May 15, 1998
Middlebury College Students Receive the 1998 Public
Service Leadership Awards
For the fifth consecutive year, Middlebury College
Volunteer Services has 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 34 students
received certificates recognizing their outstanding service, and
six received Public Service Leadership Awards from the College
through the Patrick J. Durkin (‘79) Fund.
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 34 students nominated, six received the Public
Service Leadership Award’s “Plaque of Appreciation”
at a special dinner held earlier this month at Middlebury College,
and have had their names engraved on a service recognition plaque
to be permanently hung in the McCullough Student Center. Recipients
were Summa Cum Laude graduate Mark Bisanzo ‘98 from Park Ridge,
N.J. for his activity in the role of a “big brother”
to several community youths; and Cum Laude graduate Donald Eggert
‘98 from Chittenango, N.Y., for his outreach and education efforts
on a speakers panel for Outright Vermont, for his contribution
to the layout of the publication Out in the Mountains, and for
his volunteer activities for AESOP, a Moscow-based AIDS prevention
program. Allison Goodman of the Class of 2001, from New Orleans,
also received an award for her work with the Middlebury Union
High School Bridges Tutoring Program; and Cum Laude graduate Suwha
Hong ‘98 from Durham, N.C., received an award for her work with
Habitat for Humanity. Other student award-winners were firefighter
Andrew McBeth ‘99 from Wyckoff, N.J., for his work with the Middlebury
Fire Department; and Summa Cum Laude graduate Julia Shreve ‘98
from Los Altos, Cal., for her leadership in the College’s student
group, the Volunteer Services Organization, for her work in the
education program of the Addison County Parent/Child Center, and
for her efforts on behalf of the College’s Bicentennial Literacy
Campaign.
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 Middlebury’s Vermont State Representative and former executive
director of the Addison County United Way Anne Ginevan, who commended
students on their public service efforts.
A cash award will be donated by the Public Service
Leadership fund to a number of community organizations, including
the Addison County Parent/Child Center’s continuing education
program for parents, the Middlebury Fire Department, Habitat for
Humanity, and Vermont OUTRIGHT. Organizations to receive cash
awards were selected by each award-winner.
The selection of students for the Middlebury College
Public Service Award 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.