USU Recognizes Excellence in Community Engagement

LOGAN — Utah State University recognized individuals and organizations for their outstanding community contributions during the Center for Community Engagement’s annual awards ceremony on April 16 at the Taggart Student Center Sunburst Lounge.

Krystin Deschamps, vice president for student affairs, presented the USU Presidential Awards for Community Engagement honoring faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners who exemplify mutually beneficial partnerships between USU and the greater community.

“Honoring these individuals and partners reminds us that community engagement is a powerful force for change and a shared responsibility to build stronger, more connected communities," said Giselle Bandley of the Center for Community Engagement.

2025 USU Presidential Awards for Community Engagement Recipients

Community-Engaged Faculty Award: Katie Kraus

Katie Kraus was recognized for integrating community-based research and experiential learning into nutrition and dietetics. Her work empowers students to address food insecurity and improve local health outcomes through hands-on projects.

Community-Engaged Staff Award: Jennifer Cortez

Jennifer Cortez was honored for her leadership in fostering student service and cultivating nonprofit partnerships through the University Honors Program and local organizations including the W.A.B. Warming Center and No More a Stranger Foundation.

Community-Engaged Student Award: Nowrin Fatema

Nowrin Fatema was acknowledged for impactful research and advocacy in environmental justice and refugee support, both locally and globally, while actively contributing to ecological restoration and refugee resettlement efforts in Utah.

Community-Engaged Alumnus Award: Danny Beus

Danny Beus was recognized for his leadership in refugee resettlement, first with the Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection (CRIC) in Logan and now with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Salt Lake City, helping to build welcoming and resilient communities for newcomers.

Committed Community Partner Award: City of Logan Parks & Recreation

City of Logan Parks & Recreation was honored for nearly 30 years of collaborative partnership with USU’s America Reads program, enriching the lives of hundreds of Cache Valley children through free, educational after-school programming.

The annual Community Engagement Awards Ceremony also included a variety of other honors. Faculty Fellows in Community Engagement were announced, and students were recognized for successfully completing the Christensen Community Scholars, Peace Corps Prep, One Utah Service Fellowship, and COSAS Student Leadership programs.

Additional recognitions included the Crista Sorenson Award for Outstanding Civic & Community Engagement and the Val R. & Ruth Ann Christensen Student Leader Scholarship, both honoring individuals whose leadership and service have made a lasting impact at USU and beyond.

For more information about the Community Engagement Awards and the Center’s work, visit:https://www.usu.edu/community-engagement/awards/.

Additional details can be found at https://www.usu.edu/communityengagement/