Girl Scouts to honor ASU student as one of six Women of Distinction

November 01, 2006

MESA, Ariz. — Arizona State University Senior Kelley Stewart is being recognized by the Girl Scouts – Arizona Cactus-Pine Council with the Women of Distinction World of Courage award.<separator></separator>The Arizona Cactus-Pine Council annually recognizes Arizona women who are role models for girls by living by the Girl Scout Promise and Girl Scout Law. Awards in six categories reflect facets of their lives that have positive impacts on girls of today and tomorrow. Chosen for their exceptional community service and leadership, these women and girls are pinnacles in their professions and in their communities as they represent the highest ideals in Girl Scouting.<separator></separator>Stewart is double majoring in applied psychology and multimedia writing and technical communication at ASU's Polytechnic campus. In addition to working and her course work, she has always been involved in the community through her student years at Mesa Community College at Red Mountain and ASU's Polytechnic campus, as well as the City of Mesa Fire Department. In addition, through the AmeriCorps program, she completed two 900-hour volunteer service terms in homeland security while attending college.<separator></separator>"Ninety percent of my civic engagement activities have been directly tied to promoting ASU and/or Mesa Community College student leadership development," says Stewart. "Many of my community service activities support the Mesa Fire Department." <separator></separator>At MCC, Stewart mentors student leaders through planning for the annual holiday charity ride, a project she initiated in 2002 as a community partnership with the Mesa Fire Department. She created this event as a fun way to educate community members about fire and life safety tips and collect toys for needy children. More than 250 MCC students have volunteered to work with Stewart on projects directly benefiting Mesa residents. A regularly invited MCC alumni speaker, Stewart also leads scholarship workshops and shares student success tips. <separator></separator>Serving ASU students through her positions in campus student government and as a board member for the Arizona Students' Association, Stewart works to raise awareness of student issues such as safety concerns, equitable student services and academic issues. Stewart mentors students through the process of voicing concerns to administrators. Stewart, along with others, helped lead the way for a traffic light installation at a dangerous crosswalk and is taking part in efforts to save an abandoned military auditorium for re-use as a campus theatre. <separator></separator>“The ideas and values of the Girl Scouts must have stuck with me throughout the years because they still represent to me the way that I strive to treat others and how I try to live my life,” says Stewart. <separator></separator>Stewart’s advice to girls?<separator></separator>“Follow your dreams, don't let negative people, words or thoughts steal away your ability to believe in yourself.”<separator></separator>Stewart will accept her award at the World Awards, Dec. 9, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. Visit <a href="http://www.girlscoutsaz.org/" title="http://www.girlscoutsaz.org">www.girlscoutsaz.org</a>… class="style1" lang="en-us"> for event details.