The Smiley Award supports global educational opportunities for current undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Education (SOE) at UNC Greensboro. SOE students who serve as outstanding Global Education Ambassadors through international or local engagement are encouraged to apply each Spring, particularly students who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and impact in both international and local settings based on both previous and proposed engagement activities.
This year, the 2022 Smiley Award was presented to Kervins Clement (CED doctoral student) and Hannah Ward (Teaching Fellow undergraduate student).
In addition to Kervins Clement’s, a 3rd year doctoral student in the Department of Counseling and Educational Development, international impact experiences to support the Haitian and other minoritized populations, he has also contributed to his expertise in a variety of ways through his engagement in local communities.
“It is a great honor for me to receive the SOE Global Ambassador Smiley Award. I would love to thank my wife Ashley, my high school sweetheart, for supporting and believing in me throughout my whole professional career and life. I also want to thank the other people in my life who believe in me and joined me in this unforgettable journey. It truly is a heartwarming experience to be recognized for the work that I have done and will continue to engage in. As a child of two immigrants who migrated from Haiti, I inherited a passion for people beyond the United States borders. Figuring out different ways to give back and support my Haitian community has been an important mission for me. Growing up in a low-income household within an underserved community developed my passion for marginalized people and communities. Providing support to both international and local communities is something that is near and dear to my heart. As a counselor and educator, I plan on continuing to find new ways to help and support these different communities. I created Clement Counseling and Consulting, PLLC to help me continue this life work. I typically get lost in the trenches, as it is easy to do the work that you are called to do and not worry about getting recognized for it. This award is a reminder and affirmation of the good work that I am doing. I also know my parents would be proud because I am living out the values that they have instilled in me. Thank you, School of Education (SOE), for selecting me for this prestigious award.”
Hannah will be going on a faculty-led program to London, England, where she plans to not only develop her own intercultural understandings, but also apply her enhanced knowledge and skills in future classrooms as a teacher.
“I am so grateful to have been selected as a 2022 Undergraduate Smiley Award Winner. Being selected for this is a great honor, and a blessing as I prepare to study abroad this summer. I am excited to get to see so many wonderful things and to study classic literature in the city where so much of it was written. While I am abroad, I hope to take advantage of all the opportunities that will be available to me. I am thrilled that I will get to share these experiences with other students who are considering studying abroad, and hope that I can inspire them. As a future teacher, I believe this experience will give me a more comprehensive understanding of the material I will teach to my students. In addition, I hope that sharing this experience will inspire my students to travel and to explore the world, as well as to find a passion for literature and writing. I hope having the opportunity to share my experiences with others will inspire them to explore the world, and provide me with support while I am abroad. I couldn’t be more excited or more thankful for this opportunity from the School of Education, and I look forward to getting started!”
Congratulations Kervins and Hannah!
