June 2, 2025

James R. Nichols Community Service Award: Josh Mata

Water Resources Design Engineer Josh Mata is a committed service leader who dedicates his time to empowering communities, mentoring future leaders, and continuing his own learning journey. Over the past year alone, Josh has contributed more than 120 hours to various organizations to make a meaningful impact.

As Treasurer and Board Member for Be the Neighbor, he helps manage the organizations financial resources, allowing them to continue their mission of educating middle and high school students on social justice issues. Through immersive mission trip experiences, students engage with critical topics like homelessness, poverty, immigration, and food injustice. Josh also contributes to the Programming Committee, helping determine the themes and locations of the mission trips to empower young people to continue their justice work beyond a one-week experience.

Josh’s dedication extends to Higher Education and Leadership Ministries (HELM), where he serves on the Board of Directors, Programs and Scholarship Committee, and Development and Fundraising Committee. HELM is committed to cultivating faith-based leadership in higher education by offering scholarships and leadership development opportunities.

Josh devotes most of his time to The Leadership Fellows Program (LFP), which provides a scholarship to undergraduate students, annual retreats to develop leadership, and international cross-cultural experiences. As a mentor to the LFP Class of 2025, Josh helps students to become leaders in society regardless of their vocation. Most recently, he accompanied his cohort to Japan, where they explored cultural and religious diversity and studied historical issues such as the aftermath of the atomic bomb and the history of comfort women.

What ties all of Josh Mata’s commitments together is a genuine belief in the mission and long-term value of these programs. As a former participant in Be the Neighbor and LFP, and a scholarship recipient of HELM, Josh knows firsthand the power of these experiences. Now, as a leader and mentor, he’s dedicated to ensuring future generations have access to the same transformative opportunities he had.

Through his involvement, Josh continues to learn about social justice, global cultures, and the lived experiences of people from all walks of life. Josh believes the programs he serves on provide more than momentary impact, preparing young people to lead lives of service, justice, and purpose in whatever paths they choose.

Josh embodies the idea of giving back to the very communities and causes that shaped his journey. His work ensures that future generations not only learn about justice and leadership, but live it.