Outstanding Young Alumni Award - James Fields Jr.

James Fields Jr., '04 MPA '05, serves as a role model for young people in his hometown of Detroit, Mount Pleasant, and at CMU through church, volunteer programs, and CMU's minority student services office.

He is the retention coordinator for the academic and career empowerment/college education empowerment program at CMU.

He has volunteered with the local school PEAK program, the Mount Pleasant Parks and Recreation program, and the Mount Pleasant Community Church youth program. As a resident assistant for the Health Professions Residential College, James wrote and directed a play, "Through the Eyes of Jo," to help new students be more accepting of a diverse student body. The play is still used as part of CMU's orientation.

His nominator wrote: "James exemplifies the CMU core values of continued learning, community involvement, public service, and quality performance through his many contributions to local communities, the university, and the state. He is a model representative of top-achieving Central Michigan University graduates."