As one of the first chapters to submit their candidates each year, Longwood serves as a model for what chapters should do. They are active on campus, on Instagram, and in their community. Chapter officers regularly attend events, and the advisor engages in national programming as well. Each person has a specific role within the chapter, allowing everyone to be actively involved. The chapter also hosts a major campus event, Oktoberfest, which raises visibility on campus. Their Last Lecture Series creatively features four mini-lectures in one event.

Honorable mentions to University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Black Masque chapter) and University of North Dakota (Quo Vadis chapter).

As President of the Eta chapter, Grace’s dedication to Mortar Board at CMU was evident in her efforts to improve the experience for current chapter members. After attending the national conference, she returned with a renewed focus and worked tirelessly with the executive board to put the chapter back on steady ground. Her initiatives, such as adding juniors to the recruitment plan, led to a doubling of the chapter size and significantly increased fundraising, ensuring a bright future for Mortar Board at CMU. Grace’s leadership in developing a comprehensive chapter action plan for the year was instrumental in their success. Under her guidance, the chapter was able to expand its service, notably through its active participation in the Pittsburgh Prison Book Project. Grace also led the way in developing a replicable model for crowdfunding during the institution’s Giving Tuesday campaign, something the chapter had never done before.

As President of the Tolo chapter, Maddox immediately stepped up to reactivate the chapter. Having been without an advisor for more than two years, the chapter had fallen behind on many requirements and actions. He immediately understood the importance of having a chapter on campus and worked to quickly reestablish a mailbox and email address, bank account, and website and social media presence. Maddox quickly brought them up to speed to allow the chapter to focus on making an impact in the community. Despite the heavy lift of reactivation, Maddox worked with the chapter to discover what was important to them and what they wanted to accomplish this semester. He helped facilitate an officer meet-up to bond and take professional headshots for their updated webpage, pulled together monthly chapter meetings, and helped the chapter plan and execute a service project with Backpack Brigade.

Findlay has steadily increased chapter membership over the last two years. The chapter held a dual-semester recruitment process, allowing students to join in either the fall or spring semester, which more than doubled their membership from previous years. The chapter also expanded in the areas of chapter programming, officer transition, and visibility. They hosted events like Coffee Cart, an Alzheimer’s Walk, Helping Hands Food Drive, and became a Blossom Express Flower Sale chapter. 

Jackson State has increased membership from 0 in 2022 to over 70 in 2024. Advisors and officers remained in close contact with the National Office and Region Coordinators to ensure all deadlines were met, chapter activities were celebrated, and the chapter was visible on campus. Not only did the chapter hold spring and fall selections and create in-person tapping, but they also created a hybrid initiation ceremony model that involved campus attendees, families, guests, and national representatives. They held events such as Jazz & Coloring with Mortar Board and a chapter raffle for Mortar Board merch.

Since stepping into the primary advisor role three years ago, Seth has gone above and beyond in his commitment to the chapter, all while empowering each member to perform the duties of their position without being overbearing. He attends general meetings each week, providing his perspective when needed and delivering a report, then engages with members afterwards and tries to get to know each of us on a personal level. Having been a member of the Black Masque Chapter roughly 15 years ago, Seth is not quite far enough removed to understand the workings of our chapter specifically, but also far enough removed to provide us with unique insight from his time in the chapter and old ideas that might once again prove interesting and effective to restart. With each chapter member holding a leadership position, our chapter has a number of goals on an individual level, but also a number of overarching group goals. Seth’s experience in the chapter enables him to give us tips on what has worked and what hasn’t, facilitating the accomplishment of goals like how to increase campus visibility by expanding to Nebraska’s East Campus, how to engage in Homecoming week, and more. 

Dr. Gordon showcases excellence in scholarship. She is actively involved in scientific research and has secured numerous grants while being faculty at Jackson State University. She is an entrepreneur and is always willing to assist students in their academic and professional development. She always has the best interests of the students in mind. Dr. Gordon advised that we participate in on-campus events during homecoming week to be visible on campus. The chapter was able to participate in various on-campus activities, which were set up by her, and that has helped increase chapter invisibility. She also created and developed a graduate assistant role that helps with chapter operations, and personally assists newly initiated members facing financial hardship by giving towards membership fees.

Though on a team of advisors, Elizabeth serves as the primary advisor. She attends chapter meetings and events, and she works with the officers to ensure they remain on track. Elizabeth values the essence of a student-led society and actively nurtures student leadership by providing guidance and unwavering support in their decision-making processes for the chapter. While she offers direction, she also understands the importance of learning from mistakes and allows students the space to grow without risking the chapter’s failure. She demonstrates exceptional dedication to Mortar Board by actively participating in national conferences, advisor events, and society-wide gatherings. Recently, she took on additional responsibilities by joining the 2025 Conference Planning Team. Her leadership skills and innovative ideas in developing educational sessions, keynote speakers, and selecting relevant chapter operation topics contribute significantly to the success of the conference, making it truly remarkable. Her mom was an Ole Miss Mortar Board, her eldest daughter just became a Mortar Board at West Texas, and she’s already asking questions on how to reactivate the chapter at Baylor so her other child can join. To her, Mortar Board is a family affair, and I love that about her. 

I first met Julie at the Mortar Board installation banquet, where she quietly sat in the back, binder in hand, making sure everything ran smoothly. In hindsight, it perfectly reflects who she is as an advisor, working behind the scenes to provide structure, guidance, and support while empowering students to lead. Though Julie officially became our Mortar Board advisor recently, her impact in advisory roles spans years. When my executive team took over Mortar Board, we inherited an organization in complete disarray. We were left with no governing documents, no financial stability, no recorded history, or structure. The bank account was at zero, morale was low, and we weren’t just starting from scratch; we were starting from a deficit. Julie stepped in with patience, expertise, and unwavering support. She guided us through drafting a new constitution, rebuilding finances, and creating a sustainable framework for future leaders. More than that, she empowered us to take ownership, challenging us to think critically, problem-solve, and make decisions that would benefit future groups. Beyond logistics, Julie played a key role in restoring morale. She helped us navigate tough conversations, reassured us when we felt overwhelmed, and constantly reminded us that our efforts mattered. Julie’s an advocate, mentor, and champion for student success, always going the extra mile to ensure those she works with feel supported and empowered.

Donna is an incredible role model and mentors college students, particularly Mortar Board. Not only was the chapter struggling, but she truly reinvigorated them AND provided leadership development for the members. She guided them and advised them, and served as a strong advocate for leadership, service, the advancement of the status of women, and creating inclusive communities. She also exposed the chapter to other opportunities at the institution and instilled in them history and the legacy left by their namesake, Adele Stamp. Donna came in as the advisor after years of the chapter not having one. Three years ago, she stepped up and into a very difficult role, as not only was the chapter struggling, but we learned that the previous advisor had stolen hundreds of dollars from the chapter’s bank account. Needless to say, this was not what she signed up for! She helped not only clear up that process, but also had to be a witness for a state investigation and even go to court. Talk about overcoming adversity as a brand-new advisor! Most advisors would have stepped away almost immediately, as this was definitely “not in the job description.” But Donna not only persevered, she helped the chapter get back on track. 

Sydney puts in endless work to make our chapter of Mortar Board a success. She meets with our chapter president biweekly to make sure that chapter meetings run smoothly, but maintains a hands-off approach when it comes to the actual meetings, allowing the executive board to have a position of power as well as letting chapter members have their own independence. Prior to the academic year, Sydney always attends the National Conference and any small meetings for advising throughout the academic year, as she cares about how well the chapter functions and wants our success. Sydney meets with the executive board regularly to set goals and track goal progress, and is always coming up with new ways for our chapter to increase campus visibility, like new methods for tapping and possible events for us to hold on campus. Sydney perfectly exemplifies the pillars of Scholarship, Leadership, and Service, and all of our chapter members strive to be like her. Sydney is a great listener, and students often stop by her office just to chat or ask for advice, and because Sydney truly cares, she is always available to listen. Sydney is an innovator and is always open to new ideas, so if a chapter member proposes an idea for a new activity or event we can host, Sydney always listens. 

Auburn University 

Illinois State University 

Kansas State University 

Lenoir-Rhyne University 

Longwood University 

Lyon College 

Purdue University 

Rhodes College 

San Diego State University 

Texas Tech University 

The Ohio State University 

The University of Alabama 

The University of Findlay 

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln 

The University of Toledo 

University of Hawaii at Manoa 

University of Mississippi 

University of Montana 

University of North Dakota 

University of San Diego 

University of South Alabama

Adrian College 

Agnes Scott College 

Alcorn State University 

Ball State University 

Bucknell University 

Butler University 

Carleton College 

Carnegie Mellon University 

Case Western Reserve University 

Chapman University 

Coe College 

College of William and Mary 

Endicott College 

Grove City College 

Hanover College 

Jackson State University 

Lawrence University 

Mississippi College 

Monmouth College 

North Dakota State University 

Northern Michigan University 

Ohio Northern University 

Oklahoma State University 

Otterbein University 

Salem College 

The University of Nebraska at Kearney 

The University of New Mexico 

The University of Vermont 

Tulane University 

University of Arizona 

University of Louisville 

University of Mary Washington 

University of Maryland 

University of Richmond 

University of the Pacific 

Wake Forest University

West Virginia University

Wichita State University 

Xavier University

Project Excellence in Scholarship is awarded to Lyon College and Purdue University.  

Lyon College for their Student Creative Arts and Research Forum (SCARF). SCARF allowed for 29 groups to present their undergraduate research in their respective categories. SCARF was run by a nine-member faculty committee and the members of Mortar Board. This project allowed Mortar Board to promote scholarship across campus and create a rapport for academic excellence.  

Purdue University’s scholarship committee decided to focus their efforts on supporting current campus initiatives that they can provide additional support to through their awards match program. This program matches the contributions of another organization or department to support scholarship endeavors such as research, conference travel, or traditional scholarships. They were able to award 15 awards to match recipients, ranging from study abroad support to recognition programs for top scholars.

Project Excellence in Leadership is awarded to San Diego State University and the University of Richmond  

San Diego State University for their World Cafe Project. This was a joint project between SDSU and a university in Taiwan. American students were able to meet with international students from all over the world, learning about different cultures and career types. This project excelled in leadership because students were able to take leadership roles as they taught these international students what it is like to be an American studying at a University. Members were able to learn about inclusion and diversity, which will make them more competent leaders in the future. 

University of Richmond hosted their President’s Forum after a four-year hiatus. Mortar Board compiled a series of questions for the University and Student Government Presidents from attendees in advance, dividing them into categories. Questions largely focused on campus accessibility, ongoing construction and efforts to create a welcoming environment for all.

Project Excellence in Service to Alma Mater recipients are Mississippi College, the University of Toledo, and the University of Maryland. 

Mississippi College for its Last Lecture Series, where they invited Dr. Ivan Parke, professor of Christian Studies and beloved campus professor. Dr. Parked discussed not only his area of study, but the intersection of his personal battle with ALS. Over 650 people were in attendance. 

The University of Toledo for hosting the university event “SongFest.”  Songfest is the annual singing and dancing competition the University of Toledo holds each year, aimed at raising money for a local charity. Mortar Board, alongside another organization, plans this event as a chapter-wide effort. This event commonly has a budget of over 10,000 dollars, and commonly operates with over 40-50 planning members. This project is a marvel of what student leaders can do, and this event has proven to be a staple at the University of Toledo. 

University of Maryland for contributing to a university installation that honored the chapter’s namesake, Adele Stamp. The chapter worked with University officials to help create a permanent display in the Student Union honoring Dean Stamp.

Project Excellence in Community Service is awarded to Rhodes College, the University of North Dakota, and the University of Washington.  

Rhodes College for their Teacher Appreciation Drive, encouraging local elementary teachers. Members coordinated a campus-wide collection of notes and small items to thank and encourage local elementary school teachers and staff. Promotion occurred through social media and digital forms of communication within the Rhodes community. This initiative required strategic planning, peer mobilization, and follow-through, demonstrating Mortar Board members’ leadership, initiative, and ability to unite the campus around shared values. With the items the chapter received, in addition to a handwritten thank you note, they were able to touch the lives of local educators through a tough week of state testing, and the school was immensely grateful. 

University of North Dakota for their Turkey Basket Drive, which consisted of chapter members distributing about 976 full turkey baskets! In total, these baskets cost around $16,000, which is raised through fundraising events by members. The baskets consist of a turkey, potatoes, pie crust, pie filling, stuffing, cranberries, and canned vegetables. This event provides low-income families in Grand Forks with a complete Thanksgiving meal. 

University of Washington for their partnership with Backpack Brigade, a King County nonprofit dedicated to fighting childhood food insecurity. Over several volunteer events, chapter members packed and organized weekend food bags for local elementary students. This direct-action partnership gave members a meaningful way to connect academic ideals with real-world impact, deepening the chapter’s commitment to accessible education and wellbeing for all children in their community. 

Project Excellence in Faculty, Staff, and Student Recognition is awarded to Ohio Northern University, Texas Tech University, and University of South Alabama. 

Ohio Northern University for their combined Last Lecture and Favorite Faculty Reception, which recognizes faculty excellence across all disciplines at our University. Every year, the chapter identifies one retiring faculty member to deliver their final lecture at the university in the Business College’s forum hall. Every Mortar Board member invites their favorite faculty member to the last lecture, and after the lecture is complete, they read a handwritten card to their faculty member. Between students and faculty, at least 50 individuals are usually in attendance. 

Texas Tech University for their Top Ten First-Year Student Recognition Program, Apple Polishing event, and new Tree of Wisdom. The Top Ten First-Year Student Recognition Program honored ten outstanding first-year students who already demonstrated Mortar Board’s pillars of scholarship, leadership, and service. Each student was invited to attend our Spring Banquet, where they were recognized with a certificate and encouraged to stay connected with Mortar Board until they become eligible to apply.  Apple Polishing remains one of the most meaningful traditions for the Forum Chapter. Faculty and staff members, nominated by Mortar Board members, were honored at a formal event featuring handwritten speeches, printed certificates, and acrylic awards. To expand our Apple Polishing tradition, they launched the Tree of Wisdom tabling initiative. Students were invited to write notes of appreciation for faculty or staff who had positively impacted their academic journey. These handwritten messages were displayed on decorative apples at the Apple Polishing ceremony venue. 

University of South Alabama for Top Prof and Tip of the Cap. Mortar Board collaborates with the President’s and Provost’s Offices to host Top Prof, the premier faculty recognition program for our university, every November. Current chapter members nominate a professor who has had a meaningful impact on their educational career (whether in a teaching and/or research mentoring capacity) and invite them to a formal dinner in their honor. Each “Top Prof” received a commemorative pin and certificate. Similar to Top Prof, Tip of the Cap is our recognition program for non-teaching faculty and staff at the University of South Alabama. We honored 30 staff members, including departmental secretaries, janitorial staff, and other administrators. Each recipient received a small gift, a yellow rose, and a certificate from the student who nominated them. 

Project Excellence in Fundraising is awarded to Auburn University and Carnegie Mellon University. 

Auburn University for their creative Park Like a Dean Raffle. This raised money for the chapter, and the winner of the raffle would receive an A-Zone parking pass for the finals week. The planning for Park Like a Dean was excellent due to strategic partnerships, strong marketing, and efficient execution. By collaborating with Parking Services, they legitimized the raffle and gained institutional support, ensuring long-term sustainability. 

Carnegie Mellon University for their CMU Giving Day fundraiser. The chapter worked with Carnegie Mellon’s fundraising office to include the Eta chapter of Mortar Board in the university’s “Giving Day” campaign. They coordinated alumni lists with the National Office and reached out to alumni, as well as faculty, staff, and administrators, to raise funds for the chapter. The institution instituted a matching program. The inclusion of faculty, staff, and administrators was strategic because it amplified Mortar Board’s mission and identity within the honor society landscape on campus. 

Project Excellence in Mortar Board Week recipients are Kansas State University and Texas Tech University. 

Kansas State University for their Mortar Board dessert and recruiting event, increasing chapter visibility and launching their spring recruitment efforts for new members. The desserts were beautifully decorated with Mortar Board’s logo, spreading awareness to those who passed by. 

Texas Tech University began the week with five days of public tappings across classrooms and student org meetings, culminating in a Tapping Social on February 13. On February 15, Mortar Board’s national birthday, the chapter hosted their Initiation Ceremony. This created lasting memories for new members and served as a public celebration of Mortar Board’s impact on campus, reinforcing both tradition and excitement for the future.

Project Excellence in Reading is Leading recipients are San Diego State University and West Virginia University. 

San Diego State University members collaborated on researching age-appropriate DEIB books to donate to a local elementary school. This project excelled in community service by providing diverse, educational books to a school within the community that educates a large population of military children and special needs children. Their efforts allowed the chapter to donate books to every classroom on campus, ensuring all students benefited from this project.   

West Virginia University hosted a book drive in April 2025. Through donations, they collected over 110 books. These donations were taken to the Appalachian Prison Book Project and a local elementary school. The Appalachian Prison Book Project focuses on ensuring that individuals who are incarcerated still have access to the basic human right of education.

Project Excellence in Alumni Involvement recipients are The University of Kansas and the University of Mississippi. 

The University of Kansas hosted an Alumni Social Event in November to celebrate the chapter’s centennial. Thirty people were in attendance, including representatives from the National Office. The project revived the alumni network, which had been stagnant since COVID, and offered a lifeline to those local in their community.  

University of Mississippi started a new alumni initiative of hosting alumni guest speakers at chapter meetings. The goal of inviting alumni speakers to chapter meetings was to allow members to network with alumni while allowing alumni to speak about the importance of Mortar Board and how to continue to live its mission. This year, the chapter had three different alumni speakers at meetings.

The Outstanding Achievement in Recruitment and Selection awardees are Beloit College, the University of California Los Angeles, and The University of Vermont. 

Beloit College prioritized accessibility by recruiting all students. This year, an emphasis on visibility and inclusivity led them to host two separate initiations. The senior class requested another opportunity to apply for Mortar Board after a first successful community event, which resulted in a fall selection recruiting 10+ new members after the event. Spring selection built on the momentum and gathered 20+ applicants, with over 80 people in attendance at their initiation.  

University of California, Los Angeles increased their candidate number by 710 percent! Facing a few years of membership struggles, the chapter president worked tirelessly with the University to get the message sent out to all students, resulting in a change from 10 applications the year before to over 80 this year!  

The University of Vermont allowed juniors to join, leading to their third year of consistent membership growth. They doubled their applications due to expanded eligibility requirements and increased visibility on campus.

The Outstanding Achievement in Campus Visibility goes to Chapman University and Endicott College. 

Chapman University for participating in the campus involvement fair, fundraising, and campus partnerships. The chapter participated in the University involvement fair for the first time and held information sessions to help spread the word about Mortar Board. They leveraged a very visible fundraiser on Valentine’s Day to help build the chapter’s bank account for future programming.  

Endicott College for hosting consistent events on campus and documenting on Instagram to raise the profile of the chapter. The chapter planned a year full of activities focused on both bonding the group and expanding its visibility to others on campus. This was complemented by their excellent social media presence, highlighting their events and members throughout the year.

The Outstanding Achievement in Officer and Advisor Transition awardees are Longwood University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa. 

Longwood University ensured chapter continuity and sustainability by designing and executing a strong officer and advisor transition plan. This included a formal transition meeting, comprehensive role guides for each officer position, and mentorship pairings between outgoing and incoming leaders. The advisor has remained actively engaged in supporting the leadership team, helping to foster long-term strategic planning and consistency year over year. 

University of Hawaii at Manoa for hosting multiple transition meetings to ensure chapter sustainability. Shortly after officer elections were held, each incoming officer was contacted to hold a transition meeting with the current officers. Officers were given transition materials like documents, suggested timelines, and manuals accessible online. All transition materials were put into a Google Drive and given to the advisor so that future officers would always have access to them in case something happens. Outgoing and incoming officers worked together to discuss ideas for this year.

The Outstanding Achievement in Chapter Reactivation goes to Otterbein University and the University of Washington. 

Otterbein University for continuing to rebuild their once-inactive chapter by focusing on increasing membership numbers and chapter visibility on campus. Having been inactive since the pandemic, the chapter reactivated last year. With the focused collaboration of the officers and advisor, the chapter held programming and increased its visibility on campus, rebuilding its presence on campus. 

University of Washington made massive strides in reviving itself this past year. When the chapter began this past year, they had no funds, barely an office to call home base, and a series of dispersed students with a shared desire to serve and lead their communities. Over the course of the year, the chapter created a tightly knit group of students with a solid presence on the UW Seattle campus and ties beginning to extend to the Bothell and Tacoma campuses as well.

The Outstanding Achievement in Chapter Communication goes to The University of Findlay and the University of Montana. 

The University of Findlay saw a significant upgrade in their internal communication this year through structured officer coordination, improved meeting planning, and stronger member engagement. The executive board maintained a group chat for real-time communication and quick collaboration, and an Outlook group was used for formal updates and planning. A separate Outlook group for general members provided consistent meeting reminders and event information. At the start of each semester, the chapter sent out a calendar of all meeting dates so members could plan. Before every bi-weekly general meeting, the executive board met to finalize plans and discuss chapter updates, ensuring well-run and purposeful meetings. To support ongoing organization and transparency, they also created a shared Google Drive.  

University of Montana had very detailed, consistent emails to chapter members throughout the year, ensuring everyone remained engaged and connected. They took the time to learn how students wanted to be communicated with and were sure to communicate frequently so everyone felt in the loop.

The Outstanding Achievement in Digital Communication and Social Media awardees are Lyon College and Tulane University. 

Lyon College added a new Director of Communications officer position, which led to the creation of an Instagram handle and many posts. The creation of the Instagram handle helped to get the word out about various Mortar Board events and allowed them to spotlight what Mortar Board was doing in the Lyon Community.  

Tulane University featured creative spotlights on Instagram featuring members, graduates, internships, community organizations, and volunteers. The chapter highlighted its best asset – its members – to show the impact they were having on the community through academics, internships, and service. They also gave public shoutouts to community and campus groups they partnered with to expand visibility and gratitude.

The Outstanding Achievement in Alumni Engagement goes to Purdue University and San Diego State University. 

Purdue University held a tent in Boilermaker Boulevard in collaboration with two other historical organizations that have overlapping membership with the chapter to host alumni in town for Homecoming. They also held a young alumni panel in April with alumni who graduated within the last five years to discuss transitioning to the “real world.” Finally, the chapter has sent out a newsletter to all alumni on all of the chapter’s yearly activities. 

San Diego State University was able to further improve alumni engagement this year through monthly newsletters to give alumni a recap of events that happened during the past month, providing any resources they may find helpful to stay up to date on the chapter, and sharing any events they may be able to participate in. The cohort also improved alumni engagement through the chapter’s annual potluck event, which was renamed this year to Lovelace’s Cultural Share, to honor a past DEIB chair who created the position into what it is today and to honor all of her contributions to the chapter. 

The Outstanding Achievement in New Member Tapping is awarded to Carnegie Mellon University, The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University of Mississippi.  

Carnegie Mellon University’s Eta chapter pretended everyone was getting invited for a second round of interviews. The new members all showed up in the classroom, and the chapter pretended to start the group interview. They then surprised new candidates with the news that they were actually being tapped! It was a fun experience they hope to make into a tradition. 

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Black Masque chapter gathers all members for tapping. Each member meets in the morning in robes and masks. The day is then spent walking across campus, finding new members at their pre-planned classes. Once outside of the new member’s classroom, they interrupt the lecture (professors are made aware weeks in advance) to read a traditional document in front of the room describing the organization and the honor it is to be selected. A group picture is taken with the new member, and they are given a folder with information on initiation week and a meeting that night. 

University of Mississippi’s Tassels chapter extended the tapping process into a week-long event called Tapping Week. All tappings were planned to be conducted in public by tapping new members in classrooms; however, one candidate was studying abroad and therefore received a video tapping. Current members visited classrooms, publicly announced a new member’s selection, presented them with a scroll, and tapped them with a mortarboard. All tappings were either video recorded or photographed. During Tapping Week, the chapter posted photographs and videos of the public tapping to our social media pages to further increase the excitement and visibility of the tapping process

for revamping recruitment and selection methods to ensure an equal playing field by including more diverse organizations, creating transparency with selection criteria, and shifting to a more holistic view of leadership and service.

for a series of DEIB lectures at meetings, collaboration with various cultural centers and campus groups, and events such as the World Cafe Project and a book drive for an elementary school to get books that better represent the students.

for expanding their traditional Coffee Cart initiative to appeal to a more diverse group of students on campus and allow newly initiated members to build community with themselves and current members.

for expanding their partnership with the Black Faculty and Staff Association on their Books and Bears Drive, and for ensuring equitable member selection processes through Implicit Bias Training and a masked review of applications.

for establishing a long-term partnership with Backpack Brigade, an organization focused on fighting local food insecurity for school children. They were intentional with their goals with service that is direct, sustained, and rooted in community need.