I got an email from a colleague recently from the EX[L] Center for Community Engaged Learning at The University of Akron.  Instead of a question or request for help with their website, they were congratulating me on winning an award and inviting me to an awards ceremony. 

I racked my brain for a bit to remember what all I had done for them.  There was help with a website and maybe a form or two – and some help with their listservs.  But nothing that seemed to warrant an award for “Community Engagement Champion”.

Still, there was a promise of snacks and that’s usually enough for me.  I asked if I needed to bring – or prepare – anything as part of RSVP and they replied all I needed was to be ready to have my picture taken. 

On the afternoon of the event I headed over to the venue – wearing a tie and my official name tag.  

I got seated in the middle – an easy path to the exit, but also a direct line to the snacks – and then groaned inwardly when they said that each award recipient would be asked to say a few words about their project. 

Since I couldn’t remember what project qualified me as a Champion, I tried to pull something together in my head based on what other people were doing. 

As other departments got their awards, I realized that I had helped – behind the scenes – on many of the projects they talked about. 

So, when it was my turn, I talked about my contributions to the Center’s website and the surveys, websites, lists, and e-commerce sites that the other projects had done.  It seemed to do the job and I went over to have my picture taken.

Afterwards, I talked to some colleagues that I hadn’t seen in a bit – then headed back to the office briefly to drop off my certificate and get my things before heading home a bit early. 

Hey, if a “Community Engagement Champion” can’t leave early, who can?

I was glad to help and it was nice to be recognised, although mine was apparently more for being “generally awesome” than any specific project.

I learned more about the good work the center and the many academic departments across campus were doing.  It was a “feel good” kind of afternoon.

And the snacks included frosted cookies shaped like our mascot – the kangaroo Zippy.  

It’s not a party unless there are Zippy Cookies. 

So now, in addition to being Director and Webmaster, I’m also a Champion. 

Which is not too bad.