Serving the community, inspiring a campus and building a lasting impact

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

For Anna Morgione, service is more than an activity – it’s a commitment that has shaped her college experience, career path and deep connection to the Youngstown community.

A graduating senior at Youngstown State University, Morgione has spent the past four years turning that commitment into action – not only by giving her time, but by building meaningful, lasting relationships with the people she serves.

“Fast forward four years, I’ve been delivering groceries to the same family ever since,” Morgione said. “We’ve developed a strong relationship, and I’ve become someone they can count on.”

A nursing major with a minor in public health and a member of the Sokolov Honors College, Morgione has focused her time at YSU on connecting the campus with the surrounding community in tangible ways.

Her journey began during her freshman year with a single volunteer opportunity through United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. What started as a one-time experience quickly grew into a sustained passion.

“The more I learned about the work they were doing, the more I wanted to be involved,” she said.

That passion led her to serve as a Community Follow, where she has spent her time connecting fellow students with volunteer opportunities and encouraging them to take an active role in their community. Through weekly volunteer efforts at the United Way Volunteer Resource Center, she has helped introduce students to the needs of the region – and how they can make a difference.

“As a Community Fellow, I’ve helped connect numerous YSU students with local volunteer opportunities, and it’s allowed me to share my passion with others,” she said.

Through those efforts, Morgione has not only increased student involvement, but also helped create a lasting culture of service that will continue beyond her time at YSU. Her impact extends well beyond campus. From organizing resources for local students to delivering groceries to families each month, Morgione has remained committed to showing up consistently for those who rely on that support.

“It’s the relationships that stay with you,” she said. “You’re not just dropping something off – you’re building trust. You’re becoming part of someone’s life.”

That sense of responsibility became especially clear during a downtown emergency response, when residents were forced to evacuate and needed immediate assistance. Morgione helped mobilize student volunteers to support those impacted.

“That experience showed me how strong this community really is,” she said. “Within minutes, people came together to help. I was just grateful to be part of that.”

Those experiences have shaped her future in health care. As a nursing student, Morgione sees a direct connection between her service and her career.

“Nursing is centered around caring for others, especially when they need it most,” she said. “My work in the community has shifted my perspective and allows me to care for patients in a more empathetic way.”

In recognition of her sustained impact, Morgione was named a recipient of the Charles J. Ping Student Service Award, one of the highest honors for student service at public universities.

“The Charles J. Ping Student Service Award is an honor that I am beyond grateful to have received,” she said. “It allowed me to take a step back and realize how much I’ve grown and how much I’ve been able to do in my community over the last four years.”

Amy Cossentino, associate provost of experiential learning and engagement and dean of the Sokolov Honors College and Cliffe College of Creative Arts, said Morgione exemplifies the university’s commitment to meaningful community-engaged learning, recently recognized through the Carnegie Foundation’s Elective Classification for Community Engagement.

“Anna represents the very best of how community-engaged learning benefits our YSU students,” Cossentino said. “Through sustained collaboration with community partners like United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, she consistently turns experiential learning into action through planned initiatives like SaturDay of Caring, as well as coordinated responses to urgent, unexpected needs.” Her empathy, humility and applied skills have strengthened the campus-community partnerships and inspired greater student involvement. These differentiating qualities will make her an exceptional nurse, servant-leader and valued contributor to her community.”

As graduation approaches, Morgione plans to continue her work with United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley, maintaining the relationships she has built over the past four years.

“My time at Youngstown State is coming to an end, but my time with United Way is not,” she said. “These are the relationships that matter to me. I’ll keep showing up.”