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The ceremony, set for 2 p.m. in the Johnson Commons Ballroom, recognizes those whose work advances community-engaged research, learning, service and scholarship across Mississippi.

"The Celebration of Service highlights how the University of Mississippi defines community engagement as a core part of its mission," said Castel Sweet, director of the Center for Community Engagement. "One that is collaborative, reciprocal and rooted in real community impact.

"It also reflects the university's commitment to supporting this work across all levels, from students to faculty and staff, and ensuring it is recognized as meaningful and essential to who we are as an institution."

The university's top honor, the Excellence in Community Engagement Award, will go to the project "Co-Producing Evidence for Maternal Health Policy Change in Mississippi: A Community-Engaged Group Concept Mapping Initiative." The team members for that project are: Sabrina Alam, Abigail Gamble, associate professor at the ; Zainab Jah; Hannah Sheridan; Nakeitra Burse; Janice Hall, UMMC faculty affiliate; Niketa Pechan; and Amy Winter, Ole Miss community assistant.

The Growing Middle School and High School STEM Outreach Program in Mississippi will receive the Excellence in Community Engaged Service Award. LEARN Science will receive the Excellence in Community Engagement Research Award. LOU Second Responders will receive the Excellence in Community Engagement with Distinction Award.

Recipients of the Community Partnership Development Fund include:

• Somya Gupta, Ole Miss graduate research assistant
• Christopher Hutchinson, assistant professor of German
• April Holifield-Scott, director of the university's Desoto and Grenada regional campuses
• Nathaniel Oaks, director of education and student programs for
• Daniel O'Sullivan, chair and professor of modern languages
• William Joseph Sumrall, professor of elementary education
• Katelin Hayward Traylor, program manager for the Trent Lott Leadership Institute
• Lynn Wilkins, Ole Miss parent and caregiver program manager
• Kenya Wolff, associate professor of early childhood education.

The Outstanding Community Partner Award will be presented to Zainab Jah, Kiara Cruz and Susan Perez.

"It's important to celebrate community members alongside our students, faculty and staff because without them, there would be no meaningful community engagement," Sweet said. "Our community partners bring knowledge, expertise and lived experience that shape this work, making them just as vital to these efforts as those on campus."

Abigail Austin, case manager for UMatter, and Cecilia Rayburn, a senior public policy and leadership and Spanish major from Oxford, will receive the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, recognizing staff and student leadership, respectively. Abdullah Fuad, a doctoral student in political science from Dhaka, Bangladesh, has been named a Civic Engagement Fellow.

The 2025-26 community-engaged fellows are Johnathan Hill, Mississippi STEM Education Alliance program coordinator; Christopher Hutchinson, assistant professor of German; Anastasia Jenkins, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice; Ellie Palazzolo, assistant professor of Southern studies and history; and Mary Wise Conway, project manager for the . Their projects span research, teaching and program development.

"What stands out most is the breadth and depth of community engagement happening across campus," Sweet said. "When you see all of these partnerships and projects recognized in one place, it becomes clear that this work is not confined to a single department or unit.

"It's truly embedded throughout the university in powerful ways."

The awards celebration is among a series of events during a weeklong recognition of the impact of community engagement. Read more about .

Top: Student, faculty and staff volunteers spread pine straw at St. Peter's Episcopal Church.during this spring's Big Event, the university's annual day for community service. The university will honor several projects and individuals April 14 as part of the annual Celebration of Service. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services