When LaShawnda Wrice was diagnosed recently with lupus, she wasn’t sure where to go for help and support.

That’s when the development operations coordinator for Wayne State University’s Office of Development and Alumni Affairs began working with Lupus Detroit. Becoming aware of the impact of this disease, she made it a point to inform others.

At WSU, Wrice (pictured, right) involved the purchasing department in an annual lupus campaign last year — Put On Purple for lupus awareness. In addition, Wrice created a YouTube and Periscope show called “Got Lupus?” where she and the president of Lupus Detroit bring pertinent topics to the community.

For her work with the organization as well as many other volunteer efforts, Wrice was among those honored at the inaugural Wayne State Spirit of Community ceremony held March 23 in the Community Arts Auditorium. The event was a partnership between the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Alumni Association, Dean of Students Office, and the Division of Government and Community Affairs.

“It means a lot to be recognized for all the things I do in the community,” said Wrice, who received the Staff Engagement Award. “I did not expect this. Me, win something? No. I thank Wayne State for this awesome event. We should be serving our community. That’s what Wayne State does.”

The other award winners were:

• Hayley Thompson, Ph.D., associate professor in Wayne State’s Department of Oncology in the School of Medicine, who received the Faculty Engagement Award. The focus of Thompson’s work is engaging and impacting local communities to reduce health disparities. Most recently, Thompson created Detroit HealthLink for Equity in Cancer Care to address cancer-related needs in Dearborn’s Arab American community.

• Tapinder Singh, graduate student in the School of Medicine, who received the Student Engagement Award. Singh founded the Wayne State chapter of Healthy Detroit in 2013 as an undergraduate student. He actively serves as the chapter president, exemplifying a commitment to service.

• Street Medicine Detroit’s outreach program received the Project Engagement Award. Since its establishment in 2012, the program has reached hundreds of individuals at various soup kitchens, shelters and on the streets of Detroit. The project aims to maintain the health of those in the community who may not have a primary care provider or health insurance. The basic medical care they provide ranges from annual flu shots to antibiotics.

• Peter and Karen Frade received the Inspire From Within Philanthropy Award. As faculty members, the Frades have given regularly through payroll deduction, and in 2000 they contributed to the Mortuary Science Building renovations. Their generosity culminated in the Karen L. and Peter D. Frade Endowed Scholarship in the pathologists’ assistant program.

In total, there were 92 nominations submitted for the inaugural Spirit of Community Awards. A panel of one student, one staff member, one faculty member, one alumnus and one community leader evaluated nominations for each award, for a total of 20 judges across the four awards.

“In doing this work, this kind of recognition is the last thing that one thinks about. I’m very honored and it was quite unexpected,” Thompson said. “As a researcher who examines racial and socioeconomic disparities in cancer, this kind of community engagement is critical to the work that we do. I’m hopeful this event will continue to grow and encourage people to want to do more.”