2023 Campion Award Winners
Selena Alamir '24
Selena is a junior from Westlake, Ohio majoring in Spanish and minoring in Peace, Justice, and Human Rights. She is an Arrupe Scholar on a Pre-med track and already has early admission to Ohio University’s School of Medicine. Selena has made leadership, service, community engagement, and advocacy central commitments of her time at JCU. She has been involved across campus in student organizations and across borders as an immersion leader for the Honduras Medical Immersion trip.
As a CSSA Student Liaison and leader, Selena has led groups of JCU students at Boys Hope Girls Hope, the Saturday Tutoring program, the Fatima Family Center, Esperanza, the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry Men's Shelter Poetry Program, and the Labre Program. She leads students in the community, provides mentorship, helps motivate, inspire others, and problem solves. On campus, Selena is a mentor for the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion’s MELT Program to help first generation college students succeed. (Match.Empower.Learn.Teach.)
Selena’s involvement in the LMM Men’s Shelter gave her a deeper understanding of the complexities of homelessness as she got to know the individuals on a personal level who were experiencing homelessness. Her supervisor had this to say: “While a great many JCU students have been part of service at this shelter, Selena stands out to me for the way she inspired all of us (shelter residents, staff, and volunteers) in our discussions. I believe such inspiration originates in Selena’s mature understanding of social justice issues stemming from a sensitive and spiritual understanding of her fellow human beings.”
Building on her experience at LMM, in summer of 2021, Selena was selected for an internship at the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. Selena’s work focused on understanding and addressing the root causes of homelessness through organizing, advocacy, education, and street outreach. As part of her internship she helped organize a mayoral forum on homelessness, designed social media campaigns to educate the public, and participated in the Homeless Congress where men and women experiencing homelessness identified areas of mutual concern and delineated action steps to pursue the change they desired. We are delighted to recognize Selena Alamir as the 2023 Junior Class recipient of the Campion Award.
Sydney Burger '25
Sydney Burger is a sophomore from Twinsburg, Ohio majoring in Communications and Peace, Justice, and Human Rights.
Sydney is the Vice President of Labre and responsible for coordinating and leading Labre’s outreach to men and women experiencing homelessness in Cleveland. Her work involves ordering supplies, packing meals, sorting through donations, assembling donation bags, and leading groups of JCU students to provide nourishment and friendship with those experiencing homelessness. Week after week, rain or shine, (or snow, or sleet) students sustain the warmth of human connection and bonds of relationship. In reflecting on her leadership with Labre, Sydney writes, “It is not uncommon for new volunteers to be nervous or uncomfortable when first interacting with our homeless friends. I love being able to help others connect and bond with those we visit.”
In addition to Labre, Sydney’s dedication to the Cleveland community is seen in her wide-ranging involvement with civic initiatives and the nonprofit sector. In the summer of 2022, Sydney served as a summer intern at Neighborhood Connections through CSSA’s Summer in the City Internship program. In her role, Sydney was tasked with “network weaving”: the important but often slow work of relationship building based on the Asset-Based Community Development framework. Over the course of the summer, Sydney built connections with organizations including University Settlement, the Cleveland Housing Network, Cleveland Sews/Cosmic Bobbins, the St. Clair Superior Development Corporation, and Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry. When asked to reflect on Sydney’s work, a staff member at University Settlement wrote, “Sydney was extremely helpful to our group of older adults when we joined Cleveland Sews for gardening and sewing classes. She displayed a passion for making change in the community and connecting with its members.”
Sydney’s role with Neighborhood Connections led to her involvement with Cleveland Votes, a nonpartisan, civic engagement organization. As a member of Civic Literacy Community Planning Team, Sydney planned and executed civic literacy events across the city. Sydney has participated actively in social justice events and conferences that sustain her work and deepen her learning. As a CSSA Student Liaison, she mentors other students to serve with humility and search for common ground in every encounter with others. We are delighted to recognize Sydney Burger as the 2023 Sophomore Class recipient of the Campion Award.