Community Spirit Awards 2004

Students are honored for their work with local human services agencies

Cornell student winners of Community Spirit Awards pose with their plaques in Schoellkopf Hall, April 22. They, from left, Shana Platz '06, Serenity Delaney '05, Yosuke Matsumura '05, Tara Wood '05, Marquise McGraw '06, Andrew Beckwith '06, and Sarah Rhinelander '04. Jon Reis Photography

The Cornell Public Service Center and the Cornell Tradition office honored seven Cornell students for their dedication to service and the community at the seventh annual Community Spirit Awards, April 22.

The awards program, held at Cornell's Schoellkopf Hall, was a shared celebration between community agencies with whom the students worked, the Public Service Center and the Cornell Tradition, and it recognized "the extraordinary accomplishments of Cornell students volunteering in the local community," said Reneé Farkas, Public Service Center assistant director for community programs.

Rachel Ruggirello, executive director of On Site Volunteer Services addressed attendees at the ceremony, acknowledging the awards recipients and their public service contributions.

Representatives of local human service agencies nominated the students in five awards categories. Listed below are this year's recipients and the categories in which they were honored:

"Innovation in Service," presented to a student or students who have initiated projects within an agency or program, or brought tools or skills to the agency, which have resulted in an enrichment of the agency's services:

Andrew Beckwith '06 -- nominated by Ali Higgins, volunteer coordinator for the Cayuga Nature Center, for his exceptional service to and promotion of the center.

Marquise McGraw '06 -- nominated by Cal Walker, co-founder of the Village at Ithaca and associate director of Cornell's Learning Strategies Center, for his work as director of the newly established, Cornell student-based Let's Get Ready! SAT prep program for high school students.

"Excellence in Academics and Service," presented to a student or students who have shown an active involvement in the community while maintaining an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or above.

Serenity Delaney '05 -- nominated by Maureen Mozeleski, program coordinator for Family and Children's Service of Ithaca, for her work with the service's Dispositional Alternative Program.

"Dedicated Service," presented to the student or students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to a single agency or project.

Yosuke Matsumura '05 -- nominated by Marcia Harding, executive staff assistant, Cornell Public Service Center, for his dedication to the Cornell chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

"Star Performer," presented to the student or students who perform their work with an attitude that is contagious with enthusiasm.

Shana Platz '06 -- nominated by Maureen Mozeleski, program coordinator for Family and Children's Service of Ithaca, for her work with the Dispositional Alternative Program.

Sarah Rhinelander '04 -- nominated by Shari Milgroom, education specialist of the Community Justice Center/BOCES; Judge Marjorie Olds, Ithaca City Court-Ithaca Community Treatment Center; and Mechthild Nagel, associate professor of philosophy at SUNY Cortland, for her work as a volunteer intern and tutor through the Community Justice Center.

"Community Building," presented to the student or students who have worked to build understanding of a particular issue across the community and who have brought together various groups within the community.

Tara Wood '05 -- nominated by Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, assistant director of Southside Community Center, for her work with the Cornell-Ithaca Partnership as an administrative and program assistant.

For more information on the Community Spirit Awards and other programs of the Cornell Public Service Center, visit http://www.psc.cornell.edu or call 255-1148. For the Cornell Tradition office, visit http://www.commitment.cornell.edu or call 255-8595.

April 29, 2004