Since 2019 more than 50 student scholars have earned over $56,000 in exchange for their service. The Presidential Citizen Scholars (PCS) Program has helped those students to become civic leaders on and off campus. Supported by the Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE) and the Office of the President, students received support to engage with the community and research a local issue that will culminate in a PCS capstone project. This year PCS students completed four different capstone projects, each targeting a unique way to help and engage with the community.
Period Power is a project to help reduce the stigma around menstruation. SU students Maggie, Lian, and Abigail partnered with local Wicomico Public Schools and Aetna Better Health to supply 1,000 discreet menstruation bags for Wicomico Middle School. Whenever they talk about the project, the students share interesting past relationships and experiences of their own, acknowledging “there has been a lot of confusion and shame stigmatized around periods, and it is something that is rarely spoken about.” They enjoyed being able to help and give back to their community, feeling it helped broaden their major. Based on their early success, the students created a sustainable connection between WCPS’ Health Department and Aetna Better Health.
Another group of students supported the first NFL Flag program in the Salisbury area. Joshua, Daniel, Aslynn, and Aidan partnered with the City of Salisbury, NFL Flag, Wicomico County Parks and Recreation, and the Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children to launch the program. NFL Flag provides an affordable and sustainable football program for local youth. Noting their wish for more diverse sport options, and safety concerns of other sports, the students were motivated to create the program in hopes giving underprivileged youth the chance to get involved. “Being involved with kids and giving them the opportunity to play sports, which is linked to their education also helps them focus better on school and gives them important skills like leadership and teamwork,” said Aslynn.
Other students have created a program that has involved helping youth impacted by drug abuse through a mentoring program at the Boys & Girls Club of Wicomico County. The mentor program is based on curriculum from the National Association for Children of Addiction. Hanna, Richard, Kenzi, and Peyton implemented this design to teach youth about addiction – and how addiction affects them and their parents – through different games. Motivated by their own experiences of families with addiction and applying it with their intended majors, the PCS students felt a call to action with this program. With majors including Conflict Analysis, Nursing, and Education, all four students had ties to this growing challenge. The students relate that civic engagement and how you can include the community is a big part in building relationships and bettering resources like schools.
In the final PCS project, students Stephora, Andersen, and LaMaree collected transportation equity research. Going out in the community to local churches and events targeting the Haitian and Latin community, the students gathered community insight on road safety, transportation equity, and infrastructure design on the westside of Salisbury. Motivated by a sense of cultural belonging, the students felt the need to cater to the smaller marginalized communities in Salisbury. Assessing the need to bridge the gap between the city and these communities, the students collaborated with the City of Salisbury’s Department of Transportation to make, distribute, and analyze results from a community survey. Their work helped encourage Shore Transit to open a bus stop to meet the needs of the Haitian and Latin population on the west side of Salisbury.
Salisbury University’s Presidential Citizen Scholars program offers unique opportunities for students. In addition to completing three semesters of guided community engagement, students receive a cash stipend and ShoreCorps education award. The opportunity to dive into community issues and make changes gives these students the insight to leave a legacy.