Kristina “Tina” Gorden has been named as Johnson State College’s recipient of the Vermont Campus Compact’s 2013 Engaged Student Award for her steadfast commitment to service and her dynamic leadership in creating and sustaining several volunteer programs at JSC.
“Tina’s service within many programs at Johnson State College shows her strong commitment to engagement,” Krista Swahn, director of student activities and community service, said in a nomination letter. “Her passion for service spreads to those around her as she exemplifies the value of what one person can do in their community. She is the model of what we hope all of our students can strive to achieve.”
Gorden is a senior from Chittenango, N.Y., majoring in wellness and alternative medicine. As an active member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, she helped coordinate two disaster relief trips to New Orleans, collected donations for Samaritan’s Purse to provide children with Christmas gifts and rallied the club to assemble Thanksgiving baskets for needy Lamoille County families.
In addition, she and other members of the women’s soccer team ran soccer clinics for elementary school children in Lamoille County.
“Tina is such a natural when it comes to working with kids,” said Lizi Lyon, assistant women’s soccer coach. “She is kind and compassionate and genuinely enjoys helping others. She is quiet yet strong and was an absolute pleasure to both coach and watch her develop into the confident and kind women she is today. Tina brings light to everyone she interacts with.”
Through SERVE, JSC’s community service office, Gorden helped coordinate blood drives, volunteered for many local service trips and mentored children at Johnson Elementary School. As a founding member of the Laraway Homework Club, she provided homework assistance to at-risk youth and introduced them to a college environment. And as a member of the Student Athletic Advisor Council, she helped organize coat drives and recruit volunteers for JSC’s annual Drop & Swap, a free event that allows area residents access to donated goods and clothing.
Gorden is one of 18 Vermont college students/student organizations receiving Engaged Student Awards, honoring their work and accomplishments. The award will be presented at the Vermont Campus Compact (VCC) Engaged Campus Forum on April 12 in Burlington.
The award is presented annually to a student or student group at a VCC member campus who demonstrates a significant investment of time and energy into activities that promote and support engagement at their institution and among their peers.
VCC is a statewide consortium of 18 college and university presidents committed to creating a flourishing democracy.
