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Written by Savannah Striano ’25
Published on April 22, 2026
The Center for Community Engagement’s (CCE) annual Service Expo and Awards Ceremony highlighted how Eastern students have been turning volunteer efforts into meaningful change. During the April 16 event, the "student leaders" presented on projects they've been leading throughout the academic year in partnership with local community-based organizations.
“The CCE is proud to showcase the outstanding work of our CCE student leaders, who presented their programs with professionalism, confidence, and passion,” said CCE Director Lana O’Connor. “Their poster presentations highlighted the meaningful impact of their efforts across our campus and community.”
Through their yearlong projects, students served a range of populations, from local schoolchildren and the elderly to people experiencing addiction, homelessness, and more. They partnered with more than a dozen community organizations, including Blue Iris Animal Farm, Covenant Soup Kitchen, Douglas Manor, Journey House, Mansfield Book Buddies, Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters, Project Hope, St. Joseph Senior Living Center, Windham Recovery Center, Windham Youth Advocacy, and multiple after-school programs in the Windham area.
O’Connor thanked Community Engagement Coordinator Lexie Mastroianni for preparing the students to present. O’Connor also expressed gratitude for the range of attendees: “We were also delighted to welcome community partners, faculty, and staff to engage with and celebrate this important work.”
Winners of the Leadership Development Award: Windham Middle After School Program for fifth and sixth grade students — student leaders Lauryn Robinson, Emily Conte, Isabelle McClelland, and Josephine Udell
Winners of the Promoting Mental Health Award: Journey House — student leaders Emily Conte and Josephine Udell
Winner of the Student Community Engagement Award: Ana Alicea Vazquez
Winner of the Presidential Service Award: student leader Josephine Udelll
Winners of the Putting Liberal Arts Into Action Award: Blue Iris Animal Farm — student leaders Si Chanterelle and Santiago Herrera SanMartin
Winner of the Kids First Award: North Windham Elementary — student leader Madison Rocha.
Winner of the Strengthening Communities Award: Windham Youth Advocacy — student leader Lauryn Robinson.
Winner of the Broadening Horizons Award: Douglas Manor — student leader Cecilia Melendez Perez.
Winner of the Community Partner Community Engagement Award: Desiree Parciak
Winner of the Service Learning Award: education Professor Tanya Moorehead
Winner of the Supporting Our Schools Award: Natchaug Elementary — student leader Allison Kazmier
Winner of the Outstanding Community Event Award: Eastern’s Cheerleading Program
As part of the event, the projects were judged by a panel of local and university representatives, who evaluated them based on the following categories: broadening horizons, leadership development, strengthening communities, kids first, supporting our schools, putting liberal arts into action, and promoting mental health.
Additionally, select individuals received awards, including the Service-Learning Award, Outstanding Community Event Award, Student Community Engagement Award, Faculty and Staff Community Engagement Award, and Community Partner Community Engagement Award.