Goldey-Beacom College’s Sulakshmi Vaid Receives President’s Volunteer Service Award from AmeriCorps

Goldey-Beacom College is pleased to announce Sulakshmi Vaid has earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) for Lifetime Achievement. She will receive a certificate signed by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. along with a lifetime padfolio and coin.

As a PVSA certifying organization, Transform Mid-Atlantic (TMA) submitted Vaid’s service 4,595 eligible service hours to AmeriCorps and the national Points of Light Foundation which confers the award on behalf of the United States government to those who have made exceptional contributions as unpaid volunteers and national service program alumni.

Vaid’s journey with GBC began as an AmeriCorps VISTA member, a role she fulfilled across three consecutive cohorts: 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Her dedication and impactful service through the AmeriCorps VISTA program, facilitated by Transform Mid-Atlantic (formerly Campus Compact Mid-Atlantic), has been instrumental in advancing community initiatives. Vaid has recently transitioned to her new role as the coordinator for civic and community service at GBC where she will continue her commitment to fostering civic engagement.

Previously, Vaid was honored by TMA with a 2022-2023 academic year fellowship as part of the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Civic Fellowship program. In addition, she received a 2023 Exceptional AmeriCorps VISTA Service Award.

Vaid’s colleagues at GBC are proud of her accomplishments. “I am immensely proud to congratulate Sulakshmi Vaid on receiving the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award for Lifetime Achievement,” said GBC’s Dean of Students Jocelyn Moses (Byers-Smith).

Moses (Byers-Smith) continued saying, “This honor speaks volumes about her unwavering dedication, generosity and impact on the lives of so many individuals and communities. Over the course of her time at Goldey-Beacom College, Sulakshmi has consistently exemplified the core values of service, leadership and compassion, going above and beyond to create meaningful change. Her selflessness, countless volunteer hours and lifelong commitment to helping others has been an inspiration to all of us. This award not only recognizes her extraordinary contributions but also reflects the high standards of excellence and integrity she brings to our team every day. I am incredibly fortunate to have Sulakshmi as part of our community, and I know her passion for service will continue to inspire others to follow in her footsteps.”

Vaid’s commitment to serving others began at a young age. “Your life exemplifies commitment to community and the greater good,” said Anthony Wagner associate director at TMA.

Wagner continued, “Few people in the United States receive the PVSA for Lifetime Achievement. Few decide to embark on a year of national service through an AmeriCorps program. And even fewer dedicate three years of their lives to see a VISTA project through from beginning to end. Your work at Goldey-Beacom has been transformative – for the institution, its community partners, the student body, and, we are certain, for you, as well. We are truly and simply in awe of who you are.”

Vaid is a Woodbridge, NJ native who graduated from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. She double majored in Political Science and History and spent hundreds of hours in various civic engagement projects there. She is the daughter of immigrant parents from India and Guyana and used her unique understanding of life to serve in different student roles at Cedar Crest such as inclusion advocate and civic engagement advocate.

GBC President Colleen Perry Keith currently serves on the Board of Directors of Transform Mid-Atlantic which is a non-profit membership association of public, private, 2- and 4-year colleges and universities, including many HBCUs and minority serving institutions. Transform Mid-Atlantic provides leadership to colleges and universities in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware by advocating, supporting, and encouraging institutional participation in academic and co-curricular based public service and civic engagement programs.

Transform Mid-Atlantic strengthens the capacity of member institutions to enhance student learning and to meaningfully engage with communities. Transform Mid-Atlantic is supported through a combination of institutional dues, federal and private grants, donations, and in-kind contributions. The Transform Mid-Atlantic office is located at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.

Staff Writer

This post was originally published on this site