May 12, 1997

1997 Middlebury College Public Service Leadership Awards

For the fourth consecutive year, Middlebury College Volunteer

Services brought community and College together for the Public

Service Leadership Award dinner, held in May to honor Middlebury

College students who have provided volunteer services on campus

or in the community during the school year. Nominated by student

peers, community individuals, College organizations, and organizations

in the Addison County community, some 26 students received certificates

recognizing their outstanding service, and six received Public

Service Leadership Awards from the College through the Patrick

J. Durkin [‘79] Fund. Middlebury College’s Director of Student

Activities Tiffany Sargent received a standing ovation when she

was given a special award of her own, presented to her by Mr.

Durkin for her years of dedication to the program.

It is estimated that half of Middlebury College’s students have

been engaged in community service projects or service-related

initiatives this year. Over 300 students are involved in ongoing

projects, providing a minimum of two hours per week for dozens

of agencies and individuals, coming to more than 15,000 hours

of student volunteer effort per year-the equivalent of more than

seven people working for the needs of the community full-time,

year-round.

Of the 26 students nominated, six received the Public Service

Leadership Award’s “Plaque of Appreciation,” and will

have their names engraved on a service recognition plaque to be

permanently hung in the McCullough Student Center. Recipients

were Noami DeVore ‘97, for her leadership and service to Habitat

for Humanity; Karu Kozuma ‘98, for the Middlebury College Volunteer

Services Program; Alex Lee ‘97, for his environmental initiatives,

leadership, and service to the Otter Creek Audubon Society; Maya

Thiagarajan ‘98, for Addison County Community Friends; Kate Walker

‘99, for the Addison County Women in Crisis Center; and Cris Dima

‘99 and Mike Koehler ‘98, who together accepted the award on behalf

of the whole Middlebury College Mountain Club, for its initiative,

leadership and service to Evergreen House, a psycho-social club

affiliated with the Counseling Service of Addison County and designed

to help reintegrate people back into the community.

President John McCardell addressed the group before presenting

the honors, saying, “These awards and citations presented

to students rank among the most noteworthy achievements the College

recognizes. Through the efforts of student volunteers from this

campus, the lives of people throughout the broad community in

which we live are improved.” Keynote speaker for the dinner

was Victor Swenson, executive director of the Vermont Council

on the Humanities, who also commended students on their public

service efforts.

A cash award has been given to the following organizations, chosen

by each award-winner and donated in his or her name: the Addison

County Community Action Group; the Addison County Community Friends;

Evergreen House; Habitat for Humanity; Otter Creek Audubon Society;

and Addison County Women in Crisis.

Award selection was based upon demonstrated dedication to a cause,

helping to make a change for an individual or for the community,

and increasing the awareness and involvement of Middlebury College

students in that area of public service. Each nomination was returned

to the Student Activities Office and reviewed by a committee of

College students, faculty, and staff.