Russsell, Shoemaker given Servant Leadership Award
FOR RELEASE: Monday, May 12, 2003
Huntington, Ind. " Two Huntington College students received the Huntington College Servant Leadership Award, in partnership with the Barney II Foundation, at the Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service (JMC) Banquet earlier this month. The purpose of this award is to recognize students who have demonstrated leadership in the area of community and ministry service. This year's recipients were Leslie Russell and Kyle Shoemaker. Students are nominated by staff, faculty, and peers and must be juniors with a 2.5 GPA or above to be eligible. Two $1000 awards are granted and recipients are awarded with $750 and asked to designate $250 to the charity of their choice.
We're grateful to the Barney Foundation for giving Huntington College the opportunity to recognize two outstanding students who have displayed leadership qualities through their many acts of service, said Joanne Miller, Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service Advisor. Leadership is all about serving others and these two students have been wonderful examples of servant leadership to our campus and the surrounding community.
Russell, daughter of Rick and Karen Russell, is an elementary education major from Monon, Indiana. She has chosen to donate $250 to Love Church in Fort Wayne. At Huntington College, Russell has participated on a Habitat for Humanity mission trip to Florida, been a member of the women's basketball team and women's chorale, and served as the JMC program coordinator. The JMC programs she has involved herself with include Bridges, Love Church, Open Door, YMCA Teen Night and Volunteer 911.
Shoemaker, son of Doug and Kris Shoemaker, is an elementary education major from Westfield, Indiana. He has chosen to donate $250 to Love Church in Fort Wayne. At Huntington College, Shoemaker has served as a Campus Ministries Coordinator and a JMC staff member. He has participated in mission trips to Boston and Lauren Mission and JMC events including Love Church, Boys and Girls Club and Bingo Buddies.
Founded in 1992, the Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service has become an integral part of Huntington College campus life. During the 2001-02 school year, the Joe Mertz Center documented more than 13,000 hours of volunteer service contributed by students, faculty and staff.
Huntington College's Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service is a student-directed organization that mobilizes the campus community for Christian service. The Joe Mertz Center aims to involve students in the local community, instill a lifelong tendency toward service, and promote the idea that one person can make a difference. The Joe Mertz Center has been listed as an exemplary program in the John Templeton Foundation Honor Roll of Character-Building Colleges.
Huntington College is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 60 academic concentrations. US News & World Report ranks Huntington among the Top 10 comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington College is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in Huntington, Indiana.
