Megan DeMarco ‘26 honored by North Carolina Campus Engagement for service to campus and community – Elon University

Report on Community Impact and Sustainable Development Goal Contributions

1.0 Award Recipient Profile

• Recipient: Megan DeMarco, Class of 2026
• Award: North Carolina Campus Engagement Community Impact Student Award
• Field of Study: Human Service Studies
• Awarding Body: North Carolina Campus Engagement, a statewide network of higher education institutions committed to civic and social responsibility.

2.0 Analysis of Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The service and leadership activities undertaken by Megan DeMarco demonstrate a significant commitment to advancing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the community level. Her work is recognized for its sustainable impact and ability to inspire peer involvement.

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   DeMarco’s primary contribution aligns with the goal of ending hunger and achieving food security.

   • Served as Director of the Campus Kitchen program, an initiative directly targeting food insecurity in Alamance County.
   • Enhanced the program’s operational capacity by increasing the volume of produce harvested from Loy Farm for community distribution.
   • Strengthened the program’s sustainability by improving volunteer retention rates.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   Through her leadership, DeMarco has facilitated informal education and awareness among her peers regarding civic responsibility.

   • Applied academic knowledge from her human service studies major to address tangible community needs.
   • Led an alternative break experience, providing peers with experiential learning opportunities in community service.
   • As noted by Abby Wiatrek, Associate Director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, her leadership style effectively educates others on the importance and purpose of community service.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   Her work exemplifies the creation of local partnerships to achieve sustainable development objectives.

   • Held multiple leadership roles, including Service Living and Learning Community coordinator and service chair for Alpha Chi Omega, fostering collaboration among student groups.
   • Strengthened the partnership between the university and the local community through the Campus Kitchen program.
   • Her efforts in volunteer coordination build a robust human infrastructure necessary for sustained community engagement.

3.0 Organizational Context

The award was presented by North Carolina Campus Engagement during its 2025 Citizenship, Service, Networking and Partnerships (CSNAP) Student Conference. The organization’s mission is to support a network of colleges and universities in educating students for civic responsibility and partnering with communities for positive change, which directly supports the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article directly addresses this goal through its description of Megan DeMarco’s work with the Campus Kitchen program. It explicitly states that her efforts in “harvesting more produce” are intended “to help serve those experiencing food insecurity in Alamance County.” This is a clear initiative to combat local hunger.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  This goal is central to the article’s context. The story is about a university student, Megan DeMarco, whose service is part of her educational experience. The organization giving the award, North Carolina Campus Engagement, is a “network of colleges and universities committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility.” DeMarco’s involvement in the “Service Living and Learning Community” and her major in “human service studies” further highlight the role of higher education in fostering skills for community engagement and sustainable development.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights multiple layers of partnership. The Campus Kitchen program represents a partnership between the university (Elon) and the local community (Alamance County) to address a social issue. Furthermore, the North Carolina Campus Engagement is described as a “collaborative network of colleges and universities,” showcasing a partnership within the higher education sector to achieve common goals of civic responsibility and community change.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food

  This target aims to “end hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.” DeMarco’s work with the Campus Kitchen, which focuses on harvesting produce from Loy Farm to serve community members facing food insecurity, is a direct action towards achieving this target at a local level.

• Target 4.7: Education for sustainable development and global citizenship

  This target focuses on ensuring “all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development,” including global citizenship and community involvement. The article describes how the university network is “committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility” and how DeMarco’s leadership in service programs helps others “learn more about why the service that we are doing is important to our community.” This demonstrates education for active and responsible citizenship.

• Target 17.17: Encourage effective partnerships

  This target is to “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.” The entire initiative described in the article is built on such partnerships. The collaboration between Elon University’s students and the local Alamance County community through the Campus Kitchen, as well as the “collaborative network of colleges and universities” (North Carolina Campus Engagement), are prime examples of civil society and institutional partnerships working towards positive change.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 2.1: Increased food provision

  The article implies a measurable indicator for progress against hunger. It states that under DeMarco’s leadership, the Campus Kitchen has seen an “increased capability of harvesting more produce.” This increase in the volume of food harvested and distributed to those in need is a direct, quantifiable measure of the program’s impact on food insecurity.

• Indicator for Target 4.7: Student participation in civic engagement

  The article implies an indicator through its focus on student involvement. The existence of the “Service Living and Learning Community,” DeMarco’s role as a coordinator, and her ability to “inspire peers” all point to the number of students engaged in service and leadership activities as a measure of the university’s success in educating for civic responsibility.

• Indicator for Target 17.17: Volunteer retention and partnership strength

  A clear indicator for the success of the partnership is mentioned when the article highlights that DeMarco has been able to “strengthen volunteer retention.” A high retention rate for volunteers is a strong indicator of a healthy, effective, and sustainable partnership between the organization and the community members who support it.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: elon.edu