Congratulations to three Political Science undergraduates who won the 2013 Central Campus MLK Spirit Award  (Sarah Alsaden, Andrew Clark and Noel Gordon) and also to Mark Greer and Sam Morykwas for their nominations!   Nineteen students from across campus were nominated (by faculty and staff) in recognition of their active pursuit of service to others and their dedication to Dr. King’s vision.  

Political science majors who were nominated for this honor include:

Sarah Alsaden
Sarah works with Amnesty International at the University of Michigan, where she ensured that the group met a goal of writing over 500 letters annually on behalf of prisoners of conscience.  Sarah’s commitment to service and bridging social and religious differences was born out of her experience of fleeing Iraq with her family at a young age.  Sarah was also a member of the Michigan in Washington Winter 2012 cohort where she did an internship at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.  

 

Andrew Clark (see photo at bottom)
Being a powerful voice for diverse, democratic, and civic participation, Andrew Clark’s greatest contribution to Michigan is his co-founding of A5 – The Abilities Alliance at Ann Arbor – a student organization bringing together differently abled students for discussions, activities, and friendship.  

Noel Gordon

Noel co-founded an intra-group dialogue on race and sexuality and an open student group, the Coalition for Queer People of Color, when he saw a need for a space for LGBTQ students of color and a shared space for all LGBTQ people to discuss racial issues within the community.  Noel was also a member of the Michigan in Washington Winter 2011 cohort, where he did an internship at the Center for American Progress.    

 

Mark Greer, II
Dedicating his life to serving others and creating strong communities that empower citizens, Mark Greer, II helped the Grandmont-Rosedale Community Corporation and assisted in remedying urban challenges through community action.  His leadership of HEADS earned him the MESA/Trotter Student Leader of the Year Award.  Mark is also a member of the Michigan in Washington Winter 2013 cohort, where he is doing an internship at the Department of Education.  

Sam Morykwas (see photo at top)
In the Michigan Community Scholars Program, Sam has tutored 5th grade Chicago students during Alternative Spring Break and led interfaith dialogues as a peer mentor during his second year.  He continued his work with the Brightmoor Neighborhood as a participant in the Semester in Detroit Program and thereafter.

The MLK Central Campus Spirit Award program is in its 8th year, and  honors undergraduate students who best exemplify Dr. King’s commitment to civil rights and peaceful resolution of conflict.  Students were honored in a ceremony on January 24 in the lovely colloquium room at the Ross School of Business.  Each received a copy of Dr. King’s “Testament of Hope.”