Eastern Student Mariana Vega Serves Community as CCE Student Leader

2018 Mar 22

A number of civic-minded students from Eastern Connecticut State University are serving the community this spring semester as Student Leaders with Eastern's Center for Community Engagement (CCE). A student leader is an experienced student volunteer who has been hired and trained by the CCE to recruit, train and manage volunteers, serve as a liaison with community partners, and plan and run service programs.

Among the student leaders is Mariana Vega '18 of New London, who majors in Social Work. The community projects she oversees are the Higher Edge program, the Windham No Freeze Hospitality Center and the Petey Greene tutoring program.

"As a volunteer at the CCE my freshman year, I always looked at the student leaders and thought, 'that's a job I want,'" said Vega. "I not only love the CCE and the solidarity it creates, but also the wonderful things that are being accomplished to serve the Windham community."

Student leaders attend weekly community programs with their volunteers, as well as assist with volunteer recruitment and management for one-time special events. CCE Director Kim Silcox notes that student leaders are an integral part of the CCE staff.