Ferris State University senior Colby Wittman was honored with the Michigan Campus
Compact’s Heart and Soul Award for her recycling efforts on campus.
Wittman, a senior from St. Joseph majoring in Television and Digital Media Production, received the award this spring along with other college students across the state honored with Outstanding Student Service Awards. The Michigan Campus Compact’s Heart and Soul Award recognizes students active in community service.
Wittman is responsible for jumpstarting the TDMP program’s recycling efforts. Bins – one for paper and the other for bottles and cans – now are located in each of the program’s classrooms to encourage students to participate.
“I’ve always been passionate about recycling,” Wittman said. “My parents instilled values about taking care of the people and the world around me.”
She enlisted the Media Communications Association, a registered student organization, to help in the effort.
“Lauren Carnevale, this past semester’s president, and Fred Wyman, our adviser, not only helped me clear the bins themselves but organized students within the club as well,” said Wittman, who served at the RSO’s vice president.
Glen Okonoski, an associate professor in the TDMP program, said Wittman goes “above and beyond both in and out of the classroom.”
“Colby is a great student and great representative of the Television and Digital Media Production program as well as Ferris State University,” Okonoski said. “She has a bright future.”
Michigan Campus Compact, based in Lansing, promotes the education and commitment of college students to be civically engaged citizens, through creating and expanding academic, co-curricular and campus-wide opportunities for community service, service-learning and civic engagement. The organization annually honors students, faculty, staff and campuses for their commitment to creating change in their communities.