SVSU Student, Sarah Lewan, Honored for Starting International Non-Profit Organization

2013 Apr 15

Saginaw Valley State University student Sarah Lewan has been selected to receive the Outstanding Community Impact Award from Michigan Campus Compact. Only six students from across the state received this prestigious award for service.

A nursing major from Royal Oak, Lewan created an organization called Project Sunset during her freshman year to help raise money and awareness of malaria's effects in Africa. Run out of her dorm room, the non-profit organization has raised funds for approximately 350 mosquito nets to protect families in the African nation of Gabon since 2011. In June 2012, Project Sunset affiliated with the E4 Project, which has supported social and medical ministries in Gabon for the past 16 years.

At SVSU, Lewan has reached out to other student organizations on campus to spread the word about Project Sunset and encourage them to contribute. She plans to return to Gabon this summer to deliver more mosquito nets.

"I want to help bring the beauty back to the sunsets for the people of Africa," she said.

Lewan received her award during the Outstanding Students Service Awards ceremony Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing, Mich. As part of the award, Michigan Campus Compact will donate 200 dollars to a nonprofit organization of Lewan's choice.