Kasey Arnold ’23, Professor Sara Dupont, and Bridge House Shelter were honored by Plymouth State University with Campus Compact for New Hampshire’s (CCNH) annual Presidents’ Awards on April 11, 2023. Additionally, Corinne Cloutier ’24 was named the 2023 Newman Civic Fellow.
PSU President Donald L. Birx, Ph.D., and members of the PSU community nominated the individuals and groups for their commitment to serving the campus and Plymouth-area communities.
“This year’s recipients of the Campus Compact Awards have not only made significant contributions to the Plymouth State University community, but to the surrounding communities as well,” said Birx. “Kasey and Professor Dupont demonstrate what it means to be a Plymouth State Panther with their continuous leadership on campus and their devotion to inspiring social awareness and encouraging a positive and driven attitude. I would also like to recognize Bridge House Shelter and Corinne as they have done exceptional work for the PSU community, specifically in regard to mental health awareness and giving back to the student body.”
The event was held in person for the first time three years at the Holiday Inn Concord Downtown in Concord, New Hampshire.
Kasey Arnold – Presidents’ Leadership Award
Arnold was honored with the Presidents’ Leadership Award, which recognizes students or student groups who have made outstanding contributions to civic engagement.
Arnold currently serves as a member of three executive boards, including the Student Government Association, Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority and the Student Art Collective. Through these roles she has played a part in planning many student events such as Ski Day, Senior Week and multiple art workshops in order to bring students together. Arnold also founded The Roots Project which is an initiative that promotes positive social behavior on campus. The project is currently being spread to other USNH campuses with the goal of creating a campus atmosphere that students can be proud of.
Sara Dupont – Good Steward Award
Dupont, clinical assistant professor of social work at PSU, was honored with the Presidents’ Good Steward Award, given to a faculty, administration or staff member who has contributed their professional expertise in service to the wider community and who has significantly advanced public service on their campus.
In her role as a social work professor, Dupont engages her students with a service-learning experience working with many local non-profit organizations to give them hands on experience, while also giving back to their community. With a background volunteering within the corrections, probation and parole system, Dupont is a strong advocate for social justice who continues to demonstrate this advocacy by connecting her students with the important work that non-profit partners are doing, inviting speakers to class and inviting community impact teams to prepare students for ethical engagement throughout the broader region.
Bridge House Shelter – Community Partner Award
President Birx recognized Bridge House Shelter of New Hampshire in Plymouth with the Community Partner Award, which is given to a non-profit organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community and engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with a college or university.
Bridge House Shelter leads the community in addressing housing insecurity and continues to engage PSU’s Campus & Community Mental Health Working Group, which addresses the collective mental health of the PSU campus and the broader community. Bridge House Shelter has welcomed many PSU student volunteers over the years, not only affording them an opportunity to serve the community, but also to learn about community engagement and make intergenerational connections.
Corinne Cloutier – Newman Civic Fellow
While not part of the CCNH event, President Birx also named Cloutier this year’s Newman Civic Fellow. The Fellowship recognizes and supports community-committed students who are changemakers and public problem-solvers at Campus Compact member institutions. Cloutier was nominated by Birx in recognition of her student leadership around philanthropic and student engagement initiatives, embodying the PSU motto, Ut Prosim, “That I May Serve.”
Cloutier is majoring in sustainability studies and serves in many leadership roles including as a social action trip coordinator, a student impact ambassador in the Office of Community Impact, an orientation leader for the New Student Experience Office and the vice president of Inter-Greek Council. She also serves as a member of the Philanthropy Committee for Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority, Kappa Sigma Chapter.
She continues to play a significant leadership role across campus and has been credited with being an integral part in the implementation of two of PSU’s Out of the Darkness events, which have collectively raised over $20,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In addition to the work she does with her sorority, Cloutier has also been leading the Social Action Trips student organization to prepare for their work with the Gita Nagari Eco Farm & Sanctuary in Pennsylvania.
“Corinne goes above and beyond in advancing PSU’s community,” said Birx. “Her authentic and steady leadership has positively impacted our campus community and her dedication to service does not go unnoticed.”
Campus Compact for New Hampshire is a statewide consortium of college and university presidents that is dedicated to advancing the civic purposes of higher education.
CCNH’s programs and resources include training, advocacy, funding, legislative outreach and recognition for community-based work that both enhances student learning and provides needed public services. Annually, more than 23,000 student volunteers from CCNH’s member campuses serve some six million hours in local communities through initiatives run or supported by their institutions, providing millions of dollars in services.
