Since she was 17 years old, MU senior Kam Phillips has celebrated children’s creativity with her organization, Dream Outside the Box. Now, cable channel mtvU is recognizing Phillips for her own creativity.
Phillips is one of three college students to receive mtvU’s “Top of the Class” award. This new award from mtvU aims to celebrate the gifts, talents and accomplishments of influential students across the U.S.
Phillips was selected to be in the first set of award winners. Each recipient received his or her own television special on mtvU and a $5,000 award.
Phillips’ organization, Dream Outside the Box, is a program run in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club. Phillips has focused on helping others and exposing children to different experiences. Her goal is to broaden the experiences and self-esteem of children who have few role models to guide them.
“Kam is a very caring and brilliant person,” said Shane Winter, resource development director for the Boys and Girls Club in Columbia. “She’s the first to literally think outside the box.”
Phillips said she is glad to receive the award, but is not searching for recognition.
“It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice,” Phillips said. “(Running DOTB) has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but the best thing I’ve ever done. I don’t need awards. I personally see the results of my work daily.”
DOTB exposes underprivileged kids to a world that goes beyond the normal, Phillips said. As of this spring, the program is offered to students in kindergarten through high school.
“Every week they do something new and exciting, exposing these children to unusual and amazing things,” DOTB director of public relations Breana Jones said.
The students participating in DOTB enjoy experiences such as fencing matches, farm visits, mock trials, where the children pretend to be lawyers, and local television station visits.
Phillips said she was a little nervous about doing some of the activities such as boffer competitions, or role playing as medieval warriors with soft swords.
“I was a little nervous about it,” she said. “It’s important for me to be able to think outside the box, too, just like I encourage with the kids.”
This was not the first time Phillips has been nationally recognized. She was recently named a Truman Scholar.
Phillips stressed a message of activism to the MU community.
“Anyone can join up and help out,” Phillips said. “What do you want your college experience to leave behind: a legacy of helping the community or just a partier’s lifestyle? Take the opportunity to help out.”
