News 2011: Public Policy student among the Massachusetts "29 Who Shine"

News 2011: Public Policy student among the Massachusetts "29 Who Shine"
Public Policy student among the Massachusetts "29 Who Shine"

Full details on the "29 Who Shine" can be found at www.mass.edu.

UMass Dartmouth Graduate Student Jarrad Plante, who will graduate with a degree in public policy this spring, was among 29 public higher education students statewide to be honored as the "29 Who Shine" May 12 at the Statehouse. 

The students and their work were celebrated at the Grand Staircase of the Massachusetts State House. Participating in the ceremony were Gov. Deval Patrick, Secretary of Education Paul Reville, Commissioner of Higher Education Richard Freeland, Senate President Therese Murray, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo. 

As part of the effort to recognize the talent and contributions of donated advertising space to congratulate the students. These newspapers include the Standard Times of New Bedford, Fall River Herald News, and Taunton Daily Gazette . 

As a student in the Master's in Public Policy (MPP) Program with a concentration in environmental policy, Jarrad has had a major impact on his local Fall River community. He developed and implemented food pantries at two middle schools while engaging university service organizations to collect food to stock the pantry shelves. He organized assistance from a local cable access station to help him produce a series of videos to educate middle school students about healthy eating and exercise. Working with Healthy City Fall River, he helped plan, create and sustain community gardens at three middle schools to improve the overall health of the city. "I love being around people who want to make a difference in their community," says Jarrad. "UMass Dartmouth has provided me with the opportunity, knowledge and skills to make good things happen." 

The honorees, chosen because of their academic achievements and record of student leadership and community service, stand poised to contribute greatly to the civic life and economic well-being of the state. Whether furthering their education or entering careers here in Massachusetts in fields as diverse as education, public policy, medicine, creative arts, and astrophysics, they truly embody the vibrant future that we all envision for the Commonwealth.