Ball State student Micah Maxwell received the Governor's Award for Tomorrows Leaders on May 15 in Indianapolis as part of the Indianapolis Leadership Summit. The award is based on initiative through entrepreneurial achievement and leadership, community leadership, intellectual achievement and cultural leadership.
"Service work is something that I enjoy doing and it is pretty humbling to be awarded for something that I enjoy doing so much," Maxwell said.
Micah Maxwell knows the importance of love and commitment in a family
environment and uses that energy for his service work with area youth.
"I have always been involved in the community, but my parents and church
really pushed me into my work," Maxwell said.
All four of the family's children were home-schooled by their parents.
"Though we didn't have much money, we were very rich. We had such a positive outlook on life," Maxwell said. "Nothing is more important to me than my family. I am lucky to have a very strong support system."-á
When he was 15, Maxwell was introduced into what would become his passion. His youth pastor at Union Baptist Church involved him in volunteer work with the South Madison Community Center.
"I was interested in working in hotel and restaurant management and then
stumbled into working with youth and non-profit," Maxwell said.
Earning a college degree was not Maxwell's initial priority.
"Once I got into this work I learned the importance of earning a degree,"
Maxwell said.
Maxwell is now a non-traditional student studying business
administration and executive development in public service at Ball State.
"I get paid to do service work, but I would do it even if it wasn't for the
money because I love it so much. It really has its own benefits," Maxwell
said.
Maxwell is currently the program coordinator of the Youth Academy for Community Leadership at the Muncie Children's Museum. The program is designed for youth in middle and high school and leads them through an intensive four-week course designed to help them become civically engaged.
Maxwell is also the coordinator of Youth Empowerment, a collaboration of more than 40 different youth-serving organizations and individuals that work together in support of the developmental needs of local youth.
Previously employed at the South Madison Community Center, where he got his start, Maxwell was the assistant director for six years.
The founder of the RibFest fund-raiser and community event in Muncie, Maxwell also serves on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity and the Star Press Children's Charities.
Maxwell is a graduate of the Academy for Community Leadership and the Indiana Youth Institute Youth Development Academy and a member of the Star Press Editorial Board. He is the past president of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society for Ivy Tech State College Muncie Campus and a 2nd Degree Black Belt and Martial Arts Instructor.
Though Maxwell said he was honored to receive the Governor's Award, it was far from the only recognition he has received in the past. Maxwell has been the recipient of several other community awards including the Muncie Black Expo Trailblazers Award, the Jaycees H.A. Pettijohn Service to Youth Award, and Models Motion Community Service Award.
"Getting this award is a very big honor, but it is a blessing to serve my
community, not because of who I am but because I have been able to be used," he said.
Surprisingly, with all that Maxwell has accomplished so far in life, he turned 24 on Tuesday.
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