ECU Senior Honored For Community Service | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post, Joy Holster, is a contributor to ECU News Services.

    ECU senior Zachary Baker has been recognized by North Carolina Campus Compact, a statewide network of colleges and universities committed to community engagement, for his outstanding leadership and service. Baker is a recipient of the network's Community Impact Student Award, which honors one student leader at each member school.

    Baker is one of 18 students across the state to receive the 2014 award, joining more than 200 college students honored by the organization since the award was first presented in 2006.

    At ECU, Baker has been a key figure in ECU's Campus Kitchen project, serving as a shift leader, shift manager, and on the leadership team. Through his work, he inspires others to take action against hunger in Greenville.

    Baker has worked for four years at the university's Volunteer and Service-Learning Center (VSLC), first as an event coordinator and now as OrgSync training coordinator. In this role, Baker teaches students and community agencies to use ECU's new web-based service management system, helping connect more than 6,000 users to service opportunities.

    A double major in health services management and chemistry, Baker is from Fayetteville.

    "Whether he's working behind the scenes managing our OrgSync platform or interacting with a new student who is looking to get involved, Zach empowers others to learn through service," said VSLC Assistant Director Nichelle Shuck.

    Baker and other award winners were honored at the compact's annual student conference on Nov. 8 at N.C. State University.

    North Carolina Campus Compact is a collaborative network of colleges and universities with a shared commitment to educating engaged citizens and strengthening communities. The compact was founded in 2002 and is hosted by Elon University.