When Abigail Denault discovered she were decided on because the first-ever Ball State College scholar to obtain the distinguished Richard J. Picket Group Dedication Award, her preliminary response used to be considered one of wonder.
“I do know there are such a lot of Ball State scholars doing issues for and dealing within the native and campus neighborhood. I could also be the 1st, however I do know I can now not be the closing, figuring out all that my fellow scholars do,” Ms. Denault stated.
Her humility is reflective of the values that earned her this honor—an unwavering determination to civic duty, neighborhood engagement, and journalism that informs and empowers. As a journalism primary with a minor in international research, Ms. Denault has made a profound affect each in and past the study room, demonstrating an unrelenting interest for serving her neighborhood.
A keenness for civic engagement
Ms. Denault’s dedication to civic engagement stems from a deeply rooted trust that knowledgeable communities are more potent communities. She credit her father’s instance of volunteering and neighborhood involvement as an early affect in her personal engagement.
That keenness flourished at Ball State, the place Ms. Denault took on a management function as a Democracy Fellow with the College’s Center for Economic and Civic Learning (CECL). Via her paintings with the Cardinals Vote! initiative, she helped teach her friends at the significance of voter registration and nonpartisan election knowledge.
“After I labored on the polls for the main, I noticed firsthand what number of people didn’t have the guidelines they wanted about how balloting works,” Ms. Denault stated. “That have made me wish to be certain other people have get right of entry to to the information and sources to learn voters.”
Her affect prolonged to her function as a journalist. As a former govt editor of Ball Bearings Mag and information phase editor for The Ball State Day-to-day Information, she has reported on civic engagement efforts and amplified voices locally thru storytelling. Her reporting has specifically curious about CECL’s CREATE challenge—or Civic Renewal Via Training for Company, Tolerance and Engagement—with Muncie Group Faculties, serving to spotlight the significance of civic schooling on the Ok-12 stage.
Instructional excellence and international viewpoint
Past her carrier and journalism, Ms. Denault has excelled academically.
As a member of Ball State’s Honors College and a constant presence at the Dean’s Listing, she has balanced rigorous coursework with hands-on neighborhood involvement. Her participation within the Instructor-Student Program and the Grand Technique, Safety, and Statecraft Team has additional deepened her figuring out of civic duty on an international scale.
Her power for civic engagement extends past Ball State’s campus. Rising up in Illinois, she labored as a ballot employee, gaining firsthand revel in with the democratic procedure. She used to be later decided on to be an election pass judgement on however needed to flip down the function after deciding to wait faculty out of state. She hopes to use her revel in in election paintings to her long run profession.
Having a look forward
With commencement at the horizon, Ms. Denault envisions a long run that continues her challenge of informing and empowering communities. She plans to start her profession in journalism, polishing her talents as a reporter earlier than pursuing a grasp’s level in global members of the family with aspirations of turning into a international correspondent.
“Anyplace I am going, I plan to proceed within the spirit of constructing positive other people have the guidelines they wish to learn voters who can take part and fortify upon their communities,” she stated. “I additionally hope to advertise those values by means of uplifting voices and serving to to bridge the space in development relationships inside the neighborhood.”
As a part of her Richard J. Picket Group Dedication Award reputation, Ms. Denault will spend the following yr operating with Community-Engaged Alliance, furthering her advocacy for civic engagement thru talking engagements and neighborhood occasions.
“Ms. Denault exemplifies the qualities of management and repair that this award seeks to honor,” stated Dr. David Roof, CECL director. “Her dedication to strengthening democratic values and empowering her friends is outstanding and provoking.”
Her paintings has already left a long-lasting mark on Ball State and the wider neighborhood. As she steps into the following bankruptcy of her adventure, Ms. Denault stays dedicated to fostering engagement, empowering voices, and making sure that knowledgeable voters proceed to form the arena round them.
