MSU Extension 4-H Volunteering & Mentoring

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Oakland County 4-H alumna Maggie Sans, of Clarkston, is among eight 4-H alumni inducted into the Michigan 4-H Emerald Clover Society in 2018. Sans was recognized on Oct. 5 during the Michigan 4-H Foundation’s 4-H Emerald Awards Ceremony in East Lansing.

The Michigan 4-H Emerald Clover Society honors former Michigan 4-H members whose professional leadership and community service reflect the ultimate outcome of 4-H membership – extraordinary use of an individual’s head, heart, hands and health to make communities, the country and the world better places in which to live. This recognition is provided by Michigan 4-H Youth Development with support from the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

Sans is currently the vice president for community relations at Walmart, leading the company’s effort to strengthen the investment that stores and associates make in communities, neighborhoods and with customers across the United States. Previously, Sans was the senior vice president and chief corporate affairs officer for Walmart in China, as well as vice president of international corporate affairs and vice president of public affairs and government relations.

Sans received her bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Michigan State University and her master’s degree in international relations from Boston University. Philanthropy and leadership are important to Sans, who has served on national boards for many organizations, including the US-China Strong Foundation, 100K Strong Foundation, Americas Society, American Council of Young Political Leaders, American Legislative Exchange Council, Tenth Amendment Center, Council of the Americas Inc., Private Enterprise LLC and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

“4-H had an enormous impact on my life,” said Sans. “It gave me skills I have used throughout my professional and personal life. It taught me the value of a strong work ethic – to embrace responsibility and to be willing to dedicate yourself to your goals. 4-H gave me a passion for leadership and an understanding of the impact one person can have on the outcome of a group. I credit 4-H for instilling in me a sense of community, the satisfaction of belonging to something bigger than oneself, and a desire to be a person that helps improve the world around me.”

During Sans’ 4-H member years, she was the president of the Oakland County 4-H Livestock Club and a mentor to many younger 4-H’ers. She exhibited many livestock projects during her 4-H career and participated in many state 4-H events. Today, she continues to give back to 4-H by serving on the National 4-H Council Board. She also provides leadership to the Walmart: Youth Voice, Youth Choice grant program. (Michigan 4-H Youth Development has received several of these grants over the years.)

The 4-H Emerald Awards Ceremony was hosted and emceed by State Sen. Judy Emmons, a Montcalm County 4-H alumna and 2014 4-H Emerald Clover Society inductee. Also inducted into the 4-H Emerald Clover Society Class of 2018 were: Darwin Booher, Evart; Domonique Clemons, Flint; Ronald Hendrick, East Lansing; Barbara Haynes Heyboer, Hudsonville; W. G. (Mac) McPherson, Lowell; Thomas Nugent, Clarksville; and Gretna Van Fleet, Frankenmuth.

Michigan 4-H Emerald Clover Society members are inducted every two years. The inaugural class of 62 members was inducted in 2002 to coincide with of the national 4-H centennial. For more information on the 4 H Emerald Clover Society and its members, visit www.mi4hfdtn.org/ecs.

The Michigan 4-H Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that supports Michigan 4-H Youth Development. For more information about the Michigan 4-H Foundation, visit www.mi4hfdtn.org. Michigan 4-H Youth Development is the youth-serving program of Michigan State University Extension. More than 209,000 youth are involved in 4-H with the support of 16,000 adult volunteers. For more information about Michigan 4-H, visit www.4h.msue.msu.edu.