On November 13, 2024, 17 outstanding student leaders were recognized for their service to campus and community at the 2024 “Engagement Matters” Student Awards Ceremony. Two award categories were announced: the Community Impact Student Award and the Barnhill Civic Trailblazer Award.
The virtual ceremony can be viewed here.
Student leaders from 16 schools received the 2024 Community Impact Student Award.
Since 2006, the Community Impact Student Awards recognize an outstanding, full-time undergraduate student service leader from each member campus. The award may honor an individual for multiple or diverse forms of engagement, including volunteer service, service-learning, policy work, community organizing, advocacy, internships, and campus leadership.
All award winners clearly demonstrate a deep commitment to partnering with others to address community issues, outstanding ability to lead and inspire fellow students to engage, and evidence of sustainable impact of their work. Community Impact Award winners are selected by each member campus. Any sophomore or junior (4-year schools) or first or second-year student (2-year schools) at a member campus is eligible.
Jaya Dayal from UNC-Chapel Hill was selected to receive the 2024 Barnhill Civic Trailblazer Award.
The Barnhill Civic Trailblazer Award was created in 2011 to honor John H. Barnhill, the founding executive director of NC Campus Compact (now NC Campus Engagement). The Barnhill Civic Trailblazer Award is given to one student from the statewide network. Nominees — one per campus — must be undergraduate students in their final year. The Civic Trailblazer demonstrates innovation in civic engagement, works to integrate their service into campus structures, inspires others to serve, and makes a meaningful impact on campus or community.
Jaya, a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill majoring in Public Health, has built a reputation as a dedicated service leader committed to building bridges and connecting across differences. During her time at UNC, she served as an AmeriCorps-City Year member, Global Gap Year Fellow, UNC Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services Volunteer & Peer Educator, Community Empowerment Fund Advocate, and NC Student Dialogue Ambassador. She also held multiple internship roles.
Jaya was foundational in the formation of the annual UNC Y Dialogue Series, which hosts a series of five dialogues on campus each semester about topics relevant to the UNC community. She is also the Co-Founder of the UNC Democracy & Dialogue Fellows Program, a year-long initiative that empowers students to use dialogue as a tool to have challenging yet necessary conversations while developing civic skills. The program launched in fall 2024 and is housed and funded by the UNC Y.
The winner was recognized during the virtual ceremony. She will be honored in-person during the awards ceremony at the 2025 NC Campus Engagement PACE Conference on February 12, 2025.