Viola Day ’26 is one of only 13 Ohio college students to receive this year’s Charles J. Ping Award, recognizing her extensive efforts to serve people experiencing food and housing insecurity.
“Viola works hard to understand what people are going through and understand their lived experiences,” said Denison University President Adam Weinberg. “She meets people where they are and knows how to listen. She has the courage to try new things and make connections with leaders in the community that will better people’s lives.”
Day majors in biology, minors in chemistry and theater, and is on the pre-med track at Denison. She has racked up more than 950 hours of community service and serves as the economic equity and affordable housing coordinator for the student-led Denison Community Service Association (DCSA).
“Service has always been an important part of my life,” said Day. “I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve received at Denison that have allowed me to help others. This award is an honor and I hope that it reflects the impact my efforts have made in the community.”
Working as a volunteer with Newark Homeless Outreach and St. Vincent Haven homeless shelter in Newark, Day soon realized the demand for services to provide shelter and meals in Licking County outstripped the supply.
In response, she founded Feeding Hope, a student-run organization that prepares and serves meals to people experiencing food and housing insecurity. She built relationships with community leaders to grow the program, and she helps students engage in service and deepen partnerships with organizations such as the United Way, Hospice of Central Ohio, The Salvation Army, and St. Vincent Haven.
Day also volunteers with the nonprofit Sending Hope Ohio, which helps children engage with and help their communities. Day planned and executed a Spring Social Event which brought together over 250 Denison students and community members and five other nonprofit organizations. Her planning and implementation helped raise awareness of Sending Hope Ohio as an emerging non-profit.
Day also has assisted the United Way with a project to improve public access to vital documents. In Licking County, Day worked with the local health department and the BMV to create birth certificate and driver’s license services. She drafted the protocol and client intake form, and she created a voucher for the program, which gives community members access to essential documents they need to vote, work, and access other resources.
The Ping award is issued by the Community Campus Coalition, which provides statewide leadership to strengthen Ohio colleges and universities’ capacity to educate students for civic and social responsibility and to improve community life.