LEWISTON — Tonya Bailey-Curry, a student at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College, has been named a recipient of this year’s Maine Campus Compact’s 2014 Heart and Soul Award.

The award recognizes commitment and leadership in community engagement; she is majoring in social and behavioral science.

Maine Campus Compact recognizes six undergraduate students who have been actively involved in turning their campuses and communities into places of democracy. These students are recognized for having raised their voices on issues of local and global importance through civic engagement efforts.

Recipients have a wide variety of experiences in any of the following areas: service, service-learning, activism, or political involvement. They also demonstrate leadership through their successful involvement of others in their innovative approaches to social, educational, environmental, health, economic and/or legal issues facing their communities.

“Tonya indeed puts her heart and soul into all of her community interactions, and even more importantly, inspires others to do the same,” says Michelle Vazquez Jacobus, professor of social and behavioral science at USM LAC. “We are very fortunate to have her as part of our LAC community.”

This past year Bailey-Curry was instrumental in coordinating, planning and executing a civil-rights and diversity event at USM LAC titled “Bringing it Home.” She worked closely with a team of six Edward Little High School student leaders and staff members, along with a team from the college to develop the programming for the half-day workshop.

In addition, she co-led the event that included 50 EL students and staff.

The award will be bestowed by Maine Campus Compact at a ceremony at the State House in Augusta on April 30.