Governor’s award honors S.O.S. volunteers

Delaware Lt. Gov. John Carney (right) presents the Governor’s Outstanding Group Volunteer Service Award to (from left) Marcia Nickle, Lauren Gibson, Teryl Bubar, Lauren Kelly, Sarah (Maly) Ohrenschall, Andrea Duff, Signe Clayton, Nancy Nutt and Angela Seguin.

4:09 p.m., Nov. 11, 2005--The University of Delaware’s Sexual Offense Support Program (S.O.S.) was honored Nov. 2 in Dover at the 23rd annual Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards ceremony. The group received the 2005 Governor's Outstanding Group Volunteer Service Award.

S.O.S. is a group of student, alumni and community volunteers providing support for the victims of sexual assault, date rape, date rape drugs and dating violence.

The award comes as S.O.S. is celebrating its 30th year as part of UD’s Wellspring: Student Wellness Program, an adjunct of the Center for Counseling and Student Development. Delaware Lt. Gov. John Carney, filling in for ailing Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, presented the award.

In a letter to recipients, Minner said, “Millions of hours of voluntary service are given each year in the state of Delaware....Every day, thousands of Delawareans volunteer their time and talents to strengthen our neighborhoods, mentor our children, improve the environment and respond to calls for help. Their dedication is invaluable to our state.”

Angela DiNunzio Seguin, coordinator of S.O.S., said, “I am thrilled about this award. It takes a great deal of strength, compassion and hope to be with someone in their darkest moments of pain and vulnerability. S.O.S. volunteers are very busy students and alumni, but they give of their time because they are dedicated and passionate about taking a little of the burden away from victims. I am proud of each and every person who has ever given their time to S.O.S.”

The award, sponsored by the Office of the Governor and coordinated by the state Office of Volunteerism in the Delaware Health and Social Services' Division and the Governor's Council on Volunteer Services, recognizes the efforts of Delawareans who best exemplify the spirit of volunteerism throughout the state.

The S.O.S. certificate reads, “...On behalf of the citizens of the state of Delaware, your organization is presented with this certificate in recognition and grateful appreciation for the generous gifts of your time, talent and energy as volunteers.”

Accepting the award at the ceremony in Dover were Seguin and seven S.O.S. volunteers. John Bishop, associate vice president for counseling and student development, and Nancy Nutt, Wellspring program director, also attended the ceremony.

“The Sexual Offense Support organization has been an important resource for our campus and community for over 30 years. We all are indebted to the volunteers who have offered their time and talents to help those who have been victims of sexual assault or dating violence. The governor's award and the statewide recognition of this organization is well-deserved,” Bishop said.

Nutt said this is the first time S.O.S. has been recognized for its service. “This group has always done awesome and important work for UD and the surrounding community, and it has always done so professionally and responsibly. It is very encouraging to work with such a dedicated group of people,” she said.

Article by Barbara Garrison

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