North Carolina Central University (NCCU) senior computer science and business major Joshua McLaurin has been recognized for outstanding leadership and service by the North Carolina Campus Compact, a statewide network of colleges and universities with a shared commitment to community engagement.
McLaurin is a recipient of the network’s Community Impact Award honoring a student leader at each member school. He is one of 18 students chosen by their campus for the 2018 honor and joins more than 250 college students recognized by the network since its development in 2006.
His nomination cited McLaurin’s efforts as an interfaith ambassador for NCCU’s Office of Spiritual Development and Dialogue. In this role, McLaurin leads campus interfaith events, as well as training classes in conflict transformation, suicide prevention and grief counseling.
McLaurin has helped raise funds and build two Habitat for Humanity houses. The Bennettsville, S.C., native has been a presenter at Interfaith Youth Core national conferences and assisted with worship services on campus.
For the past two years, he participated in the Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ) People’s Assembly Coalition, a collective of NAACP chapters in North Carolina, while working closely with NCCU’s student chapter.
“Joshua is a servant-leader who is worthy of this prestigious recognition,” said Calleen Herbert, director of NCCU’s Office of Community Engagement and Service. He is a great example of a leader who understands that in order to be a great leader, one must be a servant first.”
McLaurin and other Community Impact Award winners were honored Nov. 10 at the annual CSNAP student conference at Fayetteville State University. The event welcomed more than 150 students and staff from across the state.
In addition to awards and networking opportunities, the conference included student-led workshops, panel discussions, and plenary sessions on diverse community-engagement topics focused on the theme: “The Power of Youth Civic Courage.”
The North Carolina Campus Compact is the state affiliate of the National Campus Compact Organization, designed to support colleges and universities in producing civically engaged graduates and strengthening communities. NCCU is a founding member of the network that was established in 2002 and is hosted by Elon University. The statewide network includes 37 public and private community colleges and universities.
