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HUNTINGTON UNIV MAGAZINE

Joe Mertz Center honored with humanitarian award

FOR RELEASE February 4, 2008

(from left, behind and around) Martha Smith, Tabitha Traux, Adam Shoemaker, Amie Arthur, Laura Hustedt, Katie Jo Brown and Joanna Sperback

HUNTINGTON, IN—At its annual dinner meeting Thursday, the Huntington County Humane Society honored Huntington University’s Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service with the Thurman Poe Humanitarian of the Year Award.

The award is given to an organization, business or individual in recognition of some special effort to benefit animals in Huntington County.

“This group has been absolutely instrumental in helping us get done what we needed to get done this year,” said Pat Merckx, president of the Huntington County Humane Society Board of Directors. “They were there every time we asked them to be there. We just can’t thank them enough.”

(from left to right) Adam Shoemaker, Katie Jo Brown and Amie Arthur

Student volunteers from the Joe Mertz Center assisted with the fall and spring cleanup days. This included painting, hauling trash, lawn cleanup, cleaning out semi-trailers and helping the humane society prepare for its September auction.

Representing the Joe Mertz Center at the annual dinner were

• Adam Shoemaker, student director and senior not-for-profit business major from Sheridan, Ind.

• Amie Arthur, public relations coordinator, coordinator of Fall and Spring Work Day and junior public relations major from Pandora, Ohio

  (from left to right) Adam Shoemaker, Katie Jo Brown, Amie Arthur and Tabitha Traux

   

• Katie Jo Brown, program coordinator for adult literacy, Huntington Kid’s Club, Love Church, Volunteer 911 and senior elementary education major from Eaton Rapids, Mich.

• Tabitha Traux, program coordinator for Habitat for Humanity, Lunch Buddies, Upward Basketball and Cheerleading, Volunteer 911 and junior journalism major from Spencer, Ind.

• Laura Hustedt, student volunteer and senior recreation management major from Martinton, Ill.

• Joanna Sperback, student volunteer and senior middle grades science education major from Indianapolis, Ind.

• Martha Smith, staff advisor for the Joe Mertz Center

Founded in 1992, the Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service has become an integral part of Huntington University campus life. During the 2006-2007 academic year, students, faculty and staff volunteered for more than 12,397.5 hours, serving more than 50 families, organizations and programs.

Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S.News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

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