Photo Caption: Laci Baker has been recognized for her outstanding service and community involvement. She graduates from Columbia State Community College Saturday, May 5 at 10 a.m.

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - March 26, 2012) - - - Laci Baker has been selected as one of five statewide recipients of the 2011-2012 Harold Love Outstanding Community Involvement award, which was conferred by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission on Thursday, and her awards keep coming as she has also been selected to receive the Columbia State Community College Alumni Association's Ricky Martin Memorial Leadership award.

Baker is graduating from Columbia State on Saturday, May 5, where she has earned her Associate of Science degree in English.

As a student, Baker has actively engaged in student life as the vice president for fellowship in Phi Theta Kappa, the student honors society; a senator in the Student Government Association; an ambassador in the International Education Club, studying in Scotland; a student volunteer with historic Rippavilla; listed as Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges; and a volunteer during the May 2010 Nashville flood.

Outside of the classroom, Baker has led the Holiday Food and Hygiene Drive for the Family Center; the used book and media sale, benefitting children of LaMontagne, Haiti; Soles4Souls; and the Great Maury County Cleanup. She staffed information tables during Columbia State's annual College Day and helped with the St. Jude's Marathon in Memphis. Baker has done volunteer work with the Maury County Family Center, serving as a back to school personal shopper with needy families.

The Harold Love Outstanding Community Involvement Award was created by Harold Love, a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1968-1991. Love was well known for his compassion and good humor. He was a prominent Nashville insurance salesman and served on the board of directors for both the South Street Center and the Eighteenth Avenue Community Center. He was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award upon his own graduation from Tennessee State University. Love went to almost any length to work for the welfare of his constituents, including giving from his own pocket to help someone in need. He was instrumental in setting up the award which is conferred to five public or private two or 4-year college or university students or faculty each year. The award recognizes public service, the nominee's effectiveness, documentation of public service and a letter of recommendation from the college president. It was said that when he was present during a session of the Legislature that "Love is in the House".

The Ricky Martin Memorial Leadership Award is named for graduate and former staff member Ricky Martin who died in August 2005. Martin served the college as its director of student activities and became its aquatics and program coordinator for health and physical education. The award goes to a student actively involved in campus activities who is earning an Associate of Science degree in health or education.

Baker hopes to attend East Tennessee State University in the fall of 2012.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.