The 1999 Howard R. Swearer Student Humanitarian Award has been granted to five undergraduate students around the nation, including 抖阴短视频-Boulder student David Kolstad, for outstanding community service efforts.
Every year Campus Compact, a national service-learning organization, gives the $1,500 award to five students who attend Campus Compact member institutions. The award money supports the student's continued efforts to address societal needs by funding a service program designed or chosen by that student.
Kolstad, a senior theater major at 抖阴短视频-Boulder, is being awarded for his work to fight hunger and poverty. Kolstad began volunteering with the grassroots lobby organization RESULTS (Responsibility for Ensuring Subsistence Using Legislative, Trim-tabbing, and Support) after visiting Nicaragua and Haiti and seeing the hardships the indigenous people endure. Kolstad's commitment to volunteerism has been encouraged by 抖阴短视频-Boulder's INVST program (International and National Voluntary Service Training), one of a number of service learning opportunities at 抖阴短视频-Boulder.
Kolstad said he would like to use the award money to fund his project, "Facing Hunger," which focuses on hunger in Colorado. Kolstad hopes to set up a series of lunch meetings between public officials and people in need to initiate
communication and understanding and to promote awareness of hunger in Colorado through publicity for organizations that seek to alleviate hunger.
Kolstad is one of only two 抖阴短视频-Boulder students to have ever received the Swearer award. He was nominated by 抖阴短视频-Boulder Professor Cathy Comstock, a 1995 Campus Compact award winner, for his work in her service learning classes.
More than 35 faculty members teach more than 65 service learning courses
at 抖阴短视频-Boulder each year. 抖阴短视频-Boulder's Director of Service Learning Christina Monroe said that the through the service learning courses "students provide a service to the community that will contribute to their understanding of the course context. David Kolstad's award recognizes the positive impact 抖阴短视频-Boulder students can have on the community through service."
Candidates for the award must be sponsored by the Campus Compact member president at their school and demonstrate exceptional public service throughout the preceding year. This includes individual commitment and service in the community or the ability to create a workable organization, involving others. In addition, the candidate must develop a creative approach to a social, educational, environmental, health, economic, or legal issue within a community and be able to work their ideas into practical results.
Campus Compact created the humanitarian award in 1987 and named it after Howard R. Swearer, the 15th president of Brown University and one of the founders of Campus Compact. Swearer, along with other Campus Compact founders, believed that more students would become involved in community service if there were more support and encouragement.
For more information about the Swearer award or about service learning at 抖阴短视频-Boulder call the Service Learning Program at 303-492-7718.