Vermont Campus Compact has awarded a 2009 Commitment to Service and Engagement Award to College of St. Joseph junior, Kayla Billings, for her outstanding work in community involvement. Kayla has been a major asset to our community, and is an excellent example of the ideal leader on the College of St. Joseph campus in the areas of service and engagement. From the beginning of her freshman year, Kayla began working together with college administrators and students on increasing environmental efforts and awareness on campus. In doing so she formed the Environmental Club, which she has presided over for the past three years. Her efforts have established CSJ as a full recycling partner with the Casella Waste Management Corporation that placed recycling bins in each dorm room and every office. Kayla also brought biodiversity to the forefront when the Club rebuilt native bird habitats and placed them at key locations on campus. She also pushed for the eradication of trays from the dining halls, which saves on water waste, minimizes non-point source pollution, and saves money that will be invested into other programs.
Her work with the Student Government Association has provided for an expanded role of student funds to directly invest in community service projects. Her Haunted Trick-or-Treat event opened our campus to over 100 children and their families who would not have experienced the Halloween tradition otherwise this past October. Kayla has laid a solid foundation of promoting activism, engagement, and service for which future generations of CSJ students will continue to build upon.
This year’s recipients will be honored at a statewide recognition and reception following the Vermont Campus Compact’s Statewide Conference, Through a Civic Lens which will take place Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at the University of Vermont, Davis Center in Burlington.
