Mount graduate inspires others to act

Matt Himes, a 2011 Mount St. Mary’s graduate and a parishioner of St. Isaac Jogues in Carney received the school’s The Ibis Service award.

The Ibis Service award is given to the Mount student who best exemplifies great dedication to a lifestyle of servant leadership. The ibis bird is symbolic of the life of a servant leader. During times of natural disaster, specifically hurricanes, the ibis are the last to take shelter before a hurricane hits and the first to reappear once the storm has passed.

Himes, a special education major, vounteers with ARC of Carroll County, leading the Special Olympics and at Camp GLOW, an Archdiocese of Baltimore event for people with special needs.

This year, Himes has served as president of the Mount’s Best Buddies program, which promotes quality relationships, social skills development, and therapeutic recreation to adults with developmental disabilities. Matt helped grow the organization from four members and having three activities throughout the 2009-2010 academic year to more than 20 members with monthly events at the ARC of Carroll County and at the Mount.

Himes has been a volunteer with the Special Olympics for four years and served as a site director for the past two. As the co-director for Awards and Ceremonies, he orchestrated the more celebratory moments of the day – the lighting of the torch, the parade of counties, and the awarding of medals.

Himes also organized service trips to New Orleans, Philadelphia, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Baltimore, and locally in Emmitsburg and Frederick.