Education can do more than build knowledge. It can give students the opportunity to understand complex issues, engage with their communities and help create meaningful change.

That idea is at the heart of the Changemaking Education Award, presented by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida Inc. (RPCVSF). The annual recognition honors K-12 and higher education educators who create learning experiences that prepare students for informed and engaged participation in civic and community life.

This year, Dr. Sarah Riva, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program at Barry University, is being recognized as a Higher Education Honoree for her innovative design of the Honors Foundations course. The course places social justice, civic engagement and collaborative service at the center of the Honors experience which gives students opportunities to apply what they learn to real-world challenges.

Dr. Riva has strengthened this experience through sustained partnerships with organizations such as People Acting for Community Together (PACT), the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, the Miami/Port-de-Paix Global Solidarity Partnership and Miami Waterkeeper. Through these partnerships, students engage directly with community issues and put their learning into practice.

Over the past year, students in the course have launched a new website for PACT, established a direct-trade partnership supporting Haitian artisans through the Barry University Bookstore, participated in environmental stewardship initiatives and revived the university’s Fair Food Program chapter.

These experiences give Honors students the opportunity to connect academic inquiry with community needs, collaborate with local and global partners, and see the impact of their work firsthand.