Ron Smith, chairperson of the Town & Gown Committee, opened the ceremony with words of thanks and acknowledgment for the UD students and graduates and gave a short speech on the rewards of volunteering before introducing Newark Mayor Vance A. Funk III.
“I know volunteerism can be one of those things you get into, maybe by happenstance,” Smith said. “But, once you do get into it, you realize how rewarding the work is and that the person helping can only be you.”
Funk followed Smith's remarks with thanks for all those present and made the point that Newark could not be the kind of town it is without volunteers.
“This is a high point of the year for me,” Funk said. “The town of Newark depends on volunteerism.”
Marianne Green, assistant director of UD's Career Services Center, along with Gwen Robison, secretary of UD's Career Services Center, presented the awards. When all 36 volunteers had received their certificates of appreciation, the Nikki Woolf Volunteer of the Year Award was presented.
Dennis Woolf established the award in 1994 to honor the memory of his daughter, Nikki, a 21-year-old UD student who died when she was hit by a car while crossing I-95 in 1993. Woolf said his daughter, an avid volunteer always anxious to help others, was instrumental in establishing VOICE, a group of psychology students who mentor patients at the Delaware Psychiatric Center.
The 2007 Nikki Woolf Award was given to Maria DiMarzio, a senior nursing major from Philadelphia who contributed more than 235 hours of volunteer time to the Christiana Care Health Care System, mostly in the emergency department, which is designated as a Level 1 Trauma Center.
DiMarzio said she was honored and gave special thanks to her family, her friends and UD's College of Health Sciences.
DiMarzio's tasks included greeting patients, stocking various nursing items and escorting patients and families to different areas of the hospital. Additionally, last summer, DiMarzio was selected to participate in the Health Care Scholars Program, a structured program to provide college students with the opportunity to gain valuable hospital experience and exposure to medicine.
These UD student volunteers were recognized at the May 7 ceremony:
Melanie Becker, a senior criminal justice major from Canton, Mass., for her work as a tutor for the students of UD's College School from October 2003 to the present;
Kristyn DeSantis, a senior in the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy from Dover, for her mentoring, tutoring and assistant teaching work at the College School;
Keri Gelotte, a junior English education major from Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J., for her assistant teaching work at the College School;
“Sue” Suchita Nayak, a master's degree candidate earning her degree in exceptional children and youth in the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy from Hockessin, for her tutoring work with students needing extra help with reading at the College School;
Chris Streyle, a senior in the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy from Timonium, Md., for his assistant teaching work at the College School;
Carson Henry, a master's degree candidate in the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy from Newark, for his work with the Delaware Future organization, a non-profit organization for Delaware youth;
Rebekka Schultz, a junior in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources from Havertown, Pa., for her two years of work collecting data and performing water-quality testing for the Volunteer Technical Monitoring program with the Delaware Nature Society;
Allison Sussman, a junior in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources from Ashton, Md., for her two years of work collecting data and performing water-quality testing for the Volunteer Technical Monitoring program with the Delaware Nature Society;
Lilianah Shabo, a junior in the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy from Dover, for her work in strengthening community involvement with events promoting life education for the Delaware Pro Life Coalition Inc.;
Jessica Carter, a freshman health sciences major from Warrington, Pa., for her work compiling statistics and evaluations from various council events for the Girl Scouts of Chesapeake Bay;
Alexa Keane, a sophomore medical technology major from Newark, for her care of homebound patients served by Homeward Bound Inc.;
Rachel V. Morton, a sophomore psychology major from Newark, for her assistance with childcare and cleaning for incoming patients of Homeward Bound Inc.;
Ray L. Garcia, a junior computer science major from Bear, for his assistance with quarterly mailings, computer programming and troubleshooting work for Love in the Name of Christ Ministry;
Amelia Blenderman, a sophomore wildlife conservation major from North Plainfield, N.J., for her two years of volunteer work serving those in need with Lutheran Community Services;
Jason Day, a junior medical technology major from Owings Mills, Md., for his two years of volunteer work serving those in need with Lutheran Community Services;
Chelsea Erickson, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, from Bel Air, Md., for her two years of coordination work with Lutheran Community Services;
Craig Gillund, a senior from Newark for his two years of volunteer work serving those in need with Lutheran Community Services;
Kate Hartman, a freshman elementary education major from Bernville, Pa., for her work since September serving those in need with Lutheran Community Services;
Catherine Singley, a senior double-major in international relations and Spanish, from Belle Mead, N.J., for her two years of volunteer work serving those in need with Lutheran Community Services;
Alison Mann, a junior early childhood development major from Merrimack, N.H., for her logistics, research and fundraising work for the National MS Society;
Hailey M. Hoplock, a junior double-major in psychology and biological sciences from Tom's River, N.J., for her 144 hours of volunteer work at Newark Manor assisting with residents' activities, meals, social activities and general well-being;
Ivona Truszkowska, a junior biological sciences major from Lindenhurst, N.Y., for her work with residents of Newark Manor in a variety of capacities, including activities and socializing;
Ashley Reynolds, a senior dietetics major from Smyrna, for her work since October 2004 with Newark Senior Center Meals on Wheels program;
Vanessa Damato, a junior majoring in community and family services, from Eagleville, Pa., for her work with various community outreach projects for Planned Parenthood of Delaware;
Molyssa Wall, a senior double-major in psychology and women's studies from Norwalk, Conn., for her work on the “Emergency Contraception Pharmacy Access Project” and outreach materials coordination for Planned Parenthood of Delaware;
Steven D. Snow, a senior medical technology major from Mount Laurel, N.J., for his work since 2003 serving in various training and management positions with the University of Delaware Emergency Care Unit;
Christine Bradley, a senior elementary education major from Hockessin, for her work as a Promoter of Wellness (POW) for UD's Wellspring Student Wellness Program;
Anessa Gold, a senior dietetics major from York, Pa., for her work with POW;
Alissa Rumsey, a senior double-major in dietetics and exercise science from Winsted, Conn., for her work with POW;
Susan Ambridge, a master's degree candidate in public administration from Bel Air, Md., for her work since 2005 with UD's Sexual Offense Support (S.O.S.) program;
Sabrina Mosquera, a senior double-major in sociology and women's studies from Kearny, N.J., for her year and a half of work with S.O.S. and her treasury work for the annual UD event, V-Day;
Rose Overbey, a senior double-major in English and journalism from Gaithersburg, Md., for her work since January 2004 with S.O.S. and her presidency of the Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress (DUSC);
Ashley Schmidt, a senior psychology major from Bear, for her work since 2005 with S.O.S.;
Eamon McLaughlin, a junior biological sciences major from Wilmington, for his work since January 2006 (more than 140 volunteer hours to date) with Wilmington Hospital; and
Kimberly A. West, a senior business management and marketing major from Wilmington, for her work with the World Trade Center Delaware organization developing resource material and assisting in general office and administrative tasks.
Article by Becca Hutchinson
Photo by Duane Perry