YSU Community Engagement Symposium recognizes student achievement and partnerships

Youngstown State University was proud to welcome students, faculty and community partners for its annual Community Engagement Symposium, an event showcasing community-engaged learning and scholarship across campus and beyond.

This year’s symposium featured 32 student posters, including 25 projects emerging from Honors Campus Community Partnerships seminars. Posters, oral presentations and interactive sessions highlighted collaborative work addressing real-world needs through partnerships with community organizations, underscoring the university’s commitment to experiential learning and community engagement.

"Community engagement represents a powerful form of experiential learning, connecting classroom knowledge with real-world application,” said Amy Cossentino, associate provost and dean. “Through these partnerships, students gain critical skills and develop relationships in the community while organizations benefit from meaningful collaboration.”

A small-group presenter lunch session evolved into a “living learning lab.” Bringing together faculty, students and community partners, the session fostered reflection and dialogue through storytelling and a collaborative Partnership Story Wall. Participants shared insights on relationship-building, community needs and future directions for engagement. The session reinforced the symposium’s role not only as a venue for showcasing work, but as a space for co-creating knowledge about effective community engagement practices.

The symposium also celebrated outstanding contributions to community engagement through a variety of awards and recognitions.

Senior nursing major and honors student, Anna Morgione, was recognized by Community Campus Coalition with the prestigious Charles J. Ping Student Service Award. This statewide honor recognizes undergraduate students for exemplary leadership and commitment to community service and service-learning. Anna has served as the Sokolov Honors College Community Fellow to the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley for the last three years.

Howland High School Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America received the Rising Star Award for emerging leadership in community engagement. Presenters included Shannon Stevens, Sophia McGarrity, Allison Graham, Gia Tempesta, Jillian Butler and Charity Plant.

The Outstanding Student Posters classification was granted to Emily Wolf’s, Grace Klein’s and Dana Elmquist’s From Struggle to Success: Executive Function and Academic Coaching, and Isabella Williams’ Shoot for a Change.

The Outstanding Posters from Campus Community Partnerships Honors Seminar classification was granted to the following projects:

• Volunteering at Animal Charity of Ohio (Animal Charity of Ohio) — Kendalyn Umbel, Gianna Taaffe, Lucy Houk, Landen Rain, Jeffrey Kollar
• Manna House International Ministry: Social Media, Accounting, and Website Development (Manna House International Ministry) — Sushant Donadi, Michael Ge, Saminder Tuli
• Home Instead Partnership Project (Home Instead) — Anabela Merola, Nia Burney, Mya Colella, Emalie Esmail, Scout Nicholson
• Dorothy Day House Engagement Project (Dorothy Day House of Hospitality) — Max Scott, Jimmy Riddle, Tori Atkins, Logan Schmutz

By bringing together campus and community voices and experiences, the Community Engagement Symposium continues to strengthen partnerships and inspire innovation. The event reflects Youngstown State University’s ongoing commitment to fostering student learning through real-world engagement while advancing meaningful, reciprocal relationships within the community.