MSU Forestry Students Receive Spartan Volunteer Service Award

Lauren Noel<lnoel@msu.edu> - February 12, 2026

Forestry undergraduate students Kayla Cameron and Corey McKenzie received the Spartan Volunteer Service Award (SVSA) in January of 2026.

The SVSA is a presidential recognition administered by the MSU Center for Community Engaged Learning. This award was given to MSU students who served a minimum of 100 hours of verified community engagement between December 2024 and December 2025.

Volunteering and planting trees during an Arbor Day event along the Red Ceder River on MSU campus, hosted by Beal Botanical Garden and IPF Landscape Services. Kayla is pictured standing behind a young sycamore tree (about 4 feet in height) that she just planted.

Kayla Cameron, second-time winner of this award and a first-generation and transfer student, is part of the First-Generation Leadership and Innovation Vanderploeg Scholars (FLI) program and the Transfer Student Advisory Board at MSU. As a part of the scholars program, she volunteers as a mentor to help fellow first-gen students transition to college. As a board member, she advocates for transfer student initiatives to help with their transition to college.

Cameron also spends time with various environmental organizations such as Meridian Conservation Corps, East Lansing Environmental Stewards, and Fenner Nature Center removing invasives, planting native species, and picking up litter. “My favorite events to volunteer at are the “random” ones, such as choosing different Arbor Day and Earth Day events or helping with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Small Animals Day event. I always learn something new and it is a joy to be involved in the community,” said Cameron.

Kayla is removing 2 invasive species in one go (oriental bittersweet and buckthorn) with a handsaw during a stewardship day with Fenner Nature Center.

The most rewarding experiences for Cameron have been ones in which she sees tangible differences in the end. For example, clearing out a large patch of invasive species and seeing how open the forest has become, and vouching for first-generation initiatives on campus and watching them come to fruition.

Corey McKenzie has spent time volunteering in community building in Costa Rica as well as working frequently within the Honors College. He often participates in panels and presentations for students who are interested in joining the college, offering his own insights. He also participates in the Detroit Early Honors Experience, which is especially meaningful to him as a Detroit-native. The MSU Detroit Early Honors Experience allows opportunities for eighth and ninth grade students to learn about the community around them in a new, hands-on experience led by MSU faculty, staff, and students, as well as local experts. “I like having the opportunity to tell these students what I would have told myself at that age,” said McKenzie.

Corey receiving his SVSA Award. Photo by David Rothstein.

McKenzie also serves as the Cultural Liaison on the MSU Forestry Club e-board, most recently participating in the popular Christmas tree and wreath sale in December.

McKenzie says that these volunteer experiences have further sparked his interest in community forestry. “The more I engage with communities abroad or in Detroit, the more I realize I like connecting with people and forestry. Connecting people to this thing I love helps them connect me to something they love,” said McKenzie.

McKenzie was also recently selected from Agriculture Future of America (AFA)'s most competitive application pool to date as an AFA Ambassador to serve as the boots on the ground marketing team for AFA experiences, industry opportunities and campus engagement. He is joined by 40 students representing campuses across the country. Together they work to build connections, empower student engagement and expand access to AFA experiences.

L to R: Corey McKenzie, Sasha Lepeschkin-Noel, Jalen Willis, David Henderson, Donrose Mogire, Asia Dowtin volunteer with Rescue MI Nature Now in Detroit.

“Kayla and Corey embody the values and aspirations of MSU Forestry,” stated Richard Kobe, Chairperson of the Department of Forestry. “They are leveraging their forestry knowledge to make the world a better place for people and the environment. We are so proud of their accomplishments.”

Both Cameron and McKenzie whole-heartedly recommend volunteering to other students.

“Volunteering means so many things and can be done in so many ways, from selling wreaths to talking with students. You probably already volunteer more than you think you do – It’s just as rewarding if it’s official or unofficial,” said McKenzie.

“Being part of a community is what makes it so special to be human. You never know who you are going to meet and how the people or experiences will change your life, perspectives, and overall view of the world,” said Cameron.