EAST LANSING, Mich. - Nicole Maison and Kristen Liddicoat share an apartment in East Lansing, an office and a love for community service. They also share the honor of being Templeton Fellows at Michigan State University.
The Templeton Fellows Initiative is an opportunity for student leaders from Campus Compact member campuses across the county to interview college and university presidents about higher education's civic responsibility and the role of service in character development.
"Nicole and Kristen are both outstanding young women and are excellent representatives of Michigan State," said Mary Edens, director of the Service Learning Center. "We are pleased they were selected to represent the university to the National Campus Compact."
As part of the fellowship, Maison, formerly of Rochester, a master's student in social work, and Liddicoat of Bloomfield Hills, a master's student in student affairs administration, had the opportunity to interview MSU President Peter McPherson about the value of the service learning component within a student's academic career.
"Service learning is a big part of my life," said Maison, "and I love being able to help diverse populations."
Liddicoat agreed. "It's most important to be able to connect students to outside experiences, and I would like to help provide that in the future," she said.
They interviewed the president on the value of service learning and how it can be connected to future academic and career decisions; increasing the role of service learning in the Greater Lansing area and beyond; and how the center and university can work together to enhance service learning efforts.
Liddicoat is the daughter of Roger and Susan Liddicoat of Bloomfield Hills, and is a 1993 graduate of Andover High School in Bloomfield Hills. She received her bachelor of science degree in family community services from MSU. She is active as a volunteer in local organizations and in intramural sports and Family Child Ecology Club. She currently serves as a graduate assistant in the Office of Admissions and the Service Learning Center.
Maison is the niece of John and Kathy Kersheskey of Ellicott City, Md. She is a 1993 graduate of Rochester High School and received her bachelor's degree in social work. She is a member of Phi Alpha Honor Society and Students for Social Work. She played intramural soccer as an undergraduate.
MSU's Service Learning Center referred a record 4,360 student volunteers from all colleges within the university to on- and off-campus sites this year. The Center also coordinated community service programs including "Into the Streets" and the Alternative Spring Break Program, where students perform community service work with organizations in the United States and at international locations.
The Campus Compact is a coalition of nearly 600 college and university presidents committed to helping students develop the values and skills of citizenship through involvement in public and community service.