UD Sexual Offense Support program volunteer Lauren Gibson receives a Governor's Outstanding Volunteer Award from Gov. Jack Markell (left).

Governor cites volunteers

UD's Gibson, Stump honored for Sexual Offense Support volunteer work

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9:06 a.m., Oct. 20, 2014--University of Delaware alumnae Lauren Gibson and Cheryl Stump have been recognized as 2014 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award winners for their work as UD Sexual Offense Support (SOS) volunteer victim advocates. 

The awards, which were presented on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Dover Downs, honor 21 individuals for a wide range of activities including environmental education, advocating causes close to their hearts and raising thousands of dollars for community organizations.

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Rosalind Johnson, assistant dean for student success in the NUCLEUS Program in UD's College of Arts and Sciences, was presented the John Warren Excellence in Leadership and Service Award during a May 26 ceremony.

“Every day, we see the difference that volunteers make across our state,” said Gov. Jack Markell in a press release announcing the winners. “This year’s recipients are just a few of the outstanding Delawareans who give their time and talents to make Delaware a better place to live and inspire other to do the same.” 

SOS started in 1975, and is currently part of UD Student Wellness and Health Promotion. The organization provides crisis support and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence and stalking, and also offers educational programs for the UD campus community.

Gibson, who received her bachelor’s degree in 2008 and master of public administration degree in 2010, both from UD, worked as a prevention specialist in Student Wellness and Health Promotion before recently accepting a position at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland.

Cited for her social justice and advocacy volunteerism, Gibson attended her first SOS program in 2004 during freshman orientation. Her work with the organization fueled her passion to pursue prevention work professionally, while still logging several thousand hours as a volunteer advocate.

Stump, an SOS volunteer since 2008, was recognized for her service efforts, which include victim support and accompaniment to the hospital, teaching coping strategies for managing crises, and offering referrals to other resources. 

“Lauren and Cheryl are both amazing human beings,” said Angela DiNunzio, SOS coordinator and project director for the federal Violence Against Women Act campus grant with UD and Delaware State University. “I am so proud that they are being recognized by Gov. Markell with these well-deserved volunteer service awards.” 

DiNunzio praised Gibson and for becoming a mentor and trusted confidante to the current student volunteers at SOS.

“It has been my distinct honor to watch Lauren grow over nine years from a quiet, shy freshman undergraduate when she first joined SOS into a mature, confident professional colleague,” DiNunzio said. “She is passionate about prevention work and brings a deep sense of commitment, integrity and focus on positive change to work every day.”

DiNunzio also lauded Stump as a compassionate advocate to survivors and a person who goes above and beyond the call of duty to assist victims. 

“When Cheryl joined SOS five years ago, she was responding to a call within herself to help others and give back to her community in a meaningful way,” DiNunzio said. “She has been a steady, committed contributing member to SOS and has become part of the backbone of the organization.”

Volunteering can sometimes be thankless work, DiNunzio said, because volunteers often have one-time-only contacts with the victims who call the SOS crisis service. 

“It can be difficult to bear witness to another’s pain, yet these volunteers do it repeatedly,” DiNunzio said. “Lauren and Cheryl have literally contributed thousands and thousands of hours of service over the past several years. 

DiNunzio said that as coordinator, she tries to find concrete ways to thank volunteers and let them know that the time, energy and passion they give to the organization and the survivors they help is very much appreciated.

“An advocate’s efforts to assist survivors is deeply meaningful, but ultimately, it is impossible to measure or to match this with a thank you gift or gesture,” DiNunzio said. “Having Cheryl and Lauren’s hard work honored by these awards is better than any gift of appreciation that I might give.”

A recruitment period is under way at SOS. University community members who would like to volunteer as victim advocates are encouraged to apply. Applications are available at this website. The deadline for applying is 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24.

Article by Jerry Rhodes

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