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| Vol. 18, No. 33 | May 27, 1999 |
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| Vol. 18, No. 33 | May 27, 1999 |
On the UD campus, many unsung heroines and heroes give of themselves and perform countless hours of volunteer work-tutoring, mentoring, fundraising, organizing food, clothing and blood drives and providing companionship to those in need of all ages.
In recognition of the invaluable service of students and student organizations to the community at large, the Office of the Dean of Students gave awards to outstanding volunteer students and student organizations on May 11. The City of Newark also had an evening ceremony recognizing students for their community service.
Among those honored was Rachel Sharkey, a junior psychology major from Virginia. When she transferred to UD last fall, she wanted to get involved with helping people in a meaningful way. At the UD Volunteer Fair, she learned about the Mary Campbell Center, north of Wilmington, and decided to visit the facility and check it out.
"It was a fit," she said. "The center is a happy place. Although the residents have physical and mental disabilities, they try to do as much as possible for themselves, and the staff is wonderful. They know the residents, interact with them and care about them-there really is a family atmosphere."
Sharkey spends time with a group of the residents, many of whom cannot speak without the assistance of a communication device, and she does whatever needs to be done. She helps out in the woodshop (where residents are currently making a suggestion box), she reads and writes letters, walks with them, reads books aloud, gives manicures, visits with residents and helps with special events, such as music nights.
According to Carolyn Clark, volunteer coordinator of the center, the residents look forward to her visits, and Sharkey has a real rapport with her group. Calling her "extremely dependable," even during exam week or bad weather, Clark wrote in her nomination for Sharkey, "She always has a smiling face and an upbeat spirit" and is "an inspiration not only to residents but to staff as well. She truly is a wonderful, giving volunteer."
Clark said the center has had a number of other volunteers from the University over the years and that they too have made a genuine contribution to the center.
"UD students have a level of maturity that makes them excellent volunteers, and we appreciate the fact that they make the trip up from Newark to help us out and become part of our family at the center," Clark said.
During this summer, Sharkey will work counseling troubled adolescents in Massachusetts, which will provide new challenges for her and call on the skills she's developed as a volunteer.
Other students receiving awards at the campus ceremony were
Kenneth Remy, the Nikki Woolf Award for Outstanding Volunteer for Clowns for Medicine; Cynthia Fahrenz, Big Sisters; Tiffany Gibbs, YWCA; Jackie Porac, Newark Manor Nursing Home; Kelly Schwartz, Girls Inc.; Christine Shearon, YWCA; and Nicole Vay, YWCA;
Outstanding Volunteer Organizations of the Year awards were given to Alpha Kappa Alpha and Gamma Sigma Sigma. Organizations receiving honorable mention were Chi Upsilon Sigma sorority; Operation Smile; Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry and Kappa Sigma.
Fahrenz, Gibbs, Remy, Shwartz, Sharkey, Shearon and Vay also were honored by the city of Newark. Other students receiving recognition from Newark for their volunteer work included Pamela Belmont, Rebekah Bennett, Anthony DiMeo III; Christopher Drury, Meredith Gordon, Melissa Kerian, Debra Lynn Mull, Jackie Porac, Elisa Wilk and Shannon Woodloe. 
-Sue Swyers Moncure
