UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 32, Page 5
May 18, 1995
Saturn awardees honored at campus ceremony

     The Coffee House team of South Central Campus Residence Life was
named the 1995 Saturn Award winner at the University and was
recognized in a ceremony May 8 in the Perkins Student Center.
     The award, cosponsored by UD Student Life and Saturn Corp.,
recognizes outstanding campus and community service accomplishments by
student teams of three or more students.
     The applicants submitted descriptions of projects that had
started or were active during the previous 12 months. A campus
committee judged the applications on four criteria: team initiative
and enterprise, enhancement of the campus/community environment,
creative solutions and maximization of impact.
     Roland Smith, vice president for student life, and David Young,
executive director of Saturn of Newark and Saturn of West Chester,
announced the winning team that was selected from several applicants.
     "This is the fifth year of the Saturn Award program, nationwide,"
Young said, "and we're continually impressed by how students are
committed to the teamwork approach. Teamwork has been key to Saturn's
success."
     Smith presented the trophy to the winning team, which also won
$1,000. "Through this reward and recognition," Smith said, "Saturn is
supporting the development of skills and competencies that will
benefit our students throughout their lives."
     Members of The Coffee House are Gwyneth Girvin, Greg Doyle,
Natalie Donovan, Leslie Taliaferro, Nicole Norton, Randy Korenczuk and
Kelly Brosnahan. The group addressed the serious negative results of
alcohol abuse by attempting to engage students in non-alcoholic social
experiences that would challenge the belief that alcohol use is a
requirement for fun. The "coffee house" concept was viewed as a
creative way to attract student interest and involvement in non-
alcoholic activities by providing regular, alcohol-free and
entertaining social events.
     In all, seven teams were involved in the competition.
     According to Scott Mason, assistant director of the Perkins
Student Center and coordinator of the Saturn on Campus program, "I was
very impressed with the number of applicants. Each was a 'winner' for
providing service to the community."
     Other groups that applied for recognition in the 1995 Saturn
program include:
       University Recognition, Lambda Kappa Beta, which displayed the
          sorority's sisterhood, philanthropy and spirit;
       Pet Therapy-Pet Playtime, Gamma Sigma Sigma, which involved two
          activities. One group of sisters spent time at the Delaware
          Humane Society, interacting with the animals. The second
          group took small dogs and cats to interact with the
          residents of various nursing homes;
       U. of D. Model United Nations, United Nations Coalition, which
          conducts a model United Nations conference on campus for
          local high school student participants;
       A Halloween to Remember, Circle K, which held a Haunted House
          for children of Emmaus House, a homeless shelter, and
          throughout the year visited the shelter and provided child
          care;
       Senior Prom, Kappa Alpha, who, dressed in formal attire, held a
          dance for residents of the Leader Nursing Home and engaged
          the elderly occupants in informal conversation and social
          activities;
       Hand in Hand, Panhellenic Council, which assisted in the
          development of a pilot program to educate UD women on the
          potential dangers of breast cancer; and
       Mediation Program, Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress
          members, who presented a program to develop communication
          and conflict resolution among members students and Newark
          residents.
     In recognizing all of the groups with certificates, Young said,
"We applaud all students for their hard work and for proving that
teamwork can make a difference at the University of Delaware."
     The Coffee House team will compete with student groups from 24
other institutions for a national $5,000 award.