Casey Eldridge, a sophomore from Nashville, and Carrie Jacob, a senior from Albion, received the Abby and Oramel Hosford Awards for Leadership in Individual and Social Responsibility at The University of Olivet’s 170th Founders’ Day Feb. 19, 2014.
These awards are given to one male and one female student who have played a significant role in the college’s Service Learning Department by participating in service trips and making an impact on the lives of the people in the areas The University of Olivet serves.
Eldridge is double majoring in biology and environmental science. He is a member of The University of Olivet’s Global Citizen Honors Program, Earthbound, and various music ensembles and is also the relations officer for The Guild, which is the college’s table top gaming club. Eldridge has been on the Dean’s List twice and has made one appearance on the President’s List for maintaining a 4.0 grade point average.
Eldridge has participated in almost every service trip offered by The University of Olivet since fall of 2012.
“I started going on service trips so I could see new places and make a positive influence in communities,” Eldridge said. “The Service Learning Department has impacted me by giving me insight into how people live while also teaching me valuable trade skills.”
Jacob is a writing major with an individualized minor in global justice and ethics. She is the president of The University of Olivet’s National Organization for Women chapter, secretary for the Gay Straight Alliance, a member of Sigma Tau Delta, which is the English honors society, and is a member of the Global Citizen Honors Program. She is also the campus ambassador for the Half the Sky Movement, an organization that focuses on turning oppression into opportunities for women and children around the world. She has been named to the Dean’s list numerous times and completed a creative writing project titled Nature, Global Justice and the Creative Writer during a fellowship with Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings last summer.
During her junior year Jacob went on the Hurricane Katrina relief trip in New Orleans and the Alternative Spring Break trip to the Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Ark. Heifer International is a nonprofit organization that is fighting to end word hunger and poverty buy working with communities in need. She has participated on every overnight service trip his academic year and plans a return trip to Heifer in the spring.
“My favorite trip was to Heifer because I learned ways that I can help people, animals and the environment,” said Jacob. “After graduation I plan to volunteer at Heifer for a few months then come back to Detroit to get involved with urban farming.”
Eldridge and Jacob were presented the awards by Michael Fales, The University of Olivet’s director of service learning and campus ministries, and Ian Peters, service learning coordinator.
For more information or to get involved in The University of Olivet’s service learning trips, contact Fales at 269.749.7624 or mfales@uolivet.edu, or Peters at 269.749.7127 or ipeters@uolivet.edu.