On April 19, senior psychology major George Perez and junior business major Liberty Anderson traveled to Seattle to each receive a Student Civic Leadership Award from the Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good.
This award recognizes the efforts of individual students from universities all over the state of Washington for their commitment to civic leadership in their community. Every year, students are nominated to receive this award, and each university chooses who has been an influential leader on their campus. WWU president John McVay proudly chose Perez and Anderson as this year's recipients.
Both Perez and Anderson have dedicated their time at Walla Walla University to being examples of civic leadership. Perez began his journey by joining the university’s Enactus club, and has been the ongoing president for the last two years. Enactus is a network of young leaders who are committed to using business skills as a catalyst for positive social and environmental impact. “It has been a privilege and an honor to lead Enactus to have a bigger impact,” Perez said, crediting his success to opportunities given to him by the university, which has allowed him and his team to gain new experiences and foster their independence.
Anderson has been involved on campus for the last three years working for the Center for Humanitarian Engagement (CHE) as well as the Black Student Christian Forum (BSCF). “WWU has given me so many opportunities to be involved in civic engagement, specifically through the CHE,” she said, explaining how her work with the CHE has put her in a unique position as a sitting board member of the Blue Mountain Action Council, an agency committed to serving the community of the Walla Walla Valley.
The students and faculty of WWU have played a key role in both of their journeys. Perez said that his fellow students were his biggest inspiration, influencing him to always lead out and make a difference. Anderson credits David Lopez, executive director of CHE, as pivotal in her success, allowing her to take on many opportunities and modeling what it is like to be a good citizen.
Perez and Anderson are just two examples of students stepping up and practicing civic leadership at WWU. For more information about the campus coalition, visit wacampuscoalition.org.
Posted May 24, 2022
