Nelson receives volunteer award
Posted by Judy Riley on Tuesday, May. 9, 2006
Event Date/Time: Thursday, May. 18, 2006
David Nelson, a senior at the University of Minnesota Morris, has received the 2006 George Bush President’s Volunteer and Service Award. Nelson, from Rapid City, S.D., has volunteered over 500 hours in the past 12 months, both at UMM and in the city of Morris, which surrounds the campus. Nelson works in the Office of Community Service and Volunteerism in Student Activities at UMM.
The USA Freedom Corps, which honors applicants with a gold, silver, or bronze award, receives recognition packets from all over the country for those who have served their community through volunteer service. Applicants log verifiable hours online. The hours can only be confirmed by a certifying organization: any organization which qualifies to disburse the award and is legally established in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or one of the U.S. territories. Anyone may apply for this award at any time, but April is when UMM recognizes those who receive it. This award was inspired by President George W. Bush who, in his first election, inspired people in a call to service.
Nelson said, “I feel honored to have received this award and I hope it reflects a broader student interest on the UMM campus in volunteer service.” The presentation of this award was in conjunction with the Outstanding Student Leadership Banquet held this spring at UMM, where Nelson was honored with the award, along with receiving a pin, certificate and congratulatory letter from President Bush.
As Nelson looks forward to receiving his bachelor's degree from UMM this spring, he hopes that more students will work toward this award: “There are always opportunities to volunteer in Morris. It’s just a matter of finding them.”
Nelson is also one of two UMM students to receive the 2006 Mary Martelle Memorial Award from UMM. This award serves as a continuing tribute to those personal qualities and many and varied contributions made by Mary Martelle, a senior secretary in the Office of Student Activities at UMM from 1965 until her death in 1976.
