Concluding the Center for Community Engagement’s Community Service Expo on April 13 was an award ceremony that recognized eight standout programs.

The Going Green award recognizes a program that demonstrates creative efforts to protect the environment or raise awareness of environmental issues. Winner: Connecticut Food Bank Mobile Pantry, a traveling food pantry with a stop at the First Congregational Church in Willimantic. The mobile pantry helps food-insecure people who might not have access to transportation by delivering produce to their home areas. Eastern students staffed the pantry and distributed food.

The Best New Program award goes to a new program that provides a particularly creative and meaningful approach to working with a community partner or responding to a community issue. Winner: Tri-County ARC, Inc., a nonprofit agency for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities. Eastern volunteers worked with participants in the program, engaging them in social and recreational activities.

The Broadening Horizons award goes to a project that works with underserved or marginalized communities to support education, economic stability and/or integration into the community. Winner: Vanderman Place, a nursing facility in Willimantic where Eastern students assisted staff with clients and engaged them in recreational activities.

The Leadership Development award goes to a project that provides opportunities for individuals to develop personal leadership skills and/or team efforts. Winner: Windham High School Afterschool Program, where Eastern volunteers tutored and mentored high school students.

The Strengthening Communities award goes to a program that demonstrates a clear purpose in working collaboratively with community members on an issue of importance to the community. Winner: Windham Region No Freeze Hospitality Center, Inc., an agency dedicated to providing a safe and warm overnight space for individuals experiencing homelessness during the winter months. Eastern students assisted with sign-in protocols and other tasks.

The Putting Liberal Arts into Action award goes to a program that allows Eastern students to practically apply their classroom knowledge and learning. Winner: Windham Middle School Tutorial Program, where Eastern students assisted middle school students with in-class assignments.

The Kids First award goes to a program that supports children and youth tutoring and mentoring. Winner: Windham High School English as a Second Language Mentoring Program, where volunteers assist English-learning students with college preparation activities.

The Community Choice award goes to the program that is rated best overall by the attendees of the expo. Winner: GROW Windham, a collaboration of community partners dedicated to promoting access to healthy food in the Windham region. Volunteers helped with the community garden at Lauter Park and mentored local youth involved in the program.