Messer receives National Service Award in recognition of community efforts
Messer has been working on community service projects and community partner building at Tech since 2017. Here's what the Center and her nominator had to say about her work:
"This award recognizes exemplary achievement through The Collaborative at WVU National Service Program. Laura served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in the Division of Student Life at West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) from November 2017 to June 2019. During her time as a VISTA and now as a full-time staff member in Student Life, she has been a champion for service and student success."
"Laura has extensively developed new community partnerships as well as strengthened relationships with existing partners. She has also excelled in building internal relationships with faculty, coaches, and other key service partners at WVU Tech. An example of her relationship building is our ongoing relationship with Helping Hands, a food pantry located a few blocks from campus. Through her work, the WVU Tech Men’s Soccer Team has adopted Helping Hands as an organization that they visit monthly to unload food trucks sent by Mountaineer Food Bank. Laura Lucas goes above and beyond continuously for WVU Tech students and the Beckley/Raleigh County community."
Dr. Candice Stadler, Associate Dean for Student Development, praised Messer for her spirit of kindness and the infectious "can-do" attitude she brings to her projects.
"Laura is very deserving of this award. She always approaches the challenges of service with enthusiasm, hard work and flexibility," Stadler said.
"Laura has routinely showed her commitment to connecting WVU Tech faculty, staff and students to the greater Beckley/Raleigh County community. We are all so proud of her contributions to service and Student Life at Tech."
Find out more about the awards and meet other community engagement awardees from across the WVU System at service.wvu.edu.