A fellow in Mississippi State's Appalachian Leadership Honors Program, senior Ashley Cumberland has been involved through the program in numerous community service projects, including the Humane Society and the Salvation Army.
For her capstone ALHP project, the risk management insurance and financial planning major was challenged to conceptualize, coordinate and complete a project of significance to the community.
With her boyfriend of two years, Watson McDavitt, in the midst of a deployment to Iraq with 2nd 114th Strike, Cumberland almost immediately chose something of personal significance and began planning a Memorial Day parade for the City of Starkville.
After months of planning, the parade—complete with a flyover from the U.S. Air Force—was a success, with a huge turnout on Main Street that included representation from the local VFW and American Legion. And McDavitt was able to be on hand, having returned from duty in March.
"For me, this was a big passion and I felt that I could do some good and raise awareness," Cumberland said. "Starkville means a great deal to me, and this was a way for me to make a contribution and leave something significant that will help pay tribute to our military."