University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 32, May 22

Annual awards
Students honored for campus, community service
     
     The Volunteer of the Year Award in Memory of Nikki
Wolfe was presented May 12 in a ceremony in the Perkins
Student Center to Brian Jacobs, a junior from Williamsport,
Pa., majoring in biological sciences and philosophy.
     Jacobs was recognized for his volunteer service at
Newark Manor Nursing Home, where he provided more than 100
hours assisting with the activities program and making
visits to patients.
     According to Doris Kennedy, director of activities and
volunteer coordinator at Newark Manor Nursing Home, Jacobs
has been a valuable volunteer, and his outgoing and friendly
manner has brought much joy to residents.
     Jacobs also has volunteered as a youth soccer referee
for 10 years, and he works two days a week with two faculty
in the Math/Science Resource Center, presenting a program at
high schools throughout the state.
     He has been philanthropy chairperson for Sigma Alpha
Epsilon fraternity, and he has led the group's volunteer
service activities at A.I. du Pont Children's Hospital,
entertaining children in hospital beds.
     The volunteer award is named in honor of former student
Nikki Wolfe, who was killed during an accident two years
ago. Her parents were present for the ceremony, and her
father, Dennis Wolfe, presented the award to Jacobs.
     Also at the ceremony, representatives of the dean of
students office presented the Outstanding Volunteer
Organization of the Year Award to the UD chapter of the
Gamma Sigma Sigma national service sorority for its work
during 1996-97.
     This sorority provided volunteer service at activities
for residents at Newark Manor Nursing Home. In addition,
group members have tutored at the Salvation Army, assisted
with bingo at the Newark Housing Authority, socialized with
children through the United Cerebral Palsey Association,
babysat during West Park School PTA meetings and taught math
and reading to children at that school.
     They also held an egg hunt for the Newark Parks and
Recreation Department, set up an auction for the Epilepsy
Foundation, helped exceptional adults do arts and crafts at
the YWCA, adopted a highway, sorted food for the Food Bank
of Delaware, tutored at Girls Inc., sold daffodils for the
American Cancer Society, taught children about disabilities
for Easter Seals, helped with a Blood Bank of Delaware drive
and signed up organ donors for the Delaware Valley
Transplant Team.
     The members walked for Multiple Sclerosis and raised
over $1,000 for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
                                               -Ed Okonowicz