Meet Ridgley Cannon, a senior at Greenwood Laboratory School. Ridgley is a young talent who impressed us with his classic approach to photography and his heart for service. The images below, taken at the ILL-Abilities performance during the fall 2023 Public Affairs Conference are just a couple examples of his work: 

Ridgley’s journey into the world of photography began when his father handed him a Nikon D60, igniting a spark that would fuel his creativity for years to come. Outside the classroom, where Ridgley immerses himself in history and science, photography is his passion project. Despite the convenience of cameras embedded in a smartphone, Ridgley prefers the tactile feel of professional equipment, capturing high quality images that require craft and skill. 

We met Ridgley when he chose service-learning to be part of his Capstone Requirement for graduation. He teamed up with the Citizenship & Service-Learning crew during Missouri State’s Public Affairs Conference to cover a conference session. Just like a professional photographer, he brought his camera body, an assortment of lenses, and was prepared to jot down likeness releases from any identifiable subjects.  

Ridgley helped us document the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of hosting ILL-Abilities, the international, differently abled breakdance crew. Ridgley captured the happy energy of the PSU theater that night. He took shots of the performance and of audience members with the performers themselves. There’s certainly some skill required to capture crisp images in a giant low-lit room in which hundreds of people bounced around to the breakdance crew’s prompts. 

He got time to practice his technical ability, but also his ability to connect people to each other with stories told through a lens. His contribution to the Missouri State community highlights the power of combining passion with professional skill-building. 

Ridgley’s involvement with service-learning serves as a reminder that it’s more than just students collecting professional, hands-on experiences. Those are important factors. But service-learning is also about making a meaningful impact in a student’s life, even when they’re still in high school. Students like Ridgley might not have any clue where they’ll end up. But service-learning offers a safe way to explore, see what’s out there, and do something positive for a community in the meantime. 

So, if you’ve wondering how your skills can align with service-learning opportunities, take a cue from Ridgley’s story. Service-learning can work for creative and craft-based fields. Whether it’s photography, writing, or any other talent, there’s always a way to make a difference and leave a lasting impact. 

For Greenwood, we’re always on the lookout for ways to showcase service-learning student talents and promote service-learning. Visit our office for more information on how you can get involved. 

ServiceLearning@MissouriState.edu | MissouriState.edu/CASL | 417 – 836 – 5774

By Ethan Gambriel & Charles Whitaker