Senior Early Childhood Education major Amy Messmore is the recipient of the Kent State University Leadership Center’s Student Leader of the Month.
Messmore is currently an active member of United Christian Ministries, an LGBTQ+ Center Christian Ally student organization, supporting and serving the LGBTQIA+ Community. She also serves on the UCM E-Board.
The Student Leader of the Month program seeks to recognize students for excellence in leadership through campus and community involvement.
Lauren Odell-Scott nominated her.
She said:
“Amy has worked to provide ways for spiritual students, especially from Christian traditions, to be authentically affirmed as who God created them to be ---unique, wonderful, and beloved. In the past two years, Amy has led the UCM LGBTQIA+ ministry, offering purple glitter Ashes to Go for Ash Wednesday at the KSU LGBTQ+ Center in 2020 (pre-pandemic), leading LGBTQIA+ Kahoots for Allies and Trans Awareness, Zoom programs with Rev. Kimberly Nagy on her journey of faith as an LGBTQIA+ minister, and Ms. Bobbi Ullinger on her experience as a Christian transwoman and member of the UCM Board of Directors. Amy’s gentle and sensitive approach has opened opportunities to educate new allies for the community as well as offering new students in the community opportunities for a spiritual support system through UCM.”
The distinction humbled Messmore.
“When I got the email that I was Student of the Month, I was shocked,” said Messmore. “I know what a big honor this is and was very happy and overjoyed that my work and dedication to UCM and the LGBTQ+ community is recognized and appreciated. I am also proud of the steps that it took to get to this point, and I couldn't have done it without the wonderful leaders who trained me, so a big thank you to them! I know that this will definitely be a moment of my college career that I won't forget!”
For being selected Student Leader of the Month, Messmore will receive a commemorative certificate, a Kent State t-shirt, a $15 gift card to the Kent State bookstore along with being recognized on the Leadership Center website, monthly newsletter, and on the @KentStateLeads Instagram page.
To nominate a student leader of the month, click here
For more information on the Leadership Center, click here