KEVIN MYERS

Kevin Myers’ enthusiasm and commitment to service have been contagious on the campus of Manchester College. For the past four years, Kevin has dedicated his boundless energy toward strengthening volunteerism among his fellow students, and helping to meet the needs of people in the greater community.

Kevin collaborated with the North Manchester Parks & Recreation department to organize the Haunted Forest Halloween event to raise money for community service needs. This program has continued to grow. Kevin also worked on a petition to end hunger, Give Up a Meal Day (students skipped one meal, and food service donated the money to Oxfam America and Heifer Project International) and a service project (students raked leaves and sorted clothing at the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission). Kevin helped recruit students to raise money to provide food for those in need through the Crop Walk.

Additionally, Kevin collaborated with fellow student organizers and the American Red Cross to implement several successful on-campus blood drives. He helped organize and participated in a town-wide food drive that brought 35 student volunteers together to collect needed food and supplies for the North Manchester Food Pantry. Kevin also gave up his spring break for two years to help build homes for families in West Virginia and Mississippi.

Kevin was responsible for organizing the Study Buddies program on campus. He worked with representatives from Big Brothers/Big Sisters to begin and maintain the program, despite many outside challenges associated with it. Through this program, and Kevin’s patience and perseverance, many at-risk students received the tutoring services they needed to be successful in school. In the face of logistical and other challenges, this important program would have died had it not been for Kevin’s tenacity and commitment.

Kevin also organized service projects and performed needed services at many worthy organizations, including South Bend Homeless Shelter, Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, Vernon Manor (home for profoundly handicapped children), Fort Wayne Food Bank, and Pathfinder Services (home for developmentally disabled adults). Services included raking leaves, sorting food and clothing, interacting with residents, and fundraising.

Kevin has a strong presence on campus, and leads by example. He has motivated countless Manchester College students to look beyond their cozy campus to see and address the needs of the greater community. Although Kevin will graduate this spring, he has planted the seeds for further volunteer opportunities at Manchester College.

Kevin’s received a small stipend for his job as student director of the college’s Office of Volunteer Services. His job entailed volunteer recruitment and project coordination for the office. He consistently went above and beyond his job description and his nine hours per week.