From the president
Emma Cepek is a driven public service-oriented student who actively builds on her excellent leadership and civic engagement involvement. She is a member of the John and Annie Glenn Public Service Fellows at Muskingum University where she has been a project manager for Christmas on Campus and the Women’s History Month Book Drive. Through the Fellows, she also attended the statewide student leadership conference, Propel Ohio. On campus, Cepek is also the Vice President of Women in Progressive Politics, the President of her sorority, Chi Alpha Nu, and a member of the academic and community service honorariums Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Order of Omega. She is a Public Administration and History major, which allows her to pursue research in her interest of Appalachian regional development. Cepek interned at the city halls of Zanesville and Lancaster, Ohio, both in the Appalachian region. She worked persistently in the public service field to expand her experience and knowledge of civic engagement at a city government level. Through her research, Cepek attended the Appalachian Regional Commision’s Collegiate Research Initiative in Washington D.C. The next step for Emma is to attend the 2023 Appalachian Studies Association Conference in Athens, Ohio.
Personal Statement
I have had a keen interest in community service and civic engagement related to several Appalachian regional struggles. I served two summers with the Appalachian Service Project and helped disadvantaged families renovate and rebuild parts of their home for more comfortable living. As I now go to school in Appalachia, I have had many opportunities to continue my passion in service and engagement with the community. I conducted a Women’s History Month Book Drive where I worked to collect books pertaining to women’s achievements and distributed them to Muskingum County elementary schools. I also led Christmas on Campus where my Public Service Fellows group collected toys, clothes, and other gift items to give to parents in the community who did not have the means to purchase gifts for their children. Through these experiences, and many more, I have been able to truly understand the regional struggles that come with living within the counties that make up Appalachia, such as unemployment, insufficient social services, lack of educational funding, and stalled economic development. I plan to continue my research and engagement in the community to bring awareness to issues and gain potential funding to areas within the region.