February 5, 2001
Student service leaders
receive honors
By Eric Rangus erangus@emory.edu
Shortly after reading excerpts from the nomination letters that introduced the 2001 Humanitarian Award winners Jan. 31 in Winship Ballroom, new Vice President and Dean of Campus Life John Ford uttered an almost inaudible comment beneath the applause that marked the end of the presentation. What an amazing group of Emory students, he said. Despite less than a month on campus, Ford had surmised the importance
of one of the Universitys most prestigious student honors. The Humanitarian Awards honor the very best of the very best. Each year
since 1987, the awards have been presented to undergraduate and graduate
students who have shown tremendous leadership and made significant contributions
not only to the Emory community, but in Atlanta, throughout the country
and even the world. Students can be nominated by faculty, staff or other
students. A list of accomplishments of the 2001 award winners would fill several
plaques, but some of the most notable works of Emorys top humanitarians
are listed here. Stephen Bailey is an award-winning debater with the Barkley Forum
and a frequent volunteer for Urban Debate Leagues (UDLs) throughout the
country. The college senior has taught debate to students at inner-city
schools in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Kansas City and New York. (Nominated
by Melissa Wade, Barkley Forum director.) Tianna Bailey, a college senior, founded an after-school program
based in Southeast Atlantas Edgewood Court apartment complex called
I.M.A.G.E. (I Must Achieve the Goal to Excel). The K12 program is
designed to get parents actively involved in their childrens education.
(Nominated by Kerry-Ann Kelly, Delta Sigma Theta sorority.) David Brays work with Habitat for Humanity has taken him
to the American Southwest (New Mexico) and around the globe (Romania,
Ghana and the Philippines). While abroad in South Africa, the college
senior once quit an internship at a Johannesburg newspaper because he
found it racially divisive. Instead, he taught AIDS education to that
citys high school students. (Nominated by Dean Meyer, senior secretary,
Goizueta Business School.) Carlos Franco-Paredes has worked tirelessly to improve health
care for Atlantas Hispanic community. A masters student in
public health and a resident at Grady Hospital, one of Franco-Paredes
most important contributions at the hospital has been one of his least
complicatedtranslation. By communicating with Spanish-speaking patients,
he has saved countless lives by simply asking the right questions in the
right language. (Nominated by Jennifer Hirsch, assistant professor of
international health.) Kelly Horvath organized a program for children living in Atlantas
Capital Homes area, recruiting 15 members of the Black Student Alliance
to volunteer twice a week in implementing a resident self-help program
focused on education, arts and fitness at Capital Homes Mosaic Community
Center. The business school senior also volunteers with many campus organizations
and has interned with the American Cancer Society. (Nominated by Andrea
Hershatter, assistant dean and director of the undergraduate program in
the business school.) Friends and family of the humanitarians dominated the crowd of about
150. Flashbulbs popped constantly as the award winners stood at in front
and Ford read their bios. When they received their awards, the honorees
met the people who nominated thema fact kept secret until the last
moment. Karen Salisbury, assistant dean of Campus Life, moderated the event,
which included remarks from President Bill Chace and a keynote address
by Emory trustee Laura Jones Hardman, 67C. In you, we see the fulfillment of Emorys purpose, Jones
Hardman said. You have defined what service is all about. Her remarks also brought the honorees works into the context of
reconciliation. Each of you has reached out as friends to those
in need to establish reconciliation to those you have served, she
said. And relationships are necessary for reconciliation. Chace stressed the importance of the evening, and how unique Emorys humanitarians were. This is a very special moment in the life of any institution, he said. One night every year, we focus on a very small group [of students] who have done something extraordinary. |