Museum of Service

Campus Museum of Service showcases a collage of events and the people who served in them.

While we acknowledge there are numerous ways to recognize and celebrate service, the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement is excited to offer the Campus Museum of Service as one of those opportunities. This form of recognition allows us to elevate the simultaneous impact of our various communities while advancing our commitments to service. 

2025 Program

In 2025, the Campus Museum of Service took a new approach by blending with the annual Taste & Tour Downtown Statesboro event on Friday, April 4. Instead of the traditional speaker series, the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement joined this community celebration to recognize service through shared experiences.

The event included a display of posters about our honorees housed at the City Campus near The Living Wall (between BIG and the Fab Lab).

Congratulations to Our 2025 Honorees!

April is National Volunteer Month and as we continue to reflect on the various ways our intertwined communities support each other, we want to take a moment to recognize the 2025 Honorees of the Campus Museum of Service.  The Georgia Southern mission statement begins with “…our learner-centered culture prepares us to think, lead, teach, and serve” and ends with “Our success is measured by the global impact of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni.” Of course this includes our community partners.   

The Campus Museum of Service provides an outlet to share stories of how our counterparts contribute within and beyond the classroom walls. This class of honorees represents students, staff, faculty, community partners, and alumni who continue to impact our various communities. 

Ten people, comprising students, faculty, staff and community members were honored in the 2025 Campus Museum of Service.
  • Sheila Stewart Leach
  • Ebow Barton Odro
  • Kristen Kramer
  • Dr. Virginia Wickline
  • Pat Pearsons
  • Dr. Amy Potter
  • Urkovia Andrews
  • Chiamaka Ogwara
  • Edie Grace Grice
  • Corine Ackerson Jones

Nominations

You may nominate yourself, a student, faculty / staff, alumni, or community partner member for recognition in the Campus Museum of Service by clicking the button below.

Nominations are closed for this year! 

Eligibility

Must be affiliated with the university in some manner (i.e. student, faculty/staff, alumni, or community partner)

Narrative (limit of 300 words) addressing the following questions:

  • Describe how this person’s contributions support the longevity of the  towards community engagement
  • Describe how they positively impact the community
  • Identify the community efforts this person is involved in
  • Share how this person advocates for the community
  • Explain how this person inspires others to serve the community

Museum of Service Archives

Nipuna Ambanpola, speaker for the 2024 Museum of Service program.

Nipuna Ambanpola (’19)

Nipuna is a tech-for-good entrepreneur and social impact activist, serving as the Research & Public Service Manager at the University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development. He is also the Founder & Executive Director of IVolunteer International Inc., a tech-nonprofit mobilizing global volunteers. Nipuna leads teams to empower youth through technology, with industry expertise in data strategy consulting and social impact. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, TEDx speaker, and a UN Civil Society Youth Representative, advocating for data-driven impact and youth engagement globally.

Talk: The Evolution of People Powered Volunteerism

Lana Wachniak and William Wallace, Jr, speakers for the 2023 Museum of Service program.

Lana Wachniak, Ph.D. (’73) and William Wallace, Jr. (81)

Retired – Bill and Lana are known as a “twofer,” that is, “an item that comprises two items but is sold for the price of one.”  Together, they are team builders, project creators, and community supporters who work with others to bring dreams to fruition. 

Talk: When a Little is Enough

2022

Dennette Thornton&Բ;(’01)

Director of Group Sales and Stadium Tours/Operations for Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment

Talk: Volunteering with Purpose: Do What Matters to You!

2021

Mia Mance, speaker for the 2021 Museum of Service program.

Mia Mance

Mia Talks Media & Marketing, Owner

DBC Radio: Program Director G100 Savannah

Public Service Director, Radio Personality

Talk: Living Outside of Yourself