By BRANDON WORF

Hays Daily News

Fort Hays State University can put another piece of hardware in the trophy case.

Provost Larry Gould was recently given the William M. Plater Award for Leadership in Civic Engagement by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The AASCU gives the award for exemplary leadership in advancing the civic learning of undergraduates through programs and activities that encourage knowledge, skills, experiences and reflection about the role of citizens in a democracy.

"I'm honored to be recognized by AASCU, but the Plater Award is a reflection of one of the most important principles of leadership," Gould said. "And that is getting the right people in the right places to get things done. We've done that here at FHSU, and this award is a reflection of the applicability of this principle. This personal recognition is a tribute to all those people at the university who drive change and success."

The Plater Award was established in 2006 by the AASCU in collaboration with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, and Gould is the third recipient of the award since its inception two years ago.

"I was delighted that the William Plater Selection Committee chose Larry Gould for this prestigious honor," said George Mehaffy, vice president of AASCU. "Larry has been an incredible source of ideas and innovation for the American Democracy Project. As a result, Fort Hays State University has become a national leader in the effort to create new models for how universities can prepare undergraduates to become informed, engaged citizens for our democracy."

Gould earned the award through his work with the American Democracy Project, which he heard about at a national AASCU meeting. The ADP, a collaboration with the New York Times, operates on more than 200 campuses across the country and provides students opportunities to become involved through civic volunteerism, voter registration, positive motivation and access to community leaders.

"We encourage students, and their professors, to integrate real-life lessons into classroom learning and reinforce the idea of an active citizenry," Gould said. "It is essential to continue the democratic experiment in America."

The Plater Award includes an engraved commemorative plaque to acknowledge the national recognition, and a check for $1,000, to which Gould immediately donated to the ADP at Fort Hays.

"I received the honor, but the people I work with in the ADP are the ones who earned it," Gould said. "It's time they got something for it."