Nominations being accepted for community service awards

Nominations for the 2025-26 Excellence in Community Engagement Awards are being accepted by the Office of Community Engagement until Friday, Jan. 23, at 5 p.m.

These awards celebrate exceptional faculty, staff, students and community partners who embody Augusta University’s community engagement values rooted in impact, collaboration, engagement, reciprocity and innovation. These guiding principles inspire meaningful change, mutual respect and partnerships that unite AU and the community.

The five awards include the Excellence in Community Engagement Faculty Award, the Excellence in Community Engagement Staff Award, the Excellence in Community Engagement Undergraduate Student Award, the Excellence in Community Engagement Graduate Student Award and the Outstanding Community Partner Award.

“These awards highlight the meaningful partnerships and impactful work happening here at AU and in the community, giving us an opportunity to recognize those who exemplify community engagement,” said Amanda Richardson, community engagement manager in the Office of Community Engagement.

Ashley Wright, Luterra Fulks, Vanessa White, Tina Baggott, Amanda Richardson and Cameron Welsh at the 2025 Excellence in Community Engagement Awards’ annual Pancakes and Partnerships celebration. [Michael Holahan/Augusta University]

Last year, Carrie Reif-Stice, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication in the Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, earned the faculty award; Ketarya Hunt Bass, director of Community Outreach Programs for the Dental College of Georgia, took home the staff award; Anna Reeves, an integrated studies major, earned the undergraduate student award; Mitchell Hanson, an MD-MPH student, was given the graduate student award; and the Asociación Latina de Servicios del CSRA was named the Outstanding Community Partner.

Each honoree has advanced AU’s mission by building partnerships that address community needs, enhance student learning and strengthen civic engagement. Through community-engaged learning, community-based research and sustained collaboration, their work reflects and demonstrates a meaningful connection between the university and the communities it serves.

Faculty Award

This award recognizes a full-time faculty member annually for outstanding contributions to community-engaged learning and community-engaged work at Augusta University, having worked closely with community partner(s) to integrate community-engaged principles, practices and partnerships into their course.

Eligibility:

Community-engaged learning (service-learning) pedagogy has been incorporated for at least two semesters at AU.
Nomination is based on community-engaged learning courses completed within the last two years.
Focus is on learning objectives and community impact.
Nominees cannot have won the award in the past two years. (Past Award Recipients)

Criteria:

Community-engaged learning aligns with best practices
Meaningful integration of service components with course content and objectives
Effective student reflection demonstrating impact on students and the community
Evidence of impact on student learning, self-awareness and civic commitment

Student Award

This award honors two AU students (one graduate and one undergraduate) who demonstrate exceptional leadership and entrepreneurial spirit, building innovative collaborations and making lasting community impact.

Eligibility:

Must be a full-time student currently enrolled at Augusta University.
Must be in good academic standing.
Eligible service must have been completed within the last academic year.
Past winners are not eligible. (Past Award Recipients)

Criteria:

Demonstrates leadership through service initiatives or projects
Shows a passion for service and/or raising civic awareness
Exhibits innovation and collaboration for community well-being
Provides evidence of impact on the community served
Demonstrates personal, intellectual or professional growth through the experience

Staff Award

This award honors a staff member who has shown outstanding dedication to advancing community engagement at Augusta University by promoting campus-community partnerships and supporting students and colleagues in service initiatives.

Eligibility:

Must be a full-time staff member at Augusta University.
Must have demonstrated a commitment to community engagement and/or engaged service.
Eligible community engagement activities were completed within the last two years.
Nominees cannot have won the award in the past three years. (Past Award Recipients)

Criteria:

Demonstrated commitment to community service and engagement
Effective collaboration and partnership with community organizations or groups
Contribution to the well-being of the local and broader community
Impacted the community, peers or students by supporting the university’s commitment to engagement and service

Community Partner Award

The award is presented annually to a community partner in recognition of outstanding collaboration with Augusta University, reflecting the university’s commitment to community engagement values.

Eligibility:

Eligible partners include organizations, businesses or agencies excelling as collaborators in advancing community engagement.
Nominees must have partnered with Augusta University faculty, staff and/or students during the current academic year.

Criteria: