Messenger - Vol. 4, No. 2, Page 16 1995 Young humanitarian named to All-USA College Academic First Team Michael J. Skinner is a medical scholars/liberal studies major who hopes to become a pediatrician or family practice doctor and manages to maintain a 3.9 grade point average while doing volunteer work for numerous organizations. Wouldn't it be nice if one day everyone woke up and decided they would do something for someone else? Just think how many problems would be solved. It would be amazing," says Michael J. Skinner, a University of Delaware junior from Olney, Md. Skinner speaks with the practicality of the '90s, not the idealism of the Age of Aquarius, and it is just that practical approach to problem solving that has made him one of 20 undergraduates from across the nation to be selected to USA Today's 1995 All-USA College Academic First Team. Skinner, a student in the University Honors Program, is known as a humanitarian, an actor and an A student. A medical scholars/liberal studies major who hopes to become a pediatrician or family practice doctor, he manages to maintain a 3.9 grade point average while doing volunteer work for numerous organizations. Through the University's Medical Scholars Program, he has already been accepted into medical school at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he will enroll upon graduation from UD. He is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellow conducting research with mutant chicken embryos as a model of the human metabolism problems that might lead to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and, over the recent Winter Session, he held an internship in the Office of the Medical Examiner of Delaware. Only time constraints prevent him from remaining active in University student theatre groups. For Kathleen Duke, associate director of the University Honors Program, Skinner's range of abilities is truly impressive. "What makes Michael so special is that he is so gifted, so community-minded and so creative. At the same time, he's also funny, charming and a joy to work with." Skinner is the founder and co-president of IMPACT: The Service Community, a student organization dedicated to community service and making a difference in people's lives. Most members of IMPACT live together in the University's Ray Street Special Interest Housing, where they spend their spare time in projects like delivering blankets to Wilmington's street people, tutoring at Newark's high school and a local elementary school, working weekly with Emmaus House (a Newark shelter for women and children), providing assistance and companionship to students with handicaps, working with the Delaware Food Bank and participating in numerous walkathons and fund-raisers for other nonprofit organizations. Last October, USA Weekend recognized the group's program, "Homecoming for the Homeless," as part of its coverage of Make A Difference Day. Like many college students, the members of the group traveled to Florida over spring break. The difference is that IMPACT members spent their time rebuilding houses for victims of last year's hurricane, with other Habitat For Humanity volunteers. Skinner has been and continues to be at the forefront of it all. "We all support each other in areas of community service," he explains. "Sometimes, it's hard to find people interested in your cause, and it can be daunting to organize a project on your own. Living at Ray Street, you know that the people right next door will pitch in. We can take on all kinds of things that we couldn't do as individuals." As a member of the USA Today First Team, Skinner and the other winners each received a $2,500 cash award. -Beth Thomas