The Extraordinary Community Service Award honors students and student organizations that exhibit the Volunteer spirit in the community.
Msgana Araya
Msgana Araya is a senior majoring in neuroscience and minoring in public health. Choosing to pursue the pre-medicine track as a student-athlete was something that she was determined to excel in during her time at UT. This balance pushed her in ways she didn’t expect, but proved to be invaluable.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“To me, being a Volunteer is all about putting your best foot forward in all spheres of life and intentionally seeking areas that you can brighten. All around this campus, we as students are encouraged to volunteer and serve, and I believe it’s something that I absorbed and took to heart. UT taught me that I can do hard things and put others first while succeeding because of the amount of support I was uplifted by; my success and the success of others don’t have to be mutually exclusive!”
What are your plans for after graduation?
“After graduating this May, I plan to get my master’s degree here at UT in Philosophy with a bioethics concentration for the next year before attending medical school.”
Nicole Carvagno
Nicole Carvagno is majoring in Supply Chain Management and works as the director of Smokey’s Pantry. One of Haslam’s Global Leadership Scholars and a SCM Scholar of Distinction, Nicole has also been nationally recognized as an AWESOME Scholar, R. Gene Richter Scholar, and a Traffic Club of Pittsburgh scholar.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“To me, being a Volunteer means supporting those around you and giving back where you can. Knoxville has so many opportunities to give back to those around you if you’re willing to spend the time doing it, and ServeUTK has been an amazing resource for both organizations and people seeking opportunities. I think that the people I’ve met in the Knoxville community have put faith in me and allowed me to really thrive in my career here.”
What are your plans for after graduation?
“I will be joining Procter & Gamble’s North American Transportation Operations Team in Cincinnati, Ohio.”
Callie Tucker
Callie Grace Tucker, a senior from Knoxville, is studying neuroscience with a minor in public health. She is a member of the university’s track team and traveled to the Philippines using sport as a vehicle for change through the VOLeaders Academy. She also has been serving weekly at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital since 2019.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
“Being a Volunteer is being passionate about lighting the way for others because someone has done so for you. As a Knoxville native, I have always been passionate about giving back to the community that invested in me. In middle school, Knoxville Youth Athletics pushed me into competitive running. In high school, Youth Leadership of Knoxville first taught me the principles of servant leadership. At the same time, I found an opportunity at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, spending my summers connecting with the kids through endless games of Mario Kart. When I decided to come to UTK, I knew that I wanted to serve the communities that gave me pivotal opportunities that lit my own way.
After a brief intermission due to the pandemic, I began coaching my own track team through Knoxville Youth Athletics’ Developmental Program, reaching kids who were new to running and willing to learn. Sophomore year of college, I secured my weekly Monday afternoon shift on the patient floors at ETCH, one where the patients change my day more than I change their day. Last year I was honored to be a member of the VOLeaders Academy, developing my own unique leadership style within my team and learning how to use sport as an intervention tool to bring communities together in Knoxville and abroad. The University of Tennessee has allowed me to light the way for others because of the way the city of Knoxville graciously guided me.”
What are your plans for after graduation?
“I have applied to Tennessee’s Master of Public Health program and plan on taking my fifth year of eligibility for cross country and track. After this, I hope to attend medical school.”
SLOPE
SLOPE is a 3-D printing outreach club that goes to local school’s STEM nights and East Tennessee Children’s hospital to demonstrate how 3D printing works and get the kids interested in STEM. We also attend the Honor Air event and give veterans 3D printed coins to remember their trip.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
SLOPE embodies the Volunteer Spirit by doing just that: volunteering. All of the STEM nights, hospital visits, and Honor Air events we attend are optional to try and better the community. The goal is to teach students around the county the importance of STEM through a demonstration of 3D printing, which will hopefully get them excited about the subjects in the future. As technology continues to grow, STEM will become a large job market, young students need to get interested in these topics now to help propel them and the community forward into the future. We also strive to give back to those that have given to us, whether that be veterans or teachers/schools, to thank those that helped get us to the point where we are today: Tennessee Volunteers.