TERRE HAUTE - Indiana State University senior John Nay of Columbus was recently awarded the President's Award for Civic and Community Leadership. The Columbus East High School is pursuing a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a minor in chemistry.
Nay has helped out in communities both local and abroad. He has helped the Terre Haute community by volunteering his time as a tutor, a mentor for Boys and Girls Club, and by helping to plan and build a chipped trail. He is also active in the Indiana Rural Health Association and National Rural Health Association. Through these groups, Nay advocates to elected officials on public health policy issues.
On campus, Nay demonstrates leadership and community involvement through his many activities. He is a member of the ISU cross-country team and served as captain his senior year. He was selected to be a part of the 2005 Missouri Valley Conference Academic Team, which consists of the top ten academic runners in the conference. Nay has volunteered his time at the NCAA Cross Country Nationals, held in Terre Haute. He is an officer in Mortar Board and the President's Scholars. Along with all these activities, Nay has kept a cumulative 4.0 grade point average.
In the fall of 2004, Nay was selected to attend a seminar, "Inside Washington," that was held in Washington D.C in conjunction with the 2005 Presidential Inauguration. Nay was able to meet and learn from political, media, philanthropic, and corporate leaders. Along with attending the seminar, Nay volunteered for the Presidential Inaugural Parade and Environment Inaugural Ball.
He took the opportunity to study in Australia for a semester and, while he was there, spent his free time serving the community, including doing volunteer work for Conserve Volunteer Australia and doing work at Namdgi National Park. Nay also has helped recruit new students to expand their experiences by studying abroad.
Just recently, Nay helped organize a spring break trip to help victims of Hurricane Katrina to the Gulf Coast by contacting the Center for Public Service and Community Engagement.
Nancy Rogers, the director, was grateful for all he did to help organize the trip.
"Very soon after the hurricane struck the Gulf Coast, John contacted the office and asked how he could help with the relief effort," Nancy Brattain Rogers said. "He was very active in recruiting students to participate in the Spring Break trip, and his efforts certainly contributed to the recruitment of 40 students that participated in the trip."
John McNichols, the cross-country coach at ISU, said coaching Nay has been nothing but a pleasure.
"Rarely does a coach have a chance to work with an individual who leads the whole team, underclassmen and peers, by his example," McNichols said. "John's model is always to 'walk the talk.' He does just that."
The President's Award for Civic and Community Leadership is presented annually to a junior or senior at ISU who has made community service an integral part of his or her college experience. The award honors and encourages students who have given generously of their time and energy through participation in community service activities.
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Contact: Nancy Rogers, Center for Public Service and Community Engagement, (812) 237-9700, or nancyrogers@indstate.edu
Writer: Megan Anderson, ISU Communications & Marketing intern, (812) 237-3773, or manderson13@.indstate.edu