REM Award Honorees (2005) — Wanda K. Smith (Kennebec Valley Community College)

Wanda K. Smith is a May 2005 graduate of the Education Program, Speech Pathology concentration, at KVCC. She is truly an amazing individual, and the KVCC community is happy to honor her with a REM Partners’ Community Volunteer Award. Attending KVCC was, from the beginning, quite an undertaking for Wanda. As are many of our students, Wanda was a non-traditional student that returned to the classroom many years after her last educational experience. Another challenge for Wanda was her commute.

During her first year at KVCC, Wanda was elected to Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), an international honor society that focuses on academic achievement as well as on service and leadership. In this capacity, Wanda assisted in all projects and worked to keep the organization vital. In her second year, Wanda was elected President of Phi Theta Kappa, and as such, dedicated much time and effort to making PTK a more active member of the community, on- and off-campus. Wanda is truly someone who takes on responsibility with a voracious commitment, as well as amazing energy and enthusiasm.

While at KVCC, Wanda was also a member of the Student Senate. Additionally, she volunteered as a peer tutor and mentor. Currently, Wanda volunteers her time as Vice President of the Friendship Museum, and assists in fundraising events and other related projects. She has also been a leader in Girl Scouts of America. Wanda continues to be a volunteer tutor at KVCC. She is also continuing “with much passion” a project for the Family Violence Project that she started while President of PTK of making bags filled with “essentials” for battered women, as well as “activity” bags for children who have to go to court with their custodial parent. “I am so pleased to be able to make a difference with this community project. . . . It can be something many . . . can easily keep supplied with little financial hardship, while providing help and hope in a time of extreme stress and turmoil,” says Wanda.

We, at KVCC, are very fortunate to have Wanda K. Smith as a graduate.

For more information about Kennebec Valley Community College, please visit its website.