Shawnee student honored with University of Kansas service award

LAWRENCE, KS (06/05/2013)(readMedia)-- LAWRENCE - The Center for Civic and Social Responsibility at the University of Kansas, formerly the Center for Service Learning, has announced the 2013 Excellence in Service Learning Awards to honor service learning achievements in curricular best practices, community impact and student development.

Recipients of this year's awards include Bailey Reimer, a Shawnee senior in American studies and linguistics, minoring in Latin American studies.

Reimer received the student award in recognition of her civic commitment, personal development, and positive academic and community impact through service learning. Reimer has had multiple leadership roles in KU Alternative Breaks, a student-run service learning program that organizes student volunteer trips across the country. In planning Alternative Breaks trips, Reimer created and maintained relationships with nonprofit organizations across the U.S. and worked to maximize the impact on fellow students of the Alternative Breaks preparatory class.

Of her experience with service, Reimer said, "The single most formative experiences for me at the University of Kansas have been those through service learning initiatives - the lessons which I have used to shape my lifestyle, goals, schoolwork and extracurricular involvement."

Reimer has also volunteered with the Shawnee Mission School District and with the national nonprofit Education Pioneers. Reimer held a resident assistant position for the honors community in Templin Hall and made it a priority to engage the residents in service and service reflection.

The Center for Civic and Social Responsibility presented Reimer with her award in a surprise class visit. All winners were recognized at the 2013 Experiential Learning Certification Celebration in conjunction with recognition of students who received certifications in service learning, leadership studies and arts engagement.