The annual CSNAP Student Conference brought more than 160 students, faculty, staff, and community advocates together for a day of reflection and learning. True to its name, the event touched on topics related to “Citizenship, Service, Networking, And Partnerships” in 14 morning workshop sessions and an afternoon “social change showcase” featuring eight organizations that mobilize college students to address community issues. This year’s conference was hosted by UNC Asheville, and 23 NC campuses were represented by participants.
UNCA Chancellor Mary Grant welcomes students to CSNAP. Photo: Amy Jessee.
UNC Asheville’s chancellor Mary Grant welcomed participants to the Saturday session, reaffirming her long-time commitment to the Campus Compact network and especially to the “public purposes of higher education.” Chancellor Grant – who serves on the NC Campus Compact board and is vice-chair of the board of national Campus Compact – also shared examples of how UNCA is making an impact in communities and she praised students for making a difference across the state.
NC Campus Compact executive director Leslie Garvin introduced the conference theme – “Believe There is Good in the World” – which contained a hidden message – “Be The Good.” She also led students to reflect on a short poem by modernist poet William Carlos Williams: “Election Day.”
Students led most of the morning workshops. Among the sessions which generated buzz: a workshop on “white fragility” presented by Warren Wilson College students; a session on motivating volunteers presented by an Elon University junior; and a session on college access for immigrant and refugee families presented by Guilford College students.
A lunch time awards presentation saw Community Impact Award recipients from 18 campuses honored, along with John H. Barnhill Civic Trailblazer Award winner Jennifer Fukunaga, a senior from Elon University. Two students – DaQuane Cherry of Central Piedmont Community College and Yaqueline Yanez of William Peace University – received a Marshall Alternative Service Experience Scholarship to fund their participation in an upcoming alternative break service trip.
Students are honored for their community engagement work. Photo: Peter Lorenz
Before the afternoon session began, students even found time to perform the mannequin challenge! View the video.
Participants also responded to a call from Chancellor Grant to assist volunteer firefighters who were combating wildfires throughout the day in western NC. An impromptu collection netted $275, which went to purchase snacks that were delivered by UNCA staff to the fire fighters later that afternoon.
2016 Barnhill Civic Trailblazer Jenny Fukunaga addressed fellow students. Photo: Peter Lorenz
The afternoon sessions included presentations by the Rachel Carson Council, the Campus Kitchens Project, NCPIRG Education Fund, the Sustained Dialogue Institute, Design for Change USA, Movement of Youth, .
“I found this CSNAP conference was encouraging and a great refresher in motivating me to do more in my community,” said Trevor McKenzie, a first-time participant from Wingate University.
Erick Jenkins, a junior from East Carolina, said he most appreciated the chance to meet other like-minded student leaders: “It’s one of the best programs I’ve been a part of. CSNAP gives students a chance to meet other students that have the betterment of their institution in mind.”
On Friday evening, participants networked, shared a meal and enjoyed a performance by Asheville musician Jonathon Santos, who interspersed original songs with exercises designed to help audience members craft their own “personal poetic mission statements.”
CSNAP is the longest-running student service conference in North Carolina. 2016 marked the 24th iteration of the event, which was first organized in 1993 by North Carolina Campus Volunteers, an organization that preceded and later merged with North Carolina Campus Compact. The conference was re-named “CSNAP” in 2012. See a list of past conferences.