris – California State University, Fresno
William Cardona – California State University Long Beach
Chris Nguyen – El Centro College
Leslye Soto – Emporia State University
Christen McAfee – Emporia State University
Ruth Campos – Emporia State University
Giannina Conde – Florida International University
Jose Peralta – Florida International University
Marisse Padron – Florida International University
Yaneli Valdes – Florida International University
Jannell Padron – Florida International University
Ramika Mann – Florida State University
Jocelyn Yao – Georgia Institute Of Technology
C. Shanel Perkins – Grambling State University
Kenisha Wilson – Grambling State University
Monica Owens – Grambling State University
Courtney Olson – Illinois State University
Heather Burk – Indiana State University
Renisha Hall – Middle Tennessee State University
Alexandria Wilson – Mississippi State University
Arlicia Sanders – Mississippi State University
D’Ebonee Blakemore – Mississippi State University
Mercedes Alberson – Mississippi State University
Veronica Ovalles-Taveras – Montclair State University
Alma Chavez – New Mexico State University
Gabriela Leon – San Diego State University
Ashley Montgomery – University Of Alabama
Layla Niavarani – University Of Central Oklahoma
Kaila Toce – University Of Connecticut
Nicholas Tarleton – University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Alexa Prettyman – University Of Kentucky
Sarah Grady – University Of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Courtney Loftin – University Of North Carolina Greensboro
Ruben Touprong – University Of North Carolina Greensboro
Chloe Walker – University Of North Carolina Greensboro
Sabrina Gregory – University Of North Carolina Greensboro
Christopher McCoy – University Of North Carolina Greensboro
Christina Brown – University Of South Carolina
Katherine Collins – University Of South Florida
Alexandra Singer – University Of Southern California
Kelsey Kennel – University Of Tennessee
Ethan Carman – University Of Tennessee
Kimberly Tang – University Of Texas at Austin
Lindsey Kae Osborne – Western Michigan University
