Two faculty members from the Reynolds College have been recognized for their outstanding service to community.
The Faculty Excellence in Community Engagement Award was awarded to Dr. John Prescott, professor in the Department of Music, and Dr. William Sandel, assistant professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
MSU Provost John Jasinski was present to congratulate Prescott and Sandel for their achievements.
Reynolds College Dean Shawn Wahl said he was pleased to see two RCASH faculty be awarded for their efforts.
“The Faculty Excellence in Community Engagement Award is a way to recognize the significant contributions MSU faculty make outside the classroom,” Wahl said. “I’m especially proud to see Dr. Prescott and Dr. Sandel of RCASH receive this important distinction.”
Prescott honored for service in veteran community
Prescott was recognized for his volunteer efforts within the veteran community. He performs Taps at numerous events and memorial services, and he has been the lead trumpet for MSU’s annual Taps Project, held on Veteran’s Day, for 15 years.
Among Prescott’s other volunteer activities are helping local churches organize handbell choirs and working with the Boy Scouts.
Prescott said he was first surprised, then honored, when he learned he had been selected for the award.
“I felt there must be others who have done more volunteer work than I have,” he said.
Prescott identified his father, a World War II pilot and gospel singer, as inspiring a volunteer spirit by instilling a sense of the importance of faith, giving back and the value of sharing one’s talents with others.
“My passion for volunteering at churches comes from seeing my father sing gospel music at numerous places when I was growing up,” Prescott said. “After I developed the ability to play trumpet, he and I would often perform together at one church or another, and it was always done on a volunteer basis.
“The most rewarding thing is to have the opportunity to give back,” Prescott added. “My father specifically directed me to do this in a Christmas card he wrote to me when I was in high school.”
Sandel honored for efforts in public safety training
Sandel was recognized for his volunteer efforts in public safety. Specifically, he has been instrumental in developing local, state and national training programs to prevent active shootings.
Sandel also serves as a subject matter expert and data scientist for the FBI and the Springfield Police Department’s Gun Crimes Project, and he has volunteered as a park board member, a volunteer fire fighter and a rescuer of stranded marine mammals.
Like Prescott, Sandel said he felt honored when he learned he had been selected for the award.
“Community engagement has been an important part of my work, and I’m glad to be at a university that values and recognizes that,” he said. “I love connecting with community members and sharing my knowledge as much as possible.”
“I think community involvement is so important for professors. Universities are a hub for knowledge and learning, and it’s incredibly rewarding to share that with the community,” he added.
About the Excellence in Community Engagement Awards
According to the Office of Public Affairs website, annual awards are presented to faculty and staff in recognition of their excellence in volunteer service outside their normal work capacity. Each recipient receives a plaque and a one-time cash award of $1,500.
Any student, employee or community member may nominate a full-time staff or faculty member for consideration who has been employed with the university at least three years.
A university committee reviews all nominations and selects award recipients by committee consensus. Recipients are evaluated on personal action to serve community causes, significant and sustained record of volunteer service, significant contribution to improve the quality of life and promotion of values consistent with the betterment of society.
Photos provided by Stacey Trewatha-Bach.