LEWISTON — The Lewiston Housing Authority Board of Commissioners at its April meeting recognized Matt Gee, a graduating senior at Bates College and winner of a Maine Campus Compact Heart and Soul Award.

Gee became involved during his first year as a student when he began to volunteer at Blake Street Towers, an apartment complex serving the elderly and disabled. Midway through his freshman year, he took over Bates’ volunteer activities at Blake Street Towers. He organized groups of Bates students to serve brunches to Blake Street residents every Sunday, created regular socialization events hosted by Bates students for residents during the week and expanded programming into Meadowview, another elderly/disabled complex.

Carla Harris, director of Resident Services at Lewiston Housing Authority, nominated Gee for the Heart and Soul Award, stating that “during his time with us he has become a regular part of our team. Matt is a ray of sunshine on a gray and dismal day. I have worked with many Bates students over the years, I have never met a student with more heart and soul than Matt Gee.”

The award is given annually to six college students who “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.”

Gee helped to create a storytelling website for residents and Bates students, www.bststorytelling.com, on which Gee states that “Volunteering at BST has literally changed my life. The genuine friendships I have formed with residents have changed the way that I interact with people. My consistent engagement with the Lewiston Community has informed the topic of my senior thesis.”