Michael Ivy receiving his diploma from Denison University.

Denison Scholar Wins Distinguished Leadership Award

Spring 2013 | Chicago

Denison University Scholar Michael Ivy was among only 27 seniors (fewer than five percent of the graduating class) to win the Distinguished Leadership Award earlier this year. The award is given in recognition of a student’s “extraordinary commitment to excellence, leadership and dedication to Denison and surrounding communities.”

“As a leader, you are a person who has big and provocative ideas, as well as the ability to get things done—a rare pairing of talents,” said Denison’s Vice President of Student Development Laurel Kennedy when presenting Michael with his award.

 Michael, a sociology and anthropology major, largely focused his campus leadership on creating opportunities to engage the student body on issues pertaining to social justice and human rights. For two years, he served on the board of the University Programming Council that produced campus-wide events in collaboration with a diverse group of organizations. He served on the Martin Luther King, Jr. steering committee and was very active with Sustained Dialogue and Listening for A Change, two organizations dedicated to fostering discussions and relationships that focus on community-building and issues of diversity.

After participating in a Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs program where he studied the Civil Rights movement, Michael felt that there were lessons to be shared with the campus community and led a teach-in on campus about current trends and data on hate crimes.

“When I arrived on campus, I felt that I was going to make a difference,” says Michael, “Posse gave me the energy and strength to lead and guided me in the right direction.”

Michael is interning this summer at Chicago Cares, a public and community service organization that connects 10,000 volunteers annually to projects and causes throughout the city. He plans to pursue career opportunities in the nonprofit sector, focusing on organizations that serve youth.