REM Award Honorees (2002) — Megan Gossling (Colby College)

The Colby Volunteer Center provides students with opportunities to be a positive influence through volunteering on the lives of others in Greater Waterville. The CVC’s goal is to increase awareness of the importance of volunteering as a social responsibility as well as a form of self development and education. For more information, visit the CVC’s website.

Megan E. Gossling graduated magna cum laude from Colby College in May 2002 with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in human development. She came to Waterville from Newtown, Conn., and is currently pursuing an M.A. in higher education and student affairs with a minor in counseling psychology at Ohio State University.

During her four years at Colby, she contributed to the Waterville community as well as to programs on campus. Megan was the director of the Colby Volunteer Center during her senior year and assistant director of the CVC the year before that, and she coordinated eighteen volunteer programs that send Colby students into the greater Waterville area community. She also helped with a variety of one-time events and fund-raising programs for local organizations.

All four years at Colby, Megan volunteered as a speaker in local schools to educate area students about eating disorders. During her senior year she helped launch the RESCUE program at Colby, to collect and sell or recycle items that students leave behind at the end of the year. The program made substantial contributions to several area non-profit organizations and sponsored a yard sale in September, permitting students and townspeople to purchase salvaged goods. For two years Megan was also coordinated the Colby Outdoor Orientation Trips program for incoming students.

As a junior Megan received the Loraine Morel Memorial Award, given to a female for academic success, citizenship, and leadership at Colby and in the community. At commencement Megan received the Condon Medal, the only award presented at Colby graduations. Given for constructive citizenship, the medal is awarded by the graduating class and faculty. Now in graduate school, Megan continues contributing. She is a graduate administrative assistant working for Project Community, the volunteer center at Ohio State.

For more information about Colby College, please visit its website.