Carmon Swinson-Lake is a Credit Policy and Payment Administrative Manager for American Electric Power and until recently worked for I&M as a Customer Services Supervisor. In fact she has been working at I&M for 35 years. But, Swinson-Lake is also an avid volunteer in our Fort Wayne community.
Recently, she received the “John E. Worthen Outstanding Contribution to Education Award” from the Indiana Academy. The award honors the former Ball State University president, John E. Worthen, whose support was instrumental in the establishment of the Indiana Academy. The award acknowledges an individual for his or her hard work and dedication in promoting education. Previous winners have been educators, business leaders, politicians, civic leaders and philanthropists.
Carmon Swinson-Lake honored with the John E. Worthen Outstanding Contribution to Education Award.
The Indiana Academy is housed on Ball State University’s campus and the recognition was presented during the Academy’s graduation ceremony. Ball State University is Swinson-Lake’s alma mater.
“I believe strongly in community engagement and giving back to the community where I’m fortunate to live and work,” said Swinson-Lake. “I’m most passionate about my work with the Fort Wayne Community Schools Study Connection Tutoring program.”
Swinson-Lake has been a tutor with the program for more than 20 years and the Study Connection Site Coordinator for I&M for 10 years. Study Connection is an after-school program where individuals are matched one-to-one with students whose teachers suggest need extra academic assistance. The students are bussed to participating business partners once a week, during the school year.
“We meet with the students for one-hour per week for study time. That one hour is a time to connect with students who need a little extra support and need to know their community is rooting for them,” Swinson-Lake said.
Swinson-Lake has served as a consultant for Junior Achievement, on the boards of Project Impact, the Fort Wayne Urban League, and on the Foellinger Foundation 2016 Community Interests Grant Review Advisory Committee. She is also a charter member of the Northern Indiana Chapter of Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals (WINUP), where she served on the Chapter Executive Board and various internal committees.
Additionally, Swinson-Lake is an active member of Union Baptist Church in Fort Wayne where she serves on the college scholarship committee, building fund committee, hospitality committee and she is a vacation bible school instructor. She is also a member of the Iota Chi Omega graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Congratulations Carmon for your hard work and representing I&M in our community!