At a glance
One way in which Alfred State pays tribute to Dr. King is by honoring those who represent his spirit of service. This year, the college will host its eighth annual Spirit of Service Award Ceremony at 5 p.m. Jan. 30 in the community room at the Union University Church, 29 N. Main St., Alfred.
Service to others is one of the many values that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. cherished and encouraged throughout his lifetime. Embodying the legacy that Dr. King left behind, Alfred State students, faculty, and staff all devote their time and efforts to make their community and the world a better place.
One way in which Alfred State pays tribute to Dr. King is by honoring those who represent his spirit of service. This year, the college will host its eighth annual Spirit of Service Award Ceremony at 5 p.m. Jan. 30 in the community room at the Union University Church, 29 N. Main St., Alfred.
This ceremony continues to be a collaborative program between Alfred State and Alfred University. It is open to the public and all are invited to attend.
Each year during the ceremony, the college presents a student, a faculty or staff member, and a community member with a Spirit of Service Award, which recognizes and celebrates those in the Greater Alfred community who demonstrate a strong commitment to serving others. The award is intended to honor people who are actively living out the principles Martin Luther King Jr. stood for, including equality, social justice, community, and service.
Last year’s recipients were Guifang Lui (Master Fang), a local Tai Chi instructor; Kelly Harrison, secretary for Human Resources at Alfred State; and Larissia Hall, a technology management major from Keuka Park. Hagar Professor of Natural Science and Professor of Geology Dr. Michele Hluchy was presented with the 2017 Alfred University Faculty/Staff Spirit of Service Award. Alfred University student Mawia Elawad was presented with the 2017 Alfred University Student Spirit of Service Award.
The college also recognizes students, faculty, and staff who demonstrate leadership through civic engagement by presenting the College Council Leadership through Civic Engagement Award and the Newman Civic Fellows Award.
Examples of some of the civic engagement opportunities that Alfred State is a part of include Celebrate Service Celebrate Allegany and Community Action Day, both of which are days of community service projects that take place throughout the local community. During the 2016-2017 academic year, students performed approximately 80,000 hours of community service through class-based applied learning and co-curricular programs.