Lacey Mogan, 20
junior, human services
service project coordinator, Office for Community Involvement
Hinsdale, MT
April 6, 2015
By Cassie Winter, University Communications and Marketing
How did you get started with community involvement?
鈥淢y first experience wasn鈥檛 really voluntary, it was more like my parents forced me to. I was in 4-H and we did a lot of youth group things. When I got to college, I figured I would continue volunteering. I found out that I actually did like it.鈥�
What has been some of your favorite projects you鈥檝e been a part of?
鈥淟ast week, Student United Way helped the Moss Mansion move furniture, and they ended up giving us a quick tour which was really cool because I鈥檝e never been there. This week we will be cleaning graffiti off the rims. I think it鈥檚 those things I鈥檝e never done before that I find so exciting. My favorite thing is when I see students helping and really enjoying themselves. That makes me happy.鈥�
Why do you think it is important for people to be involved in their community?
鈥淥ur community depends on it. It isn鈥檛 necessarily in ways people see, but there are a lot of volunteers who constantly help out. Like my professor Dr. Mermel. She鈥檚 involved in so many hunger projects in the community and it is amazing to see what she does. I personally believe the students who are engaged and active are the successful students. Being involved in the community is a great networking opportunity for them too.鈥�
What have you learned throughout your volunteering experiences?
鈥淧ersonally I would have never considered myself as a leader. When Student United Way was looking for leaders last year, I didn鈥檛 think I was cut out for it. I learned how important it is to step up even if you don鈥檛 think you have anything valuable to give, you really do.鈥�
What is the need in Billings?
鈥淚 remember my first time with N ight on the V an鈥攊t was so eye-opening because I didn鈥檛 realize how many people depended on i t. I think there鈥檚 more poverty than people realize. One thing we talk about in our hunger and food security class is that our unemployment rate is a little over 3 percent, which is great, but the number of students who receive free or reduced school meals, which can equate to poverty, is at about 40 percent.鈥�
What is the importance of being able to work in a team like Student United Way?
鈥淚nitially it can be intimating for students to step out of their shell. So we give a place to do that and while providing opportunities to volunteer. I think it鈥檚 a great first step, to learn and grown.鈥�
What do you hope to do with a degree in human services?
鈥淚 chose human services because there鈥檚 opportunity for counseling and social work. I think it鈥檚 also a great general degree for me because I want to work with a non-profit and help people. It鈥檚 something that excites me. I have really liked working with the OCI and I just want to expand that.鈥�
Recently Lacey Mogan received the Newman Civic Fellow Award for her dedication to helping the community in health, education, mental health and poverty. Find out how you can serve your community with the Office of Community Involvement.
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