Carroll Honors Two Students for Exemplary Service

Emily Larson (L) and Kelly Taft (R)

HELENA - Carroll College has recognized two students for their exemplary commitment of service by awarding them with the Raymond G. Hunthausen Outstanding Collegiate Citizenship Award. The selection committee chooses students who work to improve the lives of others through their own unselfish commitment of time, energy and compassion. This year’s recipients are Emily Larson and Kelly Taft. Honorable Mention recipients were: Oliver Carr and Amanda Harrod.

Emily Larson is a junior from Portland, Oregon, who is majoring in political science and minoring in gender studies. Throughout her time at Carroll, she has shown a commitment to social justice through ongoing political and social engagement and activism. As a first year student, Larson was one of the founders of the student club Feminists Advocating Equality (FAE), a campus organization that promotes diversity of all types, as well as political and social action for social justice. Since founding the club, Larson has served as president every year. She has also been instrumental in organizing numerous events on campus which address gender and social justice issues, sexual and domestic violence, and gun violence. In her nomination letter, co-signed by eleven faculty members, it stated, “(Emily) deserves our support and appreciation for her bravery and tireless efforts to motivate and encourage other students in our community to speak out on social justice issues.”

Kelly Taft is a senior political science and history student from Seattle, Washington. Taft has been faithfully engaged in serving others in the community throughout her years at Carroll. She has been a Gold Team Ambassador, president of the Carroll Outreach Team, peer minister with Campus Ministry, community service liaison for the Hunthausen Center for Peace and Justice, and campus ambassador for Catholic Relief Services. In addition, she spent the summer of 2017 serving at a Syrian refugee camp in Greece, and also facilitates companion visits for the elderly in Helena. As was stated in Taft’s nomination materials, “Kelly is the definition of what it means to be a humble servant of Christ. She is well known across Carroll’s campus and the Helena community for being kind, hard-working and a passionate advocate for the marginalized. During her four years at Carroll, she has done more than her part to make our college and the world a better place.”

This prestigious award for community service, presented to deserving students who make outstanding contributions to the college or a community, has been a Carroll tradition since 1986. The award was named for Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen because of his exemplary commitment to peace and justice in his personal and professional life and his strong pastoral care for all people.