An Elon University senior was honored this month for her efforts on campus to address the needs of surrounding Alamance County communities.
Nickel was one of 26 college students from across North Carolina to be recognized with the award, now in its second year, during a conference ceremony on Nov. 10, 2007.
“I am so honored to have received this award because I can think of so many people who equally deserve it and work so hard for social change,” Nickel said. “Service to the community, working with the community to create a better world, is to me what living on this earth is supposed to be about. We’re all in it together, and everyone has the responsibility to work toward a better collective future.”
The Illinois native is active in service and leadership at Elon, serving as president of the service sorority Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a Leadership Fellow, the vice president of Elon Feminists for Equality, Change and Transformation, and a teaching assistant for the freshman introduction course. Nickel, whose family moved to Maryland two years ago, has been an active member of Elon’s Service-Learning Community throughout her four years and is working to create a residence hall community dedicated to service and leadership development, with a focus on social issues.
Nickel, daughter of Dan and Laurie Nickel of Reisterstown, Md., has been accepted to serve with the Peace Corps in Eastern Europe and hopes to later attend law school.