Sigma Alpha Lambda is proud to announce that 93 members from 40 SAL chapters across the country took part in this year’s MLK Day of Service and earned a special PVSA (President’s Volunteer Service Award) called the Drum Major for Service Award through their volunteer efforts. MLK Day, always held on the 3rd Monday of January, is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service — a “day on, not a day off”—and SAL members did their part to honor Dr. King’s legacy of community impact.
Whether making blankets or stocking pantry shelves for the homeless, participating in street clean-ups, mentoring children for the day with buddy programs, assisting with MLK Day parades, organizing at their local libraries, or creating cards for the elderly or children in hospitals, SAL members opened their hearts and gave of their time through MLK Day projects.
Special thanks and recognition goes out to the following chapters who coordinated group volunteer opportunities for their members: Grand Valley State University, University of Kentucky, New Mexico State University, El Centro College, University of Arizona, James Madison University, University of Southern Mississippi, University of North Carolina Greensboro and University of North Carolina Wilmington. In addition to these group efforts, individual members from various chapters were able to volunteer with local projects that meant something to them.
Here’s what some SAL members had to say about their MLK Day of Service experience:
Alban George, University of Maryland Baltimore County: We helped move beds, dressers, dishes, cookware, and other basic need items to those transitioning out of shelters and in some cases escaping domestic violence. It was a realization for me of how much of an impact we can have in the lives of community members by lending a helping hand. What I liked most about the experience at A Wider Circle was the diversity of the volunteers coming together to help out and uplift community members.
Nicole Goward, Grand Valley State University: I volunteered at Bethany Christian Services to make life a little better for our senior population. We built birdhouses and terrariums to combat social isolation and loneliness. It was a lot of hard work, but it was well worth it and very fun. I liked putting myself out there and having a new experience building birdhouses and learning about the social isolation problem that senior citizens face.
Logan Evans, University of Nebraska Lincoln: I volunteered at The Center for People In Need. We sorted through coats, clothing, shoes, and other items for distribution to those that both need and can’t afford these items. It was really amazing to me how many people were willing to do their part to help those in need even though there was nothing in it for them. Seeing so many good hearts in one place is a beautiful thing.
Ja’Niya Williams, University of North Carolina Greensboro: With the Out of the Garden project, we packed bags of foods and snack bags to make sure that people in the community who aren’t as fortunate still have food to eat. It was a feel-good experience knowing I was contributing to serving the community, especially on MLK Day. Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’” Today, I helped feed hundreds of people and it was great!
Martha Flores, University of Texas Arlington: I volunteered at Mission Arlington. My eyes filled with tears knowing that the little work we did actually makes a big difference in the lives of many. I’m definitely coming back!
Fatima Fazal-ur-Rehman, University of Louisiana Lafayette: I volunteered with Big Brother Big Sisters of Acadiana. I was very happy with giving back to the community, especially to help a young girl in need of a good friend! When you can really, truly see the impact you are making on someone else’s life, it doesn’t simply give you a good feeling about yourself; it changes you.
Johnny Brumfield, University of Southern Mississippi: My MLK Day of Service experience at The Field House homeless shelter was exhilarating. It made me feel happy that I was helping my community. It was heartwarming because I was able to contribute to a worthwhile cause and really put smiles on people’s faces.
Congratulations to everyone who utilized the day to make a difference in their community and represented Sigma Alpha Lambda this year! Here is the list of SAL members who will receive the Drum Major for Service Award in conjunction with the 2016 MLK Day of Service:
A’ Sheif Haynes – El Centro College
Aanika Mike – New Mexico State University
Alana Hughes – University of Central Oklahoma
Alban George – University of Maryland Baltimore County
Alexus Mathis – Valdosta State University
Alycia Kokos – University of North Carolina Wilmington
Alyssa Ballard – Grand Valley State University
Alyssa Cawley – University of North Carolina Wilmington
Arshia Ghodrati – University of Georgia
Ashley Hightower – University of Memphis
Beatriz Saiz – Florida International University
Beverly Rasnick – El Centro College
Brandon Henderson – University of Memphis
Brandon Moody – James Madison University
Breana Johnson – University of Texas Arlington
Brittany Klause – University of Southern Mississippi
Bruce Kirkwood – University of Southern Mississippi
Carrie Nalley – New Mexico State University
Cayley Dymond – Purdue University
Cory Fairfield – Florida International University
Courteria Reid – Florida International University
Crystal Johnson – University of South Florida
Crystal Wilkerson – University of Kentucky
Curtis Lee – El Centro College
Cydney Pearson – University of North Carolina Charlotte
Damin Kendrick – New Mexico State University
Daniel Travis – Arizona State University
Danielle Pace – University of Connecticut
Deidrea Bailey – University of Southern Mississippi
Derek Ober – University of South Florida
Dwane Tomlin – University of Texas Arlington
Emily Garretson – East Tennessee State University
Fatima Fazal-ur-Rehman – University of Louisiana Lafayette
Gabriella Cerda – Appalachian State University
Galia Chate Hernandez – Montclair State University
Gianna Redeemer – University of South Carolina
Ha Nguyen – University of Maryland Baltimore County
Hayley Wallittt – Montclair State University
India Green – University of Tennessee
Isabella Deluise – University of South Florida
Jacqueline Estrada – New Mexico State University
Jameka Davis – University of Southern Mississippi
Jamiaus Marion – University of Southern Mississippi
Ja’Niya Williams – University of North Carolina Greensboro
Jasmine Adams – University of Southern Mississippi
Johnny Brumfield – University of Southern Mississippi
Julia Tani – Virginia Tech University
Kankishia Jimison – El Centro College
Karen Boger – University of North Carolina Greensboro
Katherine Harbolick – James Madison University
Kayla Hillegass – University of Akron
Kelly Mendes – Arkansas State University
Lakelyn Taylor – University of Southern Mississippi
LaTarsha Taylor – Valdosta State University
Latasha Phillips – El Centro College
Lauren O’Quinn – University of North Florida
Logan Evans – University of Nebraska Lincoln
Madison Hopkins – University of South Florida
Mariana Zamora – Texas State University
Marie Gray – Eastern Washington University
Martha Flores – University of Texas Arlington
Martha Marquez – University of Southern Mississippi
Melanie Cloud – Old Dominion University
Nicholas Tarleton – University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Nicole Gustin – Grand Valley State University
Nicole Goward – Grand Valley State University
Noblin Ogbonna – University of Maryland Baltimore County
Ora Foster – El Centro College
Paige Lee – University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Pearl Lam – University of Arizona
Preston Kramer – University of Arizona
Rachawadee Maungkya-Taveepanpun – University of Nebraska Lincoln
Raven Boyce – University of Memphis
Robinn Anderson – University of Southern Mississippi
Rodnecia Joiner – University of Southern Mississippi
Rosa Park – University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Samerria Brooks – University of Southern Mississippi
Shayna McQuade – Western Michigan University
Shykeia Nelson – Mississippi State University
Summer Chahin – Western Michigan University
Tamara Wright – University of Southern Mississippi
Terry Felty – El Centro College
Timothy Smith – University of Alabama Birmingham
Tippin Harkins – University of North Carolina Wilmington
Valeria Altamirano – University of Texas El Paso
Vanessa Martinez – El Centro College
Vanessa Smothers – University of Kentucky
Vanessa Clayton – Arizona State University
Vanessa Martinez – El Centro College
Victor Piña-Zelinger – University of Arizona
Wendy Vong – University of Georgia
William Pardy – University of South Florida
Zachary Bassler – Grand Valley State University
